Sebastian was sitting on the sofa beside her.
The dim light from the TV cast sharp shadows on his face, making his features look sharper.He was leaning comfortably against the sofa, sending messages on his phone.
“Why didn’t you wake me up?” Natalie rubbed her eyes.
A gray blanket slipped down from her shoulders.
“I thought you would wake up any time.” Sebastian smiled and handed a glass of warm milk to her.
“Drink this and go to your room.It would be more comfortable for you to sleep there.”.Natalie took the milk and drank it obediently.
The room fell silent again.
“By the way, thank you for helping me last night.Did your hand get hurt when you smashed the wine bottle?”
She had been busy worrying about Hannah that she almost forgot what happened in the Quinn family house.
Holding the glass, she studied Sebastian’s face.
His expression remained the same throughout.He put down his phone and took a sip of beer.
“It’s okay.We are husband and wife,”he said, his eyes still fixed on the TV.
“You don’t have to thank me.” Natalie pulled the blanket closer in her arms and looked at him.
The light from the TV brightened her face.
She drew circles on the rim of the glass, carefully choosing her words.
“Now that you know I wasn’t the one you had planned to marry, do you still want to be in a serious relationship with me as my husband?” Sebastian stopped drinking beer and turned his head.
His eyes narrowed as he looked at her.
“Why do you ask? Who else do you want to marry?” Natalie’s hair stood on end when she heard the threat in his tone.She looked away and shook her head.
“No.1 didn’t mean that.”
Sebastian was an excellent man, and she had no reason to stay away from him.
After a moment’s thought, Sebastian asked, “You always refused to consummate our wedding and be a real couple.Was it because you married me as a substitute? Were you planning on leaving me one day?”
Natalie’s mouth parted.She didn’t know what to say.
Sebastian had observed her every move intently.
“Well, that was one of the reasons.But I didn’t intend to leave without telling you the truth.I just wanted to wait for a proper timing to tell you everything so that we could decide what to do next.”
A blush flamed Natalie’s cheeks.She didn’t know why they were talking about this all of a sudden.
“What about now?” Sebastian grabbed her wrist.
The warmth of his body seeped into her skin.
He pushed the blanket away and leaned closer to her.
His tall nose and chiseled jaw made him look manly.
Natalie pulled the blanket closer to her as she felt her heart was about to leap out of her chest.
At such a close distance, she could see his drooping eyelashes.
“I… ‘m not ready yet.! have to pay for Hannah’s surgery.There are still a lot of things for me to do.I have to finish the design for the company as well.And… and there are eggs in the fridge… well, we have to finish them as soon as we can. They have been in the fridge for almost two months.”
Sebastian arched his brows and listened to her rant about the most random thing to avoid the topic.
“How long do you think you can avoid it?”
Flustered, Natalie cleared her throat and said, “You know what, Sebastian. The money George and Lauren give me won’t even cover up to half of the surgery fee.I have to find a way to pay for it.Now, I think I have no choice but to borrow money from the bank even if the interest rates are high.”
Sebastian slowly loosened his grip on Natalie’s wrist.His slender fingers trailed down her hand and interlaced her fingers.
He kissed her knuckles and smiled.
“You have said a lot.Catch some breath now.Is your throat dry?”
Natalie was taken aback; she stared at him with wide eyes.
A blush crept onto her cheeks.
She lowered her gaze, batting her eyelashes.
Sebastian didn’t say anything more.He stroked her palm and looked at her shy face.
The smile lit up his face; he looked more handsome than ever.
Somehow, the lust in his eyes seemed appealing rather than annoying.
“Tell me something. Would you rather get a loan from a bank than ask me for help?”
“You are no better than I am. You have no money.Even if you have savings, I don’t think it would be enough to pay for the surgery.”
Natalie smiled and looked at him.
Then, she drank the milk and placed the glass on the table.
Sebastian was rendered speechless.
Judging by Natalie’s impression of him, it was indeed unreasonable for him to offer the money for the surgery.
It would gamer her suspicion.He frowned and said, “You should have at least asked me to find a way to help you.I could also ask around for money.”
After a moment’s thought, Natalie looked at him intently.
“I don’t have the habit of depending on others.Hannah is old and weak.I have been solving all the problems myself without seeking anyone’s help ever since I was a child.If I started depending on others, then it would become a habit.As time goes by, it would turn into a weakness.After all, you can only rely on yourself.”
“That makes sense, in a way.” Sebastian nodded in understanding.
He leaned against the sofa, his hair bouncing with every move.
“Come here,” he said, stretching out his hand.
Natalie bit her bottom lip in embarrassment. But her body reacted on its own accord.She nestled in Sebastian’s arms and let out a weary sigh.
Sebastian pulled Natalie closer to him and wrapped the blanket around them.
“Are you cold? Do you want me to get a quilt from the bedroom?” Outside the window, the streets were pitch dark.
Only the dim lamps illuminated the road.
The wind howled, and the raindrops pattered on the green leaves.It finally began to rain.
“No need.” Natalie nestled closer to him.
The warmth of his body seeped into hers.
It felt as if he were her own, cozy heater.
She leaned against Sebastian’s chest and inhaled his fresh, manly scent.
A contented sigh escaped her lips.
Suddenly, her eyes sprang open.She looked at him and asked.
“Did you collect the clothes I washed today?”
“Yes. have folded and kept the clothes in your bedroom.”
Sebastian moved his arm, pulling her closer to him, making her lean on his shoulder more comfortably.
Once the football game ended, Sebastian picked up the remote control and switched to a horror movie. It was still pouring outside.
“You have to change your habit,” Sebastian said, breaking the silence.
Natalie was engrossed in the film.
Hearing his voice, she turned and looked at him quizzically.
“What?”
“From now on, you have me.You don’t have to struggle on your own,”
Sebastian said softly, stroking her silky hair.
Natalie looked out of the window without answering him.
“Don’t think about a loan for the time being.I’ll try to find a way to get the money.Listen to me.We still have a couple of days left.Let taking a loan from the bank be our last resort.”
Sebastian rubbed his fingers against her soft cheek and looked into her eyes.He wanted her to trust him.
Sebastian’s handsome face made her dizzy.
