Chapter 3The Ultimate Checkmate: Marrying My Ex's Billionaire Rival

When I turned back inside to grab my coat, some old classmates dragged me into conversation.

By 8:00 PM, a torrential downpour suddenly hit the city.

Stranded by the storm, a bunch of us were forced to book rooms at the hotel.

Finished?

Sebastian texted me. Three short words, perfectly matching his efficient, no-nonsense personality.

I'm staying at the hotel tonight because of the rain.

A long time passed before he replied:

Send me your room number. Go to sleep.

I sent the message and curled up under the covers.

Whether by accident or malicious design, Tristan and Lindsey's room was right next to mine.

The hotel's soundproofing was terrible.

Lindsey's high-pitched giggles pierced right through the drywall. It was piercingly annoying.

As if terrified I wouldn't hear her, she practically yelled, "Tristan, next time for my birthday, let's book the room right next door—"

"Shut up. It's noisy."

Tristan's voice was low, raspy, and carried a heavy trace of exhaustion.

I froze.

It suddenly reminded me of my first year dating Tristan.

He threw a birthday party for me. But after midnight, he completely vanished.

Lindsey was unreachable, too.

A physical wave of nausea washed over me. My eyes stung.

Honestly, I couldn't even say how much I actually loved Tristan anymore.

I had just poured the best years of my youth into him, only to be reduced to a humiliating punchline.

The noises from next door escalated. Lindsey's voice grew louder, dripping with intentional provocation.

In the middle of this suffocating atmosphere, my hotel door suddenly clicked open with a keycard.

A tall, imposing silhouette was stretched long by the hallway lights.

A rush of cold, rain-scented air swept into the room.

My eyes were still wet. I stared blankly at the man standing in the doorway.

"Mr. Sterling? Why are you here?"

Sebastian glanced around the room. "The security at this hotel is subpar. I was worried."

I don't know if it was just my imagination, but he seemed to be in a terrible mood tonight.

He radiated an icy, unapproachable aura.

The noises from next door abruptly stopped.

Sebastian looked down at me. "Is it unbearable?"

"Huh?"

"I can have them move you to a different room."

I quickly waved my hands. "It's getting late. You have to work tomorrow, you should really go home and rest—"

As the words left my mouth, I realized something horrifying. I was in a single-bed room.

And the way I had just thrown back the covers... it looked exactly like I was inviting him into my bed.

The atmosphere instantly turned painfully awkward.

Sebastian's gaze swept over my bare legs before he looked away and pulled out his phone to call his secretary.

"Book another room—"

Suddenly, Lindsey's theatrical moans from next door roared back to life.

Louder and more aggressive than before.

An inexplicable surge of anger flared in my chest.

Without thinking, I reached out and grabbed the hem of Sebastian's tailored shirt, whispering, "It's fine... just sleep here."

The moment the words left my mouth, Sebastian's gaze turned dangerously intense.

There was even a faint, predatory gleam in his eyes.

My face flushed crimson instantly.

Was I being too forward?

"I'm sorry, I... I didn't mean—"

"Okay."

Sebastian calmly hung up his phone.

"Do you want to shower first?"

BANG!

A massive crash echoed from the room next door.

Followed by a shocked gasp from Lindsey. At the exact same moment, my phone started vibrating furiously on the nightstand.

It was Tristan's number.

I didn't answer it.

Seconds later, a text message lit up my lock screen.

Clara, you have three minutes to come out here.

Sebastian pressed his lips together, a frigid, lifeless smile forming on his face.

"He sure is a busy guy."

Before I could say anything, Sebastian abruptly stood up, unclasped his luxury watch, and unbuttoned his collar.

I froze, stammering, "W-What are you doing...?"

Within seconds, I was overwhelmed by the intoxicating scent of cold pine.

"Ms. Hayes, since you invited me first, it would be rude of me to decline."

My heart felt like it was going to leap out of my throat.

We were so close.

So close I could count his eyelashes.

"Will you make a sound?" he asked softly.

"What?" my voice was barely a squeak.

Sebastian smiled faintly. "Your voice is much prettier than hers."

I suddenly understood what he was doing. "Ah—!"

My stiff, awkward sound made Sebastian chuckle low in his chest.

It sounded like a reward. As if telling me I was doing a great job.

Suddenly, Tristan's muffled voice roared from the other side of the wall. Suppressing a dark, violent rage.

"Clara. Answer the damn phone."

Sebastian smirked lazily, picked up my ringing phone, and answered it. His tone was perfectly flat. "She's in the shower."

A silence stretching for an entire century followed.

Tristan finally asked in a chilling whisper: "Bastian Sterling?"

"Correct."

Tristan let out a dark sneer. "If you have a death wish, I'd be more than happy to arrange a funeral for you."

Sebastian gently brushed a stray strand of hair from my face, letting out a soft, mocking laugh.

"Big talk. Let's just hope your ability to act matches the speed at which you surrendered tonight."