Page 31

CHAPTER THIRTY

Elle

The days are blurring together.

Every morning, I wake up with the intention of heading to the boutique, only to be thwarted by Alexander’s meticulously planned interruptions. Cake tastings, venue walk throughs, floral consultations – there’s no end to the list of ‘urgent’ appointments he insists on overseeing.

Each time I bring up work, he waves me off with that infuriatingly smooth dismissal, reminding me that the Sterling-Knight bride has priorities beyond ‘selling handbags’.

It’s enough to make me scream.

I’ve spent so much time pretending to care about table settings and seating charts that I’m beginning to forget who I am.

Seb does his best to keep me sane, but even he can’t always rein in his father. He hovers when he can, his quiet presence a comfort during Alexander’s more controlling moments, but his patience seems as frayed as mine. If not more so. And if Alexander isn’t around, Seb is nowhere to be seen. Ever since the night we slept together, but didn’t sleep together , I swear he’s been avoiding me, unless it’s for the sake of keeping up appearances with his father.

I don’t know what I’ve done wrong, and the extra stress of worrying about that, on top of everything else, is wiping me out.

And so the days drag on, each one more exhausting than the last. It’s been seven days since the engagement announcement, and the wedding is in a week.

I’m in the sitting room, scrolling aimlessly through my phone, when Alexander strides in with his usual air of authority.

“Elle,” he announces, his tone brisk. “We need to finalize the guest list. The invitations must go out by the end of the day.”

I suppress a groan, setting my phone down. “I thought we already went over this.”

Alexander’s eyes narrow. “We did. But there have been...adjustments. Certain names that must be included, others that need to be removed. The Sterling-Knight name commands respect, and the guest list must reflect that.”

Before I can argue, Seb appears in the doorway, his tie slightly askew, his expression a mix of annoyance and exhaustion. “Father, give her a break,” he says, leaning casually against the doorframe. “You’ve been hounding her nonstop since she moved in.”

Alexander turns to Seb, his gaze sharp. “This is not your concern, Sebastian. Elle understands the importance of these preparations.”

Seb’s jaw tightens, and he pushes off the doorframe, crossing the room in a few long strides. “I think we can manage the guest list without treating Elle like she’s part of some corporate takeover.”

I blink at Seb, surprised by the steel in his voice. He’s always been firm with his father, but this feels...different. Like he’s finally drawing a line.

Alexander raises an eyebrow, clearly unimpressed. “This wedding is a reflection of our family. I won’t have it mishandled because the two of you think you’re above a little hard work.”

“Hard work?” I cut in, unable to hold back. “I’ve done nothing but attend appointments and meetings for days. I haven’t been to work since I moved in, and you’ve made it clear that my career is irrelevant compared to this .”

Alexander’s gaze snaps to mine, and for a moment, the room feels impossibly still. Then he speaks, his voice cold and precise. “Your boutique will survive without you, Elle. But this wedding is a once-in-a-lifetime event. Perhaps you should adjust your priorities accordingly.”

Heat rises in my cheeks, and I open my mouth to respond, but Seb beats me to it.

“Enough,” he says sharply, his voice cutting through the tension like a knife. “Elle’s been more than accommodating, Father. It’s one bloody day. It’s time you started treating her like a partner in this, not a pawn.”

Alexander stares at Seb, his expression unreadable, before finally giving a curt nod. “Very well,” he says, his tone clipped. “I’ll handle the guest list myself. But don’t forget, Sebastian – you have a responsibility to this family. Both of you do.”

With that, he turns on his heel and leaves the room, his presence lingering like a storm cloud.

I exhale slowly, the tension in my chest easing slightly. “Thanks,” I say, glancing at Seb.

He gives me a small, wry smile. “Don’t thank me yet. He’s not done with us.”

I nod, knowing he’s right. Alexander doesn’t let go of control easily. But for now, I’ll take the small victory.

Seb sinks into the armchair opposite me, loosening his tie with a tired sigh. “You holding up?” he asks, his tone softer now.

“Barely,” I admit, running a hand through my hair. “I just...I feel like I’m losing myself in all of this. Like I’m disappearing.”

His gaze sharpens, and for a moment, I see the man beneath the carefully polished exterior – the one who cares more than he lets on. “You’re not disappearing, Elle,” he says firmly. “You’re still you. And if my father can’t see that, then that’s his problem, not yours.”

I give him a weak smile, appreciating the sentiment even if it doesn’t quite ease the weight pressing down on me. “Thanks, Seb.”

He nods, his expression unreadable, before standing and heading toward the door. “Take the day,” he says over his shoulder. “Forget about the wedding. Do something for yourself.”

I watch him go, a strange mix of gratitude and frustration swirling in my chest. He means well, but even Seb can’t fully shield me from the whirlwind of expectations that comes with being a Sterling-Knight fiancée.

I take a deep breath, trying to push the thoughts away. For now, I’ll take his advice. I’ll reclaim a piece of myself, even if it’s just for a little while.

I watch Seb head toward the door, his shoulders tense beneath his perfectly tailored shirt, and I feel a pang of something – gratitude, maybe, or longing for something more genuine between us.

