Kourtney pointed innocently at it, her voice light and curious. “Is that your mom?”

Sebastian’s heart flipped, a sharp pain slicing through him.

Even after all these years, any mention of his mother sent a wave of raw emotion crashing over him, grief, love, and something darker he couldn’t even name.

The wound was still raw, a huge scar that never quite healed.

He swallowed hard, his throat tight, but he forced his voice to stay steady. “Yes.”

Kourtney’s gaze lingered on the portrait, her lips parting slightly as she took in the image of the woman.

The woman was stunning, and her beauty was…. timeless.

Just like Sebastian, she...