Chapter 4

The girl came back in fresh clothes, settled onto Sebastian Merritt's lap, and smiled at me. "Sis, once you sit down at the table, you have to take your losses like everyone else."

She had a sweet, obedient little face, but every word out of her mouth carried a second edge.

Nasty, this one.

"Come on, Seb, you don't get it. Miss Sullivan here is jealous."

I looked down and let out a cold laugh. Sebastian turned the table and pushed the cup in front of me.

I tipped the drink out onto the floor. "I'm not interested in childish games. It's fine, I'm leaving."

Only when I was packing up my bag did I notice a few texts on my phone.

[Where did Mommy go? Noah misses Mommy.]

[Noah's holding Bunny and going to sleep like a good boy. Noah loves you!]

A whole day of frustration finally eased in that moment.

While I typed my reply, they chattered on without end.

"See, that hit the mark, didn't it? Miss Sullivan, Seb's back now. If you really miss him, just swallow your pride a little."

Sebastian ran his thumb along the rim of the cup, his eyes cold enough to freeze. "Miss Sullivan? Since when has she ever swallowed her pride?"

Finished replying, I stood to go. As I turned, Yvette was blocking my path.

"Leaving so soon, Sis? Have I not been a good enough host?"

I said nothing. I cracked a wine glass on the edge and pressed the broken stem against her belly.

I could feel everyone at the round table behind me shoot to their feet all at once.

"Olivia Sullivan!"

Sebastian rushed over to stop me. I found the whole thing tiresome, tossed the glass aside, and went to the restroom.

Reeking of liquor like this, I couldn't very well go home.

I splashed water on my face, rinsed my arms, touched up my lipstick and perfume.

I was about to step out when I caught the voices outside.

"Seb, is Yvette really pregnant?"

"Mm."

"No way. So what happens now? Man, I really don't get you. Didn't you come back to marry Olivia Sullivan? What are you even doing? Aren't you afraid Olivia will get fed up and cut you off?"

Sebastian gave a soft laugh. "Haven't the two of us always been like this? Good one minute, bad the next, fighting back and forth. We're used to it by now. Yvette's young, and she listens. Even without a title, she'll have the baby. As long as Olivia doesn't find out, it's fine."

"And if she does find out?"

Sebastian went quiet for a moment, then drew a deep breath. "Then we fight it out again. What's the big deal."

A burst of fast footsteps came running up. "Mr. Merritt, the little heir of the Gilbert family is here!"

Sebastian froze slightly. "That little terror from the Gilbert family? We've got no dealings with the Gilberts."

I wiped the water off my hands and walked out.

The three of them saw me and froze at the same instant.

I ignored them and headed for the door, whispers trailing behind me.

"She—how is she here? Seb, he didn't hear, did he?"

Sebastian answered with certainty. "No. If she'd heard, she'd have slapped me across the face by now."

Sebastian came after me in quick strides and reached to clap a hand on my shoulder. I turned aside and shot him a warning look.

He drew his hand back with a faint smile. "You've been in Harborough all these years. You've heard of Francis Gilbert, haven't you?"

"Mm."

"His son's here. Don't say I never gave you a chance to tag along. Come take a look with me? This little Gilbert heir is no ordinary kid. Let me introduce you."

I shot him an impatient glance. "You're not making any sense."

Since when did my son need him to introduce us.