Chapter 12

The morning after the storm of public opinion subsided, I woke to kisses.

Opening my eyes, Sebastian propped his head up watching me, his other hand playing with my long hair spread across the pillow.

Sunlight filtered through the curtains onto his coldly noble face, gilding him with a soft golden edge.

He didn't look like the Grim Reaper who'd been so ruthlessly decisive in the livestream, but more like a male demon.

"Awake?" His voice carried the huskiness of early morning as he lowered his head to kiss my forehead.

I instinctively burrowed into his embrace. Even after a whole night, this real warmth still didn't feel like enough.

"About Cyrus..." I'd just started.

Sebastian's expression visibly darkened, and he bit my lip corner in punishment. "First thing in the morning, why mention that unlucky thing? Trying to make me not want to get out of bed?"

My face heated. I pushed him. "I'm worried there'll be follow-up trouble. After all..."

"No trouble." Sebastian cut off my words, his gaze deepening. "Vivienne,you need to get used to something. As long as I'm here, even if the sky falls, I'll hold it up. You just need to be the Sterling family's young miss, to be my Mrs. Ashford."

He got up, revealing his muscular upper body. On his back was a vicious old scar from washing ashore three years ago.

My fingertips trembled as I touched it.

Sebastian grabbed my hand, pressing it to his heart. "Don't touch it. It's ugly."

"It's not ugly." My eyes stung. "This is the roadmap you left to come back and see me."

During breakfast, the assistant called, her tone hesitant.

"Miss Sterling, those old foxes on the board... they're making trouble at the company."

"They say that although this public opinion storm was clarified, Sterling Corporation's stock volatility affected their dividends. They're proposing... to convene an emergency shareholders' meeting to re-elect the chairman."

I let out a cold laugh, setting down my milk glass.

These wily board members had been restless even when Grandfather was alive. Now they saw me caught up in a scandal and thought I was an easy target. They wanted to take advantage and stage a coup.

"Prepare the car." I stood, cold light flashing in my eyes.

Sebastian methodically wiped his mouth, casually picking up his suit jacket and draping it over my shoulders.

"Perfect timing. I'll go with you. Some accounts need settling not just with Cyrus, but with these disrespectful old geezers too."