Page 11 of One Love
Sebastian
“What is it, Sebastian?” Theringing in my ears drowns out Devin’s voice as I stand completely stunned.
Clearing my throat, I read what is typed neatly on the paper in my hands. “If you want to keep Ms. Miller’s name from the tabloids—” I pause, trying to calm the shakiness in my voice. “—I suggest you fire her by the end of the week.”
Looking up from the paper, I lock eyes with Devin. She looked bad when the picture hit the paper, but now, she looks ten times worse. The shock and horror on her face leave no question of what she’s feeling. She looks as if she’s going to pass out at any minute, and it makes me fucking nervous.
“That can’t be what it says.” Devin’s voice sounds weak and anxious. “Sebastian, please tell me that’s not what it says.”
Keeping my tone soft and understanding, I answer her. “Devin, I wish it didn’t. I am so sorry.”
“No. No. No,” she denies. “This can’t be happening.”
Devin’s sob rips through my office as chaos breaks free. Devin goes into a full-blown panic attack and steps back slowly across the office until she hits the wall. My feet stay rooted to their spot as Madison dashes toward her, chanting words of comfort as she rubs a hand down Devin’s back. I listen as they murmur between themselves, but I can’t move. I stand frozen in place next to Veronica, who reaches over and takes the paper from my hand. “I’m going to get this checked for prints right away. Wait for my call,” she says, opening the door and exiting the office as quickly as she can.
I don’t even say goodbye to her as she leaves. Instead, I stay still, staring at Devin and Madison, watching as the carnage and pain I’ve caused bleeds out onto the floor through Devin’s gasps for breath.
How could I let this happen?
I should have known better.
Devin told me time and time again this was going to blow up in our faces.
What did I think was going to happen?
My brain and body start working together again, and I walk across the office toward the two of them. Reaching Devin, I take her face in my hands, thumbing away the tears. “Take a deep breath, princess.”
“I… I… I’m trying,” she says with a hiccup. “I can’t help it.”
Out of instinct, I pull her into my chest and look over at my sister. She stares at me in awe, and it almost makes me want to flip her off, but instead, I nod at her, silently saying she can leave us alone.
I got this.
I got Devin.
I’m going to take care of her, now more than ever.
“It’s too much,” she cries into my suit jacket. “This is all too much. I can’t do this.”
Hearing Devin cry breaks my heart in the worst possible way. She is the strongest woman I know, and for her to break down like this tells me how badly she’s hurting.
Her pain is my pain. I feel it deep in my chest, eviscerating me from the inside out.
I’ve never had this happen with anyone besides family.
“I know, princess.” I comfort her, letting her cry into my chest as much as she needs to. “I am so sorry for this. It’s my fault. It has nothing to do with you.”
Devin pulls away from me, and I hate the feeling of not having her against me anymore. I watch as she wipes away the tears and looks up at me. “Sebastian, why didn’t you let me stay away from you when I could have? This is so much worse than anything I’d thought would happen.”
I take her face in my hands, holding her gaze. “Because I’m a selfish man, princess.”
“None of this would have happened if you’d just let me go when we had the chance.”
Hearing her say the words I’ve been thinking out loud does something to my heart. They wrap around it, squeezing and twisting the life out of me as each syllable slips past her lips. The agonizing pain rips through my chest with enough force to knock the wind out of me.
“I wouldn’t have let you go then, Devin, and I won’t let you go now.”
“What if I want you to?” she asks, still staring at me with those gorgeous pain-filled eyes.
