Sebastian’s fingers stilled for a fraction of a second.
“And I did. I didn’t tell anybody we were talking again.” My eyes stayed on the hem of my shorts. “It felt… normal. We went out for lunch, chatted. Neutral topics only. Then he started mentioning he was having a hard time.”
Sebastian shifted closer, his posture going just a touch rigid.
“He got a big settlement with the divorce, but my mom’s family funds everything. He told me he’d had a couple of bad investments and that he knew a good one that would definitely work this time…”
“Does your dad not work?”
“Kinda. He used to. Then he started consulting. If I’m being totally honest, I never really asked after he moved out. I figured he was still doing that.”
“So you loaned him the money?”
I nodded. “At first. It wasn’t much. And as soon as I did, he’d drop it, and we’d go back to normal. But every time he asked, it was more. And it was… insistent. Like the conversation couldn’t move forward until I said yes. I just wanted it to stop because every time he asked, it felt like everything between us was about to break again.” I swallowed hard. “Around March, he asked about a big one—I said no. But he said he was having a hard time covering expenses, so I thought, why not help with that? I could give him access to the funds, and then he’d use what he needed and stop asking.”
The rock in my stomach slammed down hard. I had been so stupid. He hadn’t even asked for it. I was the one who offered it.
Fucking idiot.
“And when I did, everything went back to normal. Everything was easy again. That was months ago, Ash. Months.”
“What happened?”
“The payment for my place here got declined, so I called the bank. They told me the account had been cleared out. It’s all gone.”
Sebastian’s breathing was the only sound between us.
“They said since the person was co-authorized, they can’t open an investigation. And I tried calling him after that—” The words rushed out of me like I couldn’t get them out fast enough. “He didn’t answer his phone for almost two weeks—fucking weeks—then he finally did today, and he admitted it. Told me I didn’t need it anyway, that I’d be fine. That he’d send me the return on the investment, and I’m really fucking sure that’s a lie. It’s fucking gone, and—” my voice cracked, “—and he had the gall to say he was proud of me.”
“Why?” Sebastian asked quietly.
“Because I had been smart enough to associate myself with all of you. Oli. Henny. And… you. Because that meant I didn’t need my trust anymore.”
Sebastian’s breath left him in one long exhale. “That’s not your fault, darling. None of it is.”
“How can it not be? I was the idiot who offered him the access. He was just using me this whole time, and I didn’t even realize it.”
“Not your fault.” Sebastian’s hand slid down to my shoulder. “Do you think anybody has an easy time saying no to someone they love? Especially when they’re in need?”
“Charlotte said no.”
“You haven’t talked to your sister about this. You don’t know how things were for her.”
“I know she didn’t lose everything.” I swallowed the knot in my throat as best I could. “What am I supposed to do now?”
Sebastian tilted his head, the faintest smile adorning his mouth. His palm cupped the side of my neck. “You’re going tofight your way out of it, like you always do.” His fingers tightened on my nape. “You’re tough as nails, remember?”
I shook my head, eyes squeezing shut, but he followed the movement with his hand, keeping that steady pressure.
“Yes. You are.”
“It’s not fair.”
“No.” His forehead dipped toward mine, not touching, just close enough that I felt his breath. “It isn’t. But you can’t drown yourself in that thought.” His thumb stroked the line of my jaw again. “Can I try to help? I know you don’t want me to make the problem just go away—that’s not what this is. I promise.”
I stared into his dark eyes, his face inches from mine. “Okay.”
“Stay here with Henny. Talk to him about this—tell him everything—and stay.”
