Tyler's POV

"Happy thanksgiving and something that I am thankful for this year is meeting you again and falling more deeply in love with you and finally being able to call you my girlfriend without being a total and complete ass."

"Well as a matter of fact that did happen when you put a claim on me but who's thinking about that right?" She chuckled, I rolled my eyes and pulled her in for another hug. Even though she's tried to hide it I can see then tension on her face and I don't blame her.

I mean I was the one who partly has her on edge when I said I might have to do something that might make her hate me. And I wasn't lying, if tonight goes the way I expect it to then I really do fear that she will hate me when or if I come back.

"Bella," I whispered softly, she pulled away from the hug, her hands still draped around my waist. I peered down into her brown eyes, smiling sadly to which she returned it with as little enthusiasm. Yes in reality we were only going to be away from one another for two days before we get back to school but somehow we both knew it was going to be a lot more complicated than just that.

Because when I go back to my family I have no idea what to expect. "Just remember that I love you and I've loved you from the moment I almost broke your nose–" she giggled, her head lolling backwards as she shook it in amusement. I smiled and grabbed her chin, angling her head towards me, "–and I will always love you." I finished.

Her smile faltered and she nodded her head before raising herself on her tiptoes and brushing her lips against mine before I closed the space between us and brought my lips down onto hers softly.

But eventually, although I didn't want to rip myself from her arms I knew we had to part. And as if on cue the announcement for my flight to California blared through the intercom and I parted from Arabella, watching as she hesitantly made her way towards the chauffeur who ushered her to the private jet that her father apparently set up for her flight to New York.

She was supposed to celebrate it with her mother here in DC but her parents had a change of heart and now she's on her way to NYC. I smiled, waving goodbye before spinning on my heels and making my way to the terminal.

Let's hope today doesn't go as I think it would. 

~ ~ ~

Gripping the duffel bag tightly over my shoulder I navigated my way through the airport, trying to seek out the passenger pickup point where I was supposed to meet my very own chauffeur to my brother's house. Because I'd much rather a stranger greet me at the airport rather than my mother. 

Note my sarcasm.

"Hey! You there sir are you, Tyler Hart!?"

"Is it that obvious?" I rolled my eyes as I approached the man suited down with a sign that had my name etched across it in the most horrible handwriting I've ever seen. "You resemble your brother miraculously it's almost like I'm looking at a younger version of him. But enough chit chat, follow me, Mr Hart."

"Tyler will do just fine," I mumbled as I followed him through the glass doors and onto the sidewalk. He motioned towards the black limousine sitting on the curb and beckoned me towards it.

Great couldn't my brother just come pick me up himself rather than putting on this big show? I mean yes I despise him but I'd much rather not ride in a limousine in Los Angeles.

I rolled my eyes as the chauffeur opened the door for me. There was no point in telling him he didn't have to do such because by the looks of it he won't listen and just say it's his job so I allowed it. What I didn't allow was for him to take my duffle bag, let's not act like this is a movie I am nowhere close to being as lavish as my brother is.

He may be the fancy pants and businessman of the family with all his money and sticks up his ass but I was the carefree brother who didn't need the help and support of my so-called older sibling and I've learnt that the hard way.

I guess we're a match made in heaven.

The chauffeur closed the door behind me and slipped into the driver seat. He offered me some wine but I declined, muttering under my breath that this was utterly ridiculous.

The ride was silent and awkward since the chauffeur whose name I've gotten to know was Josh tried to engage in conversation with me but I only replied with one-syllable words and a not so welcoming frown on my face.

I mean can you blame my mood? I was about to go to my brother's house and have dinner with my godforsaken father who put us in this dilemma, to begin with. I swear to god if that man tries to even speak to me I'll break his jaw so quickly he'll understand why they call me Blaze.

I focused my gaze outside and realized that we were now pulling up towards a black metal gate that towered over our heads in a ridiculous height. Must be my brother taking precautions from burglars. That was the only thing he was good at anyways–being smart but not reliable.

The limousine stopped before the gate and I watched as Josh rolled down the window and pressed the button on the intercom against the wall. After a few seconds and unfamiliar voice asked him to identify himself and soon the gates opened up, screeching against the ground.

Guess Mr fancy pants really took precautions.

The limousine rolled towards a cream coloured mansion and despite its beauty and height I had no interest in marvelling over it because for years we could have been living somewhere like this with our entire family–well my mom, my brother and I–but instead he stayed in LA and let his business thrive whilst I worked at an underground illegal MMA fighting rink to help pay for my mothers in house nurse, medications and treatments at a freaking apartment complex for recovering addicts.

