He Never Loved Me Until the Day I Finally Left Him novel Chapter 761

The tension finally eased slightly when the golf course waiter returned with their food.

Throughout the meal, Sebastian dedicated his attention to serving Skye.

He didn't force any conversation with Helena.

But their proximity made the silence feel electric.

Every slight shift resulted in a subtle brush of their arms.

"What are you thinking about?" Sebastian's voice suddenly cut through the air, his gaze locked onto her.

He seamlessly placed a piece of meat onto her plate. "Skye said these are your favorites."

Helena snapped out of her daze, feeling completely thrown off balance.

She blinked, suddenly realizing the seat next to her was empty.

Panic spiked in her chest.

"She went to the restroom. Don't worry. There are staff members everywhere outside; she's perfectly safe," Sebastian stated, reading her mind effortlessly.

Helena exhaled a shaky breath, some of her anxiety fading.

But as soon as she realized they were alone, she instinctively slid her chair a few inches away from him.

Sebastian's eyes darkened, tracking her movement.

"Are you hiding from me?" he asked quietly.

Helena forced herself to remain calm. Taking a deep breath, she met his intense gaze head-on.

His expression was completely unreadable.

She didn't waste time. "Sebastian, aside from using me as a bargaining chip, is there absolutely no other way you'll let Professor Xander operate on Skye?"

She demanded an answer.

He looked at her, his voice low and uncompromising. "No."

He was systematically destroying every exit, cornering her until she had nothing left to leverage.

Helena inhaled sharply.

She tried to suppress the chaotic panic clawing at her throat.

The sheer, overwhelming dominance he radiated was suffocating.

She felt like she was drowning.

"Helena," Sebastian suddenly murmured her real name.

She sat frozen in absolute, terrifying silence.

A minute later, the door swung open, and Skye bounded back in from the restroom.

She cheerfully recounted how a staff member had given her a small toy, shattering the suffocating atmosphere.

The rest of the dinner passed without incident.

Afterward, Sebastian drove them back to the apartment complex.

Surprisingly, he didn't try to drag Helena back to his estate.

The second the car parked, Helena grabbed Skye and made a beeline for the elevators, not even looking back to say goodbye.

Skye felt the shift immediately.

"Lena, are you mad at me for making us go out?" she whispered, looking guilty.

"No, sweetie, don't overthink it," Helena replied quickly, finding an excuse. "I'm just not feeling well. I think I slept too long today, and now I have a migraine."

Skye nodded, accepting the excuse.

She squeezed Helena's hand tighter, refusing to let go.

Unlike every other time she had hung out with Sebastian, she didn't utter a single word about him on the way up.