My Husband Chose Her Over Me Novel – Chapter 24
Sebastian’s eyes locked with mine for one searing moment before moving to Caden, a silent exchange passing between them that made my skin prickle with apprehension.
Then he turned to leave.
“Sebastian, wait!” I called as he turned sharply, stalking away from the doorway where he’d discovered Caden and me. I pushed away from Caden’s embrace, not sparing him a backward glance as I hurried after Sebastian’s retreating form.
The corridor stretched before us, my heels clicking rapidly against the marble as I tried to catch up. “Sebastian, please! Let me explain!”
He didn’t slow down, shoulders rigid beneath his formal jacket, hands clenched into fists at his sides. I finally managed to outpace him, planting myself directly in his path.
“Move, Elara,” he said, voice tight and controlled despite the storm in his eyes.
“Not until you listen—”
“LEAVE!” The word exploded from him, echoing through the empty corridor. “Just… leave me be.”
I flinched, taking an instinctive step back. In all our interactions, I’d never seen him lose control like this.
The moment the word left his mouth, I watched realization dawn on his face. The fury drained, replaced by immediate regret.
“Elara, I…” he ran a hand over his face. “I apologize. That was inexcusable.”
I nodded stiffly, stepping aside to clear his path. “You’re free to go.”
But he didn’t move. Instead, he stood there, conflict visible in every line of his body. “What I saw—”
“What you saw,” I interrupted, newfound anger bubbling up, “was none of your concern.”
“None of my—” he began, incredulous.
“Yes,” I cut him off again, words tumbling out faster than I could consider them. “I am not yours, Sebastian. I never claimed to be. I’m still legally married to Caden, whether you like that fact or not.”
His eyes widened slightly. “I’m well aware of your marital status.”
“Are you?” I challenged, stepping closer. “Because you’re acting like a jealous lover when you’re nothing but someone who has shown interest in me. Someone I’ve been cordial with. That’s all.”
“I thought we had a connection,” he said quietly.
“Perhaps we did,” I acknowledged. “But as long as I haven’t gotten my marriage annulled, Caden is still my husband. And frankly, I can do whatever I want with him.”
Sebastian’s jaw tightened. “I understand you’re angry—”
“No, I’m not angry,” I said, though my tone betrayed me. “I’m simply stating facts. You have no claim on me. No right to burst in and act outraged.”
“I was concerned for you,” he tried again.
“Concerned?” I laughed, the sound brittle even to my own ears. “Is that what we’re calling it?”
He reached for my hand, but I pulled it away. “Elara, please.”
“I’m sorry if I led you on,” I said, my voice dropping. “But I can’t consider you, not now, not even if Caden and I end up divorcing.”
“You don’t mean that,” he said, reaching for me again. “You’re upset, and rightfully so, but—”
“No,” I cut him short, stepping back. “What I mean is that we might never even get divorced because unlike some, he has never raised his voice at me.” The barb hit its mark; I watched him flinch. “So goodbye, Sebastian.”
I turned on my heel, dignity intact despite the emotional storm raging inside me. I’d made it halfway down the corridor when I nearly collided with Caden, who must have followed at a distance.
We stared at each other, a thousand unspoken words hanging between us. His eyes searched mine, looking for something, permission, perhaps, or forgiveness. But I wasn’t ready to give either. I brushed past him, maintaining the same clipped pace until I reached the stairs that would take me to my chambers.
By the time I closed my bedroom door behind me, the tears I’d been holding back spilled over. I pressed my back against the heavy wood, sliding down until I hit the floor, knees hugged to my chest as sobs wracked my body.
I cried for the girl I’d been, and I cried for the woman I’d become hardened, cautious, wary of trusting anyone fully. I didn’t hear the door open, but suddenly arms were around me, pulling me into a familiar embrace. Caden’s voice was a gentle murmur against my hair as he rocked me slowly.
“I’m sorry,” he whispered. “I’m so sorry, Elara. For everything. For tonight, for the past, for every moment I failed to stand by you.”
I didn’t push him away. I’d spent so long being strong, maintaining my composure in the face of political machinations and personal heartbreak. For just this moment, I allowed myself to be held.
“Why?” I asked when my tears finally subsided, my voice hoarse. “Why did you break things off with Isolde? You were engaged to her.”
He sighed deeply, his chest rising and falling against my cheek. “Because it was a mistake from the beginning. A political alliance that my father arranged, nothing more.”
“But she’s here,” I said, pulling back to look at him. “At the banquet. I saw her.”
“Her family’s still politically powerful,” he said with a shrug that didn’t quite achieve the nonchalance he was aiming for. “They received invitations as a matter of protocol.”
I studied his face, noting the tightness around his eyes. “You’ve been avoiding her.”
“Can you blame me?” he asked with a half-smile that didn’t reach his eyes.
“What happens if you don’t marry her?” I pressed. “There must be repercussions. Your father—”
“Will be furious,” he said. “The alliance will suffer. Trade negotiations may become more difficult.”
“And you’re willing to accept that?” I asked, disbelief coloring my tone. “After everything your family has worked for?”
He looked at me then, really looked at me, his eyes reflecting the soft candlelight that illuminated the room. “I don’t care.”
Two simple words, but they carried the weight of a thousand promises. Three simple syllables that undermined years of political maneuvering and careful alliance-building.
And just like that, I was crying again, tears spilling silently down my cheeks as everything I thought I knew about Caden, about us, about the choices we’d made and the futures we’d planned, shifted once more.
His arms tightened around me, and I didn’t resist.