I stared at Sebastian Hawthorne, struggling to hide my shock. This man—the same arrogant patriarch who had once looked at me like I was dirt beneath his polished shoes—was now offering an apology? Every instinct told me this was a trap.
"An apology," I repeated slowly, keeping my expression neutral. "That's quite the change in attitude, Sebastian."
William Vance cleared his throat. "Perhaps we should all sit down and discuss this over dinner. The chef has prepared something special tonight."
I took my seat but kept my guard up. Sebastian's face looked haggard, with dark circles under his eyes that hadn't been there before. Whatever had brought him to this point had clearly taken a toll.
"Let's not waste time on pleasantries," I said, folding my hands on the table. "What exactly are you apologizing for, Sebastian? The attempts to sabotage my business? The hired thugs? Or perhaps the multiple attempts to destroy my reputation?"
Sebastian winced. "All of it. I was... shortsighted."
