Chapter 3
Sebastian stopped me from getting up, his fingertips gently brushing over the back of my hand. It was comforting, yet carried a warning.
"Next Wednesday is a good day," Sebastian said.
He looked at Gordan, his smile never reaching his eyes.
"I want to bring Summer home as soon as possible so that certain people will stop thinking about breaking her legs."
Gordan's face shifted from pale to flushed, but all he could do was put on a forced smile.
Rachel watched how Sebastian shielded me, her jealousy so intense it twisted her features. Her nails nearly broke the skin of her palms.
Watching all this unfold, I felt a surge of satisfaction.
I still had no idea what Sebastian was really up to.
But seeing these bloodsuckers get put in their place was totally worth it.
But then again, what Sebastian whispered in my ear earlier sent a chill down my spine.
He said, "Cooperate with me, or that wedding escape plan will end up on your dad's desk tomorrow."
What a bastard.
He was threatening me.
I retaliated by pinching his waist hard.
He didn't even flinch. He just tightened his grip on my hand.
This was a battle of wits.
And right now, I was totally losing.
The engagement party went ahead as planned.
It was held at the most luxurious hotel in the city center.
I was dressed in the gown Sebastian had picked out for me, looking every bit the elegant marionette.
Rachel walked over with a glass of red wine, pretending to bump into me by accident.
The wine splashed all over my white dress.
"Oh, Summer, I'm so sorry," Rachel said, putting on a look of surprise.
"I didn't mean to. This dress must be expensive, right? Mr. Bennett won't be mad, will he?"
All the guests turned to stare, gossiping and murmuring under their breath.
Rachel had been playing the sweet and innocent act for years and still never got bored with it.
I was about to go off on her.
But before I could, a suit jacket still warm from his body heat was draped over my shoulders.
Sebastian stepped in front of me, condescendingly looking at Rachel.
"It's just a dress," Sebastian said coolly.
"If Summer feels like ripping it up, that's her business. But Miss Rachel Wilkins, with how clumsy you are, maybe you should see a neurologist."
Rachel's face darkened with humiliation, almost turning purple with rage.
Snickers and low chuckles echoed from the crowd.
Sebastian wrapped his arm around me and steered me toward the lounge. "Go change."
Once we were inside, he closed the door, shutting out all the noise from the party.
"Thanks," I said awkwardly.
We were only allies because we had to, but seeing him shut Rachel down like that felt really good.
"No need to thank me," Sebastian replied, resting against the door. His gaze was shadowed and impossible to read.
"We're just scratching each other's backs, that's all.
"The dress is in the wardrobe. Change yourself."
He pointed at the wardrobe next to us.
I opened the door, and just as he said, there was a spare dress hanging inside.
But under the dress, there was a manila envelope tucked away.
The envelope was left open, with a corner of some document sticking out.
I reached for it almost without thinking and pulled it out.
The moment I saw the content, my blood ran cold.
It was a stock transfer contract.
The transferor was me.
The transferee was Sebastian.
And tucked inside, there was a detailed investigation report.
It detailed the trust fund my mom left me, and the overseas account I'd kept hidden all this time.
He'd even started making moves to reach out to me through that "Done Trying" alt account half a year ago.
It finally hit me.
There was never any real coincidence.
There was no such thing as an online romance turning into reality.
And there was definitely no domineering CEO with a hidden soft spot falling for me.
From the very start, this was nothing but a carefully orchestrated hunt.
He hung out with me online, listened to my rants, all just to size me up and figure out my cards.
He promised to elope with me, just so I'd let my guard down and play right into his hands.
The only reason he shielded me just now was that I was his soon-to-be asset.
My whole body went cold, and the document slipped through my fingers.
Sebastian was suddenly standing behind me.
He stooped to pick up the document, his face so calm that it was unsettling.
"You saw it?" Sebastian asked.
He didn't explain, completely unruffled.
He simply slipped the document back into the envelope, as if it meant nothing.
"Honestly, I was going to wait until after the wedding to make you sign it."
He stepped in, closing the gap until I was pinned between the wardrobe and his chest.
The eyes that once made my heart flutter now held nothing but deep, unfathomable scheming.
"Summer, did you honestly think I spent three months hanging out with you online just for kicks?"
He grabbed my chin, forcing me to meet his gaze.
"In our world, there's no such thing as feelings, only leverage.
"You're the prey. I'm the hunter.
"That's the rule."
I stared at him, my eyes brimming with tears, but I bit my lip hard, refusing to let them fall.
It turned out that this was the real Sebastian.
The guy at the café, waving his phone and calling me his girlfriend, was just another act he put on.
I thought I'd finally escaped the wolves' den.