" But I don't miss you at all , " Mia's voice was flat as a dead battery . " Sebastian , you're not that important to me . We don't need to make this awkward as hell . It's over . " Sebastian's breathing got all ragged and he buried his face deeper in her shoulder , shaking his head like some hurt kid . " Mia , you never used to be this cold to me ... " Maybe knowing he'd screwed up big time , he tried switching topics but still wouldn't let go . " Three years ago when you just disappeared - did 1 totally wreck you ? " He didn't even wait for her answer , just kept rambling . " But I had my reasons . I had the whole Pierce legacy on my shoulders . I couldn't forget how everyone treated me like garbage after my parents died . " He suddenly started laughing - this crazy , bitter sound that made Mia's skin crawl . She stared at him like he'd completely lost it . " Mia , everyone who ever messed with us is gone now . Forever . " Sebastian locked eyes with her , something dark and terrifying brewing in his stare . " I had Claire committed to a psych ward . Electroshock , experimental drugs , locked up for life ... Everything she did to you , I made sure she got ten times worse . Watched them mess up her face , drain her blood drop by drop ... " Mia bit down hard on her lip , trying not to show how freaked out she was . " Mia , I'm signing over everything - all of Pierce Corp - to you , okay ? " His smile was completely unhinged . " Without you , what's the point of having an empire ? " " I just need you to stay the hell away from me . " Mia was shaking all over . She was genuinely terrified that one wrong move would land her in the same nightmare as Claire . " I can't do that ! " Sebastian suddenly went completely psycho , grabbing her face and crushing his mouth to hers . He kissed her like he was trying to devour her whole , three years of obsession poured into this one violent moment . Mia fought like her life depended on it , but she couldn't break free from his iron grip . Hot tears streamed down her face and hit his arms as she bit down on his lip hard enough to draw blood . Feeling her completely lose it , Sebastian finally managed to force himself to let go , his hands shaking as he released her . " Sorry , Mia , I'm so fucking tired of living without you ... Mia , I love you so much ... " " Sebastian ... " Thou're Crawling Back ! 28.1 % Chapter 17 Mia was so scared she could barely get the words out , but she still managed to lift her head deflantly . putting on this lovesick act . In all those eight years we were together , you never once said you loved me . Three years apart doesn't make this love - it's just your ego being bruised . " " That's not true ... " Sebastian's eyes were bloodshot , filled with this bottomless sadness . " Being with you was the only time I was ever truly happy . There's no ego here ... " Like he was trying to prove how real his feelings were , his shaking fingers started unbuttoning his shirt . Mia froze when she saw his pale hands were covered in scars that looked like burns . " After you left , nobody was there to iron my shirts anymore . " Seeing her staring , Sebastian gave this bitter laugh . " I'm clumsy as hell . Kept getting hurt . " As he opened his shirt to reveal his chest , Mia's eyes went wide . There , tattooed right over his heart , was her name . Perfectly centered , right where his heart was . She looked up at him but didn't say anything . Seeing the emotions in her eyes go flat again , Sebastian's heart sank . His voice cracked as he explained : " Those words Claire's friends carved into your back - I never forgot them for a second. Mia , this is what I owe you . " Every word heavy with meaning and regret . Looking into his sincere eyes , Mia felt like she was seeing through time to that boy who'd made her promises : " Mia , I'm gonna give you the good life . " But promises were too fragile , and fate too cruel . Mia's love had died slowly - with every time he'd chosen Claire over her , every time he'd forced her to back down , every time he'd refused to acknowledge who she really was to him . " Sebastian , I haven't forgotten either . " Her voice came out hoarse .