Chapter 38: The world against us

Jace POV

Enrique came to Milan to join us, happy to see him. He had arrived unexpectedly and earlier than he had proposed. It was a fabulous evening, and the view from where we sat overlooked the main roads and other buildings in the city. Also, it had been a long time since the three of us were assembled in one place.

We had a sibling's time out at a restaurant. We were eating an excellent meal of minestrone garnished with goat cheese. The taste of the food tickled my taste buds. The food was paired with three different bottles of wine; each sibling had their favorite wine.

"It has been so long since we all ate together!" Hermione said, sipping on her glass of Cannonau di Sardegna.

"It has been so long since we did anything together at all," Enrique said. "I had to make time just to be here, especially for your sake, dear sister."

"Come on, Enrique, you don't need to flatter her too much," I said, moaning pleasurably as I ate. "I know the reason you're here is to see Ona and discuss my life issues with Brielle."

"Oh please, Jonathan let him freely express his love for me if he wishes," Hermione said.

Enrique nodded with a smile. "So Jonathan, how's your relationship with mom thus far?"

I tensed up at the mention of my mom. "Can't that at least wait till we get home?"

"It can, but it wouldn't change the answer," Enrique said, wiping his mouth clean with a serviette.

"Okay fine, we are good!" I replied.

"That is a lie," Hermione countered.

"Hermione-" I scoffed.

"Jonathan, be honest!" Enrique cuts in sharply.

"Alright, I've been avoiding her, to be honest," I said, raising my hand in surrender.

"Damn, bro, that's not nice," Enrique said. "You should speak with her once in a while."

I groaned and replied, "How do you expect me to do that since she keeps standing in the way of Brielle and I getting married?"

There was a brief silence, and Hermione cleared her throat before speaking, "You know mother's opinion is not easily swayed, but I have been trying to tell her that Brielle is worth our brother's love; nonetheless, she has been adamant that it is Jasira Beachwood or no one else."

I shook my head and responded, "Mother cares more about social status than my happiness. I'll marry Brielle whether or not she approves because it's my life!"

"I don't know, bro," Enrique said hesitantly. "I don't want anything that would divide the family. Perhaps you might want to honor our mother and keep the peace by abiding by her wishes."

"Non fare lo stupido!" I growled. It meant don't be a fool. "If you can't sway mother, don't think you can sway me. Let me ask you, something bro. Would you have left the one you love to please our overbearing mother?"

"Yes, I would," Enrique said slowly. "No matter what, mother can't lead you astray, bro! Listen up, and I get that you love Brielle, but she might not be the one."

"I think you're drunk with enough alcohol," I said, standing up.

"Sit down, Jonathan," said Hermione. Her voice was cold, and I complied immediately.

"All Enrique is trying to say is that Jasira is still a reasonable choice to have as a wife," Hermione said coolly. "We were all getting used to Jasira, and then suddenly Brielle pops out of nowhere. I understand that you might have had a fling for her in the past. However, I thought that after satisfying your urge to be with her in bed, I believed that things would end there. I mean, the car could be some parting gift."

"What? You're even worse than a snake Hermione!" I said, sounding unbelievably stupid. "I should have known that the kind gesture was never genuine. You are, after all, like our mother, lovable and yet imposing!"

She shrugged. "Jonathan, what can I say? I only want the best for you."

"Unbelievable, right?" my conscience said to me. "She's so unbelievable right now! Having failed to persuade mom, you all have decided to join forces with her, but I'll not be deterred."

"And what about you, Enrique?" I asked, rising slowly. "Are you going to betray Brielle too?"

"Bro, Brielle will be fine!" he said, without flinching.

My whole body vibrated in anger. "You both are so pathetic!"

I walked away, and they said nothing to stop me.  So what was I going to do now? I wondered as I walked to where my ride was parked. I thought I had the backings of my siblings, but now I have found out that my mother had turned them against me.

It was nobody's business I decided to be with but then having to fight with just one family member on the subject was far more accessible than the entire De' Leon. Well, not the whole family. My father... I hoped that he still did not mind if I married Brielle.

I needed to get married to Brielle right away. Searching the compartments of my car, I finally found the engagement ring. Acting on my impulse, I drove straight down to the party venue, which Brielle had told me that she would be attending this evening with her friends. The security men, upon seeing me, began to whisper to one another. Rich and famous; that was who I was.

"Excuse me, sir," said one of them, placing an arm to block my path. "Ticket, please!"

I smiled and reached for my wallet. I counted many hundred dollar bills and handed them to the man. "Here's my ticket."

The security men stepped aside immediately. Once inside, I began to look around for Brielle, but I did not see her. I felt dumb for not calling her first, but then again, I had wanted to propose to her without her expecting me.

"Oh, come on! She said she'd be here," I thought, still looking around.

