Trapped with My Billionaire Ex-Husband
Chapter 105

BLAIRE

No matter how much I tried to get it out of my head, the image of Sebastian and that woman still lingers and bothers me. I tried to keep myself busy at the restaurant, but I couldn't get it out of my head.

Even after I came home, I couldn't stop myself from overthinking. I was feeling a mixed emotion of fear and jealousy. I was jealous of the fact that he and that woman looked good with each other. And at the same time, I was scared that Sebastian had finally moved on. But what I fear the most is the idea that I might still have feelings for him.

And because of that, I made a last-minute, irritating decision.

I was startled when I heard the doorbell ring. I was so nervous that I became jumpy just by hearing the sound of our doorbell.

I opened the door, and I was quickly greeted by Sebastian's dashing smile. "Hi-" He didn't manage to finish his sentence. I saw how his jaw dropped while staring at me intently. "You look beautiful," he said when he finally managed to speak.

Our eyes locked into each other, and I immediately felt the electricity coursing through my veins. My heart raced as he continued to look at me as if I were the most beautiful woman in the world.

"Daddy!" Blaze shouted before running towards the door.

"Hey, buddy. Are you excited?" Sebastian asked as he carried Blaze into his arm.

"Yes!" he shouted in response.

Sebastian then turned in my direction and said, "Let's go."

I was about to answer when Kristof showed up behind Sebastian. "Hi, Blaire!" he greeted.

All our eyes were on him. It didn't take long before Sebastian looked at me with questioning eyes. "Hi, I'm Kristof. You must be Sebastian," he said before offering his hand for a handshake. Sebastian looked at me and Kristof's hands alternately. I was afraid that he'd get mad and disrespect Kristof, but I was kind of surprised when he didn't have much of a reaction. Instead, he accepted Kristof's hand calmly.

"Nice to meet you, Kristof," he answered. He then turned to me with a smile on his face. "So, I assume you won't be joining us tonight?" He asked as if this were just a normal thing.

I don't know why my heart is aching watching him take this as if it weren't a big deal.

"Don't worry about Blaze. I'll take care of him for the night. Go ahead and enjoy yourself, okay?" he said before turning towards Kristof. "Take care of her, please," he said before giving Kristof a gentle tap on his shoulder.

As I watched them walk towards his car, I couldn't help but feel guilty.

"Okay, that feels awkward. It wasn't exactly what I was expecting to happen," Kristof commented, breaking the silence.

Kristof was a friend of Lisa's. We met at the restaurant, and since then, he has never hid his intentions of dating me. After a lot of rejections, I finally agreed to go out with him. I don't know what got into me. I'm not really interested in dating him, but I wanted to try it. He seems like a nice guy, so I don't see anything wrong with opening myself to the possibility.

"So, are you ready?" He asked, his voice pulling me out of my reverie.

I forced a smile on my face as a response. "Yeah, let's go."

We walked to his car, and as he drove us to the restaurant, he was very vocal about how his day went. I nodded and made polite comments, pretending to be interested, but the truth was that my mind was elsewhere.

I couldn't stop thinking about Sebastian and the woman in the news. The image of them eating together replayed in my mind like a haunting melody. What was he doing? Why didn't he mention anything about this to me? I felt a mix of anger and hurt, but I tried to push those feelings aside, at least for tonight.

Kristof's voice cut through my thoughts. "So, how was your day?" he asked, glancing over at me with a warm smile.

"Oh, it was fine," I replied, trying to sound cheerful. "Busy, as usual. The restaurant is doing well."

"That's great to hear," he said enthusiastically. "I always knew you'd make a success out of it. You're incredibly talented, Blaire."

"Thanks," I said, offering another forced smile.

As we arrived at the restaurant, Kristof held the door open for me. I thanked him and stepped inside, trying to focus on the present moment. The ambiance of the restaurant was warm and inviting, with soft lighting and the gentle hum of conversation in the background. It should have been the perfect setting for a date, but my heart just wasn't in it.

