Chapter 4 The private room was brightly lit , and the harsh light glared straight into Sebastian's face . His expression was calm . Between his fingers , a cigarette had burned down so much that it singed his skin , but he seemed not to feel it at all . A faint smell of his own scorched flesh reached his nose , but his nerves felt numb . Suddenly , he stood up , bent down , and picked up the suit jacket that had fallen to the floor . His face remained impassive , but he had a dark look . " The hospital just called . I have to leave . " Sebastian walked out quickly . His steps had a restless energy to them , as though he couldn't bear to stay there for another second . Luke hurried after him but soon realized that Sebastian had already vanished , so he could only return to the room . At that moment , a female classmate who had been silent all night hesitated . Then , she spoke softly . Her voice was quiet , yet it instantly silenced the entire room . " Didn't any one of you hear the rumor ? " " What rumor ? " She answered , " Jane and Sebastian were both at Stredview University . They secretly dated for three years . " The words sent shockwaves through the group . Yelena's voice was shrill with disbelief . " Mona Nolan , what nonsense are you spouting? Jane ? That ugly , fat woman ? Why would Sebastian ever stoop so low ? Are you dreaming ? " " Yeah , Mona , are you confused ? If Jane could land Sebastian , then I would already have married into the Grant family by now . A male classmate couldn't help but interject , " Hey , that's not fair . Jane might have been chubby , but she wasn't ugly . She had really fair skin and a soft , gentle voice . " Mona nodded . She had been shocked when she found out . " It's true . My sister went to Stredview University , and this gossip was all over campus . A chubby woman and the campus heartthrob in a secret three - year relationship . If you don't believe me , ask Sebastian yourself . " Of course , no one would dare to ask him . It sounded absurd , but her confidence made everyone start to believe her . " Still , is Jane really dead now ? " Someone asked hesitantly . Yelena gritted her teeth in annoyance . " She probably is . Wasn't she supposed to have a huge tumor on her belly ? She's probably gone . Otherwise , someone would've heard from her after all these years . " In this age of social media , it did seem likely that someone with no presence was gone . Sebastian turned a corner and ran straight into someone . A soft voice yelped as the other person staggered back a few steps . Valeria instinctively reached out to grab something for balance and clutched the man's shirt . I'm so sorry , " she blurted , letting him go . As she looked up at his familiar , striking face , all color drained from her face . She hadn't expected to see him again . Was the world really this small ? " Sorry , " Sebastian muttered as he brushed past her . His mind was in chaos , and he needed a place to calm down . The faint , crisp scent he carried faded from the air , and Valeria remained standing there . She had only come out to use the bathroom , but she never expected to run into the person who used to be the center of her world . Her gaze dropped to the floor to see an intricately crafted cufflink there . 29 + V 7/7 # 2 She bent to pick it up . Then , she instinctively turned in the direction Sebastian had gone , taking a few steps before stopping abruptly . 70 H " # 6 They no longer had anything to do with each other . Being strangers was the best outcome . 11 7 Back home , Valeria showered and lay in bed , staring at the cufflink she had set on her nightstand . Her fingers brushed its smooth surface as memories surfaced . The man's habits and preferences didn't seem to have changed . He had always loved this brand -niche and understated , but made exquisitely . Her thoughts were broken when her phone rang . " Hello , Grandma . ' " Valeria , why did you send me more money ? I don't need it . I barely spend anything at home . " Hearing her grandmother , Margaret Jameson's , mix of reproach and affection , Valeria let out a soft smile . " Then , help me save the money . " They chatted briefly . Work had been hectic lately . Valeria had planned on taking Selena home before the school term began , but she hadn't managed to find the time . Once things settled down , she thought about having Margaret stay with them for a while . Margaret was the only family she had left . As they were about to hang up , Margaret hesitated before speaking again . " Valeria , your uncle might have … Well , he's still your uncle . He came home recently and asked about you … " Her voice trailed off . Valeria didn't want Margaret worrying about those people . Her parents had divorced when she was a child . Her mother walked out and never returned , not even when her grandfather died . That happened when she was two years old , so she barely even remembered her mother . As for her father , he was a gambling addict . He would disappear whenever he lost money , and when he won , he'd bring her a treat . During his absences , he'd leave her at her grandparents ' home . They were the ones who had raised her . " Grandma , I know , " Valeria replied gently , but only to comfort Margaret . She had no intention of bringing up her uncle or aunt again , or ever contacting them , even though they lived in the same city . After hanging up , Valeria placed the cufflink in a sealed bag and stored it carefully . When Valeria needed to take Selena for her routine hospital checkup later , she would deliberately avoid Sebastian's consultation days . He was in the clinic every Tuesday , so she just needed to go on Mondays and Wednesdays . It wasn't as though they had never crossed paths . After all , hospitals were crowded places full of weary people and the scent of illnesses . Wearing her mask , Valeria held her daughter's hand and stepped into the packed elevator . Suddenly , a nurse called out . " Dr. Grant . " Behind her , a deep voice answered the nurse . Valeria's hand tightened around Selena's . She felt sure Sebastian was standing right there , close enough that she could almost feel the rise and fall of his breath . When they arrived on the third floor , the crowd spilled out . Both Valeria and Sebastian were headed toward the same consultation area . She lined up outside Room 6 and watched as Sebastian disappeared into Room 8 . " Mommy , your hand is all sweaty , " Selena commented suddenly , glancing up and shaking Valeria's mother's hand gently . Valeria lowered her gaze and loosened her grip . Sure enough , her palms were slick with sweat . Every time she ran into Sebastian , her nerves would betray her , even if she knew he wouldn't recognize her . Their encounters were usually accidents that were beyond her control , yet she couldn't help the feelings that stirred in her heart . She left the cufflink he'd dropped at the front desk for the nurse to return . That night , Valeria peeked into Selena's room . Selena was hugging a rabbit plushie , fast asleep . With the same brows and nose , she looked a lot like Sebastian . Tot like Sebastian . Valeria went into the bathroom and stared at her reflection in the mirror . She was slim and fair , with long hair draped over her shoulders . No one would ever associate the woman in the mirror with the overweight Jane Carlson from seven years ago . In a bustling city of over ten million people , a fleeting encounter made them nothing more than strangers . That evening , Sebastian returned to the Grant family home . At dinner , his father , Nicholas Grant , let out a cold huff and set down his cutlery . Martha Bond , his mother , glared at Nicholas before turning to look at Sebastian . The first year she married Nicholas , her best friend died in a plane crash , leaving behind a 12- year - old son , Alexander Dennings . The Grant family adopted him and later gave him their last name . Martha didn't conceive until she was 33 , giving birth to their daughter , Mallory Grant . Both Alexander and Mallory were left in charge of the Grant Group . At 45 , Martha finally had twin boys , Florian Grant and Sebastian Grant . However , were abducted in a notorious kidnapping case that rocked the city . Only Sebastian survived . At the thought of her dead son , Martha's eyes reddened . the twins But seeing the cheerful atmosphere at the family dinner , she discreetly wiped her tears and focused on her surviving son . He had always been reliable and never given them any cause for worry . The only problem was when it came to matters of the heart , which was an alarmingly blank part of his life . More than once , Martha had wondered if her son suffered from an undisclosed condition . She was already in her 70s , and she was normally always cheerful . However , tonight , she looked at Sebastian sternly . " Sebastian , why didn't you meet with the Lawson family's daughter on Wednesday ? " " I see , " Sebastian replied . " What do you mean by that ? " Martha rubbed her temples . " I've met Sabrina . She's beautiful . She often came to play at our house when she was little . Both your grandfathers were comrades -in - arms , so you should at least meet her and get to know her . " She added , " Even if you don't like her , you have to start somewhere . You're almost 30 now . " Sebastian frowned . " If that's what you want , you can make the arrangements . " Spin to Claim Your Surprise Reward !