Chapter 29

Elena's POV

Seeing Sebastian again broke something in me.

Not in a painful way. Not in the way Damian once shattered me. No — this was different. This was quiet. Gentle. Like a door I'd closed too quickly… creaking open again.

He looked the same. A little paler. A little thinner. But his eyes — they still held that same steady warmth. Like I was someone worth looking at.

And for a second, I forgot everything. Forgot the betrayal. The scars. The war I'd fought since leaving him.

"Sebastian…" I whispered his name, and it felt foreign in my mouth. Too heavy, too familiar.

He smiled — barely — and said, "I'm glad you're safe."

That was it.

No accusations. No anger. Just kindness. Still.

I should've looked away. Should've turned around and run back to Julian. But my feet didn't move. My chest didn't stop aching.