Sebastian stared silently at the broken watch in his hand. It was something he initially despised—a gift he once carelessly tossed onto the floor in frustration, shattering it into pieces. Yet despite its broken state, he couldn't bring himself to discard it entirely. Instead, he had painstakingly picked up every single piece, placing them all in a small pouch as if somehow clinging to the remnants of something more than just a damaged object.
He knew very well the watch no longer worked. Still, there was an odd emotional pull, something intangible that stopped him from letting it go. Maybe it wasn't the watch he couldn't part with—maybe it was what it represented.
As he sat there, lost in thought, Sebastian felt a pair of eyes watching him. When he turned, he met the cold, indifferent gaze of Amari. Her expression was blank, almost detached, as though nothing around her could touch her anymore. She didn't even try to hide the fact that she was observing him.
Sebastian smirked bitterly and threw the watch onto the dressing table with a clatter, as if mocking its uselessness.
"Why would you put that broken thing here?" he asked sharply, his voice dripping with resentment. "Do you think my house is some kind of junkyard?"
Amari closed her eyes briefly, collecting herself before replying, "If you don't want it, throw it away." Her tone was dismissive. She then turned her attention to looking for a necklace, carefully rummaging through the room without sparing him another glance.
Sebastian's vision was clouded with fury. That watch had once meant everything to him—and now, to her, it was nothing. She had changed. He could see it clearly now. The woman who used to treasure little things, who used to care, had completely vanished. What did she even care about now?
Other men, maybe?
That thought made his blood boil. His fists clenched at his sides, the veins in his forehead beginning to throb.
"Amari," he snapped, "Is that why you agreed to the divorce? Because there's someone new?"
Amari met his glare with an eerily calm smile. "If that's what you think, I won't bother correcting you."
She walked over to the dressing table, opened a drawer, and pulled out a jewelry box without even looking at him. Her calm composure infuriated him even more. She was so close, yet so distant. Without a word, she turned to leave the room.
Before she could reach the door, Sebastian grabbed her arm tightly. "You think you can just walk in and out of here like nothing happened?" he demanded.
Amari didn't immediately pull away. She looked at him with quiet confusion. "What exactly do you want from me?"
She couldn't understand it—this man who had once treated her like an afterthought was now suddenly filled with emotion. Where was all of this coming from?
Sebastian's grip tightened. "Grandma Josefina wants to see you. You're coming with me tonight to the mansion."
Amari scowled, staring at him as if he had gone mad. "Mr. Clavel," she said sharply, "are you sure you're taking the right medication? If you want company, why don't you bring Louissa instead?"
The mention of Louissa, with all its cutting implication, made Sebastian's face darken even more.
"I told you," he growled through clenched teeth, "It's you that Grandma wants to see! You think I'd choose to be around you otherwise?"
Amari let out a mocking laugh. "That's rich. You used to do everything you could to stop me from seeing your grandmother. And now? Now you're practically dragging me back to her?"
Sebastian laughed bitterly, almost self-deprecatingly. "You know how much she cared for you. Don't act like you've forgotten her just because things between us fell apart."
Amari fell silent. It was true—Grandma Josefina had always been kind to her. In fact, among the entire Clavel family, the elderly woman was the only one who had truly treated her like family. There were days when Amari even felt like more of a granddaughter to her than a daughter-in-law. Grandma Josefina had given her warmth when no one else did.
So how could she refuse?
Still, Sebastian's fury hadn't waned. "You used to love her like she was your own. Now you can ignore her this easily? I didn't realize you were this strong, Amari. You throw me away just because someone new caught your attention?"
Amari bit her lip, her eyes glinting with restrained emotion. "That's not what's happening, Sebastian."
His expression remained cold. "Then come with me."
Amari didn't say another word. That night, they rode together in a heavy silence. The tension in the car was unbearable, and Amari found herself consumed by conflicting thoughts. Their marriage had always been stormy. Conflict after conflict, hurt after hurt. And the only person who truly worried for their well-being had been Grandma Josefina.
If only Sebastian hadn't forced her into that marriage…
Eventually, they arrived at the old Clavel estate. The house stood grand and still, the way it always had—like a silent witness to the many secrets and sorrows it had sheltered through the years.
As soon as they stepped inside, a familiar, cheerful voice echoed from the living room.
"There's my favorite granddaughter-in-law!" cried Grandma Josefina warmly. "Amari, come sit next to me! I've been waiting for you."
Amari blinked in surprise, her eyes glimmering with a flicker of emotion she tried to suppress. She smiled politely. "Grandma, I'm sorry I haven't been around these past few days…"
Before she could finish, Grandma Josefina gently patted her hand. "There's no need to explain, dear. I know everything."
Amari looked at her in shock. "You know everything, Grandma?"
Grandma Josefina nodded and gave her a sorrowful look. "Yes, child. I know. This boy," she said, pointing at Sebastian, "has no idea what he's lost. He doesn't understand how precious you are."
Sebastian stiffened, unsure how to respond.
Amari looked at the elderly woman, her heart tightening. If Grandma Josefina truly knew everything—about the arguments, the coldness, the separation—why did she still look at Amari with such hope? Why did she still act as though there was a future left to salvage?
Then Grandma Josefina spoke again, her voice heavy with regret. "Amari, don't think I've been blind. I know every sin Sebastian committed. And I'm sorry, my child… sorry that you ended up with him."
For a moment, the room fell into a heavy silence. Amari couldn't speak. Emotions swelled inside her—anger, sadness, confusion. Grandma Josefina was the only one in the Clavel family who had ever treated her with kindness. And now, that very person was apologizing for what her grandson had done.
Amari didn't know what to feel.
Sebastian, meanwhile, looked away, his own face unreadable.
It was a night of truths—too many, perhaps. But one thing was certain: something had shifted. Whether that change would bring healing or more hurt, neither of them could say just yet.