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As I speak, his eyes betray a mix of emotions, a storm brewing behind his calm facade. I watch for the slightest hint of confirmation, a confession that will unravel the web of lies that have been catching me for the last few weeks.
Finally, as the silence threatens to consume us, he breaks it with a sigh. “Miss Julia, you possess a tenacity that is admirable,” he admits, his speech heavy with hints of remorse. “There might be some truth in what you’re saying, but hear me very clearly. I have zero intentions of telling my son.”
I can feel my eyebrow twitch, annoyed. “That’s the most selfish thing I’ve ever heard. You have to tell him.”
In a flash, the calm demeanor of the man in front of me shifts into something much more raw and vulnerable. “For what? So he will stop talking to me? You have to understand, Julia. I have no one else anymore. Just him.” He reaches up and massages his temples with unsteady fingers. “The last thing I need is for him to find out…”
“You do have someone else, even if you want to deny it.” I let my words sink in before continuing. “Your other son.”
Johannes barks a cruel laugh. “The other child, as you say, has no idea that I’m his father. And frankly, I’d like to keep it that way. The boy lives a comfortable life, in no small part because of the strings I’ve pulled for him, so–”
I shake my head. All I hear from him are excuses. “What’s the point in keeping so many secrets? After losing so much of his family, I’m sure Seb would understand if you–”
He grabs his cane, and taps it hard on the ground, the dull sound echoing with finality. “Are you not hearing me, you frustrating child? I said no, Miss! I’m going to have to ask you to leave now.”
“Wait.” I hold up my hands to stop him from calling for his staff. “We haven’t even gotten to the fact that you allowed my mother to blackmail you and you bent to her will. Don’t you see that it’s because of your pride and ego that she was able to win?”
“Spoken like someone that has never seriously gone toe to toe with Margaret Van Dieren,” Johannes mutters, sounding exhausted. “I’m too old, and too tired, and have experienced too much loss to survive going against your mother. Sebastian will get over this breakup, and you should, too.”
“I can’t believe what I’m hearing?” My thoughts tumble around in my head, making it hurt. “My mother knows that you’re so ashamed of this secret that you’d sacrifice your son’s own happiness by making him break up with me, just so it won’t get out. It would be so simple to take control of this situation again. Just tell the truth. Beat my mother to the punch.”
Johannes taps his cane on the ground again over and over, much more softly this time. He looks away from me, deep in thought, and I take the opportunity to try and force my point again. “Don’t let my mom blackmail you. She’ll never leave this alone if she thinks she can use your secret information for her own gain. Sebastian might be upset at first, but I know he will forgive you.”
“Oh really? How did that go with Hendrik, I wonder?” The older man scoffs. “Look at him, exiled like a pariah with no contact with his children whatsoever.”
“This isn’t about my dad, or what my mother did regarding his affair. It’s about you and your son. Mr. Van den Bosch, you’re all Seb has left. Hewillforgive you. Please just tell him the truth. He deserves to be happy, and I promise you that being with me is what makes him happy.”
“Good God, you are one stubborn woman, you know that?” Johannes sighs heavily. I can see, right before my eyes, that he’s losing energy and becoming tired. I don’t think I’ve driven him to the point that his health is at risk right now, but I probably shouldn’t push any farther.
“Your son means a lot to me,” I say simply, pouring all of my heart into the words. “Otherwise I wouldn’t be here.”
“That much, I can see.” He closes his eyes, knuckles white where he clutches his cane. “I’ll think about it, but that’s all I can offer you. Now, get out.”
***
Stepping out of the Van den Bosch estate, I am greeted by the gentle embrace of the crisp air. The weight of the conversation lingers, intertwining with the whispers of the wind. Did I do the right thing by coming here? Will anything really change, now that I’ve shown my hand and put pressure on Johannes?
As I make my way down the meticulously manicured path, my thoughts race like a whirlwind. I might have just ruined things to the point that they can never be repaired again, or I might have finally found a way to bring Sebastian back to me. Still, I wish it hadn’t come to this. The confrontation certainly didn’t leave me feeling happy in any way. The revelation of Sebastian’s father’s past, the web of deceit that entangled Seb and me—none of it can be ignored now that I’ve put it all out into the open.
My cab driver awaits me at the end of the path, having been paid to simply wait on me in case I had to make a hasty retreat. The driver is napping when I knock on the window, and once he rouses and opens the door for me, I climb into the worn leather seat and finally let myself relax. I did it. I can’t believe I was actually brave enough, but I really did it.
As the cab pulls away, the grand estate diminishes in the distance. My part is finished, and now I just have to wait and see how everything plays out. Either Sebastian’s father will tell him the truth, or he won’t, forcing me to do so. My gaze fixates on the receding image, reflecting upon the profound impact this encounter will have on the future.
The repercussions of my actions now unfold before me with each passing moment. I have unraveled the hidden truths, but with it comes the weight of responsibility. There’s always the chance that Seb won’t appreciate me forcing his father’s hand like this, but even if he never wants to speak to me again, at least I will know I did everything in my power to get the truth to him.
Then there is the fallout that is sure to come from my mother. I have no illusions that she won’t find out somehow, some way, what I’ve done. I’ve undermined her blackmail attempt, and in doing so, taken her power in this situation away from her. She’s going to lose her mind when she finds out.
But her reaction to that news will be nothing compared to the firestorm she is sure to stir up if Sebastian and I manage to work things out. Having her master plan defeated and thrown back in her face is going to make it even harder for me to convince her to accept Sebastian, and maybe she never will. I can’t imagine going through the rest of my life with my mother shunning me, but if that’s the choice she makes, there’s nothing I can do about it. All I can do is hope that her love of me will eclipse any hatred that she has for the Van den Bosch heir.
In the distance in front of me, I can see the landscape changing to the familiar sight of the area around my family estate. Almost home.
Unless Johannes called her immediately, there’s no way that she will know this soon what I have done. So I just need to lay low now, and let things play out.
Still, I twist my shirt in my fingers anxiously. I don’t think I’ll be able to relax until this is all over with.
25
Sebastian
