Chapter 3

Sebastian's POV

Inside the private room, Ayla's girlfriends teased her.

"Hey, Ay. How did you get Sebastian so wrapped around your finger? You tell him not to speak, and he doesn't. You tell him to bring over his engagement suit, and he does it."

Someone else chimed in, "His parents have been gone for ages. Who else could he listen to, if not Ayla?"

What they didn't know was that I had an aunt living abroad who ran her own business.

Years ago, my maternal grandfather tried to force Aunt Julia into an arranged marriage. The night before the wedding, Mom helped her escape. Since then, she had been gone for 20 years.

Two years ago, we unexpectedly found each other again. When she saw how much I resembled Mom, she broke down in tears.

She tried many times to bring me abroad to live with her, but for Ayla's sake, I turned her down every time. I never told Ayla any of this.

Ayla leaned against Johnny in his arms. She didn't deny what her friends were saying. Instead, she laughed and played along.

"That's just how he is. Once he falls for someone, he'll do whatever they say without question," she said. "Good thing he ended up with me. Otherwise, someone else would've played him to death."

I bit down on my cheek and opened the door. Ignoring the stares that immediately landed on me, I walked over and set the suit down.

As I bent to put it in place, Johnny suddenly grabbed the cross pendant around my neck. He yanked it so hard that the necklace snapped. It tightened against my neck, leaving a bloody welt.

Blood seeped from the wound. Ayla froze for a few seconds before getting up to check on me, but Johnny affectionately tugged her back to her seat.

His expression was utterly innocent as he signed, "That pendant looks just like the one my dog has."

My blood ran cold.

These had been a pair of these cross pendants. My grandmother had given them to me on her deathbed. She told me that one day, when I met the person I wanted to spend forever with, we would each wear one.

Dad had been abusive. Mom had lost her mind. Grandpa had been cold. Only Grandma had ever made me feel loved.

I gave Ayla the matching pendant Grandma left me as a gift for her SATs, and we promised to wear them for the rest of our lives.

But now, her neck was bare. The pendant was probably hanging around the neck of Johnny's dog.

I lost it. "Have you lost your mind, Ayla? Grandma left me that pendant, and you gave it to his dog!"

Her eyes darted away from mine. "It's just some cheap trinket. How was I supposed to remember all that?"

Furious, I raised my hand to strike her. She didn't even flinch.

Immediately, Johnny jumped up and shielded her. His eyes were redder than a rabbit's as he frantically signed to me. "Don't blame her. It's all my fault. Hit me instead. I'm sorry."

Urgent, muffled sounds escaped his throat.

I reached out to him, forcing myself to remain calm as I signed, "Give me back my pendant. Then change your clothes and go home. This has nothing to do with you anymore."

Johnny froze for a few seconds. He didn't respond to me. Instead, he turned and buried his tear-streaked face against Ayla's chest, shaking his head repeatedly.

I stood there, stunned, my hand still awkwardly outstretched.

Before I could process what was happening, Ayla took the cross pendant from his hand. Whatever little guilt she had felt vanished immediately.

"You've gone too far, Sebastian! I told you it was an accident! Do I have to get on my knees and beg for your forgiveness before you'll leave Johnny alone? What's so special about that damn pendant?

"Just say the word, and I'll buy you a hundred of them! Just what exactly do you want from me?"

Once again, Ayla had taken someone else's side, misunderstood me, and turned on me with accusations. She had long since forgotten the promises we made to each other.

I didn't want to explain myself anymore. It wasn't like she would believe me, anyway.

"I don't want anything else," I enunciated. "I just want my grandma's pendant back."

She nodded. "Fine. But first, you need to swallow your pride and apologize to Johnny."

"I did nothing wrong."

She sneered and pointed at the vodka bottle on the table. "Then don't. Drink this whole bottle instead."

Someone couldn't stand by and watch any longer. "Ay, if Sebastian drinks that, he'll end up in the hospital again!"

"I was just discharged after surgery for a perforated stomach ulcer, Ayla."

She laughed scornfully. "I know your condition better than anyone, Sebastian. It isn't nearly as serious as you make it out to be. When are you going to stop faking it? You're nothing but lies.

"No wonder your dad abused you, and your mother rather killed herself than raise you."

My mind went blank for a full ten seconds.

The person who once saved me from my demise was now digging at the scars she once healed. They split open, leaving me bleeding all over again.

Ayla stood there, waiting for me to back down, as I had so many times before.

I picked up the bottle. "Fine. I'll drink. Once I'm done, you'll give me back the pendant, and then you and I are through for good."