I wanted to give up, but then I saw Javier and Ona locked in a passionate kiss. I walked down to them and cleared my throat. I glared at Javier, but he was lucky because I did not feel like fighting for my brother at the moment. Hera was startled the moment she saw me.

"Jace! What are you doing here?" She said, stuttering.

"It's fine, Ona. I won't tell Enrique!" I said vehemently. "However, you should know that he is back in town. Where's Brielle?"

"I'm right here, Jace," Brielle said from behind me. "What are you doing here?"

Hera was standing next to her. There was no need to answer the question with words. It was now or never, and I could feel my pulse quickening. I forced myself to my knees. I knelt in public which was both humiliating and exciting at the same time. I wanted her to see just how serious I was about getting married to her. I was a fool to have done it so casually in bed the last time I proposed.

"Brielle Damara, please, would you marry me?" I asked, opening up the box that contained the ring with a shiny diamond rock.

Hera gasped and shrieked excitedly. "What are you waiting for, dummy? Say yes!"

My action was beginning to draw attention, and soon everyone was bringing out their phones to capture the moment. I remained pinned to the ground even when my dominant spirit wanted me to rise. Time froze, and seconds started to look like eons to me. I gulped and closed my eyes. If she said no at this point, I might have a heart attack.

"Come on, Brielle, say yes!" Ona said, and I immediately forgave her for cheating on my brother. The choice was hers, and I did not need to be the bearer of bad news.

"Girl, Brielle! That's Jace De' Leon; you'd be foolish to turn him down," said a stranger, and I opened up my eyes.

Brielle was nodding, and I saw the tears flowing freely from her eyes. She stretched her hand towards me. "Yes! I love you so much, Jace."

I slipped the ring into her finger and rose to hug her. Everyone was clapping. Javier got up, and I could tell just how disoriented he felt. His face looked sad, and he left, but Ona did not try to stop him from going.

I did not exactly mean to steal the attention of whoever had the party, and as a form of apology, I decided to pay for everyone's drink. We spent a few minutes, but then I needed to get Brielle out of here. I whispered to Brielle about leaving, and we were about to inform Hera and Ona, but they too were thinking about the same thing.

"Jace, that was totally out of character when you proposed on your knees," Brielle said to me the moment we were alone in my car.

"Oh, Brielle, I've been wanting to show you that I am serious about marrying you," I replied.

"I never doubted you for a second, Jace! I just wanted you to do it in the right way, and of course, there's your mom, but I guess she'll grow fond of me eventually since your siblings love me."

Her words stung me like a bee. How was I going to tell her that Hermione wanted to buy her off or that the noble Enrique had changed his opinion on her because of my mother and sister?

We were together in this marriage. Utterly alone, and it was going to be us against the world. There was nothing left to hide. She had accepted to be my wife, and I had long ago promised myself never to keep anything a secret from my significant other.

"Brielle, there's something I want to tell you," I said.

She gasped! "Is it about Javier and Ona? Please, Jace, don't be mad, and please don't let Enrique find out."

"Relax, Ona's one-night stand secret is safe with me!" I said calmly.

"Hmm, this night just keeps getting full of surprises!"

"Good guess Brielle," I said to myself.

"Brielle, about my siblings," I began, the words heavy on my mouth. "My siblings are not who they appear to be. My sister wants me to marry Jasira, and Enrique also supports him because he's always been the bendable one. It's just us against everyone. Well, except for my father, who is neutral on the issue."

I feared that this would happen. Brielle was silent. Her facial expression had turned from one of glee to sour-looking. I pulled over at a deserted spot.

"Why are we stopping?" she asked suddenly.

"Brielle," I began, but words failed me the minute I looked into her sad face. I planted a long kiss on her lips before pulling away. "I'm so sorry."

"It's not your fault Jace," she responded, pulling me back for yet another kiss.

The kiss was like chemical combustion, and it ignited our hormones.  Not caring where we were in the world, we began fumbling with each other's clothes. I kissed her neck and even gave her hickeys. My hand unhooked her bra expertly, and I hungrily filled my mouth with her breast. She moaned and fumbled with my zipper.

Thank God for the reclining seats in cars. Soon, I made a makeshift bed, and she began blowing my brains out as she sucked my rock-hard dick. The comparted space made me feel like Brielle was trapped in a cage. I still felt my sense of dominance come alive as I fucked her hard.

"Jace," she gasped and moaned. "It's so deep!"

"Take this dick bitch! There's no escape for you!"

The car seemed to be bouncing on all four wheels. I did not care if anyone noticed but thankfully, the windows were tinted. Apart from the occasional tail lights of vehicles that disappeared right after they appeared, there was no disturbance. I continued to thrust into her pussy which was making farting sounds until I cummed in her belly.