Page 100 of Bastian

All my reservations, fears, and past hangups with Sebastian slip away in this moment.

“I am the happiest I’ve been in a long time,” I whisper to her, my voice breaking a little.

It’s the honest-to-God truth.

How is it possible for a person to have so much power over me? Sebastian taught me how to love, how to hate, and somehow his daughter, blood of his blood, has taught me how to forgive.

Maybe I can find happiness again.

“Oh, you disgusting little fu—” Sebastian rises from the sofa, catching himself before he cusses the mutt who is currently lifting his small leg, intending to ruin my white rug.

Benjamin’s and I’s discussion from a while back comes to mind.

“Will I ever laugh again?”

“You will.”

“When?”

“When something is really funny.”

And I do laugh again.

I throw my head back and laugh as I watch a small dog with a pink vest pee all over the president of the United States.

Perhaps Cupcake and I will get along just fine…

ARIANNA

WORLD NEWS

“I could have been selfish and kept you from running wild and free.” — B

Ella sits on my kitchen stool while decorating a dozen heart-shaped cookies. She wanted to hand them out to her security guards. Her loyal friends, as she calls them. The way they all treat my girl with so much tenderness and care makes my heart happy because it means they really do care and she’s not just their boss’s kid. My sisters and I didn’t have that, but I’m so glad my Ella does.

Her head is bent low, and her small tongue is sticking out as she decorates the last cookie on her batch.

Shaw’s cookie.

It also doesn’t escape me how she paid extra attention to his cookie.

Her innocent crush on him makes me nervous because her tiny heart is bound to break when she realizes he is not for her. He is too old for her and besides, he’s not the man I dream of for my girl. She deserves a Disney prince not the moody and asshole villain.

He has heartbreak written all over.

When the time comes, I’ll be here to help guide her through the disappointment of her first crush ending badly but for now, I‘ll just do the best I can to shield her from that day.

Leaning forward in the kitchen, I watch Shaw, as he stands guard near my penthouse window. All ten guards on Ella’s detail are here tonight keeping her safe and guarding my place.

I see Sebastian doesn’t play when it comes to her.

He has doubled her security since she was a baby, which I appreciate.

Looking at Shaw again, I notice how he hasn’t sat down since he arrived two hours ago, even when I told him he was welcome to take a seat anywhere he wished to, but he refused.

I didn’t press the issue.

I let him be.

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