Chapter 89

Whenever Sebastian came home drunk, Vivienne would help him back to their room, then make him a cup of milk and thistle tea. Every time he stayed the night, she'd wake up early the next morning to cook him a full breakfast. But the times he had actually stayed over were so few that he could count them on one hand. Ever since Melanie returned, he'd barely spent a single night at home. As far as he could remember, he'd only eaten Vivienne's breakfast once or twice. Most of the time, he left in a rush for one reason or another, never even glancing at the food she made. He had never noticed her disappointment and never cared about how it made her feel. Now, those memories came flooding back, each one painfully clear. It left a tight, suffocating feeling in his chest. Sebastian tugged at his tie without thinking. He wanted to loosen it at the collar, but it didn't help. He still felt choked, like he couldn't breathe. … After showering, Sebastian got ready to settle in for the night.