“But I don’t miss you at all,” Mia’s voice was flat as a dead battery.
“Sebastian, you’re not that important to me. We don’t need to make this awkward as hell. It’s over.”
Sebastian’s breathing got all ragged and he buried his face deeper in her shoulder, shaking his head like some hurt kid.
“Mia, you never used to be this cold to me…”
Maybe knowing he’d screwed up big time, he tried switching topics but still wouldn’t let go. “Three years ago when you just disappeared–did 1 totally wreck you?”
He didn’t even wait for her answer, just kept rambling.
“But I had my reasons. I had the whole Pierce legacy on my shoulders. I couldn’t forget how everyone treated me like garbage after my parents
died.”
He suddenly started laughing–this crazy, bitter sound that made Mia’s skin crawl.
She stared at him like he’d completely lost it.
“Mia, everyone who ever messed with us is gone now. Forever.”
Sebastian locked eyes with her, something dark and terrifying brewing in his stare.
“I had Claire committed to a psych ward.
Electroshock, experimental drugs, locked up for life… Everything she did to you, I made sure she got ten times worse.
Watched them mess up her face, drain her blood drop by drop…”
Mia bit down hard on her lip, trying not to show how freaked out she was.
“Mia, I’m signing over everything–all of Pierce Corp–to you, okay?”
His smile was completely unhinged.
“Without you, what’s the point of having an empire?”
“I just need you to stay the hell away from me.” Mia was shaking all over.
She was genuinely terrified that one wrong move would land her in the same nightmare as Claire.
“I can’t do that!”
Sebastian suddenly went completely psycho, grabbing her face and crushing his mouth to hers.
He kissed her like he was trying to devour her whole, three years of obsession poured into this one violent moment.
Mia fought like her life depended on it, but she couldn’t break free from his iron grip.
Hot tears streamed down her face and hit his arms as she bit down on his lip hard enough to draw blood.
Feeling her completely lose it, Sebastian finally managed to force himself to let go, his hands shaking as he released her.
“Sorry, Mia, I’m so fucking tired of living without you… Mia, I love you so much…”
“Sebastian…”
Thou’re Crawling Back!
28.1%
Chapter 17
Mia was so scared she could barely get the words out, but she still managed to lift her head deflantly.
putting on this lovesick act. In all those eight years we were together, you never once said you loved me. Three years apart doesn’t make this love–it’s just your ego being bruised.”
“That’s not true…” Sebastian’s eyes were bloodshot, filled with this bottomless sadness.
“Being with you was the only time I was ever truly happy. There’s no ego here…”
Like he was trying to prove how real his feelings were, his shaking fingers started unbuttoning his shirt.
Mia froze when she saw his pale hands were covered in scars that looked like burns.
“After you left, nobody was there to iron my shirts anymore.”
Seeing her staring, Sebastian gave this bitter laugh.
“I’m clumsy as hell. Kept getting hurt.”
As he opened his shirt to reveal his chest, Mia’s eyes went wide.
There, tattooed right over his heart, was her name.
Perfectly centered, right where his heart was.
She looked up at him but didn’t say anything.
Seeing the emotions in her eyes go flat again, Sebastian’s heart sank. His voice cracked as he explained:
“Those words Claire’s friends carved into your back–I never forgot them for a second. Mia, this is what I owe you.”
Every word heavy with meaning and regret.
Looking into his sincere eyes, Mia felt like she was seeing through time to that boy who’d made her promises: “Mia, I’m gonna give you the good
life.”
But promises were too fragile, and fate too cruel.
Mia’s love had died slowly–with every time he’d chosen Claire over her, every time he’d forced her to back down, every time he’d refused to acknowledge who she really was to him.
“Sebastian, I haven’t forgotten either.” Her voice came out hoarse.
