Page 82 of Sebastian.

I watch him as he stirs, totally unbothered by seeing me beside him. He then reaches for his phone and answers with a husky voice. “It’s Gabi,” Feeling vulnerable, yet curious, I prop myself up on my elbows, pulling the sheet up to my chest. My gaze never leaves him as I suggest, “Put it on speaker.” Seb complies, and before he can even speak, Gabi’s voice fills the room, delivering news that shakes both of us to our core.

“The motherfucker finally pleaded guilty and accepted the settlement!” Gabi crows triumphantly, sounding much too chipper for it not even being eight in the morning. But then her words filter through my sleep-addled brain, and I can hardly believe my ears. The shock of it all leaves me momentarily speechless. Sebastian's eyes meet mine, and we share a profound moment of astonishment and relief.

“Really? For how many years?” I manage to ask, my voice laced with disbelief.

“Fifteen years, half in prison and half at home,” Gabi confirms. “I think the fact his mom could find out via the media that her precious baby is a murderer if we go to court was the deciding factor for him. Karl’s appearance in the media doesn’t seem to matter to him all that much, but to mommy dearest is apparently a different story.”

Shock doesn’t even begin to describe how I feel, but my husband finds his words first. Seb's voice carries a determined edge, though it's shaky. “Gabi, is Karl still around?”

“Eh, yes, I believe so. He’s finishing up with his lawyers in the interrogation room right now.”

Sebastian sits up even straighter, his back flush with the headboard. “Can you go back in and put me on speaker, please?”

She pauses, surprised, but agrees, “Sure, give me just one second.” Gabi's heels click against the floor, creating an audible backdrop to her movements over the phone. I watch as Seb's face tightens, preparing himself for what's to come. Gabi's voice returns, her steps stopping as a creaky door is heard swinging open. “Karl, Seb would like to have a word with you. You are on speaker, Seb.”

My husband's words come out like a final verdict, delivered with icy confidence, belying the whirlwind of emotions I know must be simmering beneath the surface. “Karl, you are fired," he declares, his voice not too loud, but with a finality to it that chills me. “Good luck in jail.” Then Sebastian ends the call with a touch of his finger on the phone screen. Once it’s silent, he slumps down, blowing out a massive breath.

In the aftermath, a surreal stillness settles over us. Seb's voice is a mix of giddy disbelief and relief, trembling slightly. “This is it. He finally signed the damn settlement. We managed to get rid of him.” I can't help but muse on the improbable turn of events. “I never thought this would be possible. It doesn’t even feel real.” He doesn't respond to me at first, and when I notice Seb's pensiveness, I reach out to him, laying the palm of my hand on the warm skin of his shoulder. “Hey…are you okay?”

His response is tinged with regret and bitterness. And, of course, grief. “Yeah, it's just…I can't believe I gave him so much of my time, attention, loyalty while that fucker had killed my family. I cared for him, Julia. I really did. I don’t know if it was ever the love I should have had for him as a brother, but still…” Shuffling closer, I lay my head on his shoulder in place of my hand and loop my arms around his body, offering him the comfort of my touch as well as words of solace. I will never be able to understand what he’s going through, but I can still be here for him. “Seb, you can't change the past. At least we managed to get rid of him and see his true nature. Better late than never, don’t you think?”

While he remains quiet, I hope he’s able to find some peace in my words. “True,” I finally hear him saying after a long minute of silence. He then raises his head, and swiftly changes the subject to something much more romantic. “I really like this, don’t you?” He then takes my hand in his and gives it a kiss. “Waking up next to the person you love. It’s such a simple thing, yet I missed it terribly.” My lips twist upwards at his kind words, a real balm to our wounded past. “Yes, I do like it.” I lean in and press my lips against his for a quick peck, tasting the sweetness of our night on them. “I like this very much.” There’s a small pause as we simply enjoy each other’s company. The stress of everything over the last few weeks melts away as we lay, warm from one another’s body heat.

“Shall we have dinner tonight and celebrate with the kids?”

