#Chapter 48 – It’s Not That Easy
Stella
Who in the hell does Adrian think he is?
After all of the progress we made, even if it is just a mere inch compared to the miles open miles needed to fix our relationship, he had to go ahead and ruin it by asking me the one thing that I abenlutely hate doing. And to think that he completely dismissed the claim about him coming after my heart.
How dare he play stupid. How dare Adrian stand there and pretend that I am someone that he wants to keep in his life then turn around and beg for my help. I hate Adrian with every fiber of my being
Clara has been the worst part of my life. She has made my every waking moment a living nightmare. Because of her health struggles, something that she caused on her own by taking a bullet, I am now facing the long term consequences of helping her.
In the past five years of my marriage to Adrian, I have been at her every beck and call despite her being asleep and taken care of by the people who were supposed to care about me in my life.
I storm towards the beach. The sand is hot beneath my feet, my sandals flying off to the side. I don’t care where they go or if they disappear: I just need to get the fuck away from Adrian and Clara.
Their faces will forever serve as a constant reminder of the life I was forced to life. I could have been with my family, with the people who truly love me for me, instead of being forced to give up pieces of my body every time my foster parents and husband deemed it necessary.
I walk towards the water. The waves are turbulent and restless, matching the uneasiness of my heart. The water is cold against my feet, cooling me down before I can be pushed over the edge.
Tears stream down my face. I do not try to stop them, allowing them to fall freely from my eyes. My tears are hot compared to the sea beneath my feet, a stark contrast that keeps me grounded.
How could Adrian deny the fact that he was about to cut out my heart if the next batch of blood didn’t work? I gave up my body for Clara, leaving me a shell of the woman who I used to be. How can be dismiss his own sin so quickly and without a second thought?
“Stella…” Sebastian’s voice instantly calms my unsettled nerves. I turn to look at him, my eyes filled with tears, blurring my vision.
Sebastian sighs and steps towards me, closing the distance. He pulls me into his arms and I rest my head against his chest. His heartbeat is slow and steady. It brings me some much needed calm.
“Are you okay?” he asks. I shake my head no, unable to respond. “I overheard Clara in the lobby.”
My body freezes. I pull away and look up at him, tilting my head to the side. He wipes away a few of my tears.
From behind, I notice a few of his merhanging in the distance. When I look at them, they bow their head. I turn back to Sebastian, who wipes away another tear before it can fall.
“The people who raided your computer,” he breathes out, they found you, didn’t they?” I nod in response. Sebastian lets out an aggravated sigh and tuns his head around. He whistles and one of the men instantly jog up to us. Sebastian slips me out of his arms and turns around, keeping me behind him.
“Sir,” the man nods his head, “ma’am.”
“There is a man on the premises that planned on attacking Stella. Find them immediately and…” his voice trails
accordingly.” off. Sebastian turns to look at me, our eyes meeting. “…and deal with the
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The blood in my veins run cold. 11ink a tám, my mouth going dry as his guard nods and quickly leaves. I watch as he gestures to the other Ren and they all begin their mission to find the man as
“Deal with him?” 1 whisper.
To deal with someone means to torture them for hours on it. To dispose of their boy and make it seem like they simply disappeared off of the face of the earth. To make it seem like they never even existed.
It is a cruel fate that I would not wish upon anyone, especially if the person in charge is as big of a hot head like Sebastian. Well…maybe there’s one person I would wish this fate upon
Sebastian nods and turns around again, facing me. He cups my cheek, his touch to reverent as if he is touching a holy relic.
“I need to keep you safe, Stella,” he whispers, his voice low and husky, “no matter what I will keep you safe”
“I am safe,” I breathe out to try and reassure him. “I’m safe because you are here with me.”
Sebastian nods as relief relaxes his face. He leans in and his forehead is about to press into mine when my phone rings. I sigh and peel myself off and away from his body.
With my phone in my hands, I stare at the message on the screen.
Adrian: My mother wishes to have dinner with us tonight. The same restaurant as last night. Eight o’clock. Meet me in the lobby at 7:30. Don’t be late.
His message is cold. It is demanding. It is a reminder of the Adrian I once knew, the same cold person that I somehow fell in love with and still find to be one of the most compelling and captivating people in the world
A groan falls from my lips. I feel Sebastian’s hands on my shoulders. He begins to massage away the kinks in my neck, putting my tense muscles at ease.
“Let’s do dinner,” Sebastian says. I laugh. He has the worst timing possible.
“I can’t. I have to go play wife tonight,” the words come out harsher than I intended them to be but it does not make them any less true.
“Why are you playing wife? Ditch him and join me,” Sebastian continues.
Annoyance flares up in my body. I step away from him and move further into the restless ocean. The waves crash into my legs, the water spraying my legs and the bottom of my jean shorts and shirt.
“It’s not that easy,” I say to him. He stands beside me and we watch the ocean together. “His mother just woke up from a coma…she needs me.”
“I need
you,” Sebastian’s admission makes me close my eyes.
“No, you don’t,” I breathe out, “you will be just fine without me for one night.”
“Stella-
“No, Sebastian,” I open my eyes and turn to him. “This is my life. I get to do whatever I want with it, okay?”
My words sink into his skin. His lips press into a thin line. I take a step away from him and the sea, my feet leaving the comfort of the cold and salty sea.
Sebastian moves to follow me but I stop him, my hand pressed against his chest.
“Sebastian,” I warn, “if you want to protect me…you’ll let me go. I’ll see you whenever, okay?”
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Spur Before the can let me doing bun w
#Chapter
48–It’s!
s Not That Easy,
I leave before he can let me finish, abandoning him with the tumultuous sea.
