Chapter 48: Chapter 48

“I’ll pretend that I didn’t hear that,” Carol said, her heart pounding at the evil look that was on Belinda’s face. She wished she had just left things the way they were because she had the awful feeling that Belinda was not bluffing.

“Yeah. Everyone’s temper is just high. How about we all calm down and enjoy a peaceful dinner without any fight?” Tom put in eagerly. To Carol’s surprise, he was sweating profusely and he looked really terrified. Aunt Alice was looking around in confusion, probably wondering what was wrong with all of them.

“No, no. there’s no use in pretending about it. I’m sick of pretending, so it’s just better you know now. You should be grateful to me because I did not birth you, but I’ve done everything within my power to raise you right. But no, what do I get as payback for it? Answer me. Answer me, you ingrate!”

“Belinda, please. This is neither the time nor place. Stop this madness right now!” Donald commanded in the strongest voice that Carol had ever heard him use on Belinda.”

“Don’t yell at me,” Belinda ordered him in a superior-sounding tone.

“I’ll do whatever the fuck I want, and you can go to hell for all I care. I'm done with you and your manipulative trash!”

There was a collective gasp around the table. Belinda’s face turned white at her husband’s words and she swallowed hard, before looking down at her food and picking up her spoon again, avoiding everyone’s gaze. Aunt Alice’s face ashen with shock, and her mouth was wide open in an ‘o’ of shock, her cutlery held suspended in midair as she tried to process the proceedings at the table. Sebastian had dropped his cutlery and was surveying the gathering with interest. A quick glance at Carol told him that although the spectacle was somewhat amusing to him, it was anything but funny to her. His heart went out to her immediately, so he decided to take control of the situation, after all, this was his house.

As soon as he opened his mouth to speak, however, Carol jumped up to her feet and with a heart-wrenching sob, rushed away from the dining hall, and up the stairs. Silence greeted her exit for a good two minutes, and then her father made to stand up and go after her, his face looking so old and tired.

“Don’t worry. I’ll go and talk to her.” Sebastian said, standing up and leaving the older man no choice but to sit back down. He made his way up the stairs slowly, not knowing what on earth he was going to say to Carol, but also not wanting to stay downstairs and be caught up in whatever drama he was sure was going to ensue following her exit. Soon, he was standing at her door, which was closed. He could not hear any sound from inside, so he raised his hand and knocked, but there was no answer. He knocked again and again, but there was still no answer, and he was about to knock on the door for the fourth time when she opened the door and spoke before he did.

“Can we go to your room, please? I don’t want to see any of them yet, and I know that they will soon come looking for me.”

“Uh, sure. Of course, we can. Let’s go.” Sebastian replied without hesitation, taking her arm in his hand and leading the way to his room.

“Thanks,” Carol said, wiping her face with her hands and wishing that she was not such a crybaby, but she could not help herself. In all the months that she had lived here, she had never stepped into Sebastian’s room and did not even have an idea what it looked like. Now, as she entered it, she could see that it was a typical man’s room with its severe but classy and expensive decoration. The room was big, bigger than her own, and well organized too. It was all she could do not to fall into his big, comfortable-looking bed and cry herself to sleep in his scent.

“Do you want to talk about it?” Sebastian asked.

Carol shook her head in the negative and suddenly turned to him.

“Let’s leave tomorrow. Let’s leave for the vacation tomorrow. I don’t want to see any of them anywhere around me for now. Please, Sebastian.” She cried, the tears coming down full force. Unable to help herself, she launched herself into his arms, not caring if he would be comfortable with that or not. At this moment, she felt so alone in the world that she needed human solace, and he was the closest person from which she could get it. Sebastian took her in his arms, hugging her back tightly as though he knew exactly what she needed at that moment, and letting her cry all she wanted in his arms. He patted her back and murmured reassuring words to her, trying his best to soothe her, even though he knew that the pain she was feeling at that moment was really great.

Carol must have sobbed in his arms for about ten minutes when she finally pulled away, feeling much better, but still not wanting to go to her room yet, in case any of the others got it in their heads to come to talk to her.

“I’m sorry about that.” She told Sebastian, trying to use her hands to smoothen his shirt where she had wrinkled it with her crying bout.

“You don’t have to apologize, Carol. Do you feel better?”

“Yes, I do. Thanks a lot for putting up with me. I’ll just get out of your hair now.” She said, but he could see the reluctance in her eyes and knew that she did not want to go to her room yet.

“Why don’t you just lay down here for a while?” He told her, leading her to the bed without giving her room to protest, although she would not have protested anyway.

“Really? Thank you so much, Sebastian.” Carol said, allowing herself to be led to the bed and sinking gratefully into it.

“It's okay. I’ll just go and inform them that we’re going on vacation tomorrow.”

“Oh, about that. It’s alright if you don’t want to leave until we’re due to leave. I can put up with them pending that time.”

“No, it’s fine. I want us to leave. We can leave in the evening so we can quickly pack up some essential stuff during the day. That would not be a problem for you, right?”

“No, it wouldn't. Thanks a lot, Sebastian.”

“You’re welcome.” He replied and then left the room briefly to go downstairs, where he found the three visitors still sitting in the dining room. Belinda was crying profusely, while Alice was doing her best to comfort her and calm down her brother who was furiously pacing around the room at the same time. As soon as he saw Sebastian enter the dining room, Donald rushed towards him, his face somber.

“How is she doing? Is she still crying?” He asked.

“No, she’s fine. Listen, I wanted to tell you guys something. Carol and I had a vacation to the Maldives planned for tomorrow. That was why we were shocked when you guys arrived. We still plan on leaving tomorrow, in fact, she wants to leave now even more than before. You are all welcome to stay here for a few more days if you want, though.”

“No, no. It’s fine. We should never even have come in the first place, especially without informing you. We’ll leave first thing tomorrow morning. I’ll book our flights later on. Meanwhile, do you think that I could see Carol and explain things to her?”

“I don’t think that’s a good idea. She’s not in the right frame of mind now. Maybe when we get back from the vacation or when she’s up to it?”

“Okay. No problem. You’re a good man, Sebastian. Thank you so much for taking good care of my daughter.”

“It’s okay. Your daughter is a good person too.” Sebastian told him, and bid them goodnight before making his way back upstairs to his room.