The Reader's POV

(...continuation of flashback about more than year ago...)

The next day in school, after I told Sebastian that I would try and "love him", was more...unusual. Thanks to Elizabeth, the entire grade started gossiping about what was going on between me and Sebastian by 2nd period. By lunch time, the whole school knew about it.

That rumor became a fact when everyone saw Sebastian holding my hand as we walked through the hallways together. He made sure I was with him at all times. I didn't argue since he was harmless about this whole thing, but I was a bit...disturbed by his attachment. He didn't do anything to annoy me, in fact when it came down to it, we barely had a conversation.

I mean, he really did hold my hand literally ALL the time whenever we were at school. Each day, I noticed he began holding my hand even tighter than normal, as if he were afraid I was going to leave him or something. If I had the opportunity, would I take it and leave him, or would I remain with him to make him happy?

For gosh sakes! He was a freaking stranger! I just knew him not even for a day and I promised to "love" him...

He never really smiled or showed any expression, which was the only thing that bothered me.

"Sebastian, you should smile more," I said to him one day. "You have a cute smile when you do."

So he smiled. He did everything and gave everything I wanted, though I never even asked for it. For example, when my stomach started growling during fourth period (since I had no lunch period on that particular day), Sebastian pulled out a delicious sandwich that he had bought for me that morning and wouldn't eat anything when I offered him some.

However, it seemed set in Sebastian's mind after a week being with me that I belonged to him and only him. No one else.

I began talking to and spending less time with others. It seemed that Sebastian started isolating only the both of us from everyone else around us. To me, I didn't care too much since I never really talked to my classmates that much anyways, so I barely felt a change.

This whole thing with Sebastian was...well, I wouldn't consider us boyfriend/girlfriend honestly. He technically didn't ask me out, but just requested that I give him my love. I'm not sure if I'm actually really doing that, but he seemed to have felt that way by me staying with him all the time. It occurred to me one day, however, that I barely knew anything about him. It was after school and we were sitting at a park bench. Normally, we just sat together till the sun went down before he would walk me home. Sebastian was laying across the bench as his head laid on my lap, holding my hand at the same time.

"Sebastian?" I said, breaking the usual silence between us. "Can you tell me about yourself?"

His eyes shot open at this. His red eyes were burning, not looking into mine. "Myself?"

"Yeah, you know...we're always together and stuff, and I don't even know what you like, your hobbies, your birthday, or maybe your family life-"

Instantly, I knew I said the wrong thing since he suddenly sat up straight, looking more stiff. He kept his back turned towards me. A cold aura seemed to have filled the atmosphere between us all of a sudden.

"Sebastian?" I said hesitantly.

"My parents are dead," was his straight answer. He answered in such a cold voice I felt myself shiver a little at it, but it didn't stop me from feeling bad.

"I'm so sorry..."

He scoffed. "Don't be sorry. I'm just glad I'm free from such abusive parents. I live alone."

"Don't you have other relatives-"

"Please", he let out a hallow laugh. "No one ever cared for me. When my parents died, the judge declared that I owned everything; the house, the money...but before they died, they didn't even have the decency to write me in their will."

It had suddenly hit me hard in the face as I realized now: Sebastian never felt loved by anyone before, not even his parents. I was the only one who probably ever cared enough to try and help him. The reason he asked me to love him was so that I could give him something his parents have never given him before.

Instinctively, I wrapped my arms around his neck. I noticed his body stiffened at this, but began to relax as he enjoyed my touch.

"Well, now you have someone who does care," I said to him softly.

"You wouldn't leave me, right?" he turned around, facing me with a pleadingly look.

"I won't," I whispered, kissing him on the cheek and keeping my arms wrapped around him. "I wouldn't leave you."

After a few seconds, I let go of him and I get up from the bench. Suddenly, he grabs my wrist, making me turn back towards him.

