Chapter 113

Stella

Sebastian helped me inside the passenger side of the car. Our hands remain connected as I slowly lower myself into the seat, taking my time as I settle into the leather seat. As soon as my hands and feet are inside the car, Sebastian slams the door closed, and I watch as he quickly circles around the front, anger written all over his face.

As soon as he gets inside of the car, the vehicle is filled with a tent silence. Sebastian moves with determination. The car engine roars to life, and I can feel the vibrations from beneath the seat.

I can't bring myself to look at him. How can I even explain why I was outside crying with my ex-husband? How can I explain that I allowed a man such as him to take my hands into his own, to bring me comfort when I needed it the most?

What has me confused, though, is the fact that Adrian continues to deny his involvement in the heart surgery. How could he denies something that is true? He knows what he has done and is simply trying to cover his ass before I cut him out of my life for good.

In the back of my mind, I can sense the hesitation that begins to form. Adrian claims that he wants nothing but the best for me, that he is no longer a liar who hides things behind closed doors. So, should I believe him, and when he says that he did not sign away my heart? Is there any merit to his words?

“I do not understand why you keep entertaining him, Stella,” Sebastian growls from beside me.

With one quick glance over, I can see Sebastian’s white knuckles as he clutches the steering wheel, his jaw clenched and anger written all over his face.

“Why do you keep putting yourself in situations like that? It is like you are asking for the misery that he brings with him. It is not healthy to stay in contact with a pathetic man like him, Stella, and I will not allow him to drag you down with him,” Sebastian states. His eyes flicker to mine but I quickly look away, ashamed that I let it get to this point in the first place.

The rest of the drive is in silence. I do not speak up, and Sebastian makes no effort to fill in the gaps in our conversation. Not even the radio can save us from the awkward tension that forms between us.

We walk in silence to the elevator of my apartment building, remaining complicit in the things left unsaid, allowing the intention to grow into a bubbling boil between us.

I have stripped my body of my dress and have changed into more comfortable clothes. Sebastian is in the bathroom showering. He locked the door behind him, a silent way of letting me know that he needs the time and space for himself.

I allow it to happen. I know that I have caused more trouble than not tonight. It was me who told him that I was going to the event to support him, to help raise them up in front of his peers.

In the end, though, it was me who ruined the night between us. The night was supposed to be good and not one filled with trouble in anger and sorrow. I suppose that wherever I go now, these negative emotions will forever follow me and haunt me for the rest of my days.

I reach to my side and grab my laptop from the side table. My legs are buried beneath a plethora of sheets and blankets, the warmth bringing me some semblance of comfort, while I open up my laptop screen. The familiar glow of my hacking mainframe is a sight for sore eyes.

I know what I must do. I know that I must uncover the truth of it all, the truth behind Adrian's denial, and my claim of him signing away my heart. This problem must be put to rest once and for all, for all of our sakes.

My eyes flicker to the bathroom door one last time. A piece of me wishes that Sebastian will come out right now, to stop me from the silent mission that I've gifted to myself on the drive home. I wish that he would come out and stop me from hurting myself even more.

Seconds past in the shower, still continues. The faint sound of the water falling fills my ears, and I close my eyes. I slowly suck in the deep breath, filling up my lungs with as much air as possible, before slowly exhaling, my eyes opening up to look at the computer screen in front of me.

Without wasting another second, I get to work. I begin to work my way through the hospitals, security walls, the lazy firewalls that they have built. I work through the night like a silent killer, revealing all that the hospital has to offer.

I quickly find my file. Thankfully, the hospital that he always sent me to never delete files until they're at least 10 years old, or have proven to be worthless to them. I click on my name, my eyes memorizing the curve of my letters.

I hesitate to move further. Is this a truth that I really wanna know? Would it be selfish of me to leave at the last second for my own personal gain and comfort?

No. I have to move forward. I owe it to myself, to Adrian, into those of my life who have been affected by the pain that he has put me through.

I am quick to find the consent form for the heart surgery. I scroll through the pages, ignoring all of the fancy lettering and wording that the hospital has put in. On the very last page is where I find his signature.

Adrian's name signed on the dotted line. Something that he is denied doing. I let out of breath, feeling vindicated in my plight against him.

My eyes remain focused on his signature. I stare at it for what seems like an eternity, the sound from Sebastian shower, filling my ears, acting like white noise in the night.

I tilt my head to the side and the signature looks completely different. It looks more…real. Accurate. I sit up in bed and bring the laptop screen closer to my face.

In my marriage with Adrian, I have seen his signature thousands of times. I signed my name next to his whenever I gave consent to a surgery and when I signed our divorce papers. The signature that is on the heart consent form is different.

The signature on the form is straight. Adrian's signature has never been so perfect. His signature has always been so slanted, so messy, but this one on the heart surgery looks so tame in comparison.

A small gasp leaves my lips. The bathroom door opens, and I slammed the laptop, shoving it away from me. My heart pounds on the inside of my chest.

So…Adrian was telling the truth the whole time.

Sebastian leaves the bathroom, his hair damp beneath the towel, a pair of gray sweatpants over his legs. He quietly makes his way to the bed, and I move my laptop back to the side table, forcing a smile onto my face as he fills in the empty space beside me.

“What were you just doing?” Sebastian asks, eyebrow perked up.

“Just looking over a few jobs,” I hate how easily I can lie to him, “I’m ready to go to sleep, though.”

“Yeah,” Sebastian grunts, “me too.”

Sebastian, who is now done drying his hair, helps us settle into the bed beside each other. I lay on my side, my eyes fixated on the laptop that sits just out of reach. Sebastian lays behind me and pulls me close to him and yet all I can think about is Adrian.