Chapter 138: The Arrangement

Yerin leaned back against my legs on the floor, looking up at Sarah. "We’re actually heading off to Avalon Academy later this evening, Sarah. Vacation’s over, so we won’t be coming back to the estate for a while. We wanted to make sure we saw you two before we packed up."

Sarah paused slightly, her dark eyes flickering over to me before settling back on Yerin. "I see... So you’re leaving today?"

"Yep!" Yerin chimed in, giving Sarah a subtle, knowing look. "Seth’s going to be super busy with academy stuff once we get there, so today is basically his last free afternoon."

I almost choked on my drink listening to Yerin’s smooth, unashamed wing-woman work. She was throwing a massive green light in Sarah’s face, letting her know that if she had anything left to say to me, now was her absolute last chance before I left City.

[Hahaha!] Paige’s voice burst out inside my head, practically rolling on the floor with laughter. [Host! Yerin is an absolute god-tier wing-woman! Look at her go.]

’Yeah, no kidding,’ I thought back dryly. ’Now the ball is squarely in my court to finish this before we leave.’

I could tell from the subtle shift in Sarah’s posture that she wanted to talk to me in private, too. Leaving for the academy with unresolved tension or unsaid feelings between us would leave a terrible taste in my mouth. I wanted clear air between us before we stepped onto that transport.

We spent another ten minutes chatting together. Dylan was completely occupied with Mom, who was happily spoiling him with juice and stories about my childhood, while Yerin and Yoona kept the conversation lively.

Eventually, Sarah set her teacup down on the glass table. She cleared her throat slightly, looking around the lounge. "Excuse me... could someone point me toward the washroom?"

Before anyone else could answer, I stood up from the sofa.

"I’ll show you," I said smoothly, offering her a relaxed grin. "Our mansion’s layout is a bit confusing if you don’t know the halls. Plus, this movie is complete trash anyway. I’ll give you a quick tour on the way."

Mom didn’t even look up from Dylan, waving her hand dismissively. "Go ahead, sweetie. Dylan and I are busy."

Sarah stood up, adjusting her sweater, and followed me out of the lounge into the quiet hallway.

Instead of taking her toward the ground-floor guest washroom, I led her up the broad staircase, down the long residential wing, and straight into my private bedroom suite.

I stepped inside, holding the door for her. Once Sarah walked in, I closed the heavy wooden door behind us, turning around to lean my back against it.

Sarah looked around my spacious room, then turned back to face me. A soft, slightly nervous smile touched her lips.

"You’ve made up your mind, haven’t you?" I asked gently, cutting straight to the point.

Sarah let out a quiet, breathless laugh, pushing her glasses up the bridge of her nose. "You really are far too perceptive for your own good, Seth."

I walked over to the large king-sized bed in the center of the room, sitting down on the edge and patting the space beside me. Sarah walked over, taking a seat next to me.

She took a few slow, deep breaths, steadying herself before turning her dark eyes to mine.

"I’m still not ready to get into an official, public relationship with you, Seth," Sarah stated clearly, her voice carrying a grounded, honest weight. "Especially right now. Dumping a high-society political relationship onto Dylan’s life when he’s just getting comfortable would be too much for him to process."

Hearing her answer, a tiny, instinctive pang of disappointment flickered in my chest. But I kept my expression warm and calm, offering her a genuine smile. "I understand, Sarah. I told you before, I respect your choices. I won’t press you."

Sarah looked at my calm, understanding face, and a sudden warmth flooded her eyes.

Before I could say another word, Sarah reached out, grabbed my shirt collar, and swung her legs right over my thighs, straddling my lap.

My eyes widened slightly in surprise as she cupped my face with both hands, pulling my head down and capturing my lips in a deep, fiery kiss.

I instinctively wrapped my arms around her waist, supporting her weight as she poured all the pent-up emotion she had been holding back into the kiss. My heart raced as we kissed, the intensity of the moment washing away any remaining surprise.

When we finally broke apart, Sarah stayed straddled across my lap, her dark eyes shining with a playful, triumphant light as a gorgeous grin broke across her face.

"Just because I’m not ready for an official public relationship..." Sarah purred smoothly, tracing her thumb along my bottom lip, "...doesn’t mean I have any intention of giving up on you, Seth."

I let out a breathless, amused laugh, holding her soft waist tight. "Oh yeah?"

"Yes," Sarah said with a soft chuckle, her expression becoming more serious. "You were completely right earlier. I’ve been punishing myself, building walls, and denying my own happiness for far too long out of guilt. But now... Dylan isn’t alone anymore. He has you, your mother, Valerie, and a whole family to protect him. I don’t have to carry the entire world on my shoulders alone."

I looked up at her, slightly confused by where she was going with this. "So what does that mean for us, Sarah?"

Sarah leaned down, her lips brushing lightly against my ear as her voice dropped into a soft, private whisper. "I want to be your concubine."

I froze.

I pulled my head back slightly, staring at her in total shock. "Wait... what?"

Sarah grinned at my stunned reaction, completely unbothered. "Think about it, Seth. We can’t be together publicly because of our status and Dylan’s stability, and I can’t travel around the world with you to Avalon Academy because of my work as a manager. But that doesn’t mean we can’t share a private, deeply intimate relationship whenever we’re together."

She ran her fingers gently through my dark hair, her dark eyes clear and unshakable. "I don’t want any other man in my life. I never will. And I don’t care how many incredible wives or partners you take into your Sovereign Deck. I just want my own private place with you."

Sarah bit her lower lip playfully, a teasing spark in her eyes. "Call me your side chick, your secret woman, or your concubine... I don’t care about the title, as long as I get to have you."

A loud, genuine laugh escaped me as I squeezed her waist, pulling her closer.

"Man..." I grinned up at my gorgeous manager, "...you have no idea how much Yerin and Yoona are going to love this idea."

Sarah chuckled, resting her forehead against mine.

My expression turned serious. I looked straight into her dark eyes, my voice steady and unshakable. "Listen to me, Sarah. I don’t care what label you want to put on it for now. I am never going to treat you like some disposable secret or do this half-assed. No matter what name we give our relationship, I am going to give you my absolute all."

Sarah’s breath caught. A radiant smile spread across her face, her eyes shining with pure happiness.

"That..." Sarah whispered, cupping my jaw, "...is all I could ever ask for."

Without another word, Sarah leaned down, capturing my lips once again in a deep, intoxicating, and completely uninhibited kiss.