Chapter 4 My mother is dead to me

Chapter four

"My mother is dead to me," he spat out the words, his tone laced with venom.

Sarah's heart shattered at his words, the pain of his rejection cutting her to the core. Tears welled up in her eyes as she realized the depth of his anger and hurt.

As Alex turned away from his mother, his heart heavy with pain and anger, Sarah reached out to him once more, her voice trembling with sorrow.

"Alex, please," she implored, tears streaming down her cheeks. "I know I've made mistakes, but-"

Before she could finish her sentence, Alex cut her off with a sharp glare, his eyes filled with resentment.

"I grew up without a mother or a brother," he snapped, his voice laced with bitterness. "I don't need either of you now."

Sarah's heart shattered at his words, the pain of his rejection cutting her to the core. She felt as though she had failed him in every possible way, and the weight of her guilt threatened to suffocate her.

But before she could respond, Sebastian stepped forward, his voice firm and resolute.

"you can't talk to our mother like that," he said sternly, his eyes flashing with determination.

Alex turned to face his brother, a smirk twisting his lips as he looked Sebastian up and down with disdain.

"You don't have the right to speak unless I tell you to," he sneered, his voice dripping with arrogance. "You may look like me, but you're nothing like me."

A Well-dressed man in his late 40s strode into the room, his presence commanding attention as he approached Alex and Sebastian, swiftly positioning himself between them. He leaned in close to Alex, whispering something into his ear, his expression unreadable.

Alex nodded in response to whatever the man had said, a smirk playing on his lips as he glanced at Sebastian and their mother. His demeanor was cold and calculating, a stark contrast to the warmth and affection he had shown moments earlier.

Sebastian watched the exchange with a sense of unease, his instincts telling him that this man was trouble. He couldn't shake the feeling that something sinister was at play, and he found himself tensing as the man turned to look at him and his mother, his gaze filled with disdain.

The man's eyes lingered on Sarah for a moment, his lip curling in a sneer as he took in her appearance. Sebastian bristled at the disrespect shown towards his mother, his protective instincts kicking into overdrive.

"Who are you?" he demanded, his voice firm and unwavering.

The man's gaze shifted to Sebastian, his expression hardening even further. "I am Mr. Frank, the person that you will be answering to while under this roof." he replied icily, his tone dripping with superiority. "And I suggest you mind your own business, boy."

He immediately shifted his gaze back to Sarah slowly walking up to her.

"So you finally decided to show your shameless face, I thought you were smarter than this, I thought you were going to decline coming here and continue hiding."

Sarah's heart sank at his words, the weight of his disdain crushing her spirit. She had hoped that this reunion would bring her family closer together, but instead, it seemed to have invited more judgment and scorn.

"I-I just wanted to see my son," she stammered, her voice barely above a whisper. "I wanted to see Alex and Sebastian together again."

Frank lip curled in a sneer as he looked at her, his eyes filled with derision. "Pathetic," he scoffed, his voice dripping with disdain. "You should have stayed away, Sarah. You're not welcome here, always have that in your mind." He says then gives Sebastian one last look and walks away as Alex follows.

Sarah and Sebastian stood there, their hearts heavy with humiliation and hurt, as Frank's harsh words echoed in their ears. They felt like intruders in their own family, unwanted and rejected.

Just as they were about to turn away, the lawyer, Mr. Jennings, approached them, his expression filled with sympathy and regret.

"I'm so sorry for what just happened," he said sincerely, his voice filled with genuine concern. "Frank can be... difficult, but please know that his words do not reflect the feelings of everyone here."

Sarah nodded, her eyes brimming with tears as she tried to compose herself. "Thank you, Mr. Jennings," she murmured, her voice trembling with emotion. "But I think it's best if we leave."

Before Mr. Jennings could respond, Sebastian stepped forward, his jaw clenched with determination. "No," he said firmly, his voice unwavering. "We're not leaving. Not yet."

Mr. Jennings nodded, understanding dawning in his eyes. "Of course," he replied, his voice gentle. "Let me make it up to you. Please, allow me to show you to your room."

