Chapter 58 – Redemption’s Dawn
The click of the latch reverberated in the silence as Sebastian shut his home’s door behind
him. He had missed the sound for weeks while he was imprisoned in the chilly, gloomy isolation of his cell. Emily’s and Madeline’s courageous testimony during the trial had enabled his release and subsequent statement of innocence.
Now that he was in his own house, the burden of everything started to fade, one by one. He took his time walking to his room, feeling as if he were traveling through a strange realm with every step. He had left the place just as he had left it. The bed was made, clothes were hung neatly in the wardrobe.
With a long sigh, he dropped his jacket and tossed it upon the closest chair. Steam rose almost immediately from the shower in the bathroom as it roared to life. After taking off his clothing, Sebastian stood beneath the stream and let the hot water run over him.
He had not taken a real bath in days, and it felt as though his body and soul had been cleansed, he washed away the cell’s filth, the sweat from restless nights, and the odor of entrenched hopelessness.
After a few minutes, he grabbed a towel to dry off and turned off the water. He returned to his bedroom and opened a chest of drawers to find clean clothes. His hand hesitated in the middle of opening one of the drawers. It was there, a little velvet box nestled away in the corner. The small package felt heavier than it should have, and he paused before bringing it up.
The ring he had given Madeline was inside. At one point, he was confident in his choice and their future together. He had really made the right decision in asking her to marry him. And now, he had made the mistake of Emily, by allowing her to lead him into a whirlpool of regret, accepting her lies, and indulging her chaos.
But now, it was too late.
Gently, he closed the drawer and put the ring back inside. He sighed and climbed into bed, feeling the coolness of the covers against his body. He finally succumbed to the fatigue of the previous few days and dozed off deeply and without dreams.
The silence was broken the following morning by the piercing buzz of his alarm. Sebastian moaned as he struggled to switch it off, he sighed and squinted at the moment. The question kept coming back to him, do I still have a job? His mind wandered to his boss, Jacob.
Throughout it all, the man had shown far more grace than Sebastian deserved. But Sebastian couldn’t deny the fact that he had spent the last few months tarnishing the company’s reputation. His face had been featured on news segments, and his controversies had been splashed across headlines. To think there wouldn’t be any repercussions would be stupid.
He had to be there, though, he was unable to lose everything. No, not now. Sebastian put on a clean shirt and tie that had lain in his closet unworn. After examining his image in the mirror,
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he combed his hair and reached for his keys. It was a familiar yet unfamiliar drive to the office.
Holding on to the wheel, he prepared himself for the disapproving looks, the murmurs, the lingering looks of disappointment. When he parked and entered the building, he prepared for the worst. But what he encountered instead stunned him,
“Surprise!”
Confetti showered down, Sebastian froze, and a chorus of voices yelled,
“Welcome back!” Everyone in the workplace was grinning, and his coworkers were cheering and clapping. Across the room was a banner that said,
“Welcome Back, Sebastian!”
He stood there a moment, uncertain of how to respond. A knot of worry in his stomach was replaced by a rush of warmth in his chest. He was hugged by Liam who made his way through the crowd.
It’s good to have you back, brother” Liam said, clapping him on the back. Sebastian managed a small laugh,
“It’s good to be back”
He glanced around at the beaming faces, a sea of encouragement and humility. But as he looked around the room, he saw that Jacob was noticeably missing-
Sebastian excused himself and went to Jacob’s office, he knocked quietly and entered through the open door. With his back to the door, Jacob stood at the window and gazed out at the city below.
“Sir,” Sebastian called softly, his voice breaking the silence. Jacob turned, his expression unreadable,
“Sebastian” he…
his tone neutral,
“It’s good to see you again”
“It’s good to be back, sir” Sebastian replied, though his voice carried a note of hesitation.
Jacob looked at him for a minute, his piercing eyes piercing the atmosphere. He sighed softly as if he had seen Sebastian’s uneasy manner,
“Get back to work, Mr. Young” Jacob said finally, a faint smile tugging at his lips.
Sebastian exhaled in relief, nodding,
“Yes, sir”
His steps were lighter than they had been for weeks as he turned and walked out of the office. Sebastian returned to his desk, sat down, and inhaled deeply. It appeared as though the burden of the previous few months, the trial, the betrayal, the scandal, and the redemption, was
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somewhat lessened.
He looked around the workplace at his coworkers who had greeted him so warmly upon his return. He reflected on Liam’s remarks and Jacob’s delicate pardon. Then he remembered Madeline and Emily.
There and then Sebastian decided. He needed to move on from it all. The women, and the drama weren’t worth the cost. He would concentrate on himself for the time being, Reassembling the most important aspects of his life.
the
