Chapter 72
Adeline West.
“I mean it,” he continued, brushing a tear from my cheek with his thumb. “You are the strongest person I know. What you’ve been through, what you’ve overcome… most people would have crumbled under the weight of it. But not you. You stood up. You fought back. You raised two incredible children on your own, and you built an empire from nothing.”
His voice grew more intense, and his gaze never wavered from mine. “You founded Moonluxe. You turned it into one of the most successful companies out there. You did that, Adeline. You alone. When everything was stacked against you, when people doubted you, when he doubted you-” He paused, and I knew he was talking about Killian, but the bitterness in his tone only made his words more powerful. “You didn’t give up. You didn’t let it break you.”
I shook my head, still trying to process his words, still trying to understand how he could see me this way when I felt so shattered inside.
“You’re beautiful, Adeline,” Sebastian whispered, his thumb tracing the line of my jaw. “So, so beautiful. And not just in the way you look–although, trust me, I’ve never seen anyone as breathtaking as you–but in the way you carry yourself. The way you face the world with your head held high, even when you’re hurting. The way you protect the people you love. The way you fight for what’s yours. You’re remarkable.”
Tears welled up in my eyes again, but this time, they weren’t born from sadness. They came from something else- something warm and overwhelming. Sebastian saw me. He saw me in a way no one ever had before.
“And your twins…” His voice softened as he smiled. “You raised them on your own. You gave them everything they could ever need. You were their rock, their hero. Do you have any idea how amazing that is? How much strength it takes to be a single mother and still create something as incredible as Moonluxe?” He paused, his eyes shining with admiration. “You didn’t just survive, Adeline. You thrived.”
I was speechless. His words wrapped around me like a balm, healing the wounds I hadn’t realized had been festering for so long.
“And you want to know something?” Sebastian’s voice lowered, his tone filled with affection. “I fell in love with you long before I even knew who you really were.”
I blinked in surprise, a tremor running through me. “What?”
He smiled, the memory lighting up his eyes. “The day we first met, I couldn’t forget your face. You were crossing the street, completely unaware of everything around you, and I almost hit you with my car. Our first meeting. I remember thinking I’d never seen anyone like you. You looked so determined, so focused, and yet there was something in your eyes–something vulnerable–that stayed with me. I couldn’t stop thinking about you.”
I swallowed hard, my heart pounding in my chest as I remembered that day. I hadn’t realized the impact it had on him; I hadn’t known that moment had stuck with him.
“And then,” he continued, his voice soft and tender, “when Mary brought you to meet me for the first time, I couldn’t believe it. There you were, standing right in front of me. The same woman I hadn’t been able to get out of my head for months. I was so happy. I thought, ‘Here’s my chance.“”
I felt a small smile tug at my lips, despite the tears still clinging to my lashes. “You were happy to see me?”
“I was more than happy,” he said, his gaze full of warmth. “I was ecstatic. I knew, even then, that you were special. There was something about you, Adeline, something that drew me in, and I couldn’t let go. I didn’t want to. And the more I got to know you, the more I admired you. I watched you fight. I watched you work harder than anyone I’ve ever known. I watched you be the best mother, the best leader. And somewhere along the way, I fell in love with you. Completely.”
His words left me breathless. I couldn’t believe what I was hearing; I couldn’t believe the depth of emotion in his voice or the sincerity in his eyes
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Chapter 72
“I love you. Adeline,” he whispered, his forehead resting gently against mine. “I love you more than anything in this world. I love your strength, your fire, and your heart. I love your kids–they’re part of you, and they mean everything to me. You–all of you are my world.”
Tears spilled down my cheeks, but this time, they weren’t tears of pain. They were tears of relief, of joy, of something I hadn’t felt in so long–hope.
“I couldn’t forget you, even if I tried,” Sebastian continued, his voice trembling slightly with emotion. “I can’t imagine my life without you and your kids in it. You’ve become everything to me, Adeline. And I can’t wait to spend the rest of my life showing you how much I love you.”
I was shaking, my heart full to bursting. How had I been so blind to what was right in front of me? How had I not seen the love Sebastian had for ine all along? His words broke through every wall I had built around my heart. Every defense, every fear, and every doubt crumbled in the face of the love he was offering me. It was too much and yet not enough. I needed him. I needed this.
“I can’t wait too.” I said.
Sebastian’s eyes softened, a smile breaking across his face. And then, slowly, gently, he leaned in and kissed me.
It was soft at first, tentative, as if he was afraid I might pull away. But I didn’t. I kissed him back, pouring every emotion, every ounce of gratitude and hope I had into that kiss. It was a kiss that felt like a promise, like a new beginning.
When we finally pulled apart, I was breathless, my heart racing in my chest. Sebastian’s hands still cradled my face, his thumbs brushing gently against my cheeks.
“You are incredible,” he whispered, his forehead pressed against mine. “And I’m never going to stop reminding you of that.”
I closed my eyes, savoring the warmth of his words and the strength of his embrace. For the first time in years, I felt safe. For the first time, I believed that maybe–just maybe–I could let go of the past and start living again.
With Sebastian by my side, I wasn’t alone
anymore.
宙
