Ruined And Redeemed(8)

“Then why didn’t you tell me?” Sebastian demanded. “Why did you marry her off the second I left the country?”

Shrugging, his father sighed. “I didn’t tell you because−you have to admit−you’re a bit of hot-head, and I didn’t wish for your personal feelings to complicate the matter.”

“Complicate the matter?” Sebastian echoed, staring at his father in disbelief. Although he had known all his life that his father was probably the most unfeeling man in England, a small part of him had always hoped that he was wrong.

Now, he knew.

All the while, his mother stood by the door and watched … as she always had … and didn’t utter a single word.

“Yes,” his father said, shaking his head in disapproval. “Look at yourself. I wager everything I own that the second you found out about this, you’ve been riding non-stop, only to throw your hatred in my face. Am I not right?” His eyes narrowed, and his lips pressed into a thin line before he continued. “You act like a child, rash and impulsive, and that is precisely why I thought it best not to give you an opportunity to interfere and ruin everything.”

“Ruin everything?” Taking a deep breath, Sebastian gritted his teeth. “How dare you speak of her as though she were a horse you can sell?”

His father snorted. “Please do not be overly dramatic. I did not sell her. I merely married her to an esteemed gentleman who will give her a good life. If you would calm down, you’d see that this is a most advantageous marriage. Although he is merely a baron, his family is vastly wealthy and of high standing in society. He is everything we could hope for.”

Now, it was Sebastian’s turn to snort. “We? Or you?” Holding his father’s gaze, Sebastian stepped closer. “I just saw her,” he forced out through gritted teeth, and for a second, he thought to see his father’s careful mask of indifference slip. However, it may have been a trick of light. “Of course, after I heard what you had done to her, I went to see Victoria…first. Although she tried her best to put on a brave face, it was clear that she’s miserable. She didn’t agree to this marriage, did she?”

His father sighed. “No, she didn’t. But women generally tend to be a little skittish when it comes to married life. She’ll settle into her duties soon enough.”

In an instant, Sebastian’s hands snapped forward and grabbed his father by the collar.

“What are you doing?” With wide eyes, his father tried to keep his composure. “This is not the way of a gentleman.”

Bringing him closer, Sebastian’s voice dropped to a freezing low. “Neither was yours, and yet, you had no scruples.”

“Are you truly surprised that I should marry my own daughter to whom I please?” his father asked, struggling to free himself from Sebastian’s grip. “Isn’t it a father’s duty to find a good husband for her as well as for the family?”

Sebastian inhaled slowly as his mind argued that his father was not wrong. However, where Victoria was concerned, Sebastian had never been able to remain rational.

Born into a loveless marriage, Sebastian had spent the first ten years of his life alone while his father had been busy pursuing other matters and his mother had retreated from life altogether, only seeing her own misery. But everything had changed the day Victoria had been born.

From the moment, Sebastian had laid eyes on his little sister, he had loved her with all his heart and soul, vowing to protect her until the end of his days.

Now, he had failed her.

Releasing his father, Sebastian stepped back, his anger replaced by the misery he had seen in his sister’s eyes.

“Now, come, come,” his father said, straightening his collar. “Do not forget that this will ultimately benefit you as well. After all, you are the heir to my title and fortune. Does that not please you?”

Closing his eyes, Sebastian shook his head, then met his father’s gaze once more. “None of that matters to me.”

“How can you say that?” his father demanded, eyeing his son through narrowed eyes. “You’ve always been strangely attached to your sister, but−"

“I love her,” Sebastian interrupted, staring at his father. “Do you truly not know what that means? Is there no one in this world whom you love? Whom you would give your life for? Whom you would relinquish your fortune for?”

Staring back at him, his father seemed to be at a loss. “That is not the point. I−”

“That is precisely the point,” Sebastian argued as his anger surged through his veins once more. “I know I can’t undo what you did, but I will not rest until I see her smile again.”