Sebastian chewed the inside of his cheek in thought. The look Elisa gave him before leaving his office felt like goodbye, one said without the use of words. His jaw slightly flexes at the thought of Elisa walking out of his life.
His eyes lowered to his finger that was trailing the spot on his lips Elisa brushed with her lips. Sebastian's powerful gaze emitted an emotion that was quite hard to read. He tried to act nonchalantly about the conversation with Elisa but he knew too well that wasn't going to be easy.
He heard footsteps approach his office before Aryanna walked in hand-in-hand with Jalana. "Dinner is ready, dear."
"Mom is waiting for us, let's head down," Jalana added.
Aryanna links her arm through Sebastian's and starts walking him towards the door. They descended the stairs faster than they've ever done, in a race to join Henifer at the dinner table.
All through their walk, Aryanna noted the distant look Sebastian wore. Her husband didn't seem to notice her presence, his mind was elsewhere, and it had Aryanna worried.
She expected him to be presence with her and over the moon at having Elisa move in. His worries over her health should've been put to rest as Elisa was close for him to monitor her himself. But that wasn't to be so, Sebastian seemed more lost than ever.
Aryanna pulled out a chair for him at the dining table and helped him to his seat. She served him all his favourite dishes from among the feast Henifer had prepared as a welcome home diner party for Jacob, Jasmine, Elisa and Ander.
"Let's pray," Henifer said, everyone around the table held hands and bowed their head, with their eyes closed for prayer. "God bless this food before we take it, in Jesus name we pray and believe," Henifer led in prayer.
"Amen," they all chimed.
"Are you alright?" Aryanna pushed passed the voice in her head asking her to let it go and questioned Sebastian.
"I've never been better," He flatly responded. "Is Elisa and Jasmine not joining us?" he inquired, his eyes darting to the people across the table for anyone who had an answer for him.
"Jasmine won't come down," Ander spoke up.
"Elisa is closed off in her room. She'll not come down either, she never eats with people," Jacob answered.
Sebastian takes a swing of his wine and nods at the responses to his question. His heart stopping at the mention of Elisa's habit, it went contrary to the person he remembered her to be.
He leans forward, brushes his hand over his face, before digging into his food. Sebastian let's out a forced breath, it was taking all of him to keep his cool. He badly wanted to storm Elisa's room and refute her accusations. To point out that it was all in her head, and his love for her has always been plutonic, nothing more.
However, his nostrils flare up as he just sits there, looking straight ahead, swallowing food that was tasteless in his mouth. 'F*ck,' he cursed internally.
Elisa fucked his mind with her insinuations. Mostly because everything she said was true once upon a time, before Richard and Monica turned his world upside down by bringing to light that she was mercilessly, his blood sister. A fact that drove him to cut all contact with her after his parents divorce.
This truth has haunted him for the longest time. And it was part of the reason he hated his father and Monica so much. The two of them in their deceitful ways ruined his family and the foundation he had on life.
Sebastian spent the best part of his life erasing all memories of their childhood and forgetting the dreams he once innocently weaved with her as they dreamt of spending their lives together. He never dealt with what it meant to have her turn from the girl of his dreams to his blood sister. His efforts to bury the past proved futile as his conversation with Elisa brought everything back to the surface.
His blood was pumping so fast that he was seeing red. It was the last thing he needed in his life; to think and feel all the trauma of his past.
"I asked Tessa to serve Elisa's diner earlier. She already took her medicine and retired to bed," Henifer reported to assure Sebastian. Sebastian saw her lips moving but barely heard what she said. His anger overwhelming his senses in a surprising degree. "The cook is making porridge for Jasmine. I'll send it up myself and feed her once I'm done with food," she added.
"Mom, Aryanna and I were planning to decorate Jasmine's room for her as a welcome home gift. What do you think?" Jalana raised the idea by her mother.
"That's an amazing idea. I want everyone to feel at home here, so do the same for Jacob as well," Henifer let out.
"I'll help decorate Jasmine's room," Jacob offered. "We'll need you to help, Ander. You know her better and she'll tolerate the gesture if you help out, so you in?"
Ander swallowed, his mind flashed back to the hot moment in Jasmine's room and the secret the ice princess was keeping from everyone. He didn't feel like provoking her, when he had no clue how sick she was.
"I want my sister to feel the love of a family. I'll need your help to achieve that, so please don't turn me down, Ander," Jacob pleaded, sensing Ander's hesitation.
"Okay, I'll help," Ander affirmed.
"Will you help too, Sebastian?" Aryanna asked her husband, her curious gaze met his and she shivered. "Sebastian...Is everything alright?"
"No," Sebastian answered, gripping the spoon a little tighter. "I need some air. I'm going out."
Aryanna reaches out and rubs her hands over his to calm his nerves. She feared he was at the brink of exploding.
"I'm done, I'll head up," Henifer excused herself.
Sebastian closed his eyes and try to force all the bad memories out of my head. Focusing on the warmth of Aryanna's hand to center his emotions. Talking to Elisa brought up a bunch of old emotions that he thought he had control over. Losing it like he did only proved that he was wrong; so damn wrong.
Sensing the tension in her brother Jalana motioned at Jacob and Ander, for them to leave the lovebirds alone. The three of them carried their plates and drinks away from the dining room. "We'll out in the garden," Jalana politely informed Aryanna and Sebastian on their way out.
"Are you alright, dear?" Aryanna pulled her chair close to his.
"I thought I was but I'm damaged, Ary..." Sebastian bit his tongue. He felt a sense of embarrassment calling out Aryanna's name with the stain on his soul. He feared tainting her beautiful soul with his messed up past.
He pulled his hand back, feeling unworthy of her touch. Sebastian stormed out of the dinning table, kicking his seat to the corner of the room, causing Aryanna to jump in fear.
"I need some air. Excuse me," he walked away. Leaving Aryanna standing next to the empty table, ending the dinner party.