Kneeling for a Second Chance Novel

---- Chapter 311 "Who told you I like Mr. Grant? Don't make wild guesses like that." Valeria ruffled Selena's hair. Then, she stood up and opened Sebastian's door. Nemo darted out, rubbing against Selena affectionately. She adored Nemo and stroked the white fur on its face. Just as Valeria stepped into the elevator, Selena whispered softly, "You call out Mr. Grant's name in your sleep." Valeria watched the elevator descend, standing alone inside. She leaned against the steel wall, and the reflective surface mirrored her expression.

She rarely drank, and even when she did, she still behaved - unlike Kayla, who always babbled about Nathan when under the influence. On the contrary, she had never done that. She had never brought up Sebastian's name when she was drunk, only doing so in her nightmares. She hadn't expected that Selena had heard it. A ten-year-old girl had so easily pierced through her calm facade. When she had met Sebastian again, she had wondered whether they still had a shot at being together again. For the first seven years, followed by another three years, she had lived well without Sebastian.

---- Her world could exist without him. Valeria had raised her daughter alone. Selena was also healthy after the surgery, while Margaret's illness was also under control. Alongside Kayla, Valeria had built up their own brand and was about to open their sixth store. On top of that, there were a lot of admirers around her. Since it was July and they were ina seaside city, Valeria draped a thin coat over her shoulders as she left her apartment. The sea breeze both blew salt and heat across her face. She braced her hands on the railing as she looked at the waves crashing over the rocks.

The wind tangled her long hair. The sand on the beach was blown back, revealing a half- buried coin that had different images on its sides. The coin spun from her fingertips and dropped on the ground. It was tails, but what that represented was something only she knew. At 20 minutes to midnight, Valeria stopped as she passed by the nurse's station. The nurse on night duty reminded her to watch Sebastian closely and be aware of any sudden breathing problems. Valeria nodded in thanks. ---- When she opened the ward door, the lights were off.

Using only the moonlight, she moved to the bedside and noticed that Sebastian was asleep. She looked at him sleeping on his side. His breathing seemed muffled, and his brow was furrowed in discomfort. Reaching out, she rested her hand against his forehead. It was hot, even hotter than it was in the afternoon. Under the quiet moonlight, only their breathing filled the space. Valeria studied his face for a long time. Sebastian woke with a cough. As he heaved, he caught a scent foreign to the sterile hospital air. It was the scent of the woman he longed for.

He forced down the itch in his throat. It was 3:00 am, and he opened his eyes to see her slumped asleep at his bedside. The sharp pain in his throat reminded him that this wasn't a dream. A leopard could never change its spots. It was something Sebastian was aware of, knowing that he was imperfect . He had been born into privilege and favored by fortune, later meeting a softhearted, kind woman. If Valeria had been a little crueler, she should have left him there. She shouldn't have cared if he lived or died.

She could ---- have ignored him, letting him choke or die from infection in his own home two nights ago. Oh, Valeria. She should have rejected him since a man constantly clinging to her was the most worthless thing, but what could Sebastian have done? He had no way to keep her by his side other than to desperately cling to her. Yet, she was always the same-so pure and beautiful.