At the dinner table,

“Today’s menu is curated as per your liking,” Serena said as the servant served him, but Sebastian’s eyes were fixed on Janet’s plate.

“No, don’t serve her seafood!” he exclaimed, his voice rising to a shrill pitch that grated on Serena and Connor’s nerves.

“Yes. She is allergic to seafood,” Anton’s voice resonated, and the servant served her chicken and rice.

Everyone was enjoying their meal until the servant arrived and poured red wine into the glasses. “White wine for her,” Sebastian said again for Janet, and this time, it also caught her by surprise.

Little did she know, he had been observing her closely, studying her every move. Next to her, Nate couldn’t help but roll his eyes mentally as Sebastian openly displayed his affection for her.

Janet looked up at Sebastian across the table and saw Nina leaning in close, whispering something in his ear.

“You seem to know a lot about her in just five days,” she teased him. Sebastian ignored her, savoring the rich flavor of his wine.

Janet felt a firm hand on her own, her eyes meeting Anton’s. “Dear, I sincerely apologize for everything. I know it wouldn’t lessen the pain and suffering you’ve endured because of us.”

“It’s alright. I hold no grudges against you or the Genovese.” She forced a smile, but Sebastian was perceptive enough to see it was fake. He knew she harbored grudges and blamed the Genovese for her suffering.

“You’ll be staying with us until you recover.” Anton flashed a smile toward her, leaving Serena annoyed by his decision, while Sebastian’s eyes had an unmistakable gleam that didn’t escape Nate’s notice.

Janet looked at Connor’s clenched jaw and saw the tension radiating from him. “Mr. Genovese, please don’t hold yourself responsible for anything. I was in the wrong place at the wrong time.”

“Shh… my decision is final here. No worries, you can stay as long as you want.” His warm smile made Janet feel less apprehensive. “Let’s eat.”

Janet focused entirely on her meal, never once glancing at Sebastian. They didn’t discuss how close they shouldn’t be, but both knew the proximity could burn them.

Janet was the first to finish. “Thank you for the dinner,” she said with a brief smile.

“You must be exhausted…” Before Anton could finish speaking, Connor interrupted.

He said, “I’ll take her to her room.”

Janet bid everyone goodnight with a tired smile before she followed Connor.

“Was that a hint of a smile on your face?” Nina nudged Sebastian, causing him to snap back to attention and shoot her a piercing glare.

“Eat,” he looked down at his plate, and tuned in when he heard his mother speaking. “We should have invited Sherians too.”

Following her father, Janet walked into the room. His frosty demeanor was off-putting, but she refused to let it stop her from speaking her mind.

“Here is your luggage and your new cell phone.” Taking it out of his pocket, he left her phone on the bed before walking away.

“Dad,” her words made him stop in his tracks. “I am sorry for everything.”

Connor faced her with a strong and aggressive demeanor. “You’re sorry? Do you realize how embarrassing it was for me? You are nothing but a big disappointment! Why didn’t you think it was necessary to tell me before coming here? Damn it, why did you even come back in the first place?”

“I came for you!” Moving forward, she held his hands tightly. “Dad, it’s been over three years. I needed to know that you’re fine. Did I have any other choice but to come here in person and find out what’s going on with you? I needed to know if you need me.” Sincerity shone in her eyes.

Connor responded with a cold stare. “I need you?” he asked, raising an eyebrow and withdrawing his hands. “I don’t need anyone!”

Just as Janet was about to speak again, he silenced her. “I will need you?” His tone had a hint of mockery.

“Who do you think you are? A twenty-two-year-old brat who knows nothing about right or wrong! Go to bed. I have more important tasks at hand right now, apart from paying fifteen million back to Sebastian. I can’t stand your presence at the moment!” He looked at her contemptuously before leaving the room and shutting the door behind him.

Janet blinked as the door shut in her face.

“So, is everything alright between you and Alexander?” Sebastian took a sip of his wine.

Nina smiled. “Yeah, we’re good now!” she answered. Sebastian noticed the pink tint on her cheeks. “I heard you sold your game to save Janet. It must be tough for you!”

“It was harder to imagine what she might have gone through if I hadn’t reached her in time. The suffering she endured is beyond anything you can imagine. They injected her with a dangerous drug that could have left her paralyzed for the rest of her life. They planned to sell her as a sex slave to the Russian mafia.”

Nina took a deep breath, feeling the tension that hung in Sebastian’s angry stare. “Are you two involved?”

Sebastian looked up at her. “What?”

“You like her!”

“No!”

Nina chuckled. “You do; I can feel it. And that’s completely fine. She is stunning!” she said with a slight smile.

Sebastian rolled his eyes. “You can’t imagine how annoying she is.”

Nina set her empty glass down on the table and asked, “Did you talk to Larissa?”

“No. Dad asked me to avoid talking to her until I return.”