Maybe I shouldn’t consent…but hell, I’m already naked in bed with him for the second time without intending to be. Dinner sounds wonderful. Especially if it means I get to make up some quality time I’ve missed with the kids. “Fine…” I trail off, sounding resigned but the corner of my mouth quirks up. “Why not.”

In that instant, Seb leans in just enough to press a chaste kiss to my lips. “Thank you for being here, Jules,” he says, his voice low and warm. “I don’t deserve you.” I cock my head to the side, containing a chuckle. “Now that’s true, but you’ve been making some good progress.”

* * *

Even though I didn’t want to go and would have preferred lounging in bed with my husband all morning, I still have a job to do and a few appeals to review. So I crawl out of bed, shower, and go to work, so full of feelings that I can barely concentrate on anything except on the sweet victory against Karl. As I think deeper about it, I can’t even imagine how Sebastian must be feeling inside; siding with the man who killed his beloved ones over his own wife and family is a tragic lesson my husband might never recover from. I guess only time will tell.

In between appeals, I take a moment to call Mom and to let her know about Karl’s settlement. She’s happy for us, of course, but I can’t help but wonder if a part of her isn’t a bit disappointed that I didn’t go forward with the divorce papers. Does she think I’m being weak? In that instant, Alice’s words replay in mind, “Sometimes never serving those papers is a form of courage, too. The courage to be honest with yourself and what you value the most.” The truth is Sebastian and I might have been separated for over a month, but to me, it feels like an eternity.

I really hope he learned his lesson once and for all,I think to myself.

Now, though, it’s finally time for the celebration. I wonder what Sebastian has managed to pull together in such a short amount of time. It doesn’t matter what it is, though…I’m excited. Giddy, even. It’s been so nice to be home, truly home, even for the few scant hours I’ve spent at the estate. The picturesque countryside surroundings never fail to soothe my weary soul. The golden rays of the late afternoon sun cast a warm, inviting glow over the estate, setting the perfect stage for whatever awaits. I park inside the garage and hurry up to make my way upstairs.

Stepping inside the hallway, I’m welcomed by Edward, the butler, who leads me to the dining room. As I cross the threshold, I’m immediately struck by the sight of a gorgeously set dining table. It's like something out of a magazine shoot, complete with fine china, crystal glasses, and fresh flowers that practically burst with vibrant colors. I count the seats and notice there are ten in total, which piques my curiosity to no end. Even if the younger kids are joining us, the number of seats seems excessive.

Suddenly, Sebastian himself is standing before me, beaming with a mixture of excitement and a hint of mischief. He wraps me in a warm hug that feels like home. With a flourish of his hand, a flute of Champagne appears in my hand as if by magic, and I gladly take a sip. The tiny bubbles dance on my tongue, teasing my senses.

“This is lovely,” I tell him, laughing as he bends down to kiss my cheek. “But it’s a lot for just a small family celebration, don’t you think?”

“I’m not done with the surprises,” he tells me, words ghosting over the shell of my ear. “Come on, let’s go.”

He takes me by the shoulders and turns me around before opening the double sliding doors that lead to the living room. Just as he says, the real surprise isn't Seb's warm embrace; it's what I see behind him. Beyond my husband, Andries and Roxanne are standing in the middle of the room, engaged in lively conversation with Elise and Dan, glasses in hand.

Shaking my head, I’m convinced I must have missed something because this is nothing short of miraculous. To have Andries and Roxanne here, knowing that my husband must have invited them…I’m speechless. Sebastian has extended an olive branch, and it feels as though the curtain of old grievances has finally been lifted.

I can't help myself—I throw myself into Sebastian’s arms, my eyes welling up with tears of gratitude as he squeezes me tightly. “Thank you for this,” I whisper, my voice choked with emotion. It's not just about tonight; it's about the promise of a better tomorrow.

While squeezing me tight, I feel Seb’s lips brushing against my earlobe. “I love you so much, Julia.”

I look him in the eye, my knuckles stroking his cheek tenderly, and I echo his sentiment. “I love you too, Seb.”

Our moment is interrupted by laughter and animated chatter around us. It feels like a scene from a feel-good movie. They all walk over to greet me, and conversations buzz with a sense of joy and newfound unity.

---