Chapter 44: Chapter 13

The Million Dollar ManWords: 4027

> I asked, concealing my nervous expression with one of casualty.

Danny looked nervous, glancing at his watch then back to Will and Nate. > Will asked cautiously, watching me as if I was a ticking time bomb.

> I said, nodding my head firmly. >

Our goodbyes were short, but full of promises that this wouldn't be the end. My brother seemed the most reluctant to go, which was understandable, in a sense. We had always at a tacit relationship, and even though he would never truly know me like he had always wanted to, he knew me better than anyone.

As they piled into their separate cars, each filled with the insides of a place I once thought of as my home, I did what I did best.

A fake smile formed on my face, and I watched as relieved expressions crossed their faces.

This smile was one I had perfected long ago, and used almost all the time. Sometimes I even believed myself.

I believed that I was actually happy.

But then the cold, harsh slap of reality came down on me, and would crush the false happiness that I had so badly wanted to be real.

When their cars finally disappeared in the distance, I let the smile slide off my face, and felt my body become numb.

Shortly after walking back into the house, I went into the bathroom, and simply stared at myself in the mirror. My unnaturally pale skin looked as if it had never seen the sun, and my eyes were masked with confidence and defiance. They say that a person's eyes are actually windows to their souls.

You must be soulless then, I thought to myself. Because when you strip my eyes of the masks they wear, you get absolutely nothing.

Maybe you're a sociopath. Have you ever actually cared or loved someone before, or could it simply be you just mimicking what a normal person would feel?

I frowned and shut my eyes tightly, attempting to shut up the monster inside of me.

You know that isn't true. You know what it feels like to love someone, to care about someone, I fought back, not clutching onto the sink for support.

You also know what if feels like to be hopeless, to have no control over anything, to be we-

> With wide eyes, I saw that it was Sebastian standing where the door once was, with Callum and Mason flanked at his sides.

> I cried out, motioning from him to the door. >

Sebastian scowled and stepping into the house, followed by his sidekicks. >

I tightly crossed my arms over my chest, fury seeping through my very being. >

Sebastian scoffed as he neared me, his body towering over mine. I held my ground, refusing to back away in submission.

> My body shivered at his words, but I managed to keep a straight expression on my face.

> I asked, annoyance lacing my words.

>

With that, Sebastian grabbed my large suitcase, and effortlessly carried it out of the house. Looking around one final time, I followed him out the door, noticing how Mason and Callum walked behind me. It was like they thought that I was going to try to make a break for it.

A smirk danced across my lips as I walked up to their large, black car. The windows were tinted so much, so that you could hardly see into the car. It looked like it was designed to drive through a war zone, which made me roll my eyes. Of course Sebastian King would have a car like this.

Sebastian told me after placing my suitcase in the trunk. >

My lips parted in horror, before I composed myself and sneered at him.

> I spat out his last name with so much hatred and venom, making him glare and me and clench his fists in anger. Not wanting to push him any further, I darted into the car without another word. I heard them talking outside of the car, and for a split second, I was tempted to honk the horn and hurry them up.

But I knew better, shockingly. It would only make Sebastian go mad and end up hurting me, and quite frankly, I wasn't in the mood.

I remained quiet as they entered the car, pretending to be oblivious to their blatant stares.

Sebastian broke the silence, > My eyes zeroed in on the black clothe in his hands, and I easily pieced together where he was going with this.