Page 105 of Bid For Me

“God, you’re really this oblivious, aren’t you? She’s been trying to shield you from the truth, trying to protect you from the fallout of your father’s manipulations. And what have you done, Sebastian? Nothing. You’ve let him twist everything between you. You’ve let him play this game and drag her into it. Now Elle’s thinking you’re part of it. Thinking you don’t care. You can’t hide from this anymore.”

I’m sick. Sick from the gut-wrenching realisation that I was too fucking blind to see what my father had done. I can feel the rage building in me, hot and suffocating.

My father.

I’ve always known he was ruthless, but this? This is something else. Threatening Elle. Using her to try and control me? Our future?

My hands curl into fists at my sides as the anger surges like a tidal wave, flooding me with heat.

“That bastard,” I growl, through clenched teeth. “He fucking threatened her?” My voice rises, shaking with fury. “I should’ve known he was behind this. I should’ve seen it. I—” I cut myself off with a frustrated snarl. “How the hell could I not see it? All the signs were there, but I was too goddamn wrapped up in my own shit to notice.”

Candy steps back, watching me carefully, her expression more guarded now, but she doesn’t interrupt. The anger in my chest is all-consuming, and I can’t hold it in any longer.

“I’m going to fucking kill him,” I mutter under my breath, but the words feel hollow. I’m not even sure if I mean them. The rage feels like it’s tearing me apart from the inside.

Candy shakes her head, her expression softening a little, but her voice is still firm. “You can’t do that, Sebastian. You can’t keep letting your father run your life. He’s been manipulating both of you, twisting everything to fit his narrative. You’ve got to take control. You’ve got to be the one to fix this.”

I take a shaky breath, trying to calm the fire in my chest. But it’s hard. It’s so hard when all I can think about is Elle, alone and devastated, thinking I’ve been a part of this. My mind is spiraling – my father’s game, Elle’s pain, the guilt, the betrayal.

I swipe a hand through my hair, frustrated with myself, with everything. “I should’ve been there for her. I should’ve been listening, not pretending everything was fine. Why the hell didn’t I see this?”

“Because your father’s a master manipulator. And you’ve been too focused on trying to please him, trying to fit into his mold, to see the truth. It’s time to wake up, Sebastian.”

The anger bubbles in my throat again, this time mixed with something darker. Disgust for my father. Guilt for not protecting Elle. And an overwhelming sense of shame for how far I’ve let myself fall into his grip.

Candy’s face softens, just a little, but her tone is still sharp. “You fucked up, Sebastian. If you don’t fix this, if you don’t clear the air with her, I don’t know if she’ll ever trust you again.”

“I’m going to fix this,” I say through clenched teeth. It’s not a promise, but it’s the only thing I can say right now. “I have to.”

“Then go fix it. Now. Start by telling her the truth,” Candy says, voice steady now, but still filled with a kind of fiercecompassion. “Tell her you know it wasn’t her. It was your father. Tell her that. Because right now? She thinks you’ve been playing her the whole time, that you’ve been a part of this sick game. You’ve got to prove that you’re not.”

I nod slowly, the weight of her words hitting harder than any punch. “I will,” I say finally. “I’ll fix it. I have to fix it.”

For the first time tonight, she gives me a small, understanding nod. “Good. And next time, Sebastian? Don’t come here to drown in whiskey. Go home. Talk to her. You owe her that much.”

I don’t argue. What else can I say? Candy’s right. I don’t belong here anymore, not with this mess hanging over me. I need to fix things with Elle. I need to start by telling her the truth and listening to everything she has to say. There’s no more running. There’s no more hiding behind whiskey or distractions. I have to go to Elle. I have to make it right.

And if my father stands in my way again, I’ll burn that bridge down with him.

CHAPTER FORTY-ONE

Elle

I wake slowly,feeling warm and comforted, like I’m wrapped in something soft and familiar. My body is relaxed, sinking into the bed, the weight of sleep still heavy on me. It’s not until I shift slightly that I realise something feels…off.

Someone’s in bed with me.

For a heartbeat, I stiffen, my eyes snapping open. Panic floods me –what the hell is going on? –But then, I remember: Candy said she’d be over in the morning to check on me, to make sure I’m okay. So I relax, sinking back into the plush sheets. I close my eyes again, letting the warmth of the bed pull me back into sleep.

I must’ve dozed off again, because when I finally come to, it’s with a sharp, unsettling awareness. There’s something pressing against my ass, hard and unforgiving, not the softness of the blankets I had been feeling.

And I’m not in my flat. Which means itcan’tbe Candy in bed with me, because she doesn’t know where I am. I didn’t send her the new address yet.

My mind races as I take in the sensation of an arm wrapped around my chest, warm skin brushing against my own, and the unmistakable pressure of a body behind me.

My gaze zeroes in on the arm that’s caged me. A hairy arm. A muscular, tattooed,malearm.

No. No, no, no.