Spoiled by the Silver Fox

Sebastian's internal clock was always set for 7 am.

Upon waking, he powered up his cellphone and was immediately greeted by a text message.

It was from Emily.

[Seb, I'm waiting by the dog kennel until you're up. The security guard already let me in. Please don't tell Stephanie, pretty please.]

Sebastian's eyes sharpened as he turned to look at Stephanie sleeping soundly beside him.

Carefully, he slipped out from under the covers and tiptoed downstairs, still in his pajamas.

Downstairs, Judith was busy in the kitchen preparing breakfast.

Seb made a beeline for the dog kennel, and as he approached, he spotted a little girl covered in blood sitting beside it.

He frowned and said, "Emily?"

Emily looked up and gave him a pained smile. "Seb, can I take a shower first and change into some clean clothes?"

"Aren't you going to explain first?"

"Seb, can I please get cleaned up and changed before I tell you? I'm scared that if Stephanie sees me like this, she'll freak out. And if it gets back to my mom, she definitely won't let me out of the house." "Alright, come with me."

They managed to sneak upstairs without Judith noticing.

Sebastian led Emily to the guest room and provided her with fresh clothes.

After she had tidied up, Emily bundled her bloody clothes into her backpack, planning to dispose of them when no one was looking.Property belongs to Nôvel(D)r/ama.Org.

Sebastian sat on the living room sofa, patiently waiting for her to emerge.

When Emily was finally clean and came out grinning, she said, "Don't look at me like that, Seb. I'm not hurt. The blood on my clothes isn't mine."

"Sullivan's?" he asked.

"How did you know?"

"Something happened on the way home last night?"

"Wow, Seb, are you psychic or something?"

"Did Rebecca have something to do with it?"

Emily's smile vanished.

"You know about all that?"

"I have my ways."

"And you know Sullivan was Rebecca's guy?"

"I do."

Emily looked down and murmured, "I only found out last night, but it doesn't matter anymore. Whose side he's on isn't important. We're not on the same path anymore. Seb, can you do me a favor, please?"

"What is it?"

"Don't tell Stephanie."

"She'll find out when she sees your mom."

"I didn't tell my mom I was coming home. I wanted to surprise her. So she doesn't know. And after a while, Stephanie will probably forget about this. If you don't say anything, nobody will know."

"What about Sullivan?"

"Sullivan's in the hospital with injuries. The film crew will probably take a break. Without him, Stephanie won't be able to shoot her scenes." Sebastian took a deep breath and said, "Emily, remember, you're still a kid."

"I remember. Seb, you've noticed something's off with me, haven't you?"

"Isn't it obvious?"

Would a normal kid, covered in blood and scared out of their wits, be able to find their way back home on their own?

And to have already concocted a plan to keep the truth under wraps.

Emily sat down on the sofa, hugged

her knees, and stared blankly ahead

as she said,."Ever since I can

remember, my mom has been dragging me from place to place." Back then, she didn't want to teave the country, because she didn't know anyone abroad."

"Later, out of necessity, she took me with her while she learned foreign language. It was only after she became fluent that she took me overseas."