The entire Walker Group was in utter pandemonium, all because Sebastian decided to play hooky from the office and camp out at my place daily.

His mom was fuming, and naturally, I was instantly branded the ultimate femme fatale in her eyes.

Valentina made it her mission to drag Sebastian away, but he wouldn't even spare her a glance.

With no other tricks up her sleeve, Valentina marched into my wellness clinic, ready to throw down. She demanded to know how long I intended to keep Sebastian under my thumb.

"I'm not tormenting anyone. He's doing this to himself," I stated calmly.

It was the same old story. Back then, his indifference was crystal clear, yet I stuck around, a total simp hoping he'd change his mind.

My stance now is just as firm. If he wants to play the tragic hero, that's on him.

Valentina lost it. She started shrieking, flinging insults, and tried to lunge at me.

I had security escort her out. Honestly, I couldn't be bothered with her usual rant about how I deserved Sebastian's affection and why she was a total washout.

What's it to me?

Who needs this dramatic, eleventh-hour love fest?

With Valentina out of the picture, peace finally descended.

The sky outside turned a moody gray, the air heavy with the promise of rain.

By the time I got home, the heavens had opened. Sebastian, looking like a drowned cat, was slumped on my doorstep, begging to be let in.

Seeing his soaked hair, I knew his eye condition was about to act up.

I ignored him and told him to beat it.

Opening the door, I found Selena peeking out from behind it.

Sebastian, unable to break me, had switched to playing the dad card with our daughter.

No matter how much Selena had disliked him before, she was still a kid, and Sebastian’s kid at that.

His persistent efforts had finally started to chip away at her dislike.

I couldn’t just kick him out.

I knew Sebastian was playing the guilt trip, using this whole self-destructive act to manipulate me.

But leaving him out in the rain all night? Not happening. If Selena heard her dad crying outside, she'd have nightmares.

Sebastian won. I let him in.

I dug out his eye drops, gave him a quick shoulder rub, and let him crash on the couch.

Meanwhile, I started packing. My daughter and I were going on a trip.

I immediately looped in Aurora and Benjamin. They got it.

Being ambushed by Sebastian at my door daily, plus his emotional warfare, had made the peaceful life I craved way too stressful.

A getaway sounded like a solid plan.

They were both super supportive, brainstorming ideas.

The next morning, without a word to Sebastian snoring on the couch, I left with Selena.

With just a small bag, I headed downstairs and hopped into Aurora's car.

She insisted on driving us to the airport, playfully teasing me the whole way about whether Benjamin was green with envy for not getting to send us off.

I just smiled, figuring it was probably for the best. Maybe it would help him move on and find his own happiness.

Aurora saw us off at the airport, her eyes holding a knowing glint I couldn't quite decipher.

It wasn't until I was on the plane that it hit me.

Sitting in the row ahead was Benjamin.

Aurora had been in on it the whole time, keeping it a surprise.

Selena was over the moon, and I felt a little spark of excitement myself. The journey suddenly felt more appealing.

But just twenty minutes later, my mood took a sharp turn.

At the eleventh hour, just before takeoff, one last passenger boarded.

It was Sebastian. He slid into the seat directly behind me.

A headache started thrumming at my temples. This trip was guaranteed to be anything but peaceful.