Rebirth: Love me Again

[

BONUS

Chapter

for reaching 1000 PS! Thank you all! 🤍]

=== 🤍 ===

[EVE]

On the way back to our respective homes, Sinclair made an unexpected stop at QuantumLyfe. He wanted to check in on Sebastian.

"With all our fancy clothes? Shouldn't we change first, old man?" I asked, glancing down at my formal dress as we sat in the car.

"Call me father," Sinclair responded without missing a beat.

I turned to meet his eyes, studying his face. "Do you really want me to call you

father

?"

Sinclair paused, his expression tightening just for a moment, but then his usual calm mask returned. "On second thought . . . call me grandfather."

I chuckled softly at his remark, but as I did, I noticed Victor in the front seat, quickly glancing at me through the rearview mirror. The moment our eyes met, he turned away, almost flustered.

What's wrong with him?

I wondered, but brushed it off for now.

"By the way," I said, turning my attention back to Sinclair, "about my bodyguard. Who did you hire,

grandfather

?"

Sinclair's eyes remained fixed ahead, like he was focused on some invisible person that I couldn't see. "You don't need to worry. The person I assigned to you is one of the best in the world—skilled beyond measure."

I blinked in surprise. For him to say that . . . I never thought he'd go this far. "Must've been expensive, right?" I asked, touched by the effort he was putting into my safety. "She must be top tier."

Sinclair raised a brow at me, finally turning to look in my direction. "

She

? I hired a

HE

."

"A man?" My eyebrows shot up in surprise. "He'll be with me 24/7, right? I'm not sure how comfortable I am with that."

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"You don't have to be comfortable. Besides, it' better to be uncomfortable than dead, right?" Sinclair replied, dismissing my concerns. "And, not to sound sexist, but a man can protect you better. They're physically stronger, more suited for this kind of work. It's just how our DNA is designed."

I rolled my eyes at his old-fashioned views. "Right. I just hope he's as good as you say he is."

"He is," Sinclair assured me, his tone leaving no room for doubt.

Soon, we pulled up in front of QuantumLyfe HQ. The building loomed in the darkness, its sleek and modern architecture illuminated by soft lights.

Inside, the place was still buzzing with activity, even at this late hour. Michael, as always, was working late.

The moment we entered, Michael's gaze swept over me and he smirked. "Did you just attend a fashion show or something?"

I shrugged, dismissing the question. "Something like that."

Sinclair wasted no time with pleasantries. "I'm here to check on Sebastian."

Michael's demeanor shifted as he nodded, a more serious expression settling on his face. "Sebastian's doing well, much to everyone's relief. In fact, you can take him home now if you'd like."

A rare smile touched Sinclair's lips, his face softening. "That's good news. No complications, I assume?"

"None you need to worry about," Michael said. "Just be sure to bring him in for regular check-ups. He'll also need some medication, but other than that, he's in stable condition."

Then, Michael's tone shifted, a hint of his usual dark humor slipping in. "There's always the chance of the cancer coming back, or other age-related diseases cropping up—he is an old dog after all. But don't worry, with proper care of our nanotech, Sebastian will live out his last days peacefully and die of old age." He chuckled, as if he thought it was funny.

But Sinclair wasn't laughing. His face darkened, the joy from moments earlier completely gone.

Michael's smile faltered as he realized his joke had fallen flat, the weight of what he said hanging in the air like a thick fog.

Clearing his throat awkwardly, Michael quickly composed himself. "I'll go fetch Sebastian. Please wait here for a moment," he said, hurrying off toward the lab, leaving the heavy silence behind.

I glanced at Sinclair, whose expression had turned stony, his fingers lightly tapping against his cane.

Seconds later, Sebastian's bark echoed through the air, and the old dog came bounding toward us, full of energy as if the years had melted away. His fur gleamed under the lab's fluorescent lights, his movements youthful and vibrant, almost like the clock had turned back for him.

I couldn't help but marvel.

Maybe I should try this nanotech too,

I thought, half-jokingly.

"

Sebastian

! Old boy! Come to papa!" Sinclair's deep voice broke the moment.

For the first time, the fierce, cold-hearted businessman everyone feared was replaced by a man overjoyed to see his beloved companion. All the power and intimidation he carried with him disappeared in an instant.

I was surprised to see him that way. He really love Sebastian.

But instead of heading toward Sinclair, Sebastian made a sharp turn mid-sprint—his focus squarely on me.

"Oh, crap!" I barely had time to react before the massive dog leapt straight at me, knocking me off balance. My high heels slipped against the polished floor, and I braced for impact.

Luckily, before I hit the ground, Victor was already by my side, steadying me just in time. His grip was strong, protective.

"Thanks," I said to him.

Victor's face flushed and his gaze softened. "I'm just glad that you're fine."

Victor was being weird, so I casually stepped away from him.

Sebastian, oblivious to the chaos he had caused, was happily jumping around, his tongue lolling out as he tried to lick my face. His tail was wagging furiously, his large, goofy eyes filled with boundless affection.

"Sit," I commanded, a bit breathless from the sudden onslaught.

To my surprise, the dog immediately obeyed, sitting at my feet with his tongue still hanging out, his eyes locked on mine. His tail wagging so fast I fear it would break.

"Good boy," I muttered, stroking his head with a sigh of relief. "I'm glad you're okay too, buddy."

But while I was busy petting the over-excited dog, I noticed Sinclair's sharp gaze on us, his brow furrowed in disbelief.