Chapter 147 Hijacked
Joel tightened his grip on Madeline’s hand as he turned down Lucas’ invitation, but he blew the man a quick kiss. “Goodnight, Uncle Lucas. I’m still young, so I’ll be sleeping in Mom’s room. I promise I’ll bunk in with you when I’m older!”
Lucas laughed when he saw the little guy scurrying away with Madeline as if he was terrified that he would be dragged into Lucas’ room.
Presently, he draped an arm around Sebastian and leaned all his weight on him like a squid-like creature. He then said, “Come on, Sebastian—tell me your grand secret to having such a splendid life! You didn’t have to marry or do the deed, but all of a sudden, the heavens decided to bless you with two adorable and brilliant sons who look like cherubs! Where’s my share of good luck, huh?”
“Envious of me, are you?” Sebastian cast him a sideways glance. “In that case, why don’t I get Dad to bring you over to a sperm bank and you can sign up as a donor? Maybe if you’re generous with your donation, you’ll end up with a few cherubs of your own.”
“Forget it,” Lucas said, shuddering at the idea. He was suddenly amused and added, “Hey, I remember how you ignored Dad for two months after he made you donate your sperm. I felt sorry for you then, but in hindsight, Dad had really impressive foresight. As always, his decision turns out for the best!”
“Oh, shut up.” Sebastian gave him a look of mock disgust. “You and your flattery irk me out.”
“You know I’m right!” Lucas smiled devilishly. “Goodness, my oldest nephew is so bright and handsome; it just melts my heart to see him.”
“What are you thinking?” Sebastian raised an inquisitive brow at his brother. “You don’t sound like you’re satisfied with just looking at him.”
“Oh, don’t get me wrong.” Lucas winked teasingly. “See, I’d love to have my nephew as a son-in-law, but that’s just a fanciful thought. Can’t have a daughter without having a girlfriend first, right? Unlike you, I didn’t donate my semen.”
Sebastian looked decidedly exasperated and murderous at the same time. “Scram!”
“Right, I’ll be off to bed! Goodnight!” With that, Lucas dashed out of sight.
“We’ll be off to bed, too, Sebastian.” After observing the amusing exchange between their brothers, Caleb and Kieran rose from the couch, ready to call it a day.
Sebastian hummed in response, and he glanced at Caleb as he said, “Remember to clear your schedule for tomorrow afternoon, Caleb.”
Caleb nodded. “I will.” Not like you’d let me forget about it, he thought as he recalled the texts and calls from Sebastian reminding him about the appointment.
This was the first time he had seen Sebastian so dedicated to taking care of a woman’s wellbeing. He was starting to think that the arrangements Sebastian made between himself and Madeline were not just for the sake of the children, but out of his actual affections for her.
What will Ann do if Sebastian truly has feelings for Madeline?
When he saw that Sebastian had gone up the stairs, Caleb fished out his phone and pulled up Ann Evans’ contact. Then, he sent her a text that read, ‘Ann, are you planning to come back to Dusktown anytime soon?’
Ann’s reply was almost instantaneous. ‘I’m not sure. Why? Did something happen, Caleb?’
He hesitated for a brief second before he typed, ‘I don’t know if you’ve heard, Ann, but Sebastian has two kids now.’
It took only seconds for Ann to call him on the phone after she saw the text. He sighed and put the call through. Then, he pressed his phone to his ear as he greeted slowly, “Hey, Ann.”
“Caleb, was that some kind of a joke?” Ann demanded nervously. “What do you mean Sebastian has two kids? How did that happen?”
“I’m telling the truth…” Caleb began to explain all that had happened recently.
After hearing the whole story, Ann was shell-shocked. “How is that even possible? How could something like this happen? This is way too coincidental for comfort. It must be a conspiracy!”
Caleb paused for a moment, then said, “Ann, I think Sebastian may actually have feelings for Madeline, so…” So maybe you should forget about him. The words were on the tip of his tongue and close to rolling past his lips, but he couldn’t bring himself to say them.
Anyone familiar with Ann and Sebastian would know about her long-time crush on him. However, she had never confessed her feelings for him, and he had always been cold and distant toward her, as though her presence or the lack thereof did not concern him in the slightest. That in itself was solid proof that he did not reciprocate her affections.
Ann hadn’t told anyone that she liked Sebastian, and Caleb didn’t think it was his place to be blunt with her.
That said, he liked to think that she was smart enough to understand what he had implied earlier. Although she did understand, that didn’t mean she could accept it.
She and Sebastian had grown up together. She had been in love with him for as long as she could remember, and her feelings for him had not faded with time.
She even went abroad for her studies because her mother had told her that distance made the heart grow fonder. If Ann had remained by Sebastian’s side, then he would only ever see her as the little girl from their childhood, and it was hard for him to think of her as a grown woman, much less a romantic partner.
As such, Ann’s mother had sent her abroad for two years and told her to work on herself so that she could become a world-weary woman. Ann was also advised to keep minimal contact with Sebastian so that the memory of her would slowly fade from his mind. That way, when two years were up, she would return to Dusktown as a beautiful and intelligent woman who could present herself in a new light before him.
Perhaps then he would think of her as different from the girl in his memories; he might even fall for her and grow so in love with her that he would ask for her hand in marriage.
While Ann and Sebastian had grown up together, he had no feelings for her whatsoever, and he treated her the same way he would to a stranger.
She was acutely aware of how irksome she would seem to him if she were to stay and pester him relentlessly. If that had been the case, then her chances of marrying him would go down the drain.
As such, she would much rather leave the country as her mother had suggested and work on herself while abroad, hoping that any memory of her would fade from his mind. That way, when she made a glorious comeback two years later, he might finally be stunned by her beauty and accomplishments.
Following that, she had forced herself to leave Dusktown and got out of Sebastian’s sight.
To achieve the results her mother had told her about, she had lived the last two years in loneliness and agony. She had even cut off all contact with Sebastian, and the last time she spoke to him or texted him had been over a year ago.
She was halfway through her two-year stay abroad. If she held on for another ten months, she could go back to the country and be reunited with him. She had spent all this time honing different skills and trying to become a better version of herself. She studied well and picked up a variety of hobbies. She even went to the gym and took care of her looks. She wanted to go back to the country and astound Sebastian with her transformation. Then, he would view her in a new light, be stunned by her, fall in love with her, and eventually marry her.
Alas, before these two years were up, she got a call from Caleb telling her that Sebastian had two illegitimate children with some random woman, and in order to give them a proper background, he had decided to sign a marriage certificate with that woman.
Ann thought she might go out of her mind.
What was the point of me leaving Dusktown and staying away from Sebastian for over a year then? She had tried so hard to make him forget the old her so that she could make a glorious return to Dusktown and wow him. Her plans of impressing him, making him fall in love with her, and marrying him were now hijacked!
She had loved Sebastian for over ten years, and she didn’t even want to think of him as a brotherly type to keep the hopes of a romantic relationship with him alive. She hadn’t even dared to tell him that she loved him.
Right now, Caleb had as good as told her that she would never get to tell Sebastian she loved him. No, this can’t be! I will not stand for this! Sebastian is mine only!
With that in mind, Ann took a deep breath and said, “I’m booking my ticket home right now.”
