Kneeling for a Second Chance Novel

---- Chapter 260 It was just a dream. However , Sebastian couldn't shake the look his younger self had given him-mocking, certain, and laced with contempt. He reached for the nightstand to find that there were only two sleeping pills left in the bottle, but they weren't enough to help him fall asleep. He got up and walked to the floor-to-ceiling window, where there was a leather armchair. As the moonlight filtered in, casting the room ina cold glow. Sebastian held a cigarette between his fingers, ash dangling at the tip. The ember glowed red, pulsing in the dark.

With a long drag, it caused his cheeks to hollow, smoke curling up to shroud his face. Sebastian sat there for a long time, looking like a portrait of cold solitude. The dream, vivid but hazy, held him by the window until the first light broke across the horizon. Nemo trotted over and licked his hand. Sebastian looked at the dog. Nemo wasn't young anymore , the fur around his muzzle turning white. From the beginning, he hadn't even wanted to keep it. However, after so many years, the companionship felt like family. ---- He said quietly, 'Nemo, I have to work somewhere far away.

T'll leave you at Grandma's place, okay?" It was as if Nemo really understood-he barked once and caught hold of the hem of Sebastian's pants. The next morning, Sebastian brought Nemo to the Grant residence. Martha sat on the couch with her reading glasses on and a script in hand, practicing her lines. "I'll give you five million dollars for you to leave my son." "What? Five million dollars isn't enough? You're asking for 500 million dollars?" Avery walked over, beckoning the dog. "Come here, Nemo.

I've got a big drumstick for you in the kitchen." She glanced at Sebastian with a smile as she said, "Mrs. Grant Sr. has been swamped these days. She's booked solid. She's joined three productions this month alone." Just then, Nicholas came down the stairs. He gave a cold snort. "That's embarrassing." Sebastian said lightly, "It's rare for Mom to enjoy something. Ithink it's great." "Now that's my boy." Martha had already caught the whole exchange. She set aside the script of "The Aloof First Love and Her Secret Baby" and beckoned Nemo over and said, "Come ---- here, baby.

Come to Grandma." Martha ran her hand over Nemo's back, feeling a wave of emotion. Before Sebastian had Nemo, the Grants had lived under the shadow of Florian's death. The loss had left everyone shaken, even fearful of dogs. Then came Nemo. Golden retrievers were born to be warm and affectionate, and Nemo's presence seemed to soften that darkness, if only a little. That afternoon , Sebastian stayed for lunch. He said, "I'll be leaving Nemo here for now. Ina few days, I'll be heading out of town." "Are you going for another training again?

Those pastries you brought back from Broburgh City last time were pretty good," Martha said. Before Sebastian could answer, she asked again, "How long will you be gone this time?" "T'm not sure yet," he replied. Lunch passed under her steady stream of chatter, and by the time Sebastian left later that day, he left Nemo at the Grant residence. However, the very next night, he got a call from Avery. Nemo was gone. ---- The security cameras showed him slipping out at around 5:00 pm. Since then, the whole family had been out searching for him.

Sebastian's brow furrowed as he drove out to pull surveillance from the nearby streets. Nemo should have been easy to spot with that distinct light coat. It was a Golden Retriever -Samoyed mix, smaller than average, and its fur was golden and white. The search dragged on until 8:00 pm. Avery blamed herself over and over. She hadn't thought Nemo would suddenly run off. Usually , when it came over, it only played in the yard and had never gotten lost. And besides, this was a gated community with security everywhere. Even Sebastian began to regret his decision.

Regret was almost unheard of in his life. Now, he sat in the car, chain-smoking two cigarettes back to back, with no idea what to do. If Nemo really was gone, then he only had himself to blame. Maybe Nemo had sensed Sebastian's impending departure these past few days. Maybe it thought Sebastian didn't want him anymore, which was why it had been left behind at the Grant residence.