Two years ago…
Elizabeth
Okay. This is it.
I decided to take Sebastian out today—my treat. For all the good things I've been benefiting from him, I figured it was time for a little payback. Kind of like a second-date gesture, and apparently, he felt a little shy about it.
We argued at first when I told him we were going to the amusement park. "What's amusing about it?" he asked, brow furrowed.
"You won't know until you find out," I shot back, grinning.
It was obvious he hadn't been to places like this before—or maybe he had, but he definitely wasn't prepared for the vibe today.
So, I dragged him along in his car to the spot we're at now. The moment we stepped in, it was clear he was new here. I didn't tease him; I didn't push. I didn't want to embarrass him more than he already was.
He moved stiffly, shyly, eyes taking in everything as if it were alien.
And then he admitted it, blurting out, "Come on, honey. I'm not used to this kind of place."
I stayed right by his side, lacing my fingers with his. "It's the amusement park, Seb. A place for fun. Don't tell me this is the first time in your life you've actually been to one of these."
He sighed, a little embarrassed, a little resigned. "Obviously, it is."
And my heart sank. "Oh, I see. I'm so sorry about that. You've really missed out."
He really had. I couldn't compare his experiences to my own childhood memories. "My mom was busy with college, my grandparents buried in politics… blah, blah, blah. I never really got the chance to live a normal life like you might have."
"Awww," I murmured, genuinely pitying him. "I do understand how boring and dull your childhood must have been. But guess what? Today, you're going to find out just how much fun a girlfriend can make life. I'll make you love it here."
He snorted. "You want to spoil me."
"Just like you've been spoiling me," I shot back with a grin, secretly plotting my mischief for the day.
The wind played with his long dark hair as he looked around the vast open park. Good thing he wasn't wearing a bandana today. "So… you used to come here all the time?"
"Not really," I said, admiring the way the sunlight glinted off his features. "But when I was in Brazil, I got into all sorts of mischief on outings. Don't blame me—I was just a wild, cheeky farm girl when it came to fun. I first tried the carousel and water rides when I was four."
He chuckled. "You're really adventurous."
"It's just one lifetime, Seb," I said, smiling. "So I try to spend mine chasing happiness. You should do it too."
He shook his head. "Tsk. Nah."
I slipped his hands from his pockets and held it in mine as I gave him my best puppy eyes. "Come on, baby. Show me your world—and let me explore my vibes in it."
"It's not interesting," he murmured, unimpressed by my antics.
"You are interesting," I told him softly, hoping he'd really hear it.
"You think?" he asked, blankly, almost hopefully.
I nodded, grinning from ear to ear. "I've tasted you, baby. I can confess it—just a little fun won't hurt a fly."
He groaned, rubbing a hand over his face. "Oh God, Elizabeth. You're as crazy as you are in bed."
Now, he thinks.
"Nope," I said, twitching my lips. "I think I'm even crazier than—hey! It's Newsboys!"
Damn, someone should've told me there was a concert happening here in the park with my favorite band!
"Who the hell are Newsboys?" Too bad Seb was completely out of the vibe zone.
I didn't blame him for not knowing my favorite band. After all, we were still figuring each other out—even after a million… extracurricular activities in the past year.
"Seb, look!" I tilted his head toward the direction of the screaming crowd. "It's them on stage!"
He lifted my hands off his chin, brows creased. "Yeah, I see some guys there. So? Why are you so excited?"
Damn this guy. Does he have to be oblivious to everything fun?
"They're my favorite band… and they're gospel singers too!" I squealed, barely holding back my excitement. "Come on, let's watch! It's my first time at their concert. I've been dying to buy tickets to fly to America just to see them live!"
Sebastian froze when I grabbed his wrist and practically dragged him along. "Honey, we—"
"Shut up and let's go get some tickets!" I interrupted, pulling him forward.
We reached the main entrance, and I booked two tickets. Sebastian tried to pay, but I waved him off. "It's still my treat. Besides, you need to let me spend my money too."
The crowd was insane—like grains of sand in a desert, screaming, singing, hands waving in the air. The music was so loud my ears buzzed, but I didn't care.
Sebastian hung back, clearly shy in this sea of people—so different from the elegant, controlled places he usually frequented. I kept close to him, hand in his, feeling him sulk at first before slowly loosening up as the music hit him.
