Chapter 30

Cecilia's pov The yacht pulled away from shore, and Beta Sawyer and I returned to the deck. Inside the cabin, Sebastian was the undisputed center of attention, handling the flattery with effortless grace. He responded with occasional slight smiles, seemingly unbothered by Amara's presence. Keith was pretty smooth at creating opportunities for his granddaughter. And Vivian... was nothing if not persistent. She moved with practiced charm, always just within arm's reach of Sebastian, always finding something to gush about—his drink, his cufflinks, the view. It was a performance dressed as casual interest, but its transparency was almost painful. Anyone with eyes could tell what she wanted. You only had to watch the way her eyes lingered on him. Too long. Too often. Sebastian kept things polite with her—neither cold nor overly friendly. Amara stood beside him, and though she appeared composed, there was something about her... a fake smile that couldn't quite hide her pain. It was painful t