Chapter Thirty-Five

Alina’s POV

“Someone wants to see you” Sebastian announced and it was beginning to sound like a broken record, the last time he had said that it was Vanessa and it didn't end well.

“I don't want to see anyone.” I replied with irritation in my voice and tried not to be too harsh. This conversation couldn't go on forever so I needed to just get through it as quickly as possible.

“I am sure this would be different.” He said trying to persuade me with his eyes “It's important, I swear.”

“How different? I have important things to do, I can't run around playing couple with you all the time” I snapped back. There was a brief silence between us and I took the opportunity of the pause to collect myself and try to calm down before speaking again. “This had better be the last time.” I whispered, almost under my breath. The last thing I wanted was another argument, especially when it came from him.

“I promise you will love who is there.” He whispered back, but it didn't make me happy. I couldn't help but feel like it sounded like a joke or something. Like we could possibly ever...

I felt the familiar sensation in my stomach and I immediately recognized it. It was my anxiety kicking in again. No matter how many times I told myself it wouldn't be happening today, it still happened.

Sebastian drove me to a quiet place, somewhere far away from everything, a park.

“Are you trying to get me killed or something?” I asked, annoyed by the fact that the first thing I had to think about right after getting out of the car was my stupid heart. What was wrong with me?

“Not yet.” He responded and looked over at me. He was looking at me in such an odd way, one which made my face heat up slightly. It wasn't even the kind of look people gave each other when they were thinking about sex, it was more along the lines of someone who knew exactly what you were going to say next. And it always made me squirm.

“Your mother reached out to me.” He began.

“My mother is dead what are you talking about?” My voice raised an octave in annoyance.

“She contacted me” He said in the same tone of voice. “She has been wanting to contact you for months, but decided to surprise you.”

Just when I was about to ask what was going on, she walked towards us.

“Hello Alina.” She said with a smile “You’ve grown since we last met.”

I opened my mouth to reply, but nothing seemed suitable, so I ended up staying silent as I watched her.

Audrey Moreau, the woman whom grew up with, the woman who I thought was my mother, the woman who I never wanted to see again.

“Why is she here? What is she doing here?” I thought to myself, still trying to catch my breath.

Sebastian looked at me confused by my sudden outburst.

“Alina, I…” She tried to touch me and for some reason, I pushed her hand away.

“Don't” I said coldly, then turned to Sebastian“Take me home now.”

“Alina …”

“Don't touch me! Don’t fucking touch me !” I shouted, pushing her away.

She stumbled backwards and put a hand up to her forehead trying to steady herself. Sebastian jumped in “Okay. Take it easy, you're okay.”

“No! Take me home.” By now tears welled up in my eyes and I tried hard to blink them away. “Please take me home” I begged him quietly, my voice barely audible but I was certain he heard me anyway.

He nodded and helped Audrey up off the ground before leading me into the car and then driving away with me in the passenger seat.

All through the ride home, I could feel him watching me constantly and the more he looked, the more the tears fell from my eyes and rolled down my cheeks.

When we pulled up outside, I unbuckled my seatbelt with shaky hands, grabbed my bag and threw it over my shoulder and ran inside.

The second I closed the door behind me, I started sobbing again.

“Alina…” Sebastian surprised me by pulling me into a hug and I broke down completely against him. I wrapped my arms around him tight and sobbed harder. He held me tightly, rubbing soothing circles on my back.

“She is not a good mother, she wasn't good to me, she was not good to anyone except herself. Why would you do that to me?” I said through tears.

Sebastian didn't say anything, instead he listened until I finished speaking. When I did, he spoke.

“I believe you and I am sorry, I didn’t know.”

That was all he said, but it meant a lot to me. If anything, he believed me, which was something that had become increasingly rare.

“When I was younger, I often wondered if I offended my parents. They just don't like my whole existence. They were selfish, they both did drugs and I was forced to start working at thirteen and they took all the money I made. On the days I had no money to refill their liquor, they would beat me for hours and then tell me that if I did it right, I'd only have to work less. It only made sense when I found out I wasn't their daughter. She is not my mother, I never want to be around hurt from the past or the present. I just want to forget about it” I said in a small voice.

Sebastian squeezed me tighter. “You know, sometimes life makes choices that seem impossible, but in the end it turns out okay. You've proven to yourself that your life doesn't need any more pain. I am really sorry.” He explained with complete sincerity.

For a few minutes, we stayed like that, just holding each other close. It helped me to calm down, even if it didn't help my emotional state. I wasn't used to crying so openly in front of anyone not to mention Sebastian Wolfe.