Kneeling for a Second Chance Novel

---- Chapter 226 "You'd better mean what you say!" Sebastian's fingers dug tightly into Valeria's slender shoulders , almost sinking into her. He squeezed hard before letting go, bones creaking , his eyes bloodshot. "You trample over my heart again and again. You say I don't understand what love is. Valeria, I'm human too! My heart is made of flesh and blood. What is love to you? Tell me, what is love?" Valeria felt the strength in his grip, steel -like, restraining her arms. She didn't struggle. She held back the sting gathering in her eyes. Her voice trembled, hoarse.

"Love is not needing to have you. It's watching you from afar and seeing you get better and better. It's the moment you appear, once you step into my space, I just know. It's you. "Sebastian, do you really love me? I'm not the one you love." She wanted to add, "Do you even know who I am?" but she held back. The night wind made the corners of Valeria's eyes dry and red, her hair blowing messily, strands faintly covering her face. " Let's part on good terms." ---- She pushed Sebastian away. When her fingers combed through her hair, they also wiped away the tears at the corners of her eyes.

Sebastian stood where he was, completely still. "The fireworks were beautiful . You'll meet someone who's more suited to watch them with you. Since it's your birthday today, I wish you a..." Valeria wanted to say happy birthday. But she paused and changed her words. "A peaceful birthday. Sebastian looked at her, unmoving, silent. His figure blended into the night, cold and distant. His bloodshot eyes hit a terrifying calm. When Valeria turned to leave, she touched the necklace at her throat. After a moment's hesitation, she took it off.

The pearl carried a soft luster, seeming like the only gentle light in the night. She held it out to Sebastian. "T'm not a trash can. I don't take back garbage," he said, cold and firm. His entire being was frighteningly still. He seized Valeria's wrist, and with a sharp flick, the platinum chain, adorned with that single pearl, slipped from her hand and arced across the night sky. It fell from the 68th floor of the Grant Group building and disappeared. ---- Valeria froze, then slowly clenched her fingers. She turned and walked away.

Sebastian's voice came from behind her, hoarse, his throat tight. "Valeria, don't ever let me see you in Slate City again." She paused for a second, then continued forward. She had heard him. Sebastian watched her walk away without looking back. His fists clenched slowly, veins standing out along his arms. Any trace of alcohol in him was gone. All that remained was a razor-sharp calm, barely holding together the illusion of composure. He sank into the darkness of the night , his chest trembling with uneven breaths. Selena's birthday card crumpled in his hand.

He lifted his hand, wanting to throw it away. But when his eyes landed on the childish handwriting , on the big smiling face Selena had drawn, his hand slowly lowered again, gripping the card tightly. Sebastian didn't know how long he stood on the rooftop. He stood there long enough for the cold wind to pierce through him, for the sky to pale with dawn, and for the tears sliding down his cheeks to dry and pull faintly at his skin. ---- It was Valeria's last day at the company. That evening, she invited Kayla to dinner. Kayla laughed and said, "It's nice going back home.

My hometown is in Broburgh City, Caelum County. I haven't been. back ina year." "What a coincidence. My grandmother's hometown is also in Caelum County." "Really?" Kayla poured Valeria a drink, clinking their glasses together . "Then, we definitely have to drink more tonight." Valeria thanked Kayla for taking care of her over the years. Kayla pushed her glasses up with a smile. "The one who really took care of you was yourself, Valeria. You've taken good care of yourself.

If there's a chance in the future, as long as you're still in this field, we'll work together again." The next day, Valeria invited Lindsey and Queenie . She had originally planned to take them out for dinner, but Queenie suggested having a barbecue at her place instead. Valeria thought about it, then nodded.