“Karl!”
Sébastien called his name.
He rushed after him.
His eyes settled on me briefly.
“Sorry.”
I heard him whisper before he bolted out of the room.
The door slammed shut.
The noise repeatedly sounded in my ears.
I slowly reached out, fingers tracing the line on my cheek while my eyes remained fixed on the closed door.
The room fell silent.
No sound.
No one.
All alone.
I glanced at the table filled with many untouched dishes.
My fingers turned cold.
Silence.
Everywhere was silent.
For a second, I couldn’t understand what had happened.
Then, the humiliation came.
Heavy.
Stinging.
I could barely breathe.
****************
SÉBASTIEN
“Karl, please wait.”
I called, grabbing his hand to stop him.
Karl moved, forcefully throwing my hand.
“Don’t touch me, Sébastien.”
I rubbed my forehead.
“It was only one night, Karl.
We never tried anything again after that night.”
“I also didn’t know you were coming back.”
Honestly, I always thought he would never return.
After he left so many years ago, I even thought he might have created a family over there…
If I knew, I wouldn’t…
I really wouldn’t have done what I did.
But excuses could only be excuses.
“I’m sorry.”
Karl covered his face.
My heart bled with his sobs.
“No, Sébastien.
You did, again.”
I raised a brow.
“No…”
“You did.” He said sharply.
“That night in front of the bathroom.
You could have gotten a room if I wasn’t around.”
He laughed bitterly.
“You need to see what you looked like back then…
Like a starved beast ready to pounce on its prey.”
My eyes widened.
My lips parted, ready to deny.
Yet, I couldn’t.
“You clearly desire him, Sébastien, and also, you don’t have to cheat to be guilty physically.”
“You cheated.
Even days before our wedding…
you still cheated.”
Desired him?
Elian?
How could that be?
After that night, not once had he crossed my mind sexually.
Especially after Karl returned, Elian had become nothing more than a benefactor.
Someone who helped me achieve my dream of entering the construction circle.
I’d never touch him again.
Yet, I couldn’t deny it.
Words rolled to my tongue, words of denial, of persuasion, but none of them made it out.
Because somewhere within me…
it felt like Karl was right.
I’d cheated.
Emotionally.
I cheated.
I betrayed Karl.
Our love.
Everything we shared.
Watching as Karl cried before me, my heart roared in pain.
My chest tightened abruptly, and pain coursed through my veins.
“I need some time alone, Sébastien.” He murmured, turned around, and left.
I stared at his back.
His trembling shoulders.
The loneliness that back portrayed.
My fingers clenched.
Nails digging into my flesh.
I shouldn’t…
follow him.
I stood rooted in place, unable to make a proper decision, as it felt like my mind had gone blank.
My phone rang.
Checking, I realized it was Leo.
“Hello?” Thick.
My voice was foreign even to myself.
“Sébastien, where are you?
Mr Cassian is in the office waiting for you.”
“Oh.” I breathed slowly.
“I’m on my way.”
“Alright.” This chapter was taken from g.com without permission.
I ended the call, got into my car, and left the restaurant.
Karl…
how was he?
I should have followed him.
I should have run after him.
But…
perhaps he needed his privacy?
“Damn it.”
I’d never been the type to put myself in awkward situations.
No, I’ve always been cautious.
Not once had I ever done anything against my conscience.
Yet, for once.
Just once, when I decided to let loose and have a go with an omega…
It failed.
It failed so terribly.
My fingers tightened around the wheel.
Maybe I shouldn’t have visited that bar that night.
Maybe I shouldn’t have looked at Elian too deeply.
Maybe…
Heck.
I parked the car and got out.
My feet faltered.
I froze.
I wasn’t in the company.
Raising my head to the familiar building before me, my fingers involuntarily curled.
I lowered my head briefly, swallowed the heaviness in my throat, and stepped forward.
He might be home.
I should talk to him and apologize.
As Karl said, I had indeed betrayed our love.
I had been too stupid.
I had been too…
irresponsible.
He deserved none of what I did to him.
Knock.
Once.
Twice.
No response.
“Karl?”
No response.
I knocked again and waited.
Still the same.
Panicked, I pressed the passcode.
*LOCKED*
I gasped lightly, staggering backward.
No.
