Chapter 7 Valeria pulled Selena along and left . Not forgetting to turn back , Selena waved goodbye to Sebastian . A colleague passing by smiled at Sebastian . " Is that a relative of yours ? That girl really looks a lot like you . I guess your whole family has great genes . " " Does she ? " Sebastian raised an eyebrow . When he looked up again , Valeria and Selena had already left . Martha would probably be over the moon if he really had a daughter of Selena's age , but that wasn't possible , no matter how he considered the possibility . Still , that little girl was awfully cute . Sebastian thought of Selena and felt a faint , inexplicable tug in his chest . On the way home , Selena asked , " Mommy , Potato is still in Mr. Doctor's car . " " Potato ? " Valeria realized that Selena meant the pale yellow mutt she'd saved in traffic . Thinking about how grave that situation had been , Valeria turned serious . " Lenny , you can't do such dangerous things again ." Selena explained , " I know . But Mommy , he wasn't driving that fast . His car didn't hit me . I got scared and fell by myself . " " That doesn't mean it's okay . " Valeria ruffled Selena's hair . Selena was everything to her . " But Mommy , Potato is still in Mr. Doctor's car , and he looks a lot like Daddy , " Selena protested . " Lenny , you mustn't tell anyone else that he looks like Daddy , because he might not be happy he hears about it . We have to respect him , " Valeria advised in a slight panic . Even though she couldn't fully explain herself , Selena still nodded obediently . if Valeria held Selena close . Weaving a web of lies like this merely felt messier each time she added something to it . There was no way she could approach Sebastian to ask for the dog back . Besides , she was living in Lucy's house , which was a cramped apartment in an aging neighborhood . A barking dog would disturb the neighbors . Even if Valeria didn't think Sebastian was a compassionate person , he probably wasn't the type who hated dogs . She remembered the time when she tried to get him to adopt a pitiful stray dog for the winter , only to be coldly refused by him . Chapter He had carried himself with a distant air - unless he was in bed . There were even times when he had a sharp tongue . Valeria said , " Lenny , once you're done with your surgery and you've recovered , I'll work really hard to buy us a house of our own . Then , we'll get you a dog , alright ? " " But that won't be Potato anymore , " Selena responded softly , causing Valeria's heart to ache . At 9:00 pm , Valeria sat with Selena , helping her decorate a school poster . On the paper , Selena had drawn a cute , chubby little puppy . It was yellow and adorable . In the end , Valeria couldn't resist picking up her phone . She found the business card Sebastian had handed her earlier and dialed his number to ask for the dog . It was probably his work number , but it was only the second time she had called him in the past seven years . The first was six years ago - she was in the hospital , weak from massive blood loss , and dialled his number in the dead of the night . When she heard his deep voice on the other end , she hung up without saying a word . Now , as she stood on the balcony , she glanced into the living room . Selena was on the couch watching TV . After closing the balcony door , Valeria leaned against it , her eyes fixed on her phone . It took her ages before she pressed the dial button . The phone rang three times before it was answered . The pleasant sound of a woman came through . " Hello , are you looking for Sebastian ? " Valeria's blood ran cold . She gripped her phone tightly , and her throat locked up . The woman on the other end called out a few more times . Finally , Valeria found her voice , answering , " Sorry , I have the wrong number . " " No , you don't . You're looking for Sebastian , right ? He's in the shower . I'll have him call you back later . " Then , the call ended . It wasn't the woman who hung up . It was Valeria who did . It was 9:00 pm . Was that woman his girlfriend ? A man like him , with his looks and his background , would never lack women around him . Valeria took a deep breath , and her face was filled with exhaustion . She sat at the door , gazing up at the moonlight outside . She reminded herself that she had no business worrying about Sebastian . After all , it had been seven years . They had been living in two completely different worlds . He might have already forgotten all about Jane , or maybe having once dated a fat woman stained his reputation and left him embarrassed . If it hadn't been for her blackmailing him with his niece Gabriella Grant's secret back then , why would he ever have dated her ? Valeria felt a bit dizzy . When she pushed herself to her feet , her fingers clung tightly to the door handle . She closed her eyes and steadied her breathing . Her head was spinning , and her legs were weak . Ever since she'd given birth , she had lost weight . And along with it came low blood sugar . Whenever she was too tired , anxious , or stressed , it would flare up . Suddenly , her phone buzzed violently in her palm . She looked down to see Sebastian's number on the screen . He was returning her call . The vibration stung her hand , sending shivers through her body as she stared blankly at the flashing digits . She took a deep breath and answered . On the third floor of the Grant residence , Sebastian had just gotten out of the shower . He was dressed in black silk pajamas , with drops of water clinging to his short hair . As he picked up the phone , he looked at the little mutt sprawled on the floor , happily lapping at its milk . He walked over while he was still on the phone . Seeing that the mutt was about to fall face - first into the bowl , he lifted it . " Hello ? Who is this ? Do you need something ? " Sebastian's tone was cool and even . Mallory chided , " Be gentle ! You're too rough . " She came over and took the puppy from him , cradling it in her arms . On Valeria's end , she heard the woman's playful voice and felt her throat tighten . Was he flirting with his girlfriend ? Had he been with her in bed and only called back as an afterthought ? She bit her lips hard . " Hello ? If you have something to say , spit it out . " Sebastian didn't hang up . He assumed it was a patient calling , since that number was accessible at all times . " It's me . Mr. Grant , is my daughter's dog with you ? " The gentle female voice on the line made Sebastian pause . For a moment , he wondered if his mind was playing tricks on him . Had thinking about Jane so much lately made him lose it ? Otherwise , why did that voice sound so familiar ? He replied , " Yes , it's here with me . " Chapter 7 Valeria asked , " Would you be available tomorrow , Mr. Grant ? We could arrange a place to meet . My daughter really likes that dog … " Sebastian replied , " I need to head to Amstead tomorrow , so let's do next week . I'll contact you then . " Alright . " Valeria bit her lip . " Sorry for bothering you . " As she was about to hang up and lower her hand , Sebastian asked , " What's your name ? I'll save your number . " " Valeria , " she responded . " That's a strange name . " Sebastian frowned , mishearing her . Mallory couldn't help but roll her eyes at her brother . " Valeria is a pretty normal name . Are you dumb ? " On Valeria's end , she heard the woman scolding Sebastian and pictured a pampered heiress teasing him . She immediately hung up the phone , telling herself that running away wasn't shameful . At least , for now , it was necessary . Spin to Claim Your Surprise Reward ! X