We were shown to our table, and Kristof continued talking, sharing stories, and making me laugh. He was charming and attentive, but no matter how hard I tried, I couldn't fully engage in the conversation. My mind kept drifting back to Sebastian.

As we waited for our food, Kristof reached across the table and took my hand. "Blaire, I know this is all new for you, and I really appreciate you giving us a chance. I just want you to know that I'm here for you, no matter what."

I looked into his eyes, feeling a pang of guilt. He deserved someone who could give him their full attention -someone who wasn't hung up on a complicated past. "Thank you, Kristof," I said softly. "I appreciate that."

He squeezed my hand gently. "Let's just enjoy tonight, okay? No pressure, no expectations. Just two people having a nice evening together."

I nodded, grateful for his understanding. "Okay, that sounds good."

The evening went on, and I did my best to stay present and appreciate Kristof's company. He was funny, kind, and everything I should have been looking for in a partner. But deep down, I knew my heart was still entangled with Sebastian, no matter how hard I tried to move on.

As we finished our meal and Kristof drove me back home, I couldn't help but feel a sense of unease. This date had been a pleasant distraction, but it didn't change the fact that I needed answers from Sebastian. I needed to know what was really going on and what the future held for us.

"Thank you for tonight, Kristof," I said as we reached my house. "I had a good time."

"Me too," he replied, leaning in for a hug. "Let's do this again sometime."

"About that..." I gathered all my strength before saying anything. I took a deep breath, feeling the weight of my words, before finally admitting the truth. "I genuinely enjoyed the night. You're charming, a gentleman, with a great sense of humor. Any woman would fall for your charm, that's for sure."

Kristof let out a nervous laugh, his eyes reflecting a mix of understanding and disappointment. "Not all, apparently," he replied, attempting to lighten the mood.

I could see the hurt in his eyes, even if he tried to mask it. He already had an idea about where this conversation was headed, but I needed to be honest with him. "I'm sorry. You're a good person, Kristof, and you deserve someone who can fully give you their heart. I don't think I'm that person."

He looked down at his hands, nodding slowly. "I appreciate your honesty, Blaire. I really do. It's just... I thought maybe there was a chance."

"I did too," I admitted, my voice soft. "But my heart is still tangled up in the past. It's not fair to you for me to pretend otherwise."

Kristof sighed, running a hand through his hair. "I get it. I really do. And I respect you for being upfront with me. I just wish things were different."

"Me too," I said, offering him a small, sad smile. "You're an amazing guy, Kristof. Anyone would be lucky to have you. I just need to sort out my own feelings before I can give anyone else a fair shot."

He nodded again, his eyes meeting mine with a mixture of understanding and resignation. "Well, if you ever need a friend, you know where to find me."

"Thank you," I said, feeling a sense of relief mixed with sadness. "I appreciate that more than you know."

Feeling guilty about rejecting him, I felt an urge to give him a hug as a farewell gift. I stepped forward and wrapped my arms around him, holding on a little longer than necessary. Kristof seemed taken aback at first, but then returned the hug, his arms tightening around me for a moment before he gently let go.

As he walked away, I felt a pang of regret but also a sense of clarity. It was the right decision, even if it was a hard one. I needed to face my unresolved feelings about Sebastian before I could truly move forward.

Once Kristof was gone, I went inside the house. I was startled when I found Sebastian waiting on the couch with a glass in his hand. I also noticed the glass of whiskey on top of the side table. "Y-You're here?" I stammered, my heart racing at the sight of him.

Sebastian looked up, his eyes meeting mine with an intensity that made my pulse quicken.

"Yeah," he replied, his voice steady but with a hint of something deeper. "Blaze is already in his room, sleeping."

I swallowed hard, feeling a mix of emotions surge through me. "You're drinking?" I asked, trying to keep my voice calm.

He set his glass down and stood up, moving closer. "Just a little. I'm sorry about that. How's your date?"

