Chapter 71
Valeria lived about seven miles away. Under normal conditions, even with the rain, it shouldn’t have taken more than 30 minutes to get there.
Selena had fallen asleep with her head resting on Valeria’s lap.
At the red light, Sebastian lifted his gaze. He glanced at her in the rearview mirror, his dark eyes unreadable, lips tight with something he wasn’t saying.
There was a quiet grace about her. Pale cheeks, calm features. Something about her felt strangely familiar. And yet, at the same time, unmistakably distant-like a memory he couldn’t quite place.
Sebastian didn’t want to confuse his own emotions. He didn’t want to see Jane in someone else just because they felt familiar. But no matter how much he tried to deny it, the similarity was hard to ignore.
And yet, they were clearly two different women. So why did it feel so similar?
There was only one answer-imitation.
He didn’t want to assume the worst about Valeria and didn’t want to believe her intentions were calculated. But he’d seen debutantes who tailored themselves to match his tastes just to get close.
So, part of him instinctively pushed the thought away. Valeria didn’t seem like the type to play those kinds of games. Still, all the strange little coincidences added up.
His hands tightened around the steering wheel, and he pressed his lips together, saying
nothing.
As she gently patted Selena’s back, Valeria met Sebastian’s gaze and suddenly froze.
His face was striking-sharp eyes with double lids, defined brows, and a calm, unreadable expression that seemed to watch her closely as if quietly dissecting her.
Her heart skipped a beat.
Just then, Sebastian started driving. They drove for a while before the engine suddenly stalled.
He tried to start the engine again, but it didn’t work. Frowning, he opened the door and stepped out to check.
Valeria watched the rain trail down the window in thin, winding lines. The downpour showed no sign of letting up.
Outside the car,
Sebastian bent over to check the engine.
Valeria looked through the rain-blurred window at Sebastian’s tall, indistinct silhouette, completely exposed to the downpour. She then opened the door and stepped out with an umbrella in hand.
She held it over his head.
Sebastian looked up and said, “Go wait in the car.”
But Valeria held her ground. She tilted the umbrella toward him and replied, “I’ll hold it for you. The rain’s too heavy.”
But her voice was drowned beneath the pounding rain.
Sebastian could only see her lips moving. His gaze locked on her pink lips for a moment, then drifted to her shoulder, which was half-soaked from the downpour.
Without a word, he grabbed Valeria’s wrist and tugged her gently toward him. With his other hand, he took the umbrella and held it over them both. “The engine’s dead. We’ll leave the car here. I’ll have someone tow it for repair tomorrow.”
Valeria had also noticed that Sebastian was driving a sports car that night.
The sports car had a low chassis. It stalled as soon as it hit the water.
By the time they got back in the car, both of them were nearly soaked. It was a little warmer inside, but the engine wouldn’t start, and the rain outside continued to pour.
Valeria tried calling a ride. After setting the pickup point, the app warned her that there would be a long wait in weather like this.
“I live just up ahead, near the next intersection. If it’s okay, we could wait out the rain there. The forecast says it should ease up after 10:00 pm.”
Valeria looked out the window. When she heard his voice and turned to face him, she was about to say it was too much trouble. But the moment she saw his rain-soaked face, the words caught in her throat.
His eyes, dark and unreadable, looked even deeper beneath the wet strands of hair clinging to his forehead. She was no better-her hair and clothes were soaked through.
Sitting in the stalled car, dripping and cold, wasn’t much of a plan. So, she agreed to his suggestion.
As they got out of the car, Valeria held the umbrella up.
Sebastian moved ahead of her and gently picked up Selena, who was sleeping. Still lost in her dreams, Selena instinctively wrapped her arms around his neck.
