Page 41 of I See You

"These were sent for you," Micah beamed, her eyes glinting with curiosity as she handed Sevyn the vase.

Sevyn’s brows furrowed slightly as she hesitated before reaching for them. The flowers were beautiful, but her gut already told her she wasn’t going to like where they came from.

"There’s a card too," Micah added with a wink, handing it over as Sevyn took it, already knowing.

She unfolded the small envelope, her eyes scanning the familiar handwriting.

"I’m sorry, baby. Please talk to me."

Her stomach twisted in irritation, and just like that, she knew exactly who had sent them.

Braxton.

The annoyance crept into her expression, but she masked it quickly, not wanting to feed into Micah’s excitement.

"Thank you, Micah," Sevyn said smoothly, though there was a sharp edge to her tone that hinted at her frustration.

She grabbed the flowers, their weight feeling heavier than they should have. Braxton was trying everything at this point—calls, texts, messages through mutual friends, and now flowers. His persistence was starting to exhaust her. He didn’t deserve another conversation. He didn’t deserve anything from her.

Making her way into her office, she placed the vase down on her desk, but the bright yellow petals felt like a mockery of what she had lost.

Even though each day, she had been slowly healing, slowly coming to terms with what had happened, she wasn’t fully there yet. She still felt the sting of betrayal, the wound of Braxton and Ariel’s deception still fresh, even if she refused to let it consume her.

Taking a deep breath, she pulled her gaze from the flowers and focused on preparing for her first session of the day. She had an hour before her client arrived, enough time to settle in and shake off the unwanted emotions stirring inside her.

As she reached for her planner, her phone vibrated against the cold marble surface of her desk.

Braxton.

His name flashed across the screen, as if he knew she had just read his apology, as if he was waiting for her reaction.

Without hesitation, she hit decline.

The beautiful flowers did nothing for her. Not a damn thing.

???

SevynwasinthemiddleofasessionwithXavierSanders,astar NFL player who had just been signed to the Chicago Bears after being kicked off three different teams due to his anger issues. His talent was undeniable, but his temper had cost him millions, endorsements, and nearly his career. Now, in order to play next season, he had to complete therapy—so he came to the best in the business, the most recommended therapist money could buy:Sevyn Love.

She caught him checking her out a few times during the session, his gaze lingering on her a little too long, but she brushed it off and remainedprofessional.Tohiscredit,despitehiswanderingeyes, he kept his demeanor controlled, engaged, genuinely trying to get something out of their session.

"What does it feel like when the anger hits?" Sevyn asked, her tone smooth, soft, as she crossed one leg over the other. Normally, she would do physical practices with clients suffering from anger issues— breath work, movement exercises, anything that let them release pent-up aggression in a controlled way. But Xavier was new, and before she could work through his emotions, she had to understand them. She had to pick his brain first.

Xavier exhaled heavily, shaking his head as if he was searching for the right words.

"I don’t know. It’s just… like a switch." His voice was sharp, yet soft at the same time. "One second I’m cool, and then, boom—I feel like I gotta prove something. Like I gotta shut whoever up before they think I’m soft."

Sevyn noted the tension in his jaw, the way his fingers flexed slightly, like even talking about it triggered something in him. She calmly jotted down notes, keeping her energy relaxed, unaffected.

"I'm just gathering information," she explained smoothly when she caught him watching her write. "Getting to know you, remembering the things that’s important to you."

Xavier nodded, his shoulders loosening slightly. He still wasn’t fully comfortable, but she could tell he was trying—and that was all she needed for now.

"And what happens after?" Sevyn’s voice was soft, her eyes focused on Xavier, waiting for him to dig a little deeper. But before he could answer, the office door burst open, making her jump.

Her head snapped toward the door, her body freezing the second her eyes landed on him.

Hassan.

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