Chapter Seven

Leila’s POV

I felt numb as Maliya’s words echoed in my mind. “You were an easy target.”

The sting of betrayal hit me harder than I could have ever anticipated. I had opened up to her, fully trusting that she understood the loneliness I faced. But now, I was just a pawn in their twisted little game.

I took a deep breath, determined to hold back the tears that threatened to fall and blur my vision. I wiped my eyes furiously, unwilling to let despair consume me.

I had trusted Sebastian—my mate, the one person who was supposed to understand and protect me. And yet, he had chosen Maliya. How long had this been going on? How long had he hidden the truth from me? The air felt thick in my lungs.

“How could he do this to me?” I whispered fiercely. My chest felt tight under the crushing weight of heartbreak.

Without a second thought, I stood up, my legs shaky but resolute as I walked toward the door. I needed to see him. I needed to confront him, to hear the truth from his own lips. Perhaps there was an explanation, a misunderstanding that could clear this up.

I navigated the long corridors of the mansion, my heart pounding with each step, echoing in the silence. My hands trembled at my sides, and the threat of tears still loomed.

Sebastian.

I was determined to find him, to see him and feel his presence. Maybe, just maybe, everything would make sense once I stood in front of him.

I reached his chambers, my breath hitching as I grasped the doorknob. A rush of emotions flooded me—fear, sadness, confusion, but above all, determination.

Taking a deep breath, I opened the door, willing myself to find Sebastian and for him to explain everything.

What I walked into shattered me instantly.

Sebastian and Maliya, together.

He sat on the edge of the bed, his hand resting on her shoulder while she leaned into him, her fingers toying with the collar of his shirt. A relaxed, softened look graced his face that I had never seen before.

Maliya smiled up at him, her voice low and teasing. “Sebastian, you really do know how to make a girl feel special.”

Sebastian's soft laughter struck me like a dagger in my heart. He was laughing with her. He was with her.

I stood frozen in the doorway, my body trembling as I fought to contain the sob that threatened to escape. The weight of the moment was suffocating. I wanted to scream, to run, to confront them both. Instead, I remained rooted to the spot, my heart breaking with each passing second.

They didn’t notice me at first, but when Maliya turned her head and met my gaze, her confident smile faltered for just an instant before she replaced it with a facade of sweetness.

“Oh, Leila,” Maliya said, her tone dripping with insincerity. “Didn’t realize you’d be stopping by.”

Sebastian turned, and I saw his eyes widen as he caught sight of me standing in the doorway. His expression swiftly shifted from surprise to remorse, and in that moment, I understood everything I needed to know.

He glanced at Maliya briefly, then back at me, seemingly at a loss for words.

“Leila,” he began while rising from the bed, but I took a step back, shaking my head. I couldn’t bear to hear any more half-truths or justifications; the weight of betrayal was already heavy on my heart.

“You really don’t need to explain,” I managed to whisper, my voice trembling. “I understand. I’m not naive to what’s happening here.”

Maliya crossed her arms, her demeanor self-satisfied as she leaned against the bed. “You should’ve known, Leila. It was bound to happen.”

Hearing that felt like a punch to the gut, and the tears I had been holding at bay finally flowed freely. I turned and hurried from the room, my legs feeling weak as I dashed down the hall. I didn’t have a clear destination in mind, but I needed to escape the oppressive atmosphere that surrounded me.

I heard footsteps following me, but I couldn’t stop. I didn’t want to face him and hear whatever justification he might offer—it wouldn’t change how I felt.

The guards at the door looked on in confusion as I rushed past, but at that moment, their opinions didn’t matter. I just needed solitude.

Once outside, the cool air struck my face like a refreshing wave, yet it did little to calm the storm within. I stumbled into the garden, where my legs finally gave way, and I sank to the ground, overcome with emotion. The sobs shook my entire body as I mourned the loss of trust, love, and my sense of safety.

I felt a deep sense of foolishness. Why had I ever clung to the notion of love? Sebastian was never truly mine, and Maliya had her own agenda from the start.

Time lost meaning as I sat there, tears soaking into the grass, until I heard footsteps approaching once more. This time, I didn’t resist the urge to acknowledge them.

"Leila," a gentle voice called. "Please, Leila."

I looked up, my vision blurred by tears, and saw Sebastian standing a few feet away, his expression a mixture of regret and something else I couldn’t identify.

“I didn’t mean for this to happen,” he said softly, his voice strained. “You need to know that I never intended to hurt you.”

I let out a bitter laugh, tinged with pain. “Hurt me? You think saying you didn’t mean it makes everything alright?”

“Leila—”

“No,” I interrupted, standing up and wiping tears from my cheeks with determination. “No, Sebastian. You don’t get to make this right. You can’t justify what you’ve done. I trusted you, and you played with that trust.”

“I didn’t want to hurt you,” he insisted, taking a step closer.

I instinctively took a step back. “But you did. You hurt me deeply just like the others”

I turned away from him, my heart heavy with disappointment. I knew he meant well, but there was nothing he could say to amend the situation. I felt shattered, unsure if I could ever regain my sense of wholeness.

“I hate this,” I whispered, the words heavy with sorrow.