Page 14 of Forever His Favorite (Possessive Billionaires, Precious Sweethearts #3)

Sensing her unease, Sebastian squeezed her hand and rubbed slow circles against her skin.

The woman stopped abruptly in front of them. Her chest rose and fell quickly, her breath unsteady. “You’re finally here!”

Emily blinked, startled, her confusion deepening.

Sebastian’s brows furrowed as he looked at her. “Mom, what’s going on? Why are you rushing like this?”

Camila shook her head, exhaling. “I was waiting at the entrance to receive you both, but I realized I’d forgotten the gifts I prepared for Emily.

I went to fetch them from the safe, and by the time I came back, you had already arrived.

Don’t ask how much I had to run—” she sighed dramatically, “—I haven’t dashed this much in ten years. ”

The tightness in Emily’s chest loosened instantly. Camila’s stern expression from before melted into a gentle smile as she turned her eyes to Emily, and Emily realized—relieved—that the woman wasn’t about to push her out.

Sebastian slipped an arm around Emily’s waist, drawing her closer. “Mom, this is the girl I love. Emily Crawford.”

Emily’s chest fluttered at his words.

Camila’s smile brightened. She reached forward, taking Emily’s hand warmly.

“Hello, Mrs. Graves,” Emily said softly, her voice hesitant.

But Camila’s answer was nothing like what she expected. She reached up, patting Emily’s head with surprising tenderness. “You can call me whatever you like, but I would prefer if you called me Mom. That would make me very happy.”

The stern aura Emily had feared moments ago crumbled completely in that instant. Her heart softened, almost melting.

“…Mom,” she whispered, her cheeks flushing as the word slipped past her lips.

Her cheeks flushed a delicate pink. She turned her gaze shyly toward Sebastian, only to find him already watching her with a look of quiet satisfaction. His lips curved slightly, warmth gleaming in his eyes. The look made her breath catch—such a small thing, yet it seemed to mean the world to him.

Camila squeezed Emily’s hand, her smile warm and reassuring. “Don’t be afraid, Emily. This is your first time in your new home, so it might feel overwhelming. But once you get to know everyone, you’ll get used to it.”

Her tone softened even more. “I have two more sons, but they’re away on business. You’ll meet them when they return to the country.”

Emily nodded quickly, smiling at Camila’s words. “Alright,” she said softly.

Camila’s eyes sparkled, patting her hand again. “Good. Now, let’s not stand out here—it’s windy tonight. Come inside.”

Without hesitation, she looped her arm through Emily’s, guiding her inside with surprising eagerness and unrestrained joy.

Emily allowed herself to be pulled along, her lips curving into a small smile. As they crossed the threshold, she glanced back, her eyes finding Sebastian.

He stood there, watching her with that rare, content smile of his.

***

After leaving the Graves mansion, the car raced down the quiet streets.

Night had already fallen, and the chill of evening wrapped itself around the world, seeping even through the windows.

The backseat was piled high with gifts Camila had insisted on giving them—boxes stacked on top of one another, ribbons glinting faintly under the streetlights.

Even the passenger seat beside the driver was crowded with bags.

Emily rested her head against Sebastian’s shoulder, her breathing soft. His arm curled protectively around her, their fingers laced together, while his other hand scrolled through documents on the tablet resting on his lap.

After a long stretch of silence, his deep voice broke through, gentle and low. “Are you sleepy?” He leaned down slightly, glancing at her.

Emily shook her head, her lips brushing the fabric of his shirt. “No,” she mumbled, lifting her head just enough to meet his eyes. And then, without hesitation, she leaned closer and pressed her lips against his.

Surprise flickered across his face, then melted into warmth. His eyes lit up, crinkling at the corners as he smiled into the kiss.

“Should we stop the car right here, baby?” he murmured huskily against her mouth, his voice edged with both warning and desire.

Emily’s lips curled into a small, secretive smile. She dropped back against his shoulder, grinning.

A moment later, he bent his head and pressed a kiss to the crown of her head, lingering there before tilting his cheek against her hair.

Before long, the ride ended in front of Emily’s apartment building. They stepped out together, the cold night air rushing to meet them, and walked inside. Emily walked in first and began climbing the stairs, her steps light, but Sebastian hurried after her, catching her hand mid-way.

“Why wouldn’t you wait for me?” he asked, his voice threaded with playful reproach.

She glanced back at him with a smile, her fingers tightening around his as they climbed the stairs together.

But when they reached her floor, Emily’s steps faltered. She froze.

Her breath caught. The entire hallway leading to her door was covered in letters. Hundreds of letters, taped in rows, layers upon layers of papers clinging to the wood and plaster. They clung to the walls, even her apartment door—every inch plastered with open letters.

Emily’s heart sank as she neared her apartment door and reached for one, tugging it free. Her chest tightened when she saw the familiar handwriting.

Lucas.

The first letter read: “When you first saw me, you thought it was by accident. But I had seen you long before you saw me. I fell for you first… I fell for you before you even knew I existed."

Her throat tightened as she reached for another.

"Every time you looked at someone else, jealousy burned through me. I wanted your eyes on me, and only me, even when you didn’t know it."

She picked up the third letter, her hands trembling slightly.

"I regret every second I stayed silent."

Her chest tightened with each word, each confession bleeding through the ink. And still, there were more—hundreds of them, stretching across the corridor, her door suffocated beneath his confessions.

