Chapter 361 Hatred
The screech of brakes echoed through the underground garage. Before Isabella could even process what was happening, she was jerked forward. Her forehead smacked into the dashboard, and then the seatbelt yanked her back, making the back of her head hit the seat. Her mind went blank, and her ears buzzed like crazy, leaving her temporarily deaf.
The car shook a bit, and Isabella slowly opened her eyes. She turned her head and saw Seb getting out of the car, heading somewhere.
"Seb?" Isabella called out without thinking.
But Seb didn't seem to hear her and just kept walking.
Sweetie, strapped in the child seat in the back, was scared out of her mind. She was already awake, waving her little hands and crying her heart out.
Isabella quickly unbuckled her seatbelt and got Sweetie out of the car.
With Isabella's soothing, Sweetie calmed down a bit, sobbing softly in her arms.
When Isabella looked up again, Seb was nowhere to be seen.
"Seb?" Isabella's voice echoed in the empty, silent garage.
No answer.
Suddenly, a noise came from that direction, making Isabella freeze for a second. Without thinking, she clutched Sweetie and hurried over.
Isabella walked about a dozen steps when she saw a green passageway. The fire door was half-open, with light faintly coming through.
She walked over and pushed the door open. There stood Seb, straight as a board.
Isabella's heart tightened, and she quickly stepped forward to grab Seb's hand, only to find his fingertips icy cold, and he seemed totally off.
Isabella moved to his side. "Seb? What's up with you?"
Seb stayed silent, standing stiffly, staring straight ahead.
Isabella instinctively followed his gaze but couldn't see what he was looking at before the voice-activated lights in the hallway suddenly went out.
The place plunged into darkness instantly. Isabella, scared out of her wits, leaned against Seb, letting out a scream.
The lights flicked back on.
Seb seemed to snap out of it. Hearing her scream, he raised a hand to hold Isabella's shoulder. "Bella, don't freak out."
Isabella opened her eyes, which were already a bit red. She shrank into Seb's arms, holding her daughter with one hand and gripping his wrist tightly with the other, her voice shaking. "Seb, what happened? Don't scare me."
"It's nothing." Seb patted her shoulder. "Let's go."
"Okay." Isabella nodded, instinctively glancing back. The hallway was empty, nothing there.
Back in the car, Isabella was still visibly shaken, her eyes glued to Seb, filled with worry. "Seb, what happened to you just now?" she asked anxiously.
Seb's hand rested on the steering wheel for a long while before he asked her, "Did you see it just now?"
This question made Isabella's heart race. "See what?"
"A woman in a white dress." Seb's expression was dead serious. So serious it sent chills down Isabella's spine. "Did you see her?"
Isabella shook her head, feeling all sorts of confused.
She reached out, her palm gently covering the back of his hand. "Seb, maybe you were just seeing things. Who did you see?"
Seb said, "My mom."
Isabella suddenly got why Seb had freaked out.
"But Anna's been gone for a while, right?" Isabella couldn't wrap her head around it. If Seb wasn't tripping, did that mean they just saw a ghost?
Seb, looking beat, rubbed his forehead. "Maybe I was just seeing things."
He turned, his eyes lingering on Isabella's forehead for a few seconds. "Sorry, Bella, did I freak you out?"
Isabella shook her head.
Seb sighed. "It's my bad."
Isabella said, "Let me drive. You look like you need a break."
Seb didn't argue and swapped seats with Isabella.
On the way back, Isabella drove while Seb reclined the passenger seat and tried to rest.
Isabella thought for a moment and found some chill piano music on the stereo, turning the volume down low.
Gradually, she heard Seb's steady, even breathing.
At a red light, Isabella stopped the car and glanced over at Seb.
Even in his sleep, Seb's brows were furrowed, like he was wrestling with some deep-seated worries.
Isabella raised her hand, her fingertips gently brushing over his brow, trying to smooth it out.
Seb suddenly jolted awake, grabbing her hand tightly and shouting, "Mom, don't leave me!"
Seb woke up, his eyes filled with obvious tears.
Seb held Isabella's hand, pressing it to his chest. At that moment, his eyes were filled with a sense of brokenness.
Isabella was stunned. At this moment, she seemed to see the young Seb.
Even though Seb was strong now, the extreme lack of security and the bullying he suffered in his youth were still buried deep in his heart.
Seb used to blame all his hatred on Charles and Emma, but now that they were dead and the Landon family was destroyed, he still couldn't find relief.
Isabella suddenly realized that Seb's normalcy these days was all an act. He had never truly gotten over it.
Isabella pulled the car over, unbuckled her seatbelt, and leaned over to hug Seb gently.
"Bella." Seb closed his eyes, his heart aching.
He hated. He no longer hated Charles or Emma. He hated Anna. Or rather, Seb hated himself more!
"Seb, it's all over. It's all over." Isabella held him, comforting him softly, "Don't think about it anymore. None of it was your fault. Whether it was Charles or Anna, their mistakes had nothing to do with you."
"But I'm just a mistake." Seb's eyes were hollow, confused. "A mistake that shouldn't be here."
Isabella shook her head, cupping his face and kissing his lips repeatedly. "You're not a mistake! You're amazing. Your family's problems aren't your fault."
Seb nodded, yet the fragility in his eyes remained palpable.
Isabella, feeling a wave of fear, held Seb's hand. "Seb, let's go see a doctor tomorrow, okay?"
Seb was taken aback. He gripped Isabella's hand tightly, saying seriously, "I'm not sick."
Isabella didn't expect him to be so resistant to seeing a doctor and was momentarily stunned. "I know you're not sick. I just think the way you are right now..."
"Bella, I'm fine." The fragility in Seb's eyes was slowly vanishing, and his gaze became more determined. "I just need time to process this. You don't need to worry about me."
Isabella was speechless.
Seb was like a drunk person, insisting he wasn't drunk even though he could barely walk.
Isabella couldn't argue with Seb and felt that his emotions were off at the moment. If she continued, it might backfire. So she decided to drop it for now, planning to persuade him again when his emotions were more stable.