Sebastian hesitated for a moment, glancing at his mother for reassurance. Sarah nodded, a small smile playing on her lips despite the tears in her eyes.

"Thank you, Mr. Jennings," she said softly, her voice filled with gratitude.

With that, Mr. Jennings motioned to a nearby maid, instructing her to take Sarah and Sebastian's bags and show them to their room. The maid nodded and quickly scurried off, leaving the small family to follow her through the grand halls of the mansion.

Sebastian and Sarah stepped into their assigned room, their eyes widening in astonishment at the sheer luxury that surrounded them. The room was elegantly decorated with plush furnishings, rich fabrics, and ornate details that spoke of wealth and opulence. A crystal chandelier hung from the ceiling, casting a warm glow over the room, while large windows offered breathtaking views of the city skyline.

While this environment was not new to Sarah, this was a whole new different environment for Sebastian.

As they stood there, taking it all in, the maid respectfully told them that dinner will be ready at 7pm, she then bowed respectfully and quietly excused herself, leaving them alone in their new surroundings. Sebastian watched her go with a sense of gratitude, grateful for the small semblance of privacy she had afforded them.

As the clock struck 7 pm, signaling dinner time, Sebastian's stomach grumbled loudly, reminding him just how hungry he was. He turned to his mother with a hopeful expression, ready to share the luxurious dining experience with her.

"Mom, are you coming down for dinner?" he asked, his voice tinged with excitement.

Sarah smiled weakly, but shook her head. "No, Sebastian, you go ahead without me," she replied, her voice tinged with sadness.

Sebastian frowned, sensing the reluctance in her response. "Are you sure?" he asked, his concern evident. "I don't want to leave you alone."

Sarah reached out and squeezed his hand reassuringly. "I'll be fine, Sebastian," she said, forcing a smile. "I'm just feeling a bit tired. Besides, I'm not very hungry."

Sebastian hesitated for a moment, torn between his hunger and his concern for his mother. But ultimately, his stomach won out, and he nodded reluctantly. "Okay, Mom," he said, giving her hand a reassuring squeeze in return. "But if you need anything, just call me, okay?"

With one last glance at his mother, Sebastian turned and made his way downstairs to the dining room. As he entered, he was greeted by the tantalizing aroma of the delicious meal that awaited him.

As Sebastian walked towards the 12-foot long dining table, he felt a sense of unease wash over him as he noticed the unfamiliar faces seated around it. They all turned their gaze towards him as he approached, their eyes lingering on him with a mixture of curiosity and intrigue.

He couldn't help but notice the whispers and hushed conversations that erupted amongst the guests, their attention divided between him and the figure seated at the head of the table.

Sebastian's heart skipped a beat as his eyes met those of his twin brother, Alex. Despite the years of separation, there was no mistaking the resemblance between them. They shared the same features, the same piercing gaze, the same air of confidence that seemed to exude from every pore.

As he approached the table, the chatter amongst the guests died down, replaced by a tense silence that seemed to hang in the air like a heavy fog.

Sebastian took his seat, his eyes never leaving Alex's as he tried to gauge his brother's reaction. Alex regarded him with a cool detachment, his expression unreadable as he studied Sebastian with a critical eye.

As the dinner commenced, Sebastian observed the other family members around him, carefully mimicking their use of the various utensils laid out before him. He had never dined in such an extravagant setting before, but he was determined to blend in and not make a fool of himself.

However, as he reached for a fork, he noticed a sharp comment from Mr. Whitmore's wife, delivered with thinly veiled disdain.

"Look at him, trying to use proper utensils," she remarked to the woman beside her, loud enough for Sebastian to hear. "As if he knows anything about fine dining."

Refusing to let her get the best of him, Sebastian forced himself to maintain his composure. Ignoring the comment, he continued to eat, albeit with a newfound self-consciousness.

Mr. Whitmore's wife's snide remark lingered in the air, casting a shadow over the rest of the meal. Sebastian couldn't shake the feeling of being scrutinized and judged by those around him, even as he struggled to focus on the conversation and enjoy the food before him.