“She knows you’re back and is expecting your call.” Nina looked for his face, but all she saw was a blank expression. “I hope you haven’t forgotten that she is unofficially engaged to you.”

“I remember everything. Don’t worry.”

Sebastian interrupted her abruptly, frustration evident on his face. “Why don’t you get some beauty sleep? The wedding is coming up, and with that face, I wouldn’t be surprised if Alexander says no at the altar!”

Nina’s response to his nonsensical sarcasm was a smile. She stood up and walked past him, but made sure to share her thoughts with him. She placed a hand on his shoulder.

“Stop it at liking.”

As Nina left, Sebastian remained seated on the leather couch, gazing into the distance.

“I don’t care if you don’t agree, but Janet has suffered through hell all because of you!” Alex confronted him. Connor glared menacingly at him. “Stop with that glare! You should’ve comforted her. She is your daughter, the one you love the most?”

Connor chuckled. “What? Are you crazy? I love to torture Vitalino the most! Nothing brings me pleasure except for advancing towards my revenge.”

“You’re sick!” Alex had a look of pity in his eyes.

Connor took a bite of an apple and relaxed in his recliner, his face wreathed in a surreal smile. “You see, you’ve got to kill all the emotions in you until you reach your goal. Any other emotion except absolute hate will make you weak.”

Alex looked at him with his hands in his pockets.

“And who knows, maybe Anton bugged her room with microphones?” He raised an eyebrow. “I want to make sure he doesn’t perceive Janet as a vulnerability of mine and manipulate her for his own gain.”

Alex exhaled heavily. “Oh, come on now! Anton wouldn’t do that. You know him!”

Connor’s lips twitched as he took another bite.

“Aren’t you happy to see your daughter after so long?” Connor remained silent as Alex sat across from him, fixing his gaze on him. “Fate has inscribed Janet’s return to Springfield.”

“Yes, I agree with you. It’s truly wonderful to see her growing into such a confident and beautiful woman. She looks just like her mother. Maybe this will be our final meeting.”

Clad in a fluffy white bathrobe, Janet stepped out of the bathroom into a dimly lit room. She looked at herself in the mirror, dried her hair with a towel, and then casually tossed it aside.

“You know I don’t like mess!”

The sound of a man’s deep voice drew her attention, making her turn her head toward the couch where Sebastian was removing the towel from his face.

“What are you doing here?” she observed as he stood up and moved toward her.

“Nothing, just wanted to check on you!” he moved closer and said. “Are you comfortable, my new purchase?” He firmly tightened the knot of her bathrobe, and she gasped. He looked up at her face, and his heart skipped a beat when he saw tears filling her eyes.

He immediately softened. “Hey,” he reached out to cup her face, but she quickly covered it to stop herself from crying in his presence.

“Go away,” she cried.

“I was teasing you. I didn’t mean….”

“I’ll give you back all the money!” She removed her hands and locked eyes with him, her accusatory gaze burning brightly in her red eyes.

“I don’t want money,” he said calmly.

“Of course. Why would you want money when you can use my body to recover your loss?” She untied the knot of her bathrobe, feeling the soft fabric slip off her shoulders and pool at her feet. Stunned by her outburst, Sebastian couldn’t help but watch her in disbelief.

“Come on, you’re here to fuck me! What are you waiting for?”

“Oh, let me help you unbutton your shirt.” As she unfastened the first button of his shirt, he tightened his grip on her wrist and forcefully pressed her against the dresser.

“Are you out of your mind?” He looked into her swollen eyes, and a lone tear that trickled down her face made him feel uncomfortable.

Tears blazed in her eyes as anger turned her face red. “I will give you every fucking cent of your blood money. This time, I won’t even hesitate before selling my body to pay you…”

Sebastian’s firm hold on her throat silenced her before she could utter another word.

“That money was hard-earned! You have a phone. Search Aztech Consortium and let me know what you find.”

Moving closer, his lips were just inches from claiming her. “And this body.” His other hand slowly traced a path from her collarbone to the gentle curve of her breast, causing a shiver to run down her spine as his touch ventured further south. “This is anyway mine!”

Anticipation surged through her as her nipples grew sensitive, craving his touch. “I didn’t like the way Connor behaved. You certainly don’t deserve to be treated with such disrespect. I came to check on you because I was worried about you.”

“Seb….” As she struggled to find her voice, Sebastian’s grip on her throat tightened, cutting off her words.

“The ruthless mafia blood coursing through my veins matches the one depicted in those mediocre mafia novels you read. Just because I’m gentle with you doesn’t mean I’m submissive. Don’t tempt me to show you how bad I can be!”

His finger moved up and down between her folds, causing a sheen of sweat to form on her brow. “Baby girl, my dominance doesn’t hinge on your surrender, but that doesn’t mean I can’t take it from you if I want.”

Janet’s lips parted, her breath hitching, as he slipped his finger deep inside her.