Page 102 of Bastian

A yes! To her email asking me if one day is here.

Because yes, one day is here, and I am so tired of living with regrets and pain.

I don’t want to live that way anymore.

So I conquered my fears, pushed aside my regrets when it came to my baby sister, and messaged her back. Looking down at Ellaiza sitting on my lap, I smile as she keeps taking selfies of herself and both of us. “I am glad, baby.”

“You’re the best hair stylist, Mom.”

Nonsense.

She gives me way too much credit, but I take it regardless.

I take everything my girl has to give and treasure it.

I brush her hair one last time and she’s good to go.

I put her long curly hair into two space buns like I used to do when she was younger and let two strands fall around her face. “Thank you, baby.”

Once the movie ends, Ella grabs the remote and exits the movie app, and searches through the cable channels like an expert. Lord, this child is like a grown woman stuck inside a tiny body. How she’s so smart, I have no clue.

Yes, you do…

I ignore the small voice inside my brain who suddenly is Sebastian’s biggest fan and cheerleader. Traitor, like my heart.

“Look, there’s, daddy!” Ella jumps in my lap, excited to see her father on TV.

Huh…so he wasn’t with another woman like the twisted, vicious little green monster tried to make me believe.

I’m losing it.

I truly am.

“He looks so handsome, doesn’t he, Mommy?” Ella looks up at me with a mischievous grin that has me rolling my eyes playfully at her.

“He is…alright. I guess.” I mumble and hear someone scoff in disbelief behind me.

Looking over my shoulder at Shaw, I narrow my eyes and watch as his eyes shine with amusement.

Rat…

Ella leaves my lap and goes to sit on the carpeted floor closer to the TV. There is no doubt in my mind that Ella is Sebastian’s biggest fan, and he is hers.

Their bond is truly beautiful.

A man who lost so much at such a tender age can love as deeply and fully as Sebastian loves his daughter. He loves her with all his heart, and I never doubted that not even when I thought the worst of him.

Grabbing my laptop from my coffee table, I open it and go through some emails I missed from Nessa. Clicking on the most recent one, I divide my attention between the email and the man on TV with a crooked grin and a dangerous voice. Sebastian looks perfect as ever, dressed in a black three-piece suit and a lavender tie. Odd choice for him since I’ve never seen him wear anything but black, white, and gray. His black hair is brushed back, and his eyes look brighter.

More alive.

Christ, he’s so beautiful. It hurts to even look at him.

His beauty should be a crime. It really should because look at all those women in the crowd losing their minds over him.

All needy. Wanting more of him, and it irks me. So I focus on Nessa’s email instead.

Subject: Crime organization involvement in politics.

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