Michael Tait's voice soared over the crowd, carrying all the gospel vibes. Just listening to him, I felt the music lift my soul—like he could make people give their lives to Christ with the sheer power of his voice.
I was too busy dancing, swaying my hips, and singing along to notice Sebastian watching me. His gaze… it was intense, like he'd never seen this side of me before—my real, unfiltered happiness.
I didn't care what he thought. This was me—the real me. Excited, alive, unstoppable when my soul felt free.
I wrapped his arms around my hips from behind, rocking him gently as Newsboys hit their track One Shot. The crowd went wild, and I screamed along with them. Sebastian stayed mostly still, eyes on me, absorbing every move, every laugh, every tiny piece of my joy.
Still vibing, I looped my arms around his neck, pressing our foreheads together, giggling. He leaned in, thinking I wanted a kiss. I just smiled—and then spun around, twerking just enough for him to see, watching his jaw drop in disbelief and amusement.
Damn, I could practically hear him curse under his breath. I knew what he was thinking. If only we were alone somewhere quiet, he'd have devoured me by now.
When the groove ended and we strolled through the park, he confessed softly, "I didn't know you were such a good dancer… and had such a beautiful voice. Wow. You amazed me today."
I laughed. "Guess you were judging a book by its cover—thinking that with my strong Christianity gene, I'd never have any dancing skills. Besides, our story started with me as your pianist, not your solo artist."
"I swear, you have a lovely voice," he said again, a grin tugging at his lips. "You almost set me on fire when you kept dancing—rocking your ass on me."
I burst into laughter, and he continued, "It's actually my first time hearing you sing along to something. Why choose fashion designing over music?"
He was funny, making me laugh sheepishly.
"Sewing is my passion, Seb," I said simply. "My mom taught me, and I'm even better than her."
"I like a woman who isn't a liability. Every man respects a hardworking woman," he said.
My cheeks flushed pink. "Oh, please… don't flatter me."
"It's the truth," he said, and I could tell he meant it.
"You're serious?" I asked, wincing slightly.
He stopped walking. "Back then, my mom was desperate for me to get married. She'd set me up on blind dates with her friends' daughters. I didn't date… and you're my first real girlfriend. Every other woman in my past? Nothing but hook-ups and nightstands."
I swallowed hard. "I understand."
"The women… they weren't after me for me. Just my looks, my wealth. None cared about who I really was, even though I wasn't ready for a relationship. Most of the hook-ups stole from me—including the girls my mom introduced. Sex was all they wanted, and in the mornings, my wallet, watch, credit cards… everything would be gone. And they'd disappear too."
I found the tale fascinating and couldn't resist asking questions. "You didn't hunt them down?"
I knew Sebastian could track someone with just a snap of his fingers. If he could research my background overnight, how much easier would it be to find anyone else?
He shrugged. "No. Why should I? I have more than enough for myself. I just let them have it."
I grinned, patting his shoulder like a proud mother. "That's how brave you are."
We stayed quiet for a while, simply staring into each other's eyes.
Then his deep voice broke the silence. "You're different."
I chuckled, amused. "I'm a woman… they're women too. What's the difference?"
"Yes, you're a woman, I agree," he said, nodding. "But you're not a slut. Not a bandit. Not selfish or cruel. You're you. Beautiful, hardworking, supportive, brave, caring, respectful, low-tempered, joy-giving, funny, heartwarming, kindhearted, prayerful, entertaining… everything a man could want in a woman."
Awww. All of that—for me? Only me?
I felt myself melt under his gaze. I stood on my toes and kissed him. "Oh God, Seb… you're too much," I whispered, caressing his chin. "And you're wonderful too… my man." I took his hand in mine. "Come on, let me treat you to some fun."
Amusement parks were all about fun and thrills, and we dove in headfirst. Everything was new to him, and I loved it.
We started with the roller coaster—I call it the adrenaline junkie's ride. Then the Ferris wheel. Damn, Sebastian was mortified at first. It was the first time I'd seen him frightened—even a little exhilarated—by something so simple.
Crazy, right? I know.
We indulged in classic park treats—cotton candy, funnel cakes, popcorn, corn dogs. Grabbed ice cream and cold sodas too. Sebastian was still new to the whole vibe, but I was thrilled to see excitement slowly light up in him.
And he was liking it.
We snapped photos at iconic spots in the park, playing with Snapchat filters, and even tried some fun photo booths.
