Kneeling for a Second 242

Chapter 242 

Mark froze momentarily. “What?” 

Sebastian’s voice was hoarse and weak as he repeated his question. 

Mark immediately sobered up and took his phone to the living room. “Sebastian…” 

Leaning against his car seat, Sebastian closed his eyes, his pale lips twitching slightly. It turned out Valeria had heard everything. 

The car lights were off, so Sebastian’s face was hidden in shadow. He asked, “What did I say that day?” 

Sebastian hated his birthday. Everyone would always wish him happy birthday, but he never felt happy on that day. 

Very few people were aware of the kidnapping. In fact, since more than 20 years had passed, Florian’s name was slowly fading -forgotten by the masses. 

Only on Sebastian’s birthday would the entire Grant family celebrate with joy that was shadowed by grief. 

After the Grant family celebrated his birthday and wished him well, they’d eat the birthday cake as if they were eating glass. Every time the family banquet came to an end, Martha would secretly wipe away her tears, and everyone would sit in silence as Nicholas staggered up the stairs with his back hunched. They were all just pretending to be happy during the banquet – when in truth, no one was. 

Hence, Sebastian hated his birthday. On that day, he would go to the cemetery and speak to Florian for a long time before heading to the private room where his friends would throw him a party. It was like that every year, and no one knew he had never been happy on his birthday. 

During his birthdays, he would always drink to numb the sorrow and pain he was feeling. That was why he had no recollection of ever saying something like that. 

Mark was slightly hesitant as he stammered, “That day, we had all gotten tipsy, and everyone was shocked that you got yourself a girlfriend. The school forum had also exploded with the news that you were dating a… so we all joked about it. 

“Sebastian, this is all my fault. I really didn’t do it on purpose and had only said it as a joke. It was mainly because I was so shocked that your girlfriend was a fat… I’m sorry, Sebastian. 

“In one of the partnerships between the Davidson Group and Grant Group, Jane’s old neighborhood has been selected for a factory relocation site. So, I gave her grandmother some extra compensation for the demolition…” 

Mark had said a lot, but Sebastian was no longer listening. His phone slipped from his hand, and Mark’s voice disappeared. 

The call had ended. 

It turned out, he had ruined his own relationship because of a joke he made while drunk. 

The pain Valeria had felt must have increased tenfold after that day. She must have hated him. 

That sentence had hurt her so deeply it became a wound that would never heal. No wonder she had blocked him and returned everything he had given her. 

It had also made sense why her eyes had been filled with calm sorrow on the last day they met eight years ago. He had assumed she just didn’t want him to go abroad. 

But it turned out, he was the one who had ruined the relationship. No wonder she had claimed he was just playing around. She had always remembered those words. 

At around 6:00 am, the ravioli shop near Valeria’s place opened. 

X CLOSE 

Chapter 242 

2/2 

Beatrice noticed his car parked outside and recognized him, so she immediately invited Sebastian in for breakfast. 

However, Sebastian had no appetite. 

“You’re Val’s friend, aren’t you?” Beatrice asked in a friendly manner. 

Sebastian recalled everything that had happened in the past. He had come here with Valeria multiple times, and now, he was finally realizing how his actions had only brought her trouble. 

With a dark gaze and an extremely hoarse voice, he answered, “No, she’s just my patient.” 

Sebastian didn’t want Valeria’s neighbors to misunderstand. A married woman being seen with another man was enough to stir up all sorts of rumors. 

Beatrice asked, “Did the two of you have a fight?” 

Instead of answering, Sebastian drove straight to the Grant residence. When he arrived at his study, he realized the place where he once kept the cardboard box was now empty. 

He looked around his study anxiously before rushing down the stairs–only to realize that the box had been thrown away. In fact, he was the one who had thrown it away. 

Chapter 243