Lina's POV

Jason's words did hurt me because without even knowing who was that guy he reacted so badly. He didn't even think about what he was saying or how his words will hurt me.

Maybe that's what he thinks about me.

Looking heavenward, I blink my eyes to dry the moisture. Letting out a breath, to release some of the pressure which I am feeling inside my chest, I continue finishing my make-up.

Checking the time, I realize it is almost time to leave. Earlier, when Caleb asked me to accompany him to this party where they are invited, I politely declined. But then when he insisted I agreed as I couldn't break his heart, by saying no to him. Moreover, when I realize this will be the last time I am going to meet every one of them then I made my mind to go to this party.

The thought of leaving this town clenches my heart painfully, but I can't stay here forever. I have already prolonged my stay here, and I can't keep on extending my stay here. Because the truth is, there is no one here for whom I would stay, neither this is my home.

Home.

This word makes me smile bitterly because, in reality, I don't have any place to call home. I will always remain a wandering soul with no place to call mine. In the future, I may have my own house, but it can never become a home. People make homes, not things.

Glancing at my reflection one last in the mirror, I walk outside my room and head to the restaurant where the party is being held.

When I reach there I find Caleb standing outside the restaurant waiting for me. As soon as his eyes land on me his face split up in the biggest grin I have ever seen on his face, which makes me smile.

"You came?!" He rushes towards me and surprises me by hugging me, "I thought you will not come."

"How could I haven't come when I have promised you to save you from being bored, huh?" I raise my eyebrows and smile.

"Thank you." He smiles and his smile looks so much similar to Jason's smile, the only difference is that Caleb's smile is more bright.

"C'mon, let's go inside." He holds my hand, "I want to make Nick jealous, as he doesn't have any date while I have the world's prettiest girl as my date." He cheekily smiles causing me to roll my eyes at his behavior.

"Don't flatter me as I am not the world's prettiest girl." I playfully narrow my eyes at him.

"No, for me, you are." He looks at me with sincerity in his eyes, "You have helped my brother to be himself again, without even wanting anything in return. You have the most beautiful and kind heart because you never judged him or treated him differently. You treated him like the jerk he is, and kicked his ass whenever he was indulging in self-pity because he is stupid." He chuckles as he jokes.

"All this makes you so much special, and I am really happy that I met you that day on the beach. Otherwise, our lives wouldn't have been like the way they are now." His lips have a genuine smile on them like he means every word which he has said.

His words tear me up, and it takes everything in me not to breakdown into tears, because I don't have many moments in my life when someone told me that they are happy because of me or that I made a positive difference in their life. So hearing all this from Caleb, different emotions seize my heart, making me realize how much these words matter to me.

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Walking inside the party area of the restaurant, my eyes search for familiar faces. However, the faces which I find are not the ones which I was expecting to see here neither I want to ever see in my life again.

However, one face among them abruptly glances in my direction, and then a small smile appeared on his face when his eyes stare at me. I smile in return because he is the only one in the family who made living with them bearable for me, my brother Emmet.

He came to meet me at Jason's shop that day because once during our talk I have mentioned Jason to him since he didn't know where I was staying so in the hope to get my address from Jason he came there, but by luck, I was already at the shop. I wanted Emmet to meet Jason, but when I saw him talking with Jessica I didn't want to disturb them so I didn't introduce Emmet to him. That's why Jason's words hurt even more as he just assumed whatever he wanted instead of asking me or talking to me.

My gaze again shifts to Emmet and I can see in his eyes that he wants to come and talk to me, but I know he will not as everyone else is there and he is not allowed to talk to me.

Dad is helping Emmet in his career with his contacts since he is a lawyer and has many influential clients, and going against him is not easy for Emmet because it can cost him his career. Emmet has followed in dad's footsteps and earned a law degree, and now with dad's help, he is trying to establish his career as a successful lawyer.

Giving him a small smile one more time I nod my head, silently telling him it's okay. I turn my face in a different direction as I don't want to ruin my last day here because of them.

Caleb finds me again as he comes back from letting his parents know that he is with me, and takes me where Nick is. Nick is surrounded by some other guys whom I think are his friends. But when he sees us, he instantly excuses himself from them and joins me and Caleb.

I haven't seen Jason until now so I am not sure whether he is here or not.

"Jason is not here, he has some important thing to handle that's why he will come to the party a little late." As if reading my thoughts Nick answers as he hands me a drink.

"Fruit cocktail." He smiles and tells me when I take a tentative sip to check whether it is alcoholic or not.

"Thank you." I smile back in return. I don't drink alcohol as I can't handle drinks at all.

"He has a crush on you." Nick laughs when he looks at Caleb who is talking to someone from his class.

"He is a nice kid." I nod my head, "He knows how to respect others, especially girls. And that's because he has been surrounded by such guys who themselves treat everyone nicely." Glancing at him, I smile which makes him lightly blush as I have figured he gets uncomfortable when someone compliments him.

When you look at Nick at first he seems to come off as a flirt, but actually, he is really a decent guy. He never made me feel like we haven't known each other for long and always treated me like his good friend.

Jason is lucky to be surrounded by such good people, and sometimes I do envy him. However, still, I am glad I got a chance to meet them.

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Nearly half an hour has passed and still, there is no sign of Jason. My heart drops a little thinking about going without meeting him for the last time. I haven't told anyone that I will be leaving tonight because I just hate goodbyes. I am just saving myself from the pain of saying goodbye to them, because I know I can't return here again.

I never wanted to get attached to anyone, but it was hard not to become fond of these people who showed me nothing but love. I had always thought that I am afraid of attachments as in the end I am the one who gets hurt. However, now I realize in reality I am afraid of abandonment. Whenever I get close to someone they just abandon me, leaving me with nothing but a broken heart to tend.

And I can't let myself go through that pain again, so before anyone else can leave me, I am going to leave everyone myself.

I can feel him before I can see him so when Jason enters the party instantly my eyes move to him. However, my heart crushes a little when I find Jessica with him.

His eyes moving around as if he is searching for someone, and when his gaze shifts to me I realize he was looking for me. For a moment, I feel that there is no one other than me and him in this place, but I am pulled back into reality when he walks towards me with Jessica right beside him.

"Lina, I am so sorry-" He begins but I cut him off by raising my hand.

"It's okay." Shaking my head, I smile at him, "I have already forgotten about it. So just relax, everything is cool."

He doesn't look convinced but he doesn't push the topic, for which I am glad.

"It is so nice to see you here, Lina." Jessica looks at me and smiles but I can sense her questioning stare.

"Caleb asked me to come with him, and I couldn't say no to him," I answer her unasked question.

"I am just glad you came." She nods her head, still smiling then she turns to look at Jason.

"Jase, come I want you to meet dad, and some of his guests." She gently tugs his arm.

He nods his head after he reads what Jessica has said.

"I need to talk to you, so I will be right back." Jason gives me a pointed look before he goes with her.

I follow them with my gaze and my eyes widen slightly when a man whom I assume is Jessica's father introduces Jason to dad and everyone else.

I never wanted anyone to know that he is my father because I don't want anyone to know about my life. Moreover, when he never accepted me as his daughter then even I don't want to associate myself with him or his family.

However, when I look away from Jason I notice Maria staring at me. Her gaze holds her usual hatred, but there is a gleam of truimph in her eyes when she holds Chris's hand.

Maybe earlier, it would have hurt me to see them together, but now it doesn't matter. My heart no longer feel any pain, because now my heart is filled with the love for someone who deserved to be loved.

Jason.

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