"_(y/n)_, thank you so much. I would do anything for you and everything", he said sincerely. I stiffened a little at this when he said it. I would do anything for you and everything. One thing I have learned about Sebastian: he always means what he says. Sebastian frowned slightly, noticing my reaction. "Did I say something wrong?" he asked worriedly.

I shook my head. "Nothing at all", I reassured him.

Suddenly, the phone in my pocket rang loudly, making me jump slightly in the air from all the silence up until now. Sebastian, too, stood up, intertwining our hands together more tightly and frowning.

I looked at the caller i.d. and saw it was an unknown number. Shrugging lightly, I picked it up.

"Hello?" I said into it.

"_(y/n)_? Is that you? It's me, Claude."

My heart started pounding faster when I heard his voice. What the fuck...I thought to myself. Why did he decide to call after leaving me and moving to another school without telling me?

Claude was actually my ex-boyfriend...a few years ago, he meant the world to me. Suddenly, that changed within a day. Next thing I knew, I hear from Alois that Claude moved to another school in another state. He didn't even call, text, or email me at all! He just disappeared from my life.

"Are you still there?" he asked, sounding slightly worried. Out of the corner of my eyes, I noticed Sebastian was glaring at me. He was still holding onto my hand, which he started squeezing tighter.

I turned away from his angry look and focused back to my phone. "Yeah, I'm still here," I swallowed, feeling a lump down my throat.

"_(y/n)_, listen...I made a huge mistake," he started saying slowly.

"Yeah you did", I said bitterly back. "I thought you loved me, Claude. I guess you thought our relationship was not that important, huh?"

"Wait! I really am sorry!" he quickly said. I could imagine him nervously adjusting his glasses right now. "Just let me explain. Please here me out."

I sighed. On one hand, I had to be an idiot to go back to that guy just like that, after what he did to me. On the other hand, I felt like I really deserved an explanation and should here what he had to say for himself.

"Fine," I gave in. "Where do you want to meet?"

"How about that coffee shop we used to go to just outside of town? Can we meet in ten minutes or so?"

"Okay", I answered, hanging up. I paused for a few seconds, just looking at my phone. Sebastian broke me out of my trance, squeezing my hand tighter.

"Are you going?" he asked in a low, dangerous voice. "Are you really going?"

"Yeah, just someone I need to see now," I said, freeing my hand from his. "I can meet you later by the bookstore nearby our school in about an hour."

However, he grabbed my wrist tightly, pulling me closer to him. "I'm not letting you go", he growled possessively.

"Sebastian!" I pulled my arm away from him in surprise, but wrapped my arms around his neck. "Look, I promise you I will see you later. This is just something I have to do. Okay?"

He didn't answer me. Instead, he looked at the ground in frustration. I let out another sigh as I turned and walked fast to where I needed to meet Claude.

Sebastian stayed where he was. That cold expression never left his face as he watched me walk away from him. In his head, he was ready to disappear from this earth at anytime. She left you...you truly are worthless Sebastian, he thought to himself. She left you like everyone else did. No one will ever love you...

He went insane in his head as he started running away from everything. He ran even faster...and faster...just wishing that this entire world could just disappear.

(...back to the present day...)

I woke up, yawning lightly and stretching my arms out. I suddenly noticed that I was not in my own bed, but in an unfamiliar bedroom. A slight headache made me lie back down as I began to recall what happened last night...

Sebastian had invited me into his house, which was more of a manor. He lived in the more isolated part of town, yet his property was very nice. He had a nice garden with a bird fountain on the outside of his house. When I got inside, all I could do was stare in awe at the incredible place. For someone who lived alone, he sure had a fine life style. There was absolutely everything you could think of in that place, including a karaoke machine we played around with after Sebastian made a nice dinner.

Later on, we both shared some wine together, and I guess I had a bit too much. He must have carried me into his guest room, which was almost as big as the school gym.

