LINA's POV

Quickly changing into my jeans shorts and shirt, I run a brush through my hair. Today Jason has promised me to take me around the town and to give me the experience of seeing this town as a local, not as a tourist.

Even though I have been to some places with Nick, but I am excited to see this town from Jason's eyes.

I know I shouldn't get much attached to him, as I won't be staying here for long and probably will never return to this place again. But I can't help feeling drawn to him.

I like being with him.

A part of me feels connected to him. Watching his smile makes me happy. He gave me a purpose that was missing in my life, a purpose to help him in finding his happiness.

Maybe somewhere while helping him, I will find my happiness too.

My phone rings as I smile thinking it must be Jason, but my smiles drop a little when I watch the name of the person who is calling me.

Emmett.

"Hi," I say with an uplifted voice as soon as I answer the call.

"Lina," Emmett sighs, emotions stir inside me hearing his voice after six months, "I miss you."

A pang of hurt goes through my heart as I had almost forgotten how it feels to be missed by someone.

"I miss you, too." A tear slips from my eye, rolling my lips inside my mouth I try to stop the threatening whimper to escape from my mouth.

"I am sorry, I can't call you sooner," he says, guilt lacing his words, "I... just..." He tries to come up with some excuse but fails

"It's okay, Em," I reassure him, knowing well he is not allowed to talk to me. "I understand." While a bitter smile comes on my lips, as to how talking to me is nothing less than a crime in everyone's eyes.

"I hate this... I hate all of this," he says frustratedly and I can assume him pulling his hair, "How can they force me to stay away from you... my own sister." He sounds dejected.

"It's fine... I know you love me and that's enough for me." No, it is not fine but I can't ruin your life because of myself by taking you away from your family.

"How can you say it's fine? After how they have been treating you?" His pain laced voice slowly breaking my resolve to stay strong.

"Maria is getting engaged to Chris tonight," he says after few minutes of silence. "She disgusts me, how can she be happy when she has snatched everything from you?" His words dripping with disgust and hatred.

I don't say anything, trying to keep my composure which is slipping every second.... as tears fall from my eyes with every second.

"I am sorry, I can't do anything for you. I am a poor excuse for a brother." He takes a staggered breath and I know now he is on the verge of breaking down.

"Don't say that," I manage to say in a composed voice, "You are the only one whom I can call my family."

"I love you, Lina." His voice cracks.

"I love you, too," I reply and instantly disconnect the call, not wanting him to hear me cry.

Knees lets go of the weight of my body, I slump on the floor as loud sobs leave my mouth.

Pain... betrayal... hurt.

These feelings consume my heart as I cry clenching the front of my shirt to trying to stop this pain. Each sob is louder than before, voicing the pain which is searing my heart.

I love you, Lina

I remember his smile, which looked so real when he used to glance at me like I am his world.

When the truth is that he only came into my world, to destroy it.

Then my mind flashes the memory of him with Maria on my bed, lost in each other not even realizing I am standing there and watching his betrayal with my own eyes. Another agonizing cry escapes from me as tears stream down my face as again the same feeling of hurt clenches my heart... the same feeling of being worthless shatters my soul.

I recall the victorious smile on Maria's face when she introduced Chris as her boyfriend in front of the family. And no one even batted their eye at the fact, that this is the same guy who has been with me.

I hoped to see guilt in his eyes when he was standing in front of me, instead, I found nothing. Whenever he looked at me I felt like he is mocking me... my love.

If I knew this is what would happen if you love someone, I would have never fallen in love with him.

The pain was too much for me to bear so I left the house, not that anyone cared except Emmett. Because to everyone I was nothing just someone worthless in their eyes.

"Mom, I need you... I need you so much," Looking heavenward I say between my cries.

Mom and dad were separated before my birth, she realized after two months of divorce that she is pregnant with me. By that time Dad had already remarried another woman with whom he was having an affair and she was also pregnant with his child, Emmett. Dad made it very clear that he doesn't want anything to do with me because he believed I will just like my mother.

I was six years old when my mom died of cancer, and I was forced to go to live with my father and his new family. Even though I was living with them, but I was never welcomed to be a part of their family. I was just an outsider to them, a charity case as Maria loved to call me.

His new wife Rosaline, and her daughter Maria from her first marriage, hated me. Even my father never showed any kind of affection towards me, for him I was just a burden and a new mouth to feed.

However, the only person in my so-called family who loves me is Emmett.

Rosaline and Maria always used to keep him away from me, but somehow he used to sneak up in my room to play with me. Maria hated me and the bond that I and Emmett shared.

She could never fit with us, she is two years older than us while Emmett and I are just a few months apart. We look more like siblings with our similar features, which we got from our father, especially our dark hair. While she always looked odd one out with her red hair and pale skin.

Thankfully, by the time I was ten, I was sent away to boarding school as she painted me as the villain in front of my father and played as a victim.

Dad loves her, she is daddy's little princess and believes every word she says. Of course, Rosaline fully supported her daughter and convinced Dad to send me off to the boarding school. This is the only thing that she did well for me because it meant I didn't need to live with them anymore.

When Chris walked into my life, I thought finally I found my happiness. I knew Maria would want to ruin my happiness as she always does, but I believed Chris loved me and nothing can break us. But I was so wrong. He played with my feelings and left me with nothing but hurt and betrayal. Worse thing he cheated on me with her.

The angry ring from my phone drags me back into reality. Jason's face flashes on my screen as he, video calls me. I let the phone ring as I correct my appearance, wiping my face and dabbing away the moisture from beneath my eyes.

I answer his call when the phone starts ringing again.

"Where the hell are you? Do I look like an idiot to finish my work early for you and wait for you for hours?" Jason's angry face appears.

Even though he looks furious, but seeing his face brings a new set of tears to my eyes. Swallowing I take a moment to get hold of my emotions.

My eyes widen when I realize I forgot about my plan with him.

"I am sorry, I am a bit busy I will talk to you later." Clenching my jaws tightly to reign my emotions, I quickly sign.

Because I know if I try to speak the only sound that will come out of my mouth will be crying.

"What happened? Why are you not talking to me?" His tone softens.

Staring at the bottom of my phone, I narrow my eyes trying to avoid looking at his face. Because I know he will easily see the moisture in my eyes if I look at his face.

"I am fine, just busy." I lie as I sign still not looking in his direction, "I have to go, I am sorry." I hang the call, letting the tears fall freely from my eyes.

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Thank you for reading.