Chapter 30
Chapter Thirty
Sebastian
The winding road is surrounded by beautiful trees with orange and red leaves, and I appreciate the fall foliage as I drive up to Whispering Haven.
The joy and excitement in my being cannot be extinguished.
I’m thankful that Willow has agreed to see me, even if it is only because of our joint hatred of Charlotte and Louisa.
I still can’t believe Louisa has betrayed me like this. I thought we had an understanding, a mutual respect in our work and relationship. I trusted her implicitly, to my own detriment.
I settle back and try to enjoy the ride.
I’m about to turn on the radio when my phone rings, and I see it’s my mom.
I don’t really want to answer, but I decide to.
It’s time for me to grow up, to get to know and understand my mother as an adult.
She definitely made decisions in her life that I don’t think were for the best, but now I realize maybe she thought they were.
I’m really no one to judge anyone else, as I’ve already made my own bad decisions in life.
“Hi, Mom. How’s it going?” I say into the phone.
“I was just calling to see where you were.” She sounds concerned which is a new emotion for her.
“I’m driving. What’s up?”
“I heard they tried to call an emergency board meeting for today and you said you couldn’t attend.”
“Who told you that?”
“Romanov,” she says softly.
“Why is he speaking to you about company matters?”
“Because he knows what I did for the company,” she says. “Is everything okay?”
“I’m fine, Mom. I’m driving up to Whispering Haven right now. I have some personal things to take care of.”
“I just wanted to make sure you’re okay. I know yesterday was a hard day for you.”
I press my lips together. “I’m fine.”
“David is looking down on you. He wants you to be happy.”
“I know, Mom.”
“I just know the anniversary of his death is something hard for you, and I wanted you to know I’m thinking about you. It’s hard for me as well. I loved him.”
“Thanks, Mom. I appreciate it. It’s weird that another year has gone past and he’s deceased, but I just try and honor his memory.”
“What are you going to do about the corporation? I’ve heard they’ve called a vote, wait so what does that mean for you, for the company?”
“Don’t worry. I’ve got it taken care of. Jack and I have already come up with a plan.”
“Jack is a good friend to you…” Her voice trails off.
“He is. He’s my best friend, and I’m grateful to have him. Actually, Mom, he’s calling me right now. Can I speak to you later?”
“Of course. Give him my regards.”
“I will.” I click over. “Hey, Jack. What’s going on?”
“Hey, you driving?”
“Yeah, I am. About ten minutes away from the bed and breakfast. What’s going on?”
“You figured out everything with the stocks?”
“I have. That’s been taken care of.”
“What about the meeting today? Have you spoken to Sergio?”
“No. He’s been MIA since the last call, though I’m sure that’s because he’s having too much fun with his friends. But the meeting will have to go ahead without me. I have other issues to deal with.” I’m annoyed, but I’m not going to let myself lose it. At least not yet. Not right now.
“Hey, can you call me back when you park?”
“Yeah, but why?”
“I have another piece of news to give you. Another piece of critical information.”
“Well, give it to me now.” I frown, as I continue to make my way toward my destination. Why is he being so cryptic?
“I want to make sure that you’re parked when I give it to you.”
“Why? What’s going on?” I pause. “Don’t tell that Sergio has got one of them pregnant. I swear to God my brother is fucking up everything.”
“No, it’s not that.”
“Well, what is it? Just tell me.”
“This one is really bad, Seb. I’m sorry. I really don’t want to give you the information while you’re driving, though.”
“Well, if Sergio hasn’t gotten anyone pregnant, I don’t see what could be worse than what’s already happened in my life. I’ve already screwed up a billion times already.”
“So, you know that Willow’s parents passed away, right?”
“She told me they were killed in a car crash.”
“Yeah. I think she may have mentioned to you that it was a drunk driver who hit them, and they were deceased on contact, as well as the driver.”
“That’s awful.”
“I don’t know if you’re understanding what I’m saying here, Sebastian.”
“Then why don’t you just say it, Jack?”
“The anniversary of her parents’ death was yesterday.”
“Yesterday?” I frown. “Well, that’s a coincidence, because the anniversary of David’s death was yesterday as well.” And suddenly it hits me. All blood leaves my body. “Oh, shit. Are you saying what I think you’re saying?”
“Yes, are you okay, Sebastian?”
“I don’t know what to say. I don’t know what to think. Give it to me in black and white so I am 100% on the same page here. Jack, are you saying that David was the driver who killed Willow’s parents?”
He’s silent on the other line, giving me my answer.
This is bad. This is really bad. I feel like earth has shifted away from underneath me and I’m desperately falling with nothing to hold onto.
“How do I tell her? How do I ask her for her forgiveness? You’re telling me that not only am I responsible for David’s death, but I’m responsible for her parents death as well? I’m responsible for ruining her life in two ways? I should just turn the car around right now. I should.”
“Sebastian, I don’t tell you this because I want you to feel guilty. I tell you this because I want you to have all the facts.”