I looked at my phone, which was by the night stand and saw it was close to ten o'clock. I got out of bed and neatly folded the blankets before exiting the room.

I wonder if Sebastian was up yet...I thought to myself as I walked down the grand staircase. I decided to go to the kitchen, thinking that Sebastian might be cooking breakfast. However, there was no Sebastian there. Curious, I walked into the dining room and saw he wasn't there as well.

"Hmm," I sad out loud. "I wonder if he's still in bed-"

"You're up."

I jumped at his voice, which was coming from the living room.

"Oh! There you are," I said giggling to myself. However, when I walked into the living room, I froze at once when I saw on the coffee table in front of Sebastian two items: a large kitchen knife and a small, red velvet box.

Sebastian had a cold look on his face as he sat calmly on his sofa in front of the coffee table.

"Have a seat," he gestured at the chair across from him. I hesitated, eyeing the knife with uneasiness. "Don't worry," he said as if he could read my mind. "That knife won't be used for you." I relaxed a bit, but stiffened at what he said next. "It's for me."

Slowly, I took the seat across from him as his red eyes watched my every move.

"Sebastian, what's going on-", I started to say, but he reached across the table, opening the small box, revealing a beautiful diamond ring. He then slid the box containing the precious ring and knife towards me.

"You have one minute to decide: marry me or kill me."

I stared at him in disbelief. "What?" I said. "Is this a sick joke?"

He leaned back in his seat, not answering.

"Sebastian, I'm not killing you," I said crossing my arms.

He shrugged. "Well, you do have another choice," he said. "Fifty seconds left."

"Can't we just talk about this before doing anything drastic?" I asked in panic.

Sebastian looked coldly into my eyes. "I suggest you do less talking and start to think about your choice. If you choose to marry me, I'll make sure you never leave this house and keep you here with me forever. If you choose to kill me, you will never have to see me again."

"Well, I'm not going to kill you," I said firmly. "This is completely fucked up!"

"Like I said before, you do have the other choice," he said coolly. "What, you don't love me?"

"What do you know about love?"

"You."

I paused, looking at him confused. "What?"

"Love is you. You're the only thing I have and ever will love. I need you as much as the air I breathe," he said more softly, but his expression hardening. "About one year ago, you left me to go meet that other guy. Everyone left me, including you."

"Woah! Slow down there!" I said. "I did not fucking leave you! I looked for you! I promised you I would meet you later afterwards! You can't fucking say I left you when you're the one that disappeared for an year!"

Sebastian appeared unfazed from my yelling and instead stood up.

"Your time is up _(y/n)_," he said. "I'll choose for you then."

My eyes widened as he reached over and picked up the kitchen knife, holding it dangerously above his heart.

"Goodbye _(y/n)_," he said.

"Marry me!" I blurt out, breathing heavily inside and out. Sebastian pauses just before the knife entered his body. His red eyes flashed in surprise towards me as I looked carefully into his.

Swallowing, I walked around the table the gently took the knife out of his hand and putting it onto the coffee table.

"Marry me, Sebastian Michaelis. But I want you to propose to me," I said shakily, feeling sick to my stomach as he smiled.

He gently took the ring out of the box and knelt down on his knee. "_(y/n)_, I am utterly and most certainly in love with you. I'll never love anyone more as long as I shall live. Will you marry me?"

No words could come out of my mouth, so I simply nodded stiffly. He slid the ring onto my finger and stood up slowly. Placing two fingers under my chin to lift up my face, he leaned in and kissed me gently on the lips. I felt nothing but coldness, yet burning passion Sebastian must have felt for me. He wrapped his arms around me slowly and whispered as he started kissing my neck, "I'll be anything you want me to be. I'll do anything for you."

A tear rolled out of the corner of my eyes as I realized I could no longer escape. It's too late to back out anymore.

"I know," I whispered, unconsciously wrapping my arms around him as well.

"It will just be you and me, till death do us part."