Chapter 2

Sebastian's POV

After a long silence, Ayla turned back to look at me.

"I really misjudged you, Sebastian. Did you save me back then just to use it against me now? Besides, wasn't it your choice to save me? I didn't make you do that."

A year ago, Ayla was nearly hit by a car. I threw myself in front of her without thinking, suffering internal injuries that left me with a stomach ulcer that never fully healed.

Back then, she cried at my bedside and swore she would take care of me for the rest of my life.

I was stunned, but my body was trembling. Each rumble of thunder felt as though it was aimed at me.

She glanced at her watch. "You were pretending to be sick, and now you're pretending to have PTSD. Meanwhile, Johnny's separation anxiety is triggered because of you."

Me, pretending? Johnny had separation anxiety?

I opened my mouth, but no words came out.

"I'll check on him and make sure he's alright," Ayla said. "You can apologize to him later, and then we can put this whole thing behind us."

My hand reached for her instinctively, only to fall back hard onto the stark white bedsheet. I buried myself under the covers, trembling from head to toe.

As soon as the thunder passed, I opened my text messages and typed, "I'll go with you, Aunt Julia."

Her reply came almost immediately. "You've finally come around, Seb! I'll book your flight for three days from now."

…

The next day, I was waiting in the hallway for my test results when a little girl suddenly leaned against my knees. "Sir, your lips look so pale. Are you feeling really bad?"

As she spoke, she held out a piece of candy. "Have something sweet! Candy makes the pain go away!"

I gently patted her head, a wave of sadness washing over me.

Even a girl who didn't know me could tell I was sick and hurting, but the woman I had been dating for eight years insisted I was faking it.

"Sir, why are your eyes red?"

When I got home, I started packing. It took me two hours to sort through everything Ayla had given me over the years. By the time I was done, I had filled three storage boxes.

In my high school graduation photo, she stood beaming in front of me. She even raised her arm on purpose to show off our matching bracelet.

Ayla was my savior during my teenage years.

In my freshman year, Dad cheated on Mom. After years of domestic abuse, she took her own life, having been driven to the brink of a mental breakdown.

He ran off with the other woman, leaving me behind like a child nobody wanted. The news spread quickly. Every time I stepped into the classroom, whispers and mocking laughter would rush into my ears.

"His dad drove his mom to kill herself."

"His mom was crazy, and now, nobody wants him either."

Nobody cared about me. Nobody loved me.

One night, after school, I walked up to the rooftop. I was half a step away from the edge when a pair of warm arms pulled me back.

Ayla saved me.

The well-behaved top student in our grade stood up to the bullies, fighting them tooth and nail. She even declared that anyone who said another word about me would have to answer to her.

Ayla protected me. She stayed by my side. She remained with me until the rumors died down, and we grew up together.

When I turned the photo over, I found a line of neat handwriting on the back.

"Ayla Gardner Loves Sebastian Shepherd Forever and Ever."

I closed my eyes briefly and slipped the photo back into the box. My phone rang then.

"Bring over your engagement suit, Seb," Ayla ordered matter-of-factly over the call. "Johnny dirtied his clothes."

My grip tightened around my phone. "Why that suit?"

She had custom-made that suit for me in Parisia. The moment I tried it on, she looked at me with overflowing admiration.

We were supposed to get engaged next month.

"Because Johnny likes it," Ayla answered. "Come on. You have everything. Don't be so childish that you can't even share a suit with him."

She was right. I shouldn't have to fight him for a suit. That was why I wouldn't fight him for her, either. I was done with her.

"Fine."

I would bring it over, just as she wished. Once I handed over the suit, I would owe her nothing ever again.

Instead, I would have to get something else back from her.