His Chains My Wings Chapter 12
Alivia turned her head sharply at the sound echoing through the hallway.
Her eyes widened as she noticed two men standing there, their attention unwaveringly fixed on her, completely disregarding Sebastian, who stood protectively at her side.
In that instant, the atmosphere thickened, heavy with unspoken tension.
A sharp pang of fear gripped Alivia’s heart, a visceral reminder of the terror she had endured in her past life. It washed over her like a cold wave, leaving her limbs numb and her breath shallow.
Instinctively, she took a half step back, her back almost colliding with the solid doorframe behind her.
At that very moment, she felt a steady hand pressing gently against her quivering lower back, a small gesture that brought a flicker of reassurance amidst the storm of her emotions.
It was Sebastian.
With a calm confidence, he stepped forward, positioning himself slightly in front of her, a silent barrier between her and the looming threat.
“Don’t be afraid,” he murmured softly, his voice a soothing balm against her rising panic.
Then, with deliberate slowness, he raised his gaze to meet the men’s eyes.
“Gentlemen,” Sebastian began, his tone steady and authoritative, “this is a private residence. Your presence here, without an invitation, constitutes harassment.”
He paused, allowing his words to sink in, his eyes sweeping over the two men with a piercing intensity. “Didn’t Wesley ever teach you that when you’re on someone else’s turf, you should at least display some basic manners?”
The man at the forefront narrowed his eyes, a flicker of defiance in his expression. “Sir, we’re just following orders. Ms. Seddon must come with us.”
Sebastian’s lips curled into a faint smile, one that didn’t quite reach his eyes, a veneer of politeness masking his true feelings. “That’s impossible.”
Alivia lifted her gaze to examine his resolute profile, the lines of his face etched with determination.
With one hand still firmly resting on her back, he deftly reached for his phone with the other, pressing a shortcut key with precision.
“Security center?” he spoke into the device, his voice calm yet commanding. “There are two individuals at my door who seem unaware of the rules. Please ask them to leave immediately. And while you’re at it, could you check their entry records? I’d prefer not to have a repeat of this incident.”
Almost as if on cue, the sound of synchronized footsteps echoed from the far end of the hallway. Three well-equipped private security guards appeared swiftly, their demeanor resolute as they gestured for the two men in black to exit.
The lead man shot a wary glance at Sebastian, who remained calm and composed, a stark contrast to the tension that had just filled the air.
“Let’s go,” the man muttered, his bravado faltering under the weight of Sebastian’s unwavering presence.
The hallway fell silent once more.
Sebastian finally withdrew his gaze, gently releasing his hand from Alivia’s lower back.
He studied her shaken expression, the remnants of fear still flickering in her eyes, and handed her the brown paper bag he had been holding. “It seems my welcome gift arrived just in time. Would you like a cup of hot tea to soothe your nerves, neighbor?”
Alivia took a deep breath, the warmth of the bag grounding her momentarily as she stepped aside to allow him entry.
“Please, come in,” she said, her voice steadier than she felt.
Moving to the open kitchen, she retrieved the teapot and tea leaves, her hands trembling slightly as she spoke. “Mr. Winslow, please have a seat. I’ll make some tea.”
She focused intently on her movements, using the simple act of preparing tea to steady the tempest swirling within her.
As the boiling water cascaded into the teapot, she couldn’t hold back the question that had been gnawing at her mind. “How did you know they were talking about Wesley?”
Her voice felt distant, almost drowned out by the sound of the hot water. “They only mentioned Mr. Pridmore.”
Sebastian met her gaze with unwavering honesty, not shying away from the intensity of the moment.
“Ms. Seddon, you were once a legend in the world of ice skating. Of those who are closely connected to you and could request your return in such a manner, the only one who could be Wesley is the man who stood by your side for nine long years…”
“There’s no need to think of anyone else,” he added, his tone firm yet gentle.
Alivia’s fingers tightened around her teacup, a subtle gesture that betrayed her inner turmoil.
He was aware of her past.
The realization washed over her, a wave of discomfort that made her feel exposed, as if every secret she held was laid bare before him.
Yet, curiously, this sensation of being seen didn’t provoke the aversion she had anticipated. Instead, it offered a strange sense of relief, a comforting acknowledgment of her reality. She fell silent, her gaze dropping to the swirling tea leaves in her cup.
“So, you knew who I was from the very beginning,” she said softly, her voice barely above a whisper.
Sebastian set his teacup down with a deliberate motion. “Yes.”
His honesty was disarming. “From the very first day you walked into my shop with that jewelry box, I recognized you.”
“I know where you come from, what you’ve endured, and what you’re trying to escape.”
“Then why…” she began instinctively, her voice dry and filled with uncertainty.
“Why would I still help you?” Sebastian interjected, completing her thought with a knowing look. “Perhaps it’s because the marks on that jewelry box told me its owner deserves a chance to start anew. And I happen to possess both the ability and the willingness to offer even a small measure of help.”
“I believe that protecting a neighbor’s peace is simply my duty,” he added, his voice firm yet compassionate.
Just then, the sharp trill of Alivia’s phone rang out from the table, slicing through the moment like a knife. An unsettling sense of foreboding washed over her, a premonition that something was amiss.
