Sebastian froze, struggling to recall that moment. His expression twisted into a chaotic swirl of confusion, anger, and something dangerously close to regret—a masterpiece of emotion undone.
I wrenched free from the guards’ grip, snatching my phone back. Sebastian watched in silence as I unlocked it effortlessly. His lips parted, as if to speak—but no words came. The tension between us hung heavy, like a winter storm frozen over the family estate.
Without a second of warning, Sebastian lunged forward and tore my phone straight from my hands. His thumb flew violently across the screen, movements sharp, frantic, and fueled by rage as he scrolled with a single-minded purpose—hunting for proof of a betrayal he had already sentenced me for in his mind.
Then his movements stopped.
His entire body stiffened, shoulders locking as his eyes fixed on a single image. A close-up photograph filled the screen—me standing shoulder to shoulder with a man, our faces unmistakably clear beneath the cold glow of a streetlight outside a private club.
My brother.
For a heartbeat, the room went eerily still.
Then whatever restraint Sebastian had left shattered completely.