Then came the games: ring toss, balloon darts, basketball hoops, whack-a-mole—you name it. This wasn't just fun for me; it was fun for him too. I could see a side of Sebastian I'd never noticed before—excited, happy from the inside, letting loose.
Sometimes, life isn't just about sex or deep conversations. Sometimes it's about sheer, unadulterated fun. And this… this was a thriller.
We started winning prizes left and right, thanks mostly to Sebastian. His aim was incredible—flawless. I failed a few times, but he kept hitting targets like he was born for it. Even the guy running the games looked amazed at our precision.
We cleared the easy prizes first: stuffed animals, keychains, small figurines, stickers, pins, slinkies, bouncy balls, candies… so many that my arms were overflowing. I ended up donating some to the kids watching, who squealed with delight.
Then we moved on to the moderate difficulty games. I teased Sebastian, telling him he'd fail miserably. He just laughed, confident, and then—bam—he started winning eye-popping prizes: medium-sized stuffed animals, plush toys, branded hats, t-shirts, sunglasses, mini drones, backpacks.
It was almost unfair how good he was. And watching him have so much fun… well, I couldn't stop grinning.
I kept gifting the prizes to the kids watching us, each of them squealing a big "thank you!" and wrapping me in bear hugs. Sebastian watched, amazed at how freely I shared, clearly not expecting it from me. After all, he once called me a giver—and I was proving it.
"That's generous of you," he said, pressing a quick peck to my lips as the crowd began to disperse.
I hugged him tightly, burying my face in his chest, cheeks warm. "I told you it would be fun here."
"Of course. You made my day," he chuckled, kissing the top of my head.
I lifted my face so he could plant a soft kiss on my forehead.
"Mamusiu, chcę dużego misia! (Mommy, I want the big teddy.)"
A tiny voice from behind us made us turn.
"Nie, synu. To wystarczy na dzisiaj. (No, son. That's enough for today.)"
The brunette-haired woman was speaking gently to her little boy, maybe four or five years old. I didn't understand a word—they were speaking Polish—but I couldn't help smiling at the tender way mother and son interacted.
"Mamusiu…proszę, to takie słodkie. Lubię to. (Mommy…please, it's so cute. I like it.)" The boy pouted, lips wobbling. My heart ached a little for him.
"Gerald, bez wymagających, dobrze? Chodźmy do domu. (Gerald, no demanding, okay? Let's go home.)"
"Ale mamusiu… (But mommy….)" His lips trembled. I could see he was close to tears.
"Chcę tego… (I want it…)" he whispered.
"Gerald, dostaniemy to, kiedy następnym razem przyjdziemy, dobrze? (Gerald, we'll get it next time, okay?)" the woman reassured him, her voice soft and patient.
Even though I didn't understand their words completely, I felt the warmth and care radiating from the tiny exchange.
"Nie… teraz. (No… now.)"
"Gerald—"
I blinked in surprise as Sebastian stepped out of our embrace and approached the situation.
"Hej, maleńka. (Hey, little one.)" He crouched down to the boy's level, a warm smile on his face. "Jesteś zbyt przystojny, żeby płakać. Co to jest? (You're too handsome to cry. What's the matter?)"
They spoke in Polish, smooth and fluid, and I just crossed my arms to watch, fascinated.
The little boy sniffled as Sebastian gently wiped away his tears. "Chcę misia. (I want the teddy.)" He pointed toward the big transparent case holding a single enormous stuffed bear.
Ah, so that was what had triggered his tears.
Sebastian followed the boy's gaze. "Och, ten duży facet tam? (Oh, that big guy over there?)"
The boy nodded eagerly. "Tak! (Yes!)" His eyes sparkled, hopeful and wide.
"W porządku, trzymaj się, kiedy pójdę po to, dobrze? (Alright, you hold on while I go get it, okay?)"
"W porządku. (Okay.)" There was hope shining in the boy's eyes as Sebastian moved to play the last game for the prize.
With just a snap of his fingers, he won—and handed the giant teddy to the boy. "Proszę bardzo. Szczęśliwy teraz? (Here you go. Happy now?)"
"Tak! (Yay!)" The boy squealed, jumping up and down, hugging the teddy tightly. "Dziękuję panu. (Thank you, sir.)" And to my delight, he wrapped his little arms around Sebastian in a tight hug.
