Lies.

"Sebastian, listen—" Dave said holding him back.

"Shut up." Sebastian's voice was low, seething, his hands shaking at his sides. He turned his glare toward Valerian. "You. You should have told me."

Valerian's chest ached. His mouth opened, but no words came out.

"You let them know before me?" Sebastian scoffed bitterly, his eyes dark with pain. "You ran to them? And left me in the dark?"

Tears welled in Valerian's eyes. "I was scared, Sebastian."

"You think I'm not?" Sebastian shot back. His voice cracked. "You think I wouldn't have been there for you?"

Valerian shook his head. "I didn't know how you'd react. I didn't even believe it myself."

"Believe it?" Sebastian let out a sharp, humorless laugh. "You're carrying my child, and you thought it was something to hide?"

Kelvin, watching the storm unfold, finally spoke. "Sebastian, we weren't keeping it from you to hurt you. Valerian was overwhelmed."

Sebastian's glare snapped to him. "And you think that excuses you? You think it makes it right?" His fists clenched at his sides. "I should have been the first to know. Not you. Not Dave. Me."

The room was suffocating in silence.

Valerian's breath hitched. "I'm sorry," he whispered. "I was scared."

Sebastian swallowed hard. His voice dropped to a whisper. "You should have trusted me."

Valerian's fingers curled into the sheets. "I do trust you, Sebastian."

Sebastian exhaled sharply, running a hand through his hair. He stepped back, shaking his head. "Then why do I feel like I've already lost you?"

Valerian gasped softly, his heart lurching. "No… you haven't."

Sebastian studied him, his expression unreadable. Then, without another word, he turned and walked out.

The front door slammed shut.

Valerian's whole body trembled.

Dave sighed, rubbing a hand over his face. "Shit."

Kelvin exhaled deeply. "We need to fix this."

Valerian swallowed down the lump in his throat, blinking away tears.

But deep down, he knew—nothing would ever be the same again.

Valerian's vision blurred with tears as he knelt on the pavement, his chest rising and falling in ragged sobs. His hands clutched his stomach protectively, his mind spinning with disbelief.

"How could he…?" His voice trembled, barely above a whisper. "How could he think I want to get rid of the baby…?"

The words felt like knives cutting into his heart. The weight of Sebastian's misunderstanding crushed him, suffocating him with despair.

"Valerian!"

Dave and Kelvin ran to his side, their faces tight with concern. Dave knelt beside him, placing a steadying hand on his shoulder, while Kelvin crouched down, searching his face.

"Get up, dear. Come, let's go inside and sort this out," Dave urged gently.

Kelvin wrapped an arm around Valerian's waist, helping him to his feet. He was trembling, his breath uneven. Every step toward the house felt heavier, but he forced himself to move. He needed to think, to find a way to fix this.

But just as they reached the doorway, Valerian's body suddenly went limp.

"Valerian!" Kelvin's arms tightened around him as he felt him collapse.

Dave's heart pounded. "What happened? Valerian, open your eyes!" He tapped his cheek lightly, but there was no response.

Kelvin didn't waste another second—he scooped Valerian up in his arms and carried him inside. The doctor, who had been preparing to leave, immediately turned back, his expression shifting to alarm.

"Lay him on the couch!" the doctor instructed, already reaching for his bag.

Kelvin gently set Valerian down, his eyes locked on the pale face beneath him. Dave hovered nearby, hands clenched into fists.

"What's happening to him?" Kelvin demanded, his voice tight with worry.

The doctor placed his fingers on Valerian's wrist, checking his pulse. His brows furrowed. "His stress levels are dangerously high. His body is overwhelmed—if this continues, it could put him and the baby at risk."

Kelvin exchanged a worried glance with Dave. This wasn't just about Sebastian anymore. Valerian's well-being—both his and the baby's—was hanging by a thread.

Meanwhile, Sebastian gripped the steering wheel with white-knuckled force, his jaw clenched as he sped through the streets. His mind replayed the scene over and over—Valerian standing there, looking guilty, calling his name.

Lies.

He scoffed bitterly. He didn't want to hear any more lies.

Before he realized it, he had pulled up in front of a bar. Morning light spilled across the entrance, but he didn't care. He pushed open the door and strode inside, the scent of alcohol and stale smoke hitting him instantly.

"Whiskey," he barked at the bartender as he sank onto a stool.

The first sip burned down his throat, but it did nothing to extinguish the fire raging inside him. His free hand clenched into a fist on the counter.

Why did it hurt so damn much?

---

Back at the house, Valerian stirred. His eyelids fluttered weakly, and he let out a soft whimper.

Kelvin immediately leaned over him. "Valerian? You're awake?"

Tears slid down Valerian's temples as he turned his head slightly. His voice was hoarse. "Sebastian…"

Dave's heart twisted. "He's not here," he admitted.

Fresh pain flashed across Valerian's face. He struggled to sit up, but Kelvin pressed him back down.

"No, don't move yet. You need to rest."

But Valerian shook his head desperately. "I need to see him. I need to explain."

Dave exhaled sharply, running a hand through his hair. He hesitated before pulling out his phone.

"I'll find him," he promised.

Kelvin nodded. "I'll come with you."

As they left, Valerian clutched his stomach again, whispering under his breath.

"He didn't even try to listen to me."