The dining table stretched impressively across the room, adorned with an opulent spread of rich, aromatic dishes. The sheer luxury before her left Abigail breathless. Her gaze lingered on the man beside her, disbelief flickering in her eyes.
She sat gracefully, as if born into royalty, and the man took the seat beside her.
"Eat first," he encouraged gently, his voice warm and composed.
Abigail's hands trembled slightly as she placed them on her lap. "He seems powerful... What if he realizes I'm not who he thinks I am? Will I be punished for the deception?" The thought sent a wave of panic through her.
"M-Mister…"
"Sebastian," he interrupted smoothly, offering a small smile. "My name is Sebastian."
She swallowed hard, trying to steady her nerves.
"Mr. Sebastian…"
"Just Sebastian. There's no need for formality between us."
Her gaze met his, and unexpectedly, her eyes brimmed with tears. "Why is my heart racing like this?" She wondered
"Actually…"
"I want to hear my name from your lips," he said, leaning in slightly, his smile deepening. "Just once. Call my name."
"Seb…a…stian," she whispered, caught in the gravity of his eyes.
"That's better," he murmured, visibly pleased. "Now, what does my princess desire?"
Abigail could hardly breathe. Her heart thudded violently against her ribs.
"The thing is… I… I think you've mistaken me for someone else," she stammered. "I don't deserve to be treated like this. I don't come from a noble family. Please… let me go."
In an instant, the warmth in the room evaporated. Sebastian's expression darkened, and the tenderness in his voice vanished.
"George!" he called, his tone sharp.
A young man in a dark uniform rushed in, immediately dropping to one knee.
"Boss."
"Investigate what happened to the Vane family. Now."
"Yes, Boss," the man replied swiftly before disappearing.
Sebastian rose and stepped behind Abigail. From his pocket, he retrieved a small object, then gently took her hand in his.
"I didn't make a mistake," he murmured close to her ear. "You are my fiancée. My rightful wife." With that, he slipped a ring onto her finger.
Abigail froze. She could feel his breath tickling her skin, sending a shiver down her spine. Her face flushed, and her heartbeat quickened beyond control.
"From this moment on, Abigail, you are mine. Mine alone," Sebastian whispered, resting his chin gently against her neck.
Tears welled again in Abigail's eyes.
"I… I… I have…" Her voice faltered as the memory of the previous night replayed in her mind. Her chest tightened, and tears spilled freely down her cheeks.
Sebastian was startled by her sudden emotion. He knelt beside her without hesitation, his eyes filled with concern.
"Did I hurt you? I'm sorry," he said at once, his voice soft.
She shook her head.
"It's not you… it's not you," she managed through her sobs.
His brows drew together.
"Who hurt you, then? Tell me. I'll make them regret it," he vowed, taking her hand in his.
Abigail looked at him through her tears.
"I don't know why you care about me so much… but please…"
"I love you," he said simply, stunning her into silence. "I love you, and only you. I can't let you go, Abigail. You are my world."
The words rendered her breathless. Her tears ceased, and her heart pounded louder than ever. She stared at him, unable to look away.
"You…"
"I mean it," he continued earnestly. "I want you to be my wife."
Abigail opened her mouth, then closed it again.
"You're… not mistaking me for someone else?"
"No."
"You won't hurt me?"
"Never."
"You don't care that I'm an orphan? That I have no family?"
"Wait," he cut in gently. "What do you mean, no family? What happened to the Vane family?"
"The Vane family?" She blinked, clearly confused. "I don't know any Vane family."
Sebastian's brow furrowed, though he quickly masked it with a calm expression.
"I'll look into it later," he thought. Then, aloud, "You have me now. That's all that matters."
She gave a small nod.
"There's something else I have to tell you," she said softly. "I have a fiancé… or I did. Just yesterday, I caught him with another woman. I know it's not your business, but I don't want to hide anything from you. We haven't broken up officially."
Sebastian's jaw tensed ever so slightly, but he kept his tone composed.
"Do you still love him?"
Abigail shook her head.
"No. I don't want to compete for someone's affection. He can have whoever he wants."
A smile touched Sebastian's lips, and he leaned forward to kiss her cheek.
"Then he belongs to your past. And I hope you'll give me the chance to be your future."
Her cheeks burned.
"Why… why did you kiss me?" she asked, dropping her gaze.
He chuckled gently.
"So innocent," he whispered, brushing his fingers along her cheek. "That wasn't a kiss. It was just a peck."
"It's the same thing," she murmured.
"No, it's not," he replied, his voice rich with amusement. He leaned closer. "This is what a real kiss feels like—"
But before his lips could touch hers, Abigail jerked back, her breath catching.
"I… I'm sorry," she whispered.
Sebastian chuckled and kissed the back of her hand.
"Then eat something first," he encouraged, rising to his feet and beginning to fill her plate with care.
Abigail watched him in stunned silence. Her heart fluttered wildly in her chest.
"Can a man truly be this gentle? Desmond never treated me like this…"
"Eat," Sebastian prompted softly, bringing her back to the moment.
She smiled and nodded. As she reached for a bowl, something caught her eye—a glint of light on her ring finger. She looked closer and gasped softly. A ring. Not just any ring. It sparkled with such brilliance that anyone could tell at a glance it was worth a fortune.
She looked at him with wide, questioning eyes.
"That's a token of my love for you," Sebastian said sincerely. "Please, give me a chance."
Her lips parted, but no words came out. She didn't know what to say.
"This ring… it's not ordinary. And yet, he gave it to me so freely… Should I really consider him?"
"Come now," he coaxed gently. "Eat something before it gets cold. Your health matters to me."
She looked at him once more, then finally picked up her spoon and began to eat, her heart still fluttering like wings in her chest.