Kneeling for a Second Chance Novel

---- Chapter 332 Sebastian gripped Valeria's shoulders, forcing her to look up into his eyes. He repeated his words once more, but he felt his heart twist. Looking into her misty eyes, he saw the unhappy memories shimmering there, flooding into him and suffocating him. Back when that scandal first began to spread through campus, he was certain that Jane couldn't have stolen the money. Yet, what a humiliating disgrace it had been. The Grant family, supposed to be so noble and proud, actually raised a daughter of such low character.

Gabriella seemed so radiant on the surface, but ended up stealing some paltry class funds. All they could do at that time was cover it up. Even now, his parents remained unaware that such an incident had ever happened. Sebastian pulled Valeria into his embrace. "At the time, my mom had just undergone heart surgery. The operation was extremely risky, with only a 20% chance of success. It was a gamble. I'm sorry..." His voice trembled. He knew that this incident had carved a scar into Jane's heart, one that would never heal. His apology seemed pathetic. ---- Regret weighed heavily on his heart.

He had no right to decide who Valeria forgave, not even himself. Sebastian knew that seeing Gabriella again would tear open that scar, the very memory she least wanted to revisit. However, in the Grant household, such encounters were inevitable. They could avoid Gabriella once or twice, but not for a lifetime. He didn't want to see Valeria in pain. Just those few seconds of sorrow in her eyes earlier had felt so raw and clear. Valeria rested in his arms, steadying her breath. The clean, cold scent of Sebastian slowly soothed her mood. Softly, she responded, "Let's go in.

Your parents are still waiting for us." This time, she moved forward, but not Sebastian. He grabbed her wrist and pulled her into the car. After he locked her inside, he walked to the living room alone. Valeria knocked on the window. After two minutes, Sebastian returned. He slid into the driver's seat, started the car, and drove away from the Grant residence. Valeria looked at him before she looked outside. "Where are we going?" "You'll know in a short while," came his answer. He seemed colder than ever. They had left-just like that, ---- without even having the promised dinner.

She had seen all the effort that the staff had put into the preparations , so such a departure felt wrong. After passing a streetlamp, Sebastian suddenly pulled over. He unfastened his seatbelt and seized Valeria's face in his hands. The kiss that followed was heated and ferocious, far more forceful than anything that had happened earlier that afternoon. His tongue pressed past her teeth, leaving Valeria gasping for breath. Valeria pounded his back, desperate for him to let go. She was suffocating beneath the intensity. Saliva pooled between their lips faster than she could swallow.

Her strength melted away just from that kiss alone. She felt like she could evaporate. When Sebastian finally released her, Valeria's mind was blank. Her body trembled as he held her tightly in his arms. "You won't leave me, will you?" His voice was hoarse, and his breath was heavy. He repeated the question over and over until Valeria finally nodded, her chin brushing against his shoulder. As she recovered from that intense kiss, all she could do was let out a powerless moan. Sebastian bent over her, pressing down. Valeria felt stifled, as though all oxygen around her had been stripped away.