Kneeling for a Second Chance Novel

---- Chapter 354. Valeria lifted her hand and answered the call. Not far away, Queenie was being escorted by two security guards. She cast a resentful glance at the flash of light on Valeria's finger. The brilliant sparkle of the diamond stabbed at her eyes. With her resume in the industry, she had even offered up Sabrina's secrets, begging Valeria to give her a chance. She had nothing left. Why did Valeria have to crush her very last hope? That evening, Sebastian drove Valeria and Selena to dine at a restaurant.

It was a traditional courtyard-style restaurant, with a pond of water lilies in the garden. The pink and white blossoms floated gracefully, each variety delicate and fragrant. Valeria couldn't resist taking out her phone to snap a few pictures. The pink petals against the green leaves were picturesque and serene. Sebastian also took out his phone, but what he captured was her. Like a water lily rising fresh from the water, she was elegant, time itself stilled in beauty. ---- The three of them went upstairs to a private room and ordered three dishes and a soup.

The chicken mushroom soup was rich and fragrant. From the second floor, they could see the water lily pond outside, green leaves rippling gently in the wind. Sebastian took off his charcoal -gray suit jacket, revealing a pale blue dress shirt beneath. His sleeves were rolled up, exposing strong forearms. His attire was strictly businesslike today, his hair neatly slicked back, giving him an air of cold distance. But in the warm golden glow of the traditional private room, his handsome, austere features softened, touched with quiet tenderness.

Sebastian ladled a bowl of soup for Selena, listening as she chattered about her day at school. Valeria rested her chin in her hand, listening quietly. She didn't mention the small episode from this afternoon. It was just a trivial matter at work. Midway through the meal, Selena went to the restroom. The large room was left with only her and Sebastian. Valeria said, "Let me see your follow-up report." "T'll show you when we get home." At his words, Valeria frowned, worried there was something, wrong with the results. ---- "It's nothing serious. Everything's normal.

They prescribed some medicine. But the doctor said..." His deep magnetic voice paused briefly. Seeing the crease of worry between her brows, he deliberately shifted the subject. "It's best not to rely on painkillers anymore, to avoid developing resistance. If there's pain, you can use other methods to distract yourself from it." "What other methods?" "Kissing. Or making love." 1 Valeria had asked seriously, and he had answered just as matter-of-factly. "You-" She almost choked ona mouthful of soup.

Propping one arm on the table, she stood quickly to the restroom." Her cheeks were already burning. Sebastian lifted his napkin with elegant composure , dabbing the corner of his lips. His eyes carried a smile, and paired with his cold, striking face, the effect was overwhelming . Slowly, he said, "We should follow the doctor's orders. It's not wise to ignore a condition." "The doctor who advised so... Was he perhaps some quack with the last name Grant?" Valeria muttered as she walked away, glancing back at him after a few steps. Just then, Selena pushed the door open and walked in.

" ---- Mommy, why is your face red?" Sebastian looked toward Valeria, his thin lips moving silently as he formed the words, "Help me with the pain tonight?"