Sebastian stepped off the plane, adjusting his sunglasses as he made his way through the bustling airport. He looked every bit the part of the young heir to a powerful family, his confidence apparent in the way he walked. Finally, I'm here, he thought, a smirk tugging at his lips. It had been a long time since he left America for Germany, but now he was back.
Once outside, he slid into the sleek black car that was waiting to take him home. The driver didn't say a word, just nodded and started the engine. Sebastian stared out the window, reflecting on the time he'd spent away—time he'd spent running from the chaos that awaited him here. The drama. The pressures of being at Kingsworth Academy. His family.
"Welcome back, honey," his mother's voice broke his reverie as she pulled him into a tight embrace as soon as he entered the house.
"I missed you, Mom," Sebastian said, his voice softening for a moment as he held her close.
"Same here, son," his mother replied with warmth, but there was a slight tension in her voice, something unsaid.
He pulled back and glanced around. "What about Dad?"
"He's not home yet," she answered, a hint of worry in her tone.
"And Chris?" Sebastian asked, already sensing the change in his family dynamic.
"He moved out the moment he heard you were coming back from Germany," she said, looking away for a moment, avoiding his gaze.
Sebastian nodded, absorbing the information. His brother had always been distant, but now it seemed that distance had turned physical. Interesting, he thought to himself. Guess we have some catching up to do.
"Freshen up and come eat, Sebastian. I made your favorite," his mother said, her smile strained as she tried to return to normalcy. "The kitchen's waiting for you."
Sebastian didn't reply immediately. Instead, he turned and made his way upstairs, the weight of the unspoken words lingering in the air. As he stepped into his room, memories flooded back—the memories of Kingsworth, his old friends, and the one person he couldn't quite forget.
Kingsworth Academy
The chatter in the school hallways buzzed with the kind of gossip that only the elite could understand.
"I heard Sebastian is back in America!" one girl, Anna, whispered excitedly to her friends as she leaned against her locker, her voice full of curiosity.
Anna's words quickly spread like wildfire among the students.
"What did you say?" Stella, another girl, overheard and turned toward Anna with a raised eyebrow, her expression unreadable but her tone sharp.
"Aren't you aware, Stella?" Anna continued, a mocking edge to her voice. "I thought you were his fiancée!"
Stella's face paled, and a flicker of annoyance crossed her features, but she remained composed. "Of course, I know," she said coolly, though there was a tension in her voice that betrayed her calm appearance. She brushed past Anna, ignoring her, and walked out of the hallway, heading straight to the girls' restroom to collect her thoughts.
Inside the bathroom, she took a deep breath before pulling out her phone and dialing Sebastian's number. He's back. He's finally back, she thought to herself. The thought of him returning stirred something in her—excitement mixed with frustration. It had been months since they'd last spoken, and there were things that needed to be said.
"Hey, Stella," Sebastian's voice came through the line, calm and casual.
Stella's lips curled into a tight smile, though it didn't reach her eyes. "Where are you, Seb?" she asked, trying to sound calm, but a hint of impatience leaked through.
"America," Sebastian replied, his tone flat and distant. "I'm home."
"Don't you think I deserve to know that? I'm your fiancée, for god's sake!" Stella half-yelled, frustration rising in her chest. "You've been gone for months and just waltz back in without even a word? You can't just treat me like this."
There was a pause on the other end. "Cool it, girl," Sebastian said nonchalantly. "We'll meet tomorrow at school. I'll explain everything."
Stella could feel her temper rising, but she bit her lip and tried to stay calm. "Seb, you don't just get to ignore me," she said sharply, but the call was already ending. "Sebastian!" she shouted into the phone, but the line went dead.
"How dare he hang up on me?" Stella muttered under her breath, staring at the phone in disbelief. Her hands shook with a mix of anger and disbelief.
She looked at herself in the mirror, trying to calm her breathing. This is not how it was supposed to be, she thought. I'm his fiancée. He can't just show up after all this time and expect me to let him walk all over me. But deep down, she knew it wasn't that simple.
Sebastian was back, and things were about to get even more complicated.