Janetta's words carried a subtle, calculated probe, yet she delivered them with heartbreaking fragility.
Sebastian pressed a soft kiss to her forehead. "Never. I only care that you stay safe and by my side."
Hearing his unwavering devotion, a brilliant smile finally bloomed on Janetta's lips.
It looked gentle and overflowing with joy.
But hidden from his view, her eyes gleamed with pure, toxic malice.
She tightened her arms around him, laying her devotion on thick.
"Seb, I love you so much. I'd die without you." Every syllable was laced with intense sincerity.
Sebastian didn't let go of her.
But unbidden, a sudden image of Helena flashed in his mind.
Standing alone, rigid with unbreakable pride.
He had given Helena nothing but cold indifference.
No matter what crisis erupted, Helena was forced to shoulder it entirely on her own.
From Grace Dale's relentless disdain, the Hayes family's vicious hostility, to his own calculated neglect.
Even through her pregnancy, she spent the vast majority of her time isolated and alone.
Compared to Helena, Janetta was surrounded by an army of people ready to pamper her.
If it was a contest of who truly deserved pity, Helena had Janetta beat by a landslide.
The old Sebastian would never have wasted a second agonizing over this.
But now, the stark contrast haunted him, gnawing at his conscience.
His brow furrowed. He couldn't even pinpoint exactly when he had started paying such close attention to Helena's misery.
The realization made his skin crawl with defensive irritation.
Coupled with the heavy guilt over Janetta's terminal diagnosis, he forced himself to compartmentalize.
He viciously shoved down the strange, suffocating pang of empathy he felt for his wife.
He refused to give those dangerous emotions any room to breathe.
"Seb?" Janetta's soft voice broke through his thoughts.
She hadn't missed his momentary distraction.
She had spent years mastering every subtle shift in his mood.
Unable to contain her paranoia, she called out to him.
Sebastian looked down at her. "Hmm?"

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