I noticed the priceless smile on the mother's face. "Dziękuję bardzo, panie. Mój syn potrafi czasami być naprawdę niepokojący. (Thank you so much, sir. My son can be really troublesome sometimes.)"
Sebastian straightened, patting the boy's head gently. "Dzieci są darami od Boga, a nie kłopotami. Poza tym masz przystojnego syna. (Kids are gifts from God, not troubles. Besides, you have a handsome son.)"
She blushed. "Dziękuję panu. (Thank you, sir.)" Her hazel eyes shifted to her playful son, then caught mine. "Gerald, powiedz wujkowi dobranoc. Czy będziesz? (Gerald, tell uncle a proper goodnight. Will you?)"
The little boy hugged Sebastian tightly and kissed his cheek. "Dobranoc, proszę pana, i dzięki za prezenty. (Goodnight, sir, and thanks for the gifts.)"
"Dobranoc, maleńka. (Goodnight, little one.)" Sebastian chuckled, waving the boy off as he disappeared with his mother.
"Fond of kids, huh? That's new," I said when Sebastian returned to me.
He placed his hands on my hips, pulling me closer. "I love kids, honey. What's not to love? They're cheerful, fun, and cute."
I laughed as he posed that perfect, dazzling smile of his. "You sound like you know what you're talking about. I still can't imagine you as a father. It's… cheeky."
He laughed too. "And I can't imagine you as a mother. It's beautiful."
"Oh, please." I snorted. "Kids are the last thing on my mind right now."
He frowned, clearly puzzled. "Why?"
"Well…" I shrugged. "Because I'm not ready to go through nine months of a round belly and the pain of childbirth."
He snorted, clearly thinking my words were amusing. "You're a woman. You should prepare for it."
I just wished I could skip the part about having to marry someday and give birth—biologically.
Mom would always say that childbirth is hell at labor, and most women don't even get the chance to make it through unscathed. Even my aunties testified the same, which was one of the reasons I once considered dedicating my body and soul to becoming a nun… until Seb entered my life and rewrote my story.
"Yeah… awful womanhood," I muttered, wincing.
Sebastian's phone buzzed, cutting through our little moment. He answered immediately, speaking entirely in Polish. "Tak, bracie? Dobra, dobra, niedługo tam będę. Tak, do zobaczenia wkrótce. (Yes, brother? Okay, okay, I'll be there shortly. Yeah, catch you soon.)"
"Who was that?" I asked when he hung up.
"Antoni," he replied, slipping his phone into his pocket. "We have something to discuss. You're coming, right? Bianca's with him."
Knowing my best friend would be there, I couldn't wait to hug her and gossip about all the thrills we'd had. "Sure, let's go."
---
Seb stopped the black Porsche in an empty valley, the ground covered in a fresh carpet of lush evergreen grass. No houses, no properties—just the serene, rolling greenery as far as the eye could see.
Antoni and Bianca stood nearby, where he had parked his sleek black BMW R8. The two were clearly in love, teasing and kissing each other until we stepped out of the car.
"Hey, girl!" Bianca ran to me for a big hug. I noticed the hickeys scattered across her neck—a clear sign of her recent nights out with Antoni—but I didn't bother asking.
"You a shadow? Antoni can't go anywhere without you," I said, savoring the cold breeze.
"Ugh," she sighed, flicking a strand of hair behind her ear. "I know, right? The bloke's just head over heels for me."
"You two are," I snorted.
She grinned mischievously, brows arched. "So, tell me, bitch… there's something I heard."
I braced myself—Bianca always had the loudest gossip.
"Seb is building you an empire," she blurted, eyes sparkling.
Geez. Too loud, too nosy. Who even told her?
I glanced at the men, who were deep in discussion about something I didn't understand—probably business or budgets. "Yeah… I'm still shocked, even now."
Bianca squealed, nearly shattering my eardrums. "Girl, it's high time you show gratitude by dropping a baby for him! Come on, Seb's supposed to be a dad by now. Stop holding out!"
I rolled my eyes. "Geez, Bianca, you're insane. I could hook you up with a therapist, you know."
She gasped as if I'd just revealed some forbidden secret. "The only therapist I need right now… is Antoni." She winked, and suddenly the hickeys on her neck made perfect sense. "He's my remedy."
She almost seemed to melt into herself at the word "remedy." Bianca had never been this in love before, but ever since she and Antoni started dating, she couldn't go a single day without talking about him.