Tell me how that's life and yet still my brother got to live this one and all of a sudden he wants us in his life.

I wanna hear what he has to say for this one.

Before Josh could open the door for me as if I were a woman I did the liberty of opening it myself and slipping out. Josh pursed his lips in a thin line and motioned for me to follow him up the marbled pathway that led to the brown doors taller than I could touch.

I rolled my eyes as he rapped on the door and a woman probably the same age as my mother opened up the door. She greeted us with a smile as we entered and suddenly bowed. "Mr. Hart, may I take your bag?" She asked as she straightened up.

"U–uh no thank you," I muttered in shock. He has a maid bowing to people? What the hell?

"Tyler?"

I spun around on my heels, my eyes widening as they took in the sight of my mother leaned against the frame of the door that led to the family room. She appeared healthier than I've ever seen her, almost as if she were the same woman I remembered years ago. Her skin was clear and emitted somewhat of a glow. Her brown curly locks toppled down her shoulders and cascaded down her back.

She was dressed in a red body con dress that hugged her body tightly, black stilettos a little too tall for her and all together my mother looked more ravishing than I could have ever imagined. "Maman?"

"Mon fils! Venez ici et fais un câlin â ta mére!" She smiled brightly, her arms opened wide as she made her way towards me. I chuckled in awe as I closed the distance between us, enveloping her in a hug.

Her arms made their way around me and she hugged me tightly. I willed back the tears threatening to escape my eyes and bit them back before pulling away and clearing my throat. She peered up at me despite her height from the stilettos and smiled as she pinched my cheeks, her eyes searching my face in awe.

"I–I haven't seen you in a month and yet you look healthier than I could have ever imagined." She whispered, I chuckled and caught her hand in mine, caressing it softly and nodding my head towards her. "I could say the same for you ma, you look healthier. Is Malcom treating you right? Do you have a doctor? Are you taking all your medications? If you want I can get Annie here if you aren't comfortable with whatever doctor you have, mom I swear to god if–"

"Jesus, Tyler the woman is fine, do you not see her? I did tell you I'd take care of her and I never break my word." I gritted my teeth in anger as I turned towards Malcom who was leaned against the wall as he adjusted his cuff links and smirked. Coming from someone who smirks a lot I sure did find it annoying as off now.

"Good, because if you weren't je t'arracherais la langue du cul." I snapped, he raised his hands in surrender and strutted towards me. Soon enough we were now standing tall before one another, he was no longer taller than me, seeing as we're both now grown adults and I thank god for my genes.

"No need to be violent boys, your mother's heart will not take this lightly. Now come on Tyler let's get you into some proper clothes for tonight. Our first thanksgiving all together in three years." She squealed excitedly as she wrapped her hand around my arm and tugged me away.

But before we could even ascend the stairs he appeared beside Malcom, as Josh said earlier I appeared like the younger version of Malcom but this man was the older version with a cold bloody heart. Once upon a time, I thought my heart was dark but I could never match his.

The man who ripped this family to shreds. Who supplied my mother with drugs, he used up all our money to spend on those same drugs and made us bankrupt. The man who got our house taken away from us by the government, the man who abandoned me and despite everything utterly wrong about Malcom–he abandoned him as well.

"You son of a bitch." I growled as I marched towards him, he seemed the least surprised at my outburst but nevertheless he still backed away and I could see a flicker of fear in his eyes. My mother wrapped her hand around my arm and Malcom shielded him, his eyes wide in a threatening manner that didn't faze me one bit.

Too much anger, I need to let it out.

"Now calm down, this thanksgiving isn't about conflict okay!? I brought us all here together so we can resolve the conflict not build onto it."

"Well, I would be much thankful this thanksgiving for being given the opportunity to break his bones and feed his flesh to the bloody wolves!" I exclaimed, but nonetheless I still calmed down because I didn't want to hurt my mother by doing anything stupid. She tightened her grip on my arm and turned my head towards her, "relax sweetie I'm fine, okay? I promise I won't lie to you, your father hasn't tried to do anything for the time he's been here, if anything he's been trying to make amends."

"Mom with all due respect I could give two flying fucks and a rats ass about this bastard. For all I'm concerned–" I spat as I turned my attention to him, his face wasn't as strong and hard as I remembered before he was a man I looked up too, a man I've always wanted to become, but no this man ripped his family apart without thinking twice and I'd die before I become that man–"I don't have a father anymore."