My breath caught in my throat as he approached. The air between us seemed to crackle with tension. "I-It's fine. I enjoyed it," I stammered before quickly moving away to put some distance between us. He then smiled, but it didn't reach his eyes. "I'm glad you enjoyed it. You deserve to be happy, Blaire."

We stayed silent for a little while, continuing to gaze at each other. It felt like he wanted to say more but chose not to. He blew a loud sigh before bidding goodbye.

"I'll take my leave. Good night, Blaire," he said, turning to walk away.

"Wait." I immediately stopped him, my voice filled with concern. "Are you driving? How many glasses did you have?"

Sebastian paused, his back still turned to me. He didn't answer right away, which only heightened my worry. Finally, he turned around, his expression a mix of resignation and frustration.

"I had a couple," he admitted, his voice low. "But I'm fine, Blaire."

I shook my head, stepping closer to him. "No, you're not driving like this. Stay here tonight. We have a guest room."

His eyes softened slightly, but he still looked conflicted. "Blaire, I'm really fine. I can handle myself."

I crossed my arms, determined. "I'm not letting you out on the road like this. Please, just stay."

He sighed again, this time more softly, as if he were letting go of some of his resistance. "I don't think that's a good idea."

"And why is that? Do you really want your son to grow up without a father?" I was irritated with his stubbornness.

He chuckled. His rich voice sends a shiver down my spine. "No one's dying tonight, Blaire. Don't worry."

"How can you tell me not to worry when you're going to drive under the influence of alcohol?"

He let out a loud breath. "If it bothers you that much, then I'll just take a cab. Will that be okay?"

I bit my lip, trying to find more reasons to convince him to stay. But it seemed like he was determined not to spend the night here. I couldn't help but wonder if he was worried about what his new girlfriend would think, and that's why he didn't want to stay. "If someone will get mad if you stay here, you could just say so. If you don't want to stay, fine," I said, turning my back on him. I hadn't even taken a few steps when he grabbed my arm and spun me back to face him. I hitched my breath when I found ourselves only inches away from each other. I can smell the scent of whiskey from his mouth, and it ignites something within me that sets my body on fire.

"I don't know what you mean by that, but the truth is, I don't know if I can control myself when I'm this close to you. So, I appreciate your offer, but I'm leaving while I still can," he said before finally walking out the door.

I stood there, staring at the closed door, too stunned to speak. I didn't understand what had just happened. My mind was in turmoil, replaying his words over and over, trying to grasp their meaning. I found myself walking inside my son's room, seeking solace in the one person who always brought me peace.

Blaze was sound asleep, his small chest rising and falling with each breath. I gently sat on the edge of his bed, brushing a stray lock of hair from his forehead. His innocence and pure love were a stark contrast to the confusion and tension I felt with Sebastian. As I watched Blaze sleep, my mind wandered back to Sebastian's words. Why would he say he couldn't control himself around me? Did he still have feelings for me? And what about that woman with the emerald necklace? The uncertainty gnawed at me. I stayed there for a while, listening to Blaze's rhythmic breathing, hoping it would calm my racing thoughts. I needed clarity, but I wasn't sure where to find it. The room was dim, with the soft glow of the nightlight casting gentle shadows on the walls. It was a sanctuary, a place where everything felt simple and safe.

Eventually, I leaned down and kissed Blaze's forehead. "Goodnight, my sweet boy," I whispered. "Mommy loves you."

I was about to leave his room when I noticed a small paper bag on the side of his bed. Curiosity piqued, so I moved closer and saw that it was from a well-known jewelry store. My heart skipped a beat. What was this doing here? A sudden urge to check its contents overcame me, and with trembling hands, I opened the bag.

Inside, nestled in a velvet box, was the emerald diamond necklace-the exact same one I saw Sebastian holding on the news. My mind raced as I tried to comprehend what this meant. Why was it here in Blaze's room? Was it a gift for someone else, or was there a different story behind it?

"What's the meaning of this?" I muttered in shock, my voice barely above a whisper. My fingers traced the intricate design of the necklace, the emerald gleaming under the soft light.

Could it be...?

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