I had to admit—I liked how she shared everything. It made me learn from her, in a weird, fun way.
"Spoiled girl," I teased, keeping my eyes straight despite wanting to roll them—Sebastian had warned me about that. "You drop a baby first, and then I might consider it."
Bianca's eyes had been sparkling whenever I mentioned babies earlier. She was clearly imagining tying Antoni down with them. Poor bloke.
"We might end up getting pregnant at the same time—oh god, I used to pray every day that you, me, Natasha would all have our babies in the same month! It's super exciting, Lizzy!"
"Oh Bianca, cut out these delusional fantasies," I said, starting to lose patience.
"Do you know I already have a list of all my future babies' names?" She started counting on her fingers. "Ashley, Claire, Jovani, John, Tovia—"
Boom!
"AAAaaaaahHHHHHHHHHH!!!!"
Sebastian's black Porsche exploded behind us. How? That was one of his favorite sports cars. Was there a bomb in it, and we didn't know?
"Elizabeth! Bianca!" Sebastian and Antoni ran toward us, fear etched across their faces.
We clung to each other, shivering like survivors pulled from an iceberg, until Sebastian and Antoni reached us and pulled us away from the burning wreckage.
We were sprinting toward Antoni's BMW for cover when a shot slammed into the side mirror.
"AHH!" Bianca and I screamed, hearts hammering in our chests.
"Get down! NOW!" Sebastian barked, and all of us dove behind the car, pressing ourselves low.
Oh God, help us. Please, let this one not explode too. There was nowhere else to run—this valley was wide open, fields stretching in every direction, nothing else for shelter.
Bianca's trembling whisper barely reached me. "Elizabeth… is today really rapture day? Or are we just going to die like this… unexpectedly?"
I didn't know what to say. I was awestruck, frozen, completely taken by the shock of a bazooka hitting Sebastian's favorite car.
Bianca's arms were wrapped around my shoulders, trembling, and my body mirrored hers. We clung to each other as if our very last breath depended on our embrace.
"Shit! These suckers tracked us!" Antoni cursed sharply.
"Seb, your car… it's on fire." My lips trembled.
How? I wanted to speak more, to ask why—but my voice caught in my throat.
"Baby, who are those people? Why are they attacking us?" Bianca whispered, her fear barely contained.
Neither Sebastian nor Antoni answered. They moved silently, eyes sharp, clearly strategizing. The feeling of being completely unprepared for this kind of attack made my stomach twist.
Then, in a blur of motion, Sebastian and Antoni drew revolvers from the back of their pants, standing up to confront the attackers. My heart sank—I felt like I'd been thrown into a live-action version of Power Rangers Mystic Force, facing a horde of TNT villains.
God, why didn't I get a clear warning this morning? I shouldn't have left the house.
The gunshots were deafening; I had to press my hands over my ears just to keep from going deaf. This is what it's like dating someone in the Mafia. Danger isn't an occasional guest—it's a permanent companion.
Part of me accepted it, remembering the war we faced back in Russia. Somehow, I was beginning to acclimate to this chaos.
But Bianca—this was her first encounter with real terror. My heart ached for her, wishing she could stay calm instead of frozen in fear.
"Seb… are we going to die?" I found myself asking, my voice barely audible.
He didn't answer. He was completely absorbed, his every movement a deadly calculation as he took down the attackers with precision.
Bianca shuddered against me. "Baby… your car is smoking?"
What the—Sigma!?
I turned, and thick black smoke was curling up from beneath Sebastian's Porsche. My heart sank.
God… is this how I die today?
"Cazzo! Lorenzo! Sostieni i tuoi uomini, ora! (Fuck! Lorenzo! Back your men down, now!)" Antoni barked.
A deep, mocking voice followed, punctuated with laughter. "MAI!!! (Never!!!)"
Bang! Bang!! Bang!!!
Crang!!!!!
One of the doors flew off the BMW R8.
"Shit!" Sebastian cursed, slumping down briefly to reload. He grabbed the broken car door as a makeshift shield and fired again. "Fottuti bastardi! Non morirai bene! (Fucking bastards! You won't die well.)"
The attackers kept firing relentlessly. Smoke poured from the Porsche, filling the valley, making my lungs burn. I have asthma—this is bad.
