Chapter 151: Only an Imitation (1/2)

Sebastian went inside and sat for a solid five minutes before a guard with Alicia came in. Her hands were cuffed behind her and the orange jumpsuit made her look more maniacal than I remembered her.

Despite the one-way glass wall between us, I felt the crushing weight of panic hit me. I saw that devious smirk on her lips, so familiar yet so distant as she saw Sebastian sitting from behind.

Surprise flashed in her eyes when she went over to her side and I noted it.

My head was swimming with thoughts, but I tried my best to push them back and focus on the interaction happening in front of me.

I took in a deep breath and then opened the notebook I had brought alongside me.

I had known I would be distracted and scared in the face of my tormentor when I sat in the car this morning. But I had not been ready for the train that hit me when I saw her.

Clearly, she was in cuffs and there were guards around. Nothing would happen to me. She couldn't touch me even if she was freed because I was stronger. My instincts ruled when I was in danger and I knew that first hand.

Yet, I felt powerless. I was a room away, but I felt like I was sixteen again and at the mercy of the demoness who was adamant about making me insane and breaking me before she ripped off every shred of my skin and eating me.

My pen hovered over the paper and I heard the conversation in the room finally begin.

”Sebastian Butler!” Alicia exclaimed. The guard had put a handcuff on both her hands, tying her down to the arms of the chair. I knew for a fact that these chairs were locked to the ground and couldn't be moved or used.

Sebastian's chair though was movable.

”Miss Williams,” he greeted, his voice lacking emotion.

”Why are you being so cold to me, Sebastian? We haven't seen each other for a year and you are behaving like I killed your cat.”

I paused over the paper, almost sure that Alicia knew about Sheng Sheng. Somehow.

Sebastian didn't respond. ”You haven't spoken to the research fellow working under me,” he stated. ”May I know why you did that?”

This was new. She had not wanted to meet people. Until Sebastian.

”God, people are too stupid these days. I don't want to meet inconsequential people. You, on the other hand, know what I desire and how I desire it.” She looked dreamy as she spoke. Her crazy act was not lost on me but I knew exactly what it was: an act. ”But who do I speak to if you don't meet me?” She scrunched up her brows in discomfort.

Sebastian placed his hand on the desk. ”You got caught, didn't you? Just like everyone else in this facility. You aren't smarter than any of them. Don't misunderstand your position in life,” Sebastian clarified.

Alicia hissed. ”You're always saying that. But can they tell just by looking at you that you are seeing someone?” she taunted.

I tried not to panic. I knew that it was easy to tell he was with someone because he had a ring prominently on his finger. It screamed that he was taken. But my brain was wired differently.

”Yes, I am wearing a ring on my finger. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure that one out,” Sebastian responded blandly.

Alicia stiffened. ”It's not that. I didn't know you were engaged. I knew you were seeing someone because you aren't cold towards me like normal. You're angry about something. You're worried about something, aren't you?” she whispered.

I heard it nonetheless. My ears were perked for every breath and every little shuffle of her clothes.

”What do you think I am worried about?” he asked.

He was testing her to see if this accomplice had somehow informed her of his whereabouts and that of mine.

”Someone close to you…” she diverted. She didn't want to say out loud. She wanted to drag the conversation out.

”God, you really are stupid, aren't you?” Sebastian commented. His eyes held nothing but coldness. It reminded me of the Sebastian I had met at the very beginning.

”You don't need to taunt me!” she exclaimed. ”I know what you are doing. Are you acting all tough for the people watching? I hear that your girlfriend is in the police. What? She scared?”

So, she did know about Sebastian having a girlfriend but she had no idea who it was. It was evident by how she phrased it. She didn't know.

”So, someone told you that I was in a relationship,” he ended. ”That's all I wanted to know, Miss Williams. I don't like talking nonsense with you. You may be starved for male attention but I am not the person who will give it to you.”

Alicia pressed her lips together, hiding her grimace.

”I don't want any attention from you. You can shove your attention up your ass. I—” she stopped.

And I knew… I knew that the accomplice was the man she had thought she was seeing. She didn't talk about him because she was loyal to him. She was romantically and mentally loyal to him. She felt powerless in front of him apart from whatever romantic feelings she thought she had.

”Colorful language. How did he come here?” he asked. He didn't even need to ask if there was an accomplice, that much was clear by now.

”Who?” she asked.