The penthouse was silent except for the faint hum of the city below.

Across from me, Sebastian sat on the sleek leather couch, an old wristwatch in his hand. Its face was scratched, and the strap was worn, but he cradled it like it was made of gold.

“This,” Sebastian began, his voice softer than usual, “was the first gift you ever gave me, Elena.” He ran his thumb along the strap, his jaw tightening.

“I remember you saved up for months to get this. It wasn’t even my birthday, and yet you handed it to me one evening without saying a word. I thought it was your way of telling me I mattered to you.”

His words pulled at something deep within me, a memory I hadn’t thought about in years. But the emotions tied to it felt distant now, obscured by the chasm that had grown between us.

Sebastian gave a short, bitter chuckle. “I was so sure this watch meant something back then. Silly, wasn’t it?”

For a fleeting moment, I wanted to believe the sincerity in his voice, that maybe he was reaching out. But then my gaze dropped to the faint red scratches on his neck, just visible above the collar of his shirt.

“Sebastian,” I said evenly, pointing at the marks, “what happened to your neck?”

His reaction was instant. Panic flickered across his face before he turned away, fumbling to adjust his collar. “Oh, that? Must’ve been from my boxing session earlier. You know how rough the guys can get.”

I stayed quiet, watching him carefully. His guilt was seeping through every crack in his usually unshakable facade.

But it wasn’t just the scratches. There was a faint, unfamiliar perfume clinging to him—sweet, floral, and unmistakably feminine. It wasn’t mine, and it wasn’t one I recognized.

Before I could push further, Sebastian stood abruptly, his movements jerky. “I need a shower,” he muttered, retreating toward the bathroom.

The sound of running water filled the silence, but I barely noticed. A sharp knock at the door broke my thoughts.

I opened it to find Lila standing there. Her glossy hair fell in perfect waves around her shoulders, and her red lips curled into a smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes.

Her fitted dress hugged her figure perfectly, and her jewelry—an ostentatious necklace and diamond-studded bracelet—gleamed under the hallway lights.

“Oh, Elena,” she said sweetly, though her tone carried an unmistakable edge. “I didn’t mean to bother you this late. Sebastian left some important contracts at the office, and I thought I’d deliver them personally.”

She held out a folder, but I couldn’t stop my gaze from drifting to her. That same sweet floral perfume clung to her, stronger now, almost overpowering.

I stepped aside, gesturing for her to come in. “He’s in the shower. You can wait if you’d like.”

Lila sauntered past me with the confidence of someone who thought they’d already won. She placed the folder on the coffee table, her movements deliberate, and then turned back to me with a smile that made my stomach churn.

“Oh, and I brought him some dinner too,” she added, lifting a basket from her other hand. “He mentioned he skipped his meal earlier, so I thought I’d bring something from his favorite restaurant.”

The smell of the food hit me immediately—pasta and garlic bread from a high-end Italian place Sebastian had promised to take me to tonight.

Lila’s eyes glinted with satisfaction as she watched the realization dawn on me. She didn’t need to say anything else. Her actions were enough.

If this had been a few months ago, I might have exploded—screamed, demanded answers, thrown the basket across the room. But now, all I felt was a cold, hollow ache.

“You’re very thoughtful,” I said calmly, even as my hands clenched at my sides.

Before Lila could reply, Sebastian’s voice called out from the bathroom. “Elena, did you move my cedarwood cologne? I was planning to use it tonight.”

I didn’t answer, my silence speaking louder than words. I wasn’t even sure why he still bothered with such pretenses.

Sebastian emerged moments later, a towel slung loosely around his shoulders. His hair was damp, and his sharp features froze when he saw Lila.

“Lila?” His voice was sharper than I expected, almost accusatory. His eyes flicked to me, unease evident in them.

Lila pouted, feigning innocence. “I came to drop off the contracts you forgot at the office. They’re crucial for tomorrow’s meeting.”

Sebastian’s jaw tightened. “Fine. Leave them in my study upstairs.”

She nodded, shooting me one last, triumphant glance before disappearing down the hall.

Sebastian turned to me, his tone softening. “Elena, it’s late. Why don’t you get some rest? I’ll be up in a bit.”

I nodded without a word, retreating to the bedroom. Once inside, I locked the door and leaned against it, my chest heaving with suppressed emotion.

Walking to the closet, I reached into a hidden compartment, pulling out a small, discreet device. Weeks ago, I’d planted surveillance cameras in the study, not out of paranoia, but because I needed the truth.

I activated the device, and the small screen lit up, displaying a live feed of the study.

What I saw made my blood run cold.