Karl wouldn’t do this.
I turned around and rushed back to my car.
Starting the car, I drove down to our new apartment; the apartment we’d prepared for our marriage.
I opened the door.
Yet, Karl wasn’t in the sitting room.
He wasn’t waiting for me as he used to.
He wasn’t in the bathroom either.
Not even in the bedroom or kitchen.
My heart sank.
A terrible feeling crept up to my chest.
I shook my head abruptly and ran out again.
To his company.
To his parents’ house.
Karl was gone.
He was nowhere to be found.
I stood beside my car, staring at myself through the window.
My wretched reflection stared back at me.
Messy hair.
Red eyes.
Grim face.
Horrible.
I had been a really horrible person.
I covered my face and laughed bitterly.
How could I expect Karl to wait for me?
How could I expect him to stay around for me to find him?
Even now, I had no idea where he was.
I had no idea whether he was waiting for me somewhere, expecting me to find him.
I really had no idea how Karl was or where he could have gone.
Pathetic.
A scum.
That was who I had always been.
I claimed to love him.
I said he was the only one I had ever loved in my life…
I closed my eyes and breathed shakily.
RING
My heart skipped a beat.
I quickly brought out the phone to check.
Leo.
My lips tightened.
I answered the call.
“Leo, find Karl’s whereabouts for me.”
“Sébastien.
Mr Cassian is waiting.”
“Do what I said.
Find his whereabouts.
I need to know where he is.”
A meeting with Mr Cassian right now would be a disaster.
I couldn’t do it.
I needed to find Karl.
I drove down the street, eyes flickering to the side now and then.
Honestly, I had no idea what I was doing.
Karl wouldn’t be by the roadside.
He wouldn’t stand around in public.
With my knowledge of him, he should be in a private place at the moment.
There was no way he would stand around.
Yet, I couldn’t stop myself from searching, hoping I would see him.
The fear and anxiousness twisted my stomach, making me feel uncomfortable all over.
I checked the time.
Two hours.
Every single place we’d visited since he came back had been checked.
Karl was nowhere.
It was like he had disappeared.
Where could he be?
Damn it.
I closed my eyes and rested my head on the wheels___ I should have followed him.
I shouldn’t have let him leave alone.
Ring.
Leo.
“Found him?” My voice had turned hoarse.
“Yes.
He’s at the airport.”
My breath hitched.
Airport.
Karl…
he was leaving.
“Alright.”
I started the car, driving at max speed toward the airport.
Sweat formed on my forehead, dripping down my face.
‘Please, Karl.
Please.’
Anxiety gripped me, leaving me trembling as I tried to reach the airport faster.
Karl’s crying face wouldn’t stop flashing through my mind.
Then, the pictures he showed me on his phone.
My eyes reddened.
I blinked, increasing the speed even more.
I had to get to the airport as soon as possible.
“Are you there?”
Leo’s voice came through the phone.
“Yes.
Where is he?”
Silence.
My heart fell.
“Leo, where is he?” My voice grew lower.
“Sébastien…
he’s…”
“Speak!”
“He’s gone.”
My body involuntarily trembled, turning cold and exhausted.
Screech.
The car stopped abruptly.
I jerked, slamming my head on the wheels.
The pain seemed to lessen the trembling.
I ended the call with Leo and called Karl.
The call rang for a long time.
My heart raced with each sound from the phone.
“Hello?”
My eyes widened.
“Karl,” I called, voice filled with urgency.
“Where are you?”
Silence.
I ran my fingers through my hair, pulling on it.
“I’m sorry, Karl.
I’m really sorry.”
“Can you give me a chance to make it up to you?
I promise, I’ll never betray you again.”
Laughter.
Cold.
Sad.
My heart broke.
“No, Sébastien.
I won’t.”
I closed my eyes.
“I won’t come back…
I can’t stay with you anymore.”
“I can’t marry a man who wouldn’t hesitate to betray me.
I won’t marry a man who would never be contented with having me alone.”
“Sébastien, you know I’ve never been the type to support a polygamous home.
I won’t marry you…
and I’m gone.”
“Don’t look for me anymore.”
“Karl…”
“Goodbye, Sébastien.”
The call ended.
My phone dropped.
The loud sound echoed darkly in the car.
My eyes dimmed.