53. Chapter 48
Falling Apart, Together
Evin
T he night was quiet as Jonas’s car pulled up in front of the ballet studio. Evin sat on the steps, arms wrapped around her knees, the cold concrete pressing against her back. The glow of the headlights made her lift her head, and for a moment, she hesitated. Was this a mistake?
Jonas got out, moving with the same unhurried ease as always, like he had all the time in the world. “Hey,” he said softly as he lowered himself onto the step in front of her. His dark eyes flicked over her face, searching, but he didn’t push.
“Hey,” she murmured, her gaze locked on the ground.
“You look like you could use a hot shower and some food,” he said eventually. His voice held a hint of humor, but beneath it, there was something softer, something steady.
Evin let out a quiet snort. “Food doesn’t fix everything, Jonas.”
“That’s just because you haven’t seen my kitchen yet.” He smirked . “I’ve got sushi, pasta—even that overpriced hummus my mom’s obsessed with. Or, if you want, we can go somewhere else. Your call.”
Evin lifted her head, meeting his gaze. “I just need to get out of here.”
Jonas didn’t hesitate. “Then come on. It’s freezing out here.” He stood, holding the car door open for her. She hesitated only for a moment, but when the wind picked up, biting through her sweater, she got up and slid into the passenger seat.
The streets widened as they drove toward Sandstone Cove. The mansions, hidden behind towering gates, reminded Evin of a world she would never fully belong to. Bas’s world. Jonas’s world. A world where everything looked pristine and effortless, even though she knew better.
The wrought-iron gates of Jonas’s house opened silently as he pulled into the long driveway. The golden glow of the outdoor lights bathed the property in warmth, the pool shimmered under the moonlight, and the perfectly manicured gardens looked like something out of a dream.
“Welcome to the land of excess,” Jonas said dryly. “Been a while since you’ve been here.”
“Measuring dicks on a whole different level,” Evin muttered, a faint smirk tugging at her lips.
“No kidding.” Jonas chuckled. “If our house was even slightly smaller, my dad would probably break out in hives.” He shrugged, stepping out of the car. “But hey, at least the pool’s nice. And the firepit. And, you know, beer pong works great here too.” He shot her a wink.
Evin rolled her eyes, ignoring the joke as she followed him inside. “You rich kids are weird.”
“Weird, but charming,” he countered with a grin, making her let out a quiet, unwilling laugh.
Inside, the house was as impressive as ever— high ceilings, open spaces, floor-to-ceiling windows framing the pool outside.
But the lounge Jonas led her to was different.
Warm. Lived-in. A massive couch sat in front of a crackling fireplace, shelves stacked with books and vinyl records lining the walls.
“Sit,” Jonas said, disappearing into the kitchen.
Evin sank into the couch, which swallowed her like a cloud. Her thoughts were still loud, but the warmth of the room and Jonas’s quiet presence made it a little easier to breathe. When he returned, he carried two plates, sushi arranged perfectly on each.
“Not homemade,” he admitted, “but at least well-ordered.”
Evin stared at him, surprised. “You just had this in your fridge?”
“Of course. You know how we rich people are. We stock up—just in case, someone randomly craves a tuna roll at two in the morning.”
She let out a small, genuine laugh, and Jonas grinned, clearly satisfied.
“Thanks, Jonas.”
“For the sushi?” He raised a brow. “Anytime.”
“No.” She hesitated. “For this.”
His expression softened. “You know you don’t have to do this alone, right?”
Her stomach tightened. “Sometimes it feels easier that way. At least then I don’t drag anyone else down with me.”
Jonas set his plate aside and leaned in slightly. “That’s bullshit, Evin. You have every right to be angry, to be hurt, to fall apart. But you don’t get to convince yourself you have to do it alone.”
“I just…” She swallowed hard. “I don’t want anyone to see me like this.”
Jonas’s voice was quiet, but firm. “You know what I see? Someone who’s been through hell and is still here. That’s not weakness. That’s strength.”
His words cracked something inside her. The tears came suddenly, hot and unstoppable, and she buried her face in her hands. Jonas didn’t say anything— just pulled her closer and let her cry.
She felt sorry that their friendship had grown apart. But maybe that’s what made this moment hit even harder—knowing that, after everything, she could still rely on him.
“Everything’s so fucked up,” she choked out eventually. “I don’t know how to fix it.”
“You don’t have to fix anything,” Jonas murmured. “Sometimes, things just take time. And sometimes, you just need people who remind you that you’re not alone.”