“Seb,” I call out before I can stop myself.

He pauses in the doorway, glancing back at me, one brow raised in silent question.

I take a deep breath, feeling uncharacteristically vulnerable. “Spend the day with me,” I say, my voice softer than I intended.

His brow furrows slightly, and he takes a step back into the room. “Elle, you’ve been trying to get away from all of this. From me. It’s why I’ve kept my distance. Why would you want to spend the day together?”

I shrug, trying to sound casual even as my heart pounds. “Maybe I’m tired of fighting every moment. Maybe I just want...to feel normal for a little while.” Maybe I’m lonely and I miss you.

Seb’s expression softens, and after a beat, he nods. “Okay,” he says, his voice low. “What do you want to do?”

I blink, surprised he agreed so easily, but I quickly recover. “No wedding talk. No press. Just something simple. Something real.”

A slow smile tugs at his lips, the kind that’s rare and a little disarming, and his gorgeous eyes twinkle in a way that makes my stomach swoop. “Simple and real, huh? I think I can manage that. Let me change, and we’ll go.”

An hour later, we’re strolling through the city, the crisp autumn air a welcome reprieve from the suffocating opulence of the Sterling-Knight estate. Seb traded his usual bad boy attire for a dark sweater and jeans, paired with a woollen coat. The look is sophisticated and it surprisingly suits him, the dark navy of the coat setting off the bright gold in his eyes. I’m in a cozy knit dress and boots, with my own designer woolen coat, but mine’s cream. For once, we look like regular people, not the couple plastered across gossip columns.

“Coffee first,” I announce as we pass a quaint café. “I need caffeine to survive this date.”

Seb smirks, holding the door open for me. “Date, huh? Didn’t realise this was official.”

I huff in amusement, stepping inside. “If you’re going to spend the day with me, you might as well commit to it.”

He orders for both of us – black coffee for himself, a latte for me, along with a plate of pastries to share. We find a quiet corner by the window, and for a moment, it feels like the rest of the world fades away.

“This is nice,” I admit, sipping my drink.

Seb leans back in his chair, his gaze lingering on me. “It is,” he says, his tone thoughtful. “I can’t remember the last time I did something like this. No plans, no expectations. Just...being.”

I smile faintly, surprised by his honesty. “You should do it more often. It suits you.”

He chuckles softly, shaking his head. “You’re the only person who’d say that to me.”

The rest of the day unfolds in a way that feels almost surreal. We wander through the streets, stopping at little shops and markets. I drag Seb into a second-hand bookstore, the kind with mismatched shelves and that wonderful smell of old pages.

“This,” I declare, holding up a well-worn romance novel with a lurid cover, “is a classic.”

Seb raises an eyebrow, clearly unimpressed. “A classic? Really?”

“Don’t judge a book by its cover,” I shoot back, grinning.

He smirks, but doesn’t argue, letting me buy the book along with a couple of others. I have to wonder where I’ll keep them at his father’s house, because giving us privacy doesn’t seem to be one of Alexander’s top priorities, but I can worry about that later. Right now, the day is too perfect to tarnish.

Later, we stumble upon a small park, and Seb insists on getting us ice cream from a nearby cart. It’s ridiculous in the chilly weather, but I can’t help laughing as he hands me a cone.

“You’re impossible,” I say, shaking my head.

“Impossible, but charming,” he counters, his grin widening.

As the sun dips lower in the sky, painting everything in warm gold, we find ourselves sitting on a bench, the day’s simple pleasures wrapping around us like a cocoon.

“Thank you,” I say quietly, breaking the comfortable silence.

Seb looks over at me, his expression soft. “For what?”

“For this. For...today. It’s been a while since I felt like myself.”

He doesn’t respond right away, his gaze searching mine. “You’re still you, Elle,” he says finally, his voice steady. “Even when everything feels like it’s spinning out of control. Don’t forget that.”

For a moment, I feel like the world slows down, the weight of the past few days easing just a little. I smile, a real one, and Seb returns it, something unspoken passing between us.

“Let’s do this again sometime,” I say, my tone light but genuine.

Seb nods, his smile softening. “Yeah. Let’s.”

“Tomorrow?” I surprise myself by asking hopefully.

Seb pulls a regretful face. “You’re busy tomorrow.”

My own smile falls. “Oh. What is it this time?”

He leans over, wraps an arm around my shoulders and pulls me into him, kissing my temple lightly. My heart races. “You, my dear girl, are going to work.”

“But—”

“It’s all sorted. All of your appointments have been rearranged to outside of your opening hours, and aside from your final dress fitting, you don’t actually need to be present at any of the others if you don’t want to.”

“Bas, how have you arranged all that?”

“Love it when you call me Bas. I hired a wedding planner.”

“I– thank you, Bas.”

“You’re welcome, angel.”

By the time we return to the mansion, the air between us feels lighter, the tension of the past few days replaced by something warmer. I don’t know what will happen in the coming days, but for now, I’m grateful for today – for the reminder that, beneath all the expectations and pressure, there’s still something real between us. Even if it’s only a budding and tentative friendship.