I coughed violently into Bianca's shoulder. "Sebastian… the… the car is… smoking… do something…"
Then, out of nowhere, a sleek Burgundy Rolls-Royce Phantom roared onto the scene, cutting through the chaos like a knight arriving to save the day.
The driver's tinted window rolled down, revealing an older man shouting from the passenger seat, "Sebastian? Antoni? Wejdź tutaj teraz! (Get in here now!)"
The driver, clad in an all-black tux and dark sunglasses, hopped out swiftly and opened the door for us.
At the sight of our only chance at rescue, Sebastian and Antoni guided Bianca and me into the Rolls-Royce without hesitation, ignoring the possibility that it might be another trap set by the attackers.
As soon as the car roared away from the valley at breakneck speed, a deafening explosion erupted behind us—Antoni's BMW obliterated in a fireball.
So that… could have been our death if we hadn't left that scene in time.
It took me a few seconds to process that we were safe, cradled in someone else's car. Our mysterious rescuer.
Sebastian and I sat opposite Antoni and Bianca, a thick partition separating us from the driver and the older man in front. Sebastian wrapped an arm around my shoulders, a silent promise that I was safe with him now.
"Co myśleliście? Przychodzi, aby omówić projekt w Dolinie. (What were you two thinking? Coming to discuss the project in the valley.)" I heard the older man ranting, though I couldn't understand most of what he said.
"Tato, skąd spodziewasz się, że dowiemy się, że Enzo i jego ludzie nas śledzą? (Dad, how were we supposed to know Enzo and his men were tracking us?)" Antoni replied, his hand resting protectively on Bianca's head. "To nie pierwszy raz, kiedy przyjechaliśmy tutaj, aby coś omówić. (This isn't the first time we've come here to discuss something.)"
"Są wszędzie. Zawsze. Mówiłem wam wcześniej, abyście uważnie obserwowali przed wyjściem, ale po prostu nie słuchacie. (They're everywhere. Always. I told you both to watch carefully before stepping out, but you just don't listen.)" The man spat the words, his authority and temper unmistakable.
I could sense it—this was someone of immense power, commanding respect, influence, and fury all at once.
"Dziadku, ostatni raz, kiedy potwierdziłem, Enzo nadal miał być we Włoszech, a nie w Polsce. (Grandpa, the last time I checked, Enzo was still supposed to be in Italy, not Poland.)" Sebastian said firmly.
"Ale teraz, kiedy twoje oczy to zobaczyły, czy dodaje jakieś zmysły do twoich komórek mózgowych? (But now that your eyes have seen it, does it add any sense to your brain cells?)" the old man snapped.
"Seb, this is it," I said, sitting up to give him a piece of my mind. "You know I have asthma, and scenarios like this can kill me. You didn't have to act like you had no idea this would happen before dragging me here!"
"From the bottom of my heart, I'm sincerely sorry," Sebastian whispered, low enough for only me to hear. "I had no idea a war like this was coming."
I felt my patience slipping. "You keep saying that—unaware, unaware, unaware. I just—"
"Hej," the old man interrupted sharply. "Lepiej, żeby każdy z was powiedział swoim cudzoziemcom, żeby milczały. Staram się myśleć. (Better tell your foreign women to keep quiet. I'm trying to think.)"
"Gdzie idziemy? (Where are we going?)" Antoni asked cautiously.
"Do mojej siedziby. (To my mansion.)" the man replied. "You'll stay there for a while until I figure out strategies. Remember, Lorenzo is a smart guy—like you, Sebastian."
---
Moments later, Bianca and I found ourselves in a room inside the old man's mansion, shaken to our cores. We hid under the sheets, hearts hammering, watching through wide eyes as he continued ranting and snapping at Sebastian and Antoni.
It was clear—he was their father, and his words carried the weight of authority. The two young men, normally confident and commanding, had become suddenly humble, as if standing before a force far greater than their own strength.
While we were still in the car after the chaos in the valley, I didn't get the chance to study the old man's appearance. But once we arrived at his mansion, I finally had the perfect opportunity to scan him. His physique was striking—nothing different from Antoni's.
Same towering height, same strong build, gray eyes, brown hair, and commanding presence. It was almost as if I were seeing an older version of Antoni for the first time. The only differences were his age and the long strands of gray hair falling to his shoulders.
"Bianca, the old man called Antoni foolish," she whispered carefully, as if even our soft voices could summon punishment. "He blamed him—and Sebastian—for bringing us along to the valley."
