Trapped with My Billionaire Ex-Husband by Mariya Mercedes

Chapter 31
BLAIRE
I keep on glancing at the wall clock, hoping that time will pass quickly. I was supposed to meet some of my prospective suppliers for my business, but I decided to cancel everything and stay at home to wait for Sebastian. I’m sure I wouldn’t be able to focus my whole attention on our meeting when I was perfectly aware that my mind was glued elsewhere.
I haven’t consumed anything since this morning. I feel so sick to my stomach that I can’t hold back any food that I try to taste. My mind is filled with anxiety, knowing that Sebastian is spending time with Catherine right now. I’m afraid of its effect on our relationship.
I
It was already five in the afternoon when I saw Sebastian’s car coming down the
gate. was so excited to see him that I practically ran from our room to the front door. But all my excitement quickly vanished when I saw him entering the door as he pushed Catherine as she sat in her wheelchair. My dad and Stacey were already in the living room, waiting for them.
“Welcome home, my dear!”
As they entered the door, Stacey’s warm welcome filled the air. The excitement surrounding Catherine’s return was palpable, and the atmosphere buzzed with joy. However, amidst the celebration, an unexpected wave of isolation enveloped me. The contrast between their shared enthusiasm and my sense of being an outsider cast a shadow over my emotions.

Standing on the stairs, I observed the family reunion with a mix of loneliness and longing. Their smiles and laughter seemed to create a bubble of togetherness, leaving me on the periphery of the scene. Despite my silent presence, it became evident that I was overlooked, a feeling that intensified the sense of estrangement within my own family.
The distance between us, both physical and emotional, stretched like an invisible barrier. I yearned for acknowledgment, a simple glance, or a word of recognition, but their focus remained entirely on each other. The stairs became a silent witness to my growing sense of isolation, a space where I grappled with the unfamiliar feeling of being an outsider in a place that was meant to be home.
The air between us hung heavy with unspoken tension as Sebastian’s eyes met mine. In that moment, a gasp escaped me, the realization of something amiss settling in the charged atmosphere. His gaze, once warm, now held a flicker of guilt that he couldn’t conceal.
Chapter 31
The smile that had graced his face just moments ago vanished, replaced by a subtle tightness around his lips. I watched as Adam’s apple bobbed, a visible sign of discomfort, as if a sudden dryness had taken residence in his throat. The shift in his demeanor spoke volumes, and the silence that followed echoed with unsaid words.
As Sebastian briskly withdrew his hands from the wheelchair, it was almost as if he’d been caught in the act, his movements revealing a sudden awareness of the perceived intrusion. A fleeting moment of unease played across his features before he decisively stepped forward, closing the distance between us.
“Hi,” he greeted me, his tone carrying a hint of awkwardness that mirrored the tension. in the room.
“Hi,” I responded, my own greeting devoid of the usual warmth. The air between us seemed charged with unspoken tension, the recent events hanging in the silence like a heavy cloud. The space around us felt like a battleground of emotions, with cach word carrying the weight of the revelations that had unfolded.
As Sebastian stood before me, his explanation hung in the air like a fragile bridge, trying to span the growing distance between us. The revelation that Catherine had asked him to drive her home, despite my silent observation, stirred a c ocktail of emotions within me.
“I noticed,” I responded, the words carrying a weight beyond their literal meaning.
“You’re acting a little bit cold; are you mad?” he inquired, curiosity tinging his words. The question, innocent as it sounded, bore the weight of unspoken tensions and the subtle shifts in our relationship.
“Do I have a reason to be mad?” I countered, throwing the question back at him. The room seemed to hold its breath, awaiting the unspoken truths to surface.
“Please don’t make this a big deal. I was just trying to help,” he said.
Sebastian’s plea hung in the air, a plea to defuse the tension that had woven itself into our conversation. Despite his attempt to downplay the situation, the room remained charged with unspoken emotions.
“I’m not making it a big deal,” I replied, my tone revealing the underlying complexity of my feelings. The line between gratitude for his help and the discomfort of witnessing a shared moment with Catherine blurred.