Kneeling for a Second 52

 

Chapter 52 

“I twisted my ankle. Are you busy today? You’ve been working so hard lately. It’d be nice for you to take Leo out and relax a bit,” Martha said. 

“I’m pretty busy. I’ve got plans with Mark and Gavin,” Sebastian replied. 

Martha remarked, “Oh, Mark is getting married, isn’t he? I got the invitation a few days ago. He’s even a year younger than you. And I heard Gavin is getting close to the Dale family’s daughter. It sounds like things are getting serious there too.” 

“Grandma.” Leo clutched Martha’s arm and shook it gently, hinting she should stop. 

What mattered most was getting Sebastian to come to the school event with him. 

Martha cleared her throat and gave Leo a reassuring glance. She then shot Sebastian a stern look and said with a straight face, “Just take Leo with you. This is an order.” 

“Alright. Whatever you say,” Sebastian casually replied. 

Leo clapped his hands in excitement. Afraid Sebastian might change his mind, he rushed out ahead and jumped into the car parked outside. 

Sebastian went upstairs to change into something more casual. 

The weather was nice, so he put on a black jacket over a lightweight sweater of the same color. 

Avery brought over an ice pack and gently applied it to Martha’s ankle in the living room. Smiling, she said, “Mr. Grant looks so much younger in this outfit today. That face of his really is a perfect mix of Mr. Grant Sr. and you. No wonder the ladies all adore him.” 

Hearing that, Nicholas let out a cold snort but didn’t disagree. 

Sebastian really had gotten the best of both their genes. 

Later, Nicholas told Martha he was meeting friends for fishing and left. 

Strangely, Martha didn’t even feel her ankle hurting anymore. 

Martha exclaimed, “He was always the prettiest one since he was little. He acts all cold and distant now, but as a kid, he was such a pretty little rascal. I even used to dress him in Mallory’s old clothes. He looked adorable in a pink dress!” 

After a brief pause, she continued, “His brother, Florian, on the other hand, had a colder and 

more serious look…” 

As she said that, Martha’s smile slowly faded, and she let out a soft sigh. Her expression dimmed. 

The truth was, everything changed after Florian died. 

That was when Sebastian slowly changed from a spirited little troublemaker into someone withdrawn and aloof. He started to look more like Florian and less like himself. 

Florian’s death hadn’t only changed Sebastian. For a long time, the entire Grant family had lived under its shadow. 

The ache in Martha’s heart had never gone away. 

Florian had only been born ten minutes before Sebastian. No one ever wanted that kidnapping over 20 years ago to happen. 

When Sebastian was rescued, he was covered in blood, but none of it was his. It was all 

Florian’s. 

He had witnessed Florian’s death with his own eyes. The shock had changed him completely. 

He burned with fever for a whole month, and the only words he kept repeating were, “It 

should’ve been me, not Florian.” 

Leo sat in the passenger seat, playing a voice message from his smartwatch. 

“We’re already on the school bus. Haven’t you arrived yet, Leo?” 

Sebastian kept his eyes on the road as he drove. 

The woman’s voice was soft and deliberately gentle. It had that particular tone people use for sweet-talking kids, slightly high-pitched and cutesy. 

Sebastian had heard far too many women speak in that overly sweet, pouty voice. It always struck him as cloying and unnatural, which he couldn’t stand. 

But Valeria’s voice was different. It was soft, with a slight rasp to it. 

Sebastian raised a brow. 

“Yes, I’m coming with my uncle. Valeria, can you save me a seat? I want to sit right behind you. 

་་ 

“Your uncle is coming too?” 

“Yes! My uncle is coming!” 

Leo also replied via voice message. 

He placed his backpack in front of him and unzipped it to check inside. Then he carefully 

counted the chocolates he had asked Martha to pack that morning. 

Mallory didn’t let him eat too much chocolate, but he wanted to bring a few to share with Valeria and Selena. He had even prepared a toy for Selena and a gift for Valeria. 

Sebastian raised his eyebrows even higher. 

The moment Valeria heard he’d be coming too, her tone instantly changed. There was no more sweetness. Instead, there was even a hint of surprise.