His words settl ed deep in her chest. Eventually, drained from crying, she leaned against him and closed her eyes. The warmth of the fire, the steady rhythm of his breathing— for a moment, the world felt quiet.
__________
Sebastian
T he office was as immaculate as ever. Dark mahogany shelves lined the walls, filled to the brim with expensive books that Bas was certain his father had never read.
The floor-to-ceiling windows offered a breathtaking view of the Santa Barbara coastline, yet the golden sunlight spilling through the glass did nothing to warm the icy tension in the room.
Bas stood in front of the massive desk, his hands buried deep in his pockets, while his father lounged in his leather chair.
Between his fingers, he rolled a sleek fountain pen, slowly, rhythmically, as if he were deliberately stretching time just to increase the pressure. A game Bas knew all too well.
“Sit down, Sebastian.” His father’s voice was calm but firm, as always. It wasn’t a request. It was a command.
Bas sank into the chair slowly, crossing his arms over his chest as he waited. He already knew this conversation would be neither pleasant nor brief.
“I’ve been thinking about how we’re going to handle this… problem.” His father’s voice was razor-sharp. “That little stunt you pulled at the charity event? A disaster. For you. For me. For this family.”
“It was necessary.” Bas’s voice was steady, but his eyes burned with defiance.
“Necessary?” A brow lifted, and his father leaned back slightly. “Tell me, what exactly was necessary about getting into a street fight like some common thug? Do yo u think it accomplished anything?”
“I protected Evin,” Bas shot back. “He hurt her.”
His father’s lips curled into the ghost of a smirk, barely there, yet unmistakable. “Ah. Evin Hayes. Of course. The center of your universe.” He let the pen drop onto the desk, clasping his hands together as he leaned forward. “Fine. Let’s get straight to the point.”
Bas felt his entire body tense. He knew something was coming. Something he wasn’t going to like.
“I’ll take care of Sergej.” His father’s tone was eerily calm, sending an uneasy shiver down Bas’s spine. “He’ll disappear. I’ve already made arrangements. The boy will be behind bars for years. You won’t have to worry about him ever again.”
Bas frowned, his confusion cutting through his anger. “What’s the catch?” he asked quietly, his voice sharp. He knew his father too well to believe this was a simple favor.
His father leaned back, pressing his fingertips together as he studied his son with a gaze that saw through everything. “You let her go.”
The words dropped into the room like a stone, sending ripples through the suffocating silence.
“What?” Bas stared at him, as if he hadn’t heard correctly.
“You break up with Evin.” His voice was even, almost casual, but there was a steel edge in his eyes that left no room for negotiation. “That’s the deal. Sergej disappears, and you walk away from her.”
“You’re joking,” Bas breathed, his voice dangerously quiet, his fists clenching.
“I’m not,” his father replied smoothly, gripping the edge of the desk. “She’s making you weak, Sebastian. You’re distracted, impulsive, reckless. You’ll never accomplish anything if you let her drag you down.”
“This isn’t about what you want for me,” Bas growled, rising to his feet, his voice trembling with rage. “I love her. And nothing you do or say will change that.”
“Love.” His father let out a humorless chuckle. “Love is an illusion, Sebastian. Feelings come and go. But power, status, success—those last. And she will keep you from achieving them.”
Bas glared at him, his thoughts racing. He wanted to protect Evin, no matter the cost. But giving her up? Never.
“If you honestly think I’d ever walk away from her, then you don’t know me at all.” The frustration in his voice was unmistakable. “I don’t care what you do. I won’t leave her.”
His father’s gaze darkened. “Then you’re more foolish than I thought. Do you really want Sergej to remain in her life? To keep hurting her? To keep coming back?”
The thought of Sergej anywhere near Evin made Bas’s blood boil. But the price his father was demanding was impossible. His jaw clenched. His father had aimed directly at his deepest fear—he knew exactly where to hit. But Bas shook his head, his voice cold. “I’ll find another way. Without you.”
“There is no other way, Sebastian.” His father ran a thumb along his chin, as if brushing away an invisible speck of dust. “Walk away from her, or deal with the consequences.”
Bas felt the anger surge through him, but doubt gnawed at the edges of his mind. The idea of Sergej lingering in Evin’s life was unbearable. His fists tightened, his nails digging into his palms.
“You have no idea what I’d do for her,” he finally whispered, his voice shaking with barely restrained fury. “But I do know one thing—I will never leave her.”
His father’s smirk was ice-cold. Almost triumphant. “How incredibly selfish.”
Bas straightened, locking eyes with him. “Dad, I’ll find a way. Without your help.”