Chapter 288
The grand hall of Château Blanc buzzed with activity.
Bianca Savigny emerged at the top of the staircase, rubbing her bleary eyes. Her disheveled appearance betrayed an all-night bartending session.
"You didn't sleep?" Evelyn Roland frowned at her protégé. Bianca still wore yesterday's clothes, her smudged eyeliner giving her a raccoon-like appearance.
"Master, it's too hard," Bianca pouted, swaying toward Evelyn.
"Go freshen up first." Evelyn gently pushed her away. "Come find me later."
After shooing her apprentice off, Evelyn resumed discussions with the renovation crew. The entire estate hummed with last-minute preparations.
Workers scurried across the gray-carpeted hall like ants.
Mid-sentence, Evelyn collided with a solid wall of warmth. She stumbled backward, only to be steadied by a large hand at her waist.
Turning, she met Sebastian Valdemar's deep-set eyes and exhaled in relief.
The hand withdrew instantly as Sebastian stepped half a pace beside her.
"You didn't call for me?" His baritone voice carried morning crispness.
Evelyn hesitated before putting distance between them. A shadow flickered through the man's gaze, vanishing as quickly as it appeared.
"I can handle the château affairs. No need to trouble you."
"Trouble?" Sebastian repeated, his Adam's apple bobbing.
Evelyn cleared her throat, softening her tone. "Why are you here? Not feeling well?"
"Some chest tightness this morning." He coughed into his fist, voice deliberately weak. "Better now."
Her assessing gaze lingered on his face before relenting. No one knew his constitution better than she did.
"Wait for me over there."
Glancing at her dust-covered hands, she turned toward the restroom.
"No rush." Sebastian obediently settled on a sofa, tracking her retreating figure.
Ten minutes later, Evelyn returned and grasped his wrist.
"Your pulse is racing?"
Her fingertips pressed against his chest as she narrowed her eyes.
His pupils darkened. "It's nothing—"
"Rest first." With limited resources, she could only perform a cursory examination.
As she turned to leave, Sebastian followed.
"Didn't I tell you to sit?"
His warm fingers brushed her cheek during her pivot.
"Paper shred." He opened his palm to reveal a tiny fragment.
Before she could thank him, he continued, "Let me help with the château preparations."
"You need rest. I've got this."
She tucked a stray lock behind her ear.
Sebastian stepped closer, his gaze burning. "As business partners, I'm obligated for the wine tasting competition."
Gentle yet unyielding.
"Fine. Let's review the plans together."
Seeing his determination, Evelyn finally conceded.