“Maddie…” I cut in gently, doing everything I can to stay calm, for Sebastian’s sake. “Please. No onestolefrom anyone. This isn’t some high school drama; it’s real life, and it’s complicated. I understand that you’re hurt. You’re angry. But if you just give us a chance to explain, it might make things a little clearer. I swear to you, none of this happened while we were still together. We never meant for you to find out like this. We were going to tell you, together.”
“Oh, listen to yourself!” Maddie snaps, her voice sharp with fury. “‘We were planning to tell you’,” she parrots, her tone a cruel, distorted echo of mine that barely even sounds human, let alone like her.
“Tell me, how long has this been going on? How long have you two been making a fool of me in front of our friends? And I, God, I was pathetic, Icriedto you, Sebastian! On the phone! I begged for your help!”
Sebastian doesn’t flinch. He takes a steady step toward her, his voice shaking but honest.
“Mads, I swear… when you called to tell me Remi had broken up with you, I didn’t even know helikedme. Not like that.”
But she’s already advancing on him, a bitter, poisonous grin twisting her face, and before she can get any closer, I instinctively close the space between us, positioning myself protectively by Sebastian’s side.
They’re both hurting, God knows, I am too, but Maddie is wild with rage, lashing out, and Sebastian… he’s still fragile. Still recovering from the trauma of being rejected by his own parents. And now, standing beside me, I can sense it, that awful trembling beneath the surface. He’s on the verge of breaking.
This needs to end. Right now.
We weren’t ready for Maddie’s arrival. She caught us completely off guard, and I’m scared that the pressure of this moment might push Sebastian into a panic attack we won’t be able to stop.
I extend an arm protectively in front of my boyfriend, catching the flicker of anguish in his eyes. Every instinct is screaming at me to pull him into my arms, to shield him completely, but instead, I position myself squarely between him and Maddie, anchoring myself like a barrier. He needs space to breathe, and above all, to feel safe.
Then I turn to her, forcing my voice to stay steady, even as my heart pounds in my chest.
“Maddie, please, just listen. I’m so, so sorry you had to find out like this. But I swear to you, nothing happened between Sebastian and me while you and I were still together. Not a single thing.”
“And you actuallyexpectme to believe that?!” she screams, stepping right into my face. “You weren’tremotelygay when I left, Remi! We were having sex constantly, and you never seemed to have any problems withthat! So how the hell did you end up in bed withhim?!”
I take a deep breath, summoning every ounce of restraint I’ve got, because just behind me, Sebastian is shaking, silent, pale, and clearly on the edge. The last thing he needs is more trauma, especially not like this.
“Maddie, you and I ended things quite a while ago, and, as I’ve been trying to explain since you got here, whatever’s going on between me and Sebastian only began after that.
I get that this situation is messy and painful, and I’m not pretending otherwise. But I swear to you, neither of us planned this. We didn’t go looking for it, it just… happened.”
“Happened?” she spits. “That’s your excuse? What a convenient word for thisshit show! You bothbetrayedme. Don’t dress it up as something noble! Let me tell you whatreallyhappened, Remi: you didn’t just fall into bed with a guy, you weremanipulated! Seduced by thatsnake! I know Sebastian’s game, I was his first victim!”
“Maddie…” Sebastian whispers. I turn to check on him, reaching for his hand, and he gives it to me without a moment’s hesitation.
“How… how can you say that?” he breathes. “I cared about you, Maddie. Istilldo. I never wanted to hurt you. Not ever.”
“Shut up! Just shutup, Sebastian!” she shouts, her voice cracking with fury. “Itrustedyou. And you used me, first to hide your precious little secret, then to steal the only good thing I had left in my life: the man Iloved!”
“Maddie, please,” I cut in, keeping my tone firm but as gentle as I can manage, “this isn’t Sebastian’s fault. I was the one who fell for him first, and he resisted it with everything he had. I know this is hard to hear, but maybe it’s better you know now. You deserve someone who truly loves you, Maddie. And I care about you, but I’m not that person.”
“Don’t give me that crap!” she explodes. “You weremine, Remi, untilhecame crawling in. We had plans. A future. And you threw it all away forhim?! Oh, I know how good Sebastian is at acting all sweet and helpless… I justhopehe’s improved in bed since I last had the misfortune of finding out.”
“That’s enough!” I snap, my hand clenching tighter around Sebastian’s. He’s trembling beside me, his skin chalk-white. “Don’t youdarespeak about him like that. This ismyhouse, and you came hereuninvited. I get that you’re angry, but you’ve gone too far. This discussion is over for now. We’ll resume when you’ve calmed down."
Maddie grits her teeth, her beautiful face twisted in rage, then spins on her heel and storms out of the room.
“No!” Sebastian cries, dropping my hand and stumbling after her onto the landing. “Mads, wait, please…”
His eyes are brimming with tears, his legs barely holding him upright.
“Don’t leave like this. Please. Just let us talk calmly. Then you can say whatever you want. Just… give us a chance to explain.”
He reaches out, placing a trembling hand on her arm.
“Don’t touch me!” she screams, yanking herself away.
“Maddie…” he pleads again, gently trying to hold her back.
