Page 213 of The Bittersweet Bond

The adrenaline rush gradually gave way to reality, and Bas felt his breathing slow. The cold air lashed against his burning skin, and he could hear Alexander’s labored breathing beside him. Neither of them spoke as they rounded the corner to where the SUV was waiting. His gaze darted around, catching the faint, flickering glow of streetlights piercing through the nighttime haze.

When they reached the vehicle, the driver got out without a word and opened the door. Alexander nodded at him before climbing into the back seat, followed by Bas.

Once the doors clicked shut, Bas leaned against the window, his forehead pressed against the cold glass. The city lights swept past, smearing into streaks against the darkness. Next to him, Alexander propped his feet up on the seat in front of them, exhaling deeply.

“Damn, that was close,” Alexander finally said, a grin stretching across his face as though he was still riding the high of the last few minutes. “But come on, that was incredible. You really put that guy in his place.”

Bas didn’t move a muscle. “That was stupid,” he murmured. “It could’ve gone a lot worse.”

Alexander waved him off. “Worse? Man, that was perfect. Besides, guys like that deserve it. It’s been ages since I had this much fun.” He grabbed a bottle of water from the door pocket, took a long gulp, and leaned back. “Too bad the summer won’t be as great.”

Bas turned his head, a skeptical look on his face. “What do you mean?”

Alexander shrugged and sighed. “I mean I’ll be in California. No epic parties, no legendary nights. A total waste, bro.”

Bas furrowed his brow. “Then let’s spend the summer together in California.”

Alexander chuckled quietly, shaking his head. “That’s not gonna happen, genius. You’re staying here in New York.”

Bas blinked. “What? No. Why would you even think that? I don’t get what you’re talking about.”

“Come on, your dad really didn’t tell you?” Alexander looked at him with a bemused grin. “You’re doing an internship at my dad’s company. I thought you knew that already.”

For a moment, Bas just stared at him. His heart began to race, a lump forming in his throat. “What the hell are you talking about?” he finally snapped. “I’m not doing an internship in New York.”

Alexander held his hands up, as if trying to calm him down. “Hey, I was just as surprised when my dad told me. Apparently, our dads worked it out weeks ago. Summer internship. I’m going to California to work for your dad, and you’re coming here.”

Heat surged through Bas’s chest, his blood pounding in his ears. Another one of his father’s shameless attempts to separate us? The thought hit him like a punch. “That can’t be true,” he said at last, his voice low but taut. “My dad hasn’t said a word about it.”

Alexander shrugged again. “Well, now you’ve heard it from me. Looks like you’re gonna be a New Yorker this summer. Congrats!”

Chapter 56

Exile in Eden

Sebastian

The door to the suite clicked shut behind him. A faint sound, then silence. Bas stood there for a moment, feeling the tightness in his chest that hadn’t left since he learned what his father had planned.

The darkness in the room was deceptive. He could make out the outlines of the perfectly arranged furniture, the polished surfaces reflecting the faint light. Everything was pristine, as always, and that was exactly the problem. It was a world he no longer wanted to be part of—orderly, controlled, and unbearably sterile.

A quick glance at the adjoining room confirmed it: his father was asleep. The door to his bedroom was closed, not a sound coming through. Of course, he was already deep in his perfectly scheduled sleep routine.

Bas ran a hand through his hair, then let it slide down to the back of his neck to ease the tension. The anger that had followed him all the way back to the hotel was still there, a dull throbbing that kept him awake, even though he knew heneeded to be rested tomorrow. For Evin.

Bas slipped off his jacket and tossed it onto the couch. It slid off and landed on the floor. Whatever. He let himself fall onto the bed in his own room, the mattress so soft it felt like he was sinking into it. The darkness closed in around him, but his mind remained wide awake.

He turned onto his side, trying to ignore the restlessness in his body. But all he could see was Evin. Her smile, the sparkle in her eyes when she gave him her opinion—and the thought that he wouldn’t see her for weeks. His father had arranged all of this so damn precisely.

He took a deep breath, trying to calm himself.Tomorrow,he thought.Tomorrow I’ll sort this out.With that, he forced his eyes shut.

The small dining table was perfectly set, sunlight reflecting off the silverware. As Bas entered the living area, Manhattan came to life behind the panoramic window.

Bas slumped into a chair, every muscle in his body protesting. His knuckles felt as though he’d spent the night punching a brick wall, and his face stung from where the guy had hit him the previous evening. It was just a scratch, but it burned—just like his mood.

“You look terrible,” his father remarked flatly, without looking up from his newspaper.

Bas didn’t react, just grabbed a bagel and tore off a piece. “I was out. Nothing you haven’t done before, right?” His tone was calm, almost offhand, but his stomach twisted as he felt frustration bubble up inside him.

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