Emily took a shaky step back, colliding with Sebastian’s chest. His hand immediately came to rest at her stomach, steadying her. His body was tense, his jaw tight, every muscle drawn taut.

“Don’t worry,” he muttered, voice low and controlled. “I’ll have it all cleared away tonight.”

Emily turned her face toward him, searching his expression. She gave him a small nod, her lips parting as if she wanted to say something but couldn’t find the words.

Then, with unsteady fingers, she entered her password at the door and stepped inside her apartment.

Outside the door, Sebastian didn’t follow Emily in. He stayed rooted to the spot, his eyes scanning the sea of letters plastered across the walls and door. Each word he read made his blood boil hotter, his jaw tightening with every line.

One particular letter caught his eye.

“When Dillon said over the phone that you were in a car accident, I regret that I didn’t think as much of it as I should have.

Even if you weren’t injured at all, I should have been more worried about your safety instead of uttering those useless words to Dillon—asking him to tell me when you die.

The most regretful words I have ever spoken in my entire life.

Words I will remember until the day I die.

I am filled with guilt, Emily, more than I can ever express to you in words. ”

Sebastian’s fingers curled into a death grip, his knuckles white, veins straining against his skin.

His eyes slid to another letter.

“I didn’t believe you when you told me Amelia stole from you—even though I knew you were a talented designer.

That doubt destroyed everything. I still remember those first three years when you created magnificent designs.

But as soon as Amelia entered the company, the first time you told me they were stolen, I didn’t believe you.

After that, you slowly stopped designing…

little by little, everything faded away.

And I didn’t even notice. I can’t believe we lived under the same roof for five years, and yet I was blind to your pain.

Instead of supporting you, I grew frustrated and cold when you needed me most.”

Sebastian’s jaw clenched. His entire body shook with the effort it took not to tear every letter down with his bare hands.

The sound of the door opening snapped him out of his trance.

Emily stepped out, her hand brushing against the letters taped to the door.

A few slipped free, fluttering to the ground, but she didn’t so much as glance at them.

Her heels crushed the pages underfoot as she walked straight toward Sebastian.

His heart settled slightly at her indifference, though the storm inside him didn’t calm. Without a word, they left the apartment together and started down the stairs.

Emily carried folders in her arms—old designs she had taken back with her. Sebastian reached over and took them from her, his hand brushing against hers as they descended the stairs together.

As they stepped outside the building, Emily suddenly halted, her steps freezing.

Her gaze froze on the familiar car parked in front of the building.

Lucas stepped out.

Sebastian stopped with her, his eyes immediately narrowing.

“What the hell is he doing here again?” Emily whispered, her voice laced with exhaustion.

Sebastian turned his head toward her, jaw tight. “Do you want to talk to him?”

“No,” Emily answered instantly, her voice firm. “I don’t have anything to say to him.”

Far ahead, Lucas slammed his car door shut. “Emily?” he called out her name, his voice echoing down the street as he jogged toward them.

Sebastian’s expression darkened. He reached into his pocket. “I’ll call someone to get rid of him—”

But Emily’s hand shot out, grasping his wrist to stop him. She shook her head firmly. “No. If I don’t face him today, he’ll just keep chasing after me.”

Sebastian couldn’t stand it. The thought of Emily giving Lucas even a sliver of attention twisted something raw and ugly in his chest. His jaw tightened, and without another word, he turned away, his shoulders stiff, refusing to look.

Lucas, holding a large decorated cake in his hands, began walking toward Emily.

Emily’s voice cut through the silence. “If you have anything to say, then just stand right there and say it. Don’t come closer.”

Lucas hesitated, his steps faltering. He stood right in front of her. Dillon trailed right behind him.

Lucas lifted the cake slightly, a hopeful glimmer in his eyes. The cream-covered cake sparkled faintly with the soft glow of tiny lights embedded in the transparent box. The frosting was thick, vanilla and milk—sweet and heavy. A cake that looked beautiful, but to Emily, it already felt sickening.

“I was coming here every day to meet you,” he said, his voice low but earnest. “But I couldn’t see you. I didn’t want to disturb you at your office so I kept waiting till you would come here.”

“I don’t live here anymore,” Emily answered calmly. Her voice carried finality. “I live with my husband. At his home.”

The word ‘husband’ hit Lucas like a knife.

His body went rigid, his hopeful expression collapsing.

His eyes darted toward Sebastian’s turned back, and though he tried to mask it, his lips curled with bitter disgust. He tried to tame it, tried to school his features, but the monstrous flash in his eyes gave him away before he forced himself to soften his expression again.

“I made this myself. For you. Just taste it, please.” He extended the cake toward her, his bandaged hands trembling slightly. “It’s the first time I ever baked. I know you like sweet things, so I tried. If it isn’t good, you don’t have to—”

“Yes,” Emily cut him off sharply. “I don’t like it.”

Lucas’s smile faltered, sliding into something hollow. Slowly, he lowered the cake. “It’s alright. I’ll try again. I’ll make something else for you and bring it tomorrow.”

He turned, stepping away when her voice stopped him cold. “No. I don’t want anything from you. Just looking at you ruins my appetite.”

He turned back to face her, his expression shattering piece by piece.

“You don’t have to do this.” Emily’s eyes held his with a quiet, merciless clarity. “All these actions… all these gestures… they only make you look more pathetic.”