Kneeling for a Second Chance Novel

---- Chapter 439 Sebastian tilted his chin, a trace of a smile tugging at his lips. "Open it. There's another layer underneath." Valeria then opened the second layer and frowned at the leather collar inside as she asked, "What's this supposed to be?" There was also a chain, almost like something one would use to leash a dog, except the quality was far too fine. Sebastian pulled off his fitted sweater in one motion. The hours he had been putting in at the gym paid off. His chest and abs were cut, and the scar across him looked like a badge of survival.

He raised his brows slightly , his eyes fixed on her face until her heartbeat quickened. "That one's for me. The one in the top layer was for you. "Just like this." He caught her hand, fastened the leather clasp around his neck, and let it sit snugly against his Adam's apple. He handed her the chain, saying, "Like this. It's about three feet long. That means I can only stay within three feet of you." He bent close, and his voice was brushing her ear as he murmured, "Mommy..." Valeria's cheeks burned, and she burst out laughing.

"You're out of your mind." Sebastian had seemed so put-together lately, but underneath ---- that polished look, he was shameless as hell. The curtains slid shut. "Today is New Year's Day. It's a beautiful day. We shouldn't waste it," Sebastian explained. It snowed for days after the holiday. On the 4th January, Valeria and Sebastian took Margaret to the district cemetery. After the relocation of Cranary, Phillip's grave was moved there. Someone had already left flowers. Margaret guessed it must have been Thomas. They went back the same afternoon.

She insisted on living alone again, so she left the Grant residence and moved to a place on Red Crescent Road. Valeria visited her every day. On the morning of 6th January, Sebastian got a call and headed out. The GPS led him to the underground garage of an abandoned mall. Inthe underground garage, Calvin waited with four bodyguards. On the ground lay a young man, tied up tight, his face covered in bruises like he had just been worked over. Calvin reported, "His name is Cody Fuller. He was one of three reporters who ran with the negative stories during the Jennifer -Thomas mess.

The other two are hiding. He's the only one we caught." ---- Calvin ripped the tape from Cody's mouth and barked, "Speak! "Ttwas Ms. Gab. That's what we call her. She paid each of us half a million. Told us to blow up anything Jennifer said, the bigger the mess, the better. "T don't even know her real name. I'm telling the truth." Cody trembled, his injured leg dragging behind him. "How did you get in touch with her?" Sebastian asked. "I... [don't know. She is the one who contacts me," Cody stammered. Sebastian lit a cigarette, remembering it was already his fourth of the day.

He clenched it between his teeth, exhaled slowly, then crushed the butt under his shoe. He looked down at Cody like he was nothing as he said, "Let's see how tough you really are. Fine. Knock his teeth out. That' ll loosen his tongue." Sebastian lifted his chin slightly, and one of the bodyguards stepped forward with a hammer in his hand. Cody shook uncontrollably, blurting out, "I have her contact! Thave it!" Calvin had already gone through Cody's phone and found no saved numbers. Cody swallowed hard. After Calvin untied him, he founda number and hit dial.

---- The line rang before a woman's voice snapped through. " Didn't I tell you all to lay low? Why the hell are you calling me? Spit it out!" Trembling , Cody followed Calvin's signal, careful not to give anything away. "I... Ineed more money..." Calvin listened to the woman's voice on the other end, then glanced at Sebastian. Sebastian closed his eyes, then slowly opened them again, his eyes dark and unreadable. So, "Ms. Gab" was actually Gabriella. By the time Sebastian got back to the Grant residence, it was already afternoon. He went straight up to Nicholas ' study.

Without a word, he placed his phone on the desk, hit play, and let the recording fill the room. Sebastian unbuttoned two buttons on his shirt and slouched back lazily into the chair, propping his feet on the low stool." If you don't want to get your hands dirty or risk straining family ties, I'll handle it." This time, Nicholas didn't snap back right away. Instead , he sat in silence, deep in thought. Then, he spoke. "Let her live like an ordinary person. Don't kill her." It wasn't kindness that held him back but the fact that he had raised her for so many years.

---- Then, he added, "Call Alexander and Wendy up here. We'll have a meeting." Suddenly, Brody came rushing upstairs. He didn't even knock, bursting through the door, his face stricken with panic. " Something's wrong!"