“I don’t know what I’m going to do. I’m absolutely gutted. I feel like I owe Willow the world, and I don’t even know how to make this better. I don’t even know if I should tell her.”
“You have to decide what you think is right,” Jack says. “But I always like you to have all the facts so you can move forward confidently and be more aware. I will always be on your side, but I always want you to live and act in truth.”
“Thank you.” I take a deep breath. “I’m going to go now, okay?”
“Please drive safely, Sebastian.”
“Don’t worry. I’m fine.” I hang up, and because I don’t want to sit with my thoughts, I turn on the radio.
Heavy metal music blasts, and I’m grateful for the sound of the guitar and the drums as I make my way closer and closer to Whispering Haven Bed and Breakfast. It’s ironic that Willow and I have this connection, because the truth of the matter is, I do think we were fated in some way to meet.
We have a long history, and we didn’t even know it.
And yet, it’s not good—none of it is good.
I so desperately love this woman, and I want her to be able to trust me, to give me another chance. But I’ve already got insurmountable mountains to climb, and this feels like one thing too much. I’m angry. I’m angrier than I’ve ever been in my life, and I’m also heartbroken.
Deciding I need to speak to Sergio, I call his number. He better pick up.
“Hey, bro, what’s going on?” He sounds like he’s sleeping, but I don’t care.
“Sergio, I have one question to ask you.”
“What is it? If you’re asking if I’m safe, I’m fine. It was just some weed, bro. Don’t worry about it. I’m not going to do anything to myself.”
“Sergio, we’re past this point right now.
You’re my brother, and I love you, but you’re going to have to start making better decisions.
I’m not going to be picking up after you anymore.
You have fucked up your life, and you’re fucking up mine, and you’re fucking up other people’s.
And as much as I want to be there for you, as much as I feel a responsibility for you, maybe I’ve done you a disservice.
You’re immature and are wasting all the potential and opportunities you’ve been given and for what? Did Willow really break your heart?”
“Well, we both know now that the Willow I know is not really Willow.” He starts laughing.
“I don’t know why she gave me another girl’s name, but hey, it’s all good now.
Last night was one of the best nights of my life—both Charlotte, that’s her real name by the way, and Louisa came to bed and they—”
“Sergio,” I shout loudly, “if you think I give a fuck about your sexual conquests, I don’t. I’m done with this bullshit. Do you hear me? I just have one question for you.”
“What? Are you really mad at me right now, Sebastian?”
“I’m madder than mad. But answer me this.”
“I’m listening. What is it?”
“What exactly did you know about Charlotte? Was there any part of you that questioned who she was? Was there any part of you that—”
“I didn’t know she wasn’t the real Willow, okay?
I don’t even really understand what’s going on.
Louisa and Charlotte just told me they were pulling a prank on Charlotte’s cousin because she’s a little bit of a slow—” He pauses.
“I actually can’t remember the words they used, but they were just pulling a harmless prank on her. Why does it matter?”
“Sergio, it matters a lot. You don’t understand what you set into motion when you dropped out of the company, when you gave those shares to Charlotte, when you had them sell those shares, when you told me her name was Willow.”
“I didn’t tell you to do anything.”
“I was worried about you, Sergio. I was...”
“Whatever you decided to do, Sebastian, was because you wanted to do it—not because of me. So, while I’ve been grateful for your support all these years, don’t be blaming me if you messed shit up.”
“Our company is hanging on tenterhooks right now. We might lose everything.”
“Well, I don’t care about money.”
Of course not. He only cares about sex and drugs, apparently.
“Then do you think you’d be in France right now?
Do you think those two women would want you if you didn’t have that money?
” He’s quiet, not arguing my words, so I continue.
“Exactly. You know you are where you are, and you have this life because of that money. So don’t try and fucking pretend like you would be living the life of privilege that you currently enjoy without it.
I’m done with you, Sergio. I’m done picking up after you.
You can always count on me if you really need me, but I’m not going to be your surrogate father anymore.
I’m not going to be picking up the pieces of every shitty decision you make.
It’s time for you to grow up. Do you hear me? ”
“Tell me how you really feel,” he deadpans.
“Really? That’s all you have to say?”
“I’m sorry, Sebastian. I know I fucked up. I’m sorry, okay?”
“I don’t know if that’s good enough, but it’ll do.
I’ll speak to you later.” I hang up and then take a deep breath.
As I look up, I am outside the Whispering Haven Bed and Breakfast. And while I’m excited to walk inside and see Willow, I don’t know what sort of greeting I’m going to get, and I don’t even know what sort of greeting I deserve.
My life has been turned upside down in a matter of months, and I don’t know where I’m going to be if I can’t figure out how to make this right.
I don’t know what sort of life I’m going to live if I can’t have Willow by my side.
And one of the things Sergio said was correct. This was a disaster of my making. I’d been so cocksure, so hell-bent on revenge, when really, I’m the one responsible for it all.