We pulled our heads under the sheets, gossiping quietly. "I could almost imagine that," I murmured. "The shouting downstairs, and Sebastian's expression—it said it all."
"You know, I'm pretty good at understanding Polish," Bianca said, nodding. "When I heard him yell at Antoni that way, it reminded me of how he lost Antoni's mother in a war. All because someone was careless and stupid. That's when I realized—he's Antoni's father."
"That's… sad," I whispered.
"Antoni told me once," Bianca continued softly, "he lost his mom when he was just five, and his father has been his backbone ever since." My chest ached at the thought.
"Oh, poor thing," I sighed. "The old man must be heartbroken too."
"Yeah… since forever," Bianca murmured.
"He didn't remarry?" I asked, picturing him with a beautiful, slender, middle-aged woman.
"No," Bianca replied. "He loved his late wife so much—even after her death—that he never married again. He's remained faithful to their vows all this time."
I shook my head lightly, a pang of pity in my heart. "That's a lot of loneliness to carry."
"Exactly—"
"What are you two doing under the sheets?"
"AHH!" Bianca and I yelped, instantly wrapping ourselves around each other as Sebastian and Antoni yanked the covers away.
God, my heart almost jumped out of my chest.
"Jesus. Wouldn't you have knocked instead of barging in on us having a girls' chat?" Bianca snapped. I envied her fiery temper sometimes—Natasha could take notes.
"Yeah, tell them, Bianca," I whispered, still clutching the sheets.
Antoni snorted. "You two weren't chatting, you were gossiping."
Sebastian frowned, puzzled. "Why were you hiding and whispering under the covers?"
"We were hiding from the kidnapper," Bianca rolled her eyes dramatically.
"Kid—what?"
I jumped in, "Yeah, the old man. He's been grumpy with us ever since we got here."
Sebastian's lips pressed into a tight line. "That's my… godfather."
"And my father," Antoni added, eyes flicking nervously toward the stairs.
Sebastian's tone sharpened, though he kept it controlled. "And he's not grumpy. He's… paranoid. Given the situation, you should be too."
"Well, if he said so."
"He wants to see you two," Antoni announced, and we jolted.
"What!? No, no, no, no!" Bianca and I shook our heads emphatically.
Sebastian stared at us, like he was trying to read our minds. "Why are you acting so strange? He's not going to kill you."
"He just wants to see us off," Antoni added. Bianca and I exchanged a wary glance before asking in unison,
"Are we leaving?"
"Yes. We're going home," Sebastian's tone carried a hint of tiredness.
I placed a hand on my chest and exhaled. "Praise God."
"Hallelujah," Bianca slumped onto the bed, mimicking my relief.
---
Descending the stairs, my mind immediately raced to the unfinished dresses I was supposed to deliver tomorrow morning.
I turned to Sebastian. "I can't stay the night—I need to run back to my condo and finish some dress on time."
He raised an eyebrow. "I'll order a new machine in the next twenty minutes. That's not an excuse."
"No. I know you could buy the entire universe if you wanted to, but this is my concern. I prefer my old-fashioned machines over modern ones," I said firmly.
He sighed, conceding slightly. "In that case, I'll ask Bruce to bring them over."
We reached the bottom of the staircase—and came face-to-face with the old man.
"Oh God, heavenly Father," I whispered under my breath. "You can't tolerate me sleeping out for even a day?"
"Not even for a night. It'll kill me," he winced.
What am I, his oxygen supply or something? I haven't even officially moved in, and it already feels like I'm married.
"Tell him not to," I whispered, snuggling into Sebastian's arm as his godfather stepped forward, presumably to hug me.
I had no idea how he managed to get Bianca in his embrace. Me? I was allergic to overly fiery displays.
"Go on. He just wants to say a proper goodnight," Sebastian gritted his teeth, nudging me gently toward the old man.
"By hugging me after his… previous showcase?" I whispered, whining.
"You should be happy," he shot back, "because among all the women I've spent time with in the past, you're the first he's treating nicely. That means he likes you… because of me."
"God, I don't want him to like me," I grumbled, rolling my eyes.
"Elizabeth?" Sebastian's tone snapped me back. Oops—rolling my eyes wasn't going to fly with him.
"Fine," I murmured, stepping forward.
Just one hug. Then I'm gone, off to tackle my unfinished business.