Chapter 93 Chapter Ninety-three

Chapter 93 Chapter Ninety-three
 Elena's POV

Immediately I dropped the ring on the dresser, I took one last look around the bedroom, making sure I wasn't leaving any of my stuff, even though everything that I had brought with me here was packed away neatly in my suitcase, I still want to make sure, I didn't leave anything that I would long for, anything that will make me come back here, with a quiet sigh, I grabbed the handle of my suitcase and pulled the bedroom door open, I was going with everything I had, except that one thing, I no longer wanted to keep, which is Rafael's ring, I didn't want it anymore. I had made up my mind that at the banquet, I was going to tell everyone that Rafael and I were breaking up. I shut my eyes, inhaling deeply, before I walked quietly away, hoping I wouldn’t bump into Rafael or even Nikolai. I wasn't ready to see any of them. I had barely taken a few steps when one of the stewards approached me with a polite smile.

"Miss Elena," she called out to me and bowed her head respectfully. "You are leaving already."

"Yes, I am." I pulled out the key of the room I had stayed for the past week from my purse and place it in her palm, "here," she looked down at it before looking back at me, please returned this to your boss." Her eyebrows lifted slightly, "and tell him," I hesitated for only a second, "that I have already left with my uncle." The steward parted her lips to respond, but before she could, my phone vibrates inside my handbag, I knew it was Carson, he should be the one, I reach for my phone and when the screen lit up, my guess was correct, a genuine smile spread across my face, the moment I saw he was the one calling, I answered immediately, pulling my bag with me while leaving the steward behind. "Did you race over here?" I couldn't help but ask because I wasn't expecting him here so soon. I heard a burst of laughter through the speaker.

"You should know by now, that I am the king of racing." His cheerful voice instantly lifted my mood, I couldn't help laughing.

"I should have expected that kind of answer from my little uncle." He giggled again.

"So are you ready?" He asked while his laughter died off.

"Yeah," I glanced at my suitcase, "I am heading out now."

"Anything for my princess, even if you take another half an hour, I will still be waiting for you, like a lapdog." He teased, and I giggled. Sometimes I wished the one I fell in love with was just like my uncle; he is easygoing, he is considerate, and he knows how to treat a woman right. Whoever my uncle falls in love with will be treated like a queen. I shake the feeling off my head; I know I can't get two of them in my life.

"Thanks, Carson."

"Always welcome." I ended the call with a smile that felt more natural than any I had worn all morning. The steward rushed towards me and reached for my suitcase.

"Please, ma'am, allow me to take your luggage." I shook my head.

"No, thank you, I have got it." She smiled warmly.

"I hope you have a wonderful day.” I returned her smile by smiling back at her.

"I really hope so." She smiled warmly again before waving at me, with that I walked toward the grand entrance of the Romano mansion, the afternoon cold breeze of a new year greeted me the moment I stepped outside, and there he was, leaning casually against a sleek black car with his sunglasses perched on his head, Carson being Carson, always wanting to look attractive, before now, Shannon and I said he wants to look good for the girls, but right now, I could only see one girl he wanted to look good for, and that girl, is Shannon. I smiled, hoping he got what he wanted. The second he spotted me, he straightened and waved enthusiastically at me.

"There comes the Moretti one and only princess." I giggled at his words, while he jogged over before I could even reach the driveway. Without asking, he took the suitcase from my hand. "I have got this,"

"You always do." He grinned.

"Maybe, because I have a reputation to maintain." He lifted the suitcase with ease and tossed it into the trunk before closing it. Then he looked at me properly; his smile softened. "What's up, dear?" The simple question almost broke me, I shrugged instead.

"I just..." I stared back at the enormous mansion behind me, "just want to get away from everything." He studied my face for a moment; his expression grew serious, but unlike everyone else lately, he didn't push; he simply opened the passenger door for me.

"Come on," I climbed inside without hesitation. The familiar scent of leather and coffee filled the car; it was oddly comfortable. Carson started the engine. Neither of us spoke until the Romano mansion disappeared in the rearview mirror; only then did he finally break the silence. "You know," I turned lazily toward him. He reached over and gently took my hand. "You don't have to marry that asshole." I blinked twice, staring at him. That caught me off guard; I wasn't expecting it from him. Carson had never liked Rafael that much; that much was obvious. He had asked me that day when my Father announced that he was betrothing me to Rafael if I liked Rafael. I nodded, and that was it; he never once openly insulted him or even told me not to marry Rafael, even when Shannon was open about her detest for Rafael. But today was different; I gave him a look, and he rolled his eyes dramatically. "Oh, don't give me that face," Carson added. "I am serious." He squeezed my hands gently. "You are Elena Valkor Moretti," his voice sounded with quiet conviction, "your father is Don Valkor Moretti, the true heir of the Moretti family." A small smile tugged at his lips. "One of the most powerful and feared men in the mafia," he glanced at me before returning his attention to the road. "And your grandfather," he whistled softly, "the old man commands respect the second he walks into a room; everyone practically goes still, people worship the ground he walks on." I chuckled at his words.

"That is true but what's the point?"

"My point is..." He glanced in my direction again. "You come from strength, you didn't have to settle for less, you deserve someone who sees your worth, you are the family princess, you shouldn't let someone beneath you treat you like shit," I looked back at him, something was off but Carson wasn't saying the main reason, he was this vocal about my relationship with Rafael. "I know you loved..."

"Not anymore." The words left my mouth before I could stop them, Carson's eyes widened.

"What?" I slowly lifted my left hand; his eyes immediately dropped to my ring finger. It was empty; the diamond ring Rafael had placed there was gone. His mouth fell open. For the past two years, Rafael had given me this ring; I had never taken it off more than five times, and never this long. "Oh my God," his eyes widened, "you actually took it off?" I looked away, he practically bounced in his seat. "Did you finally break up with that scumbag?" His excitement echoed through the car; I couldn't help laughing. "I am sorry," he chuckled sheepishly, "I know I probably shouldn't sound this happy, but honestly, I am." He grinned from ear to ear, while I just watched him. "I don't know, I have been waiting for this day for years."

"You have always hated him," he shook his head,

"I don't hate him; I only hated how he treated you." He is right, the two things are different. "I can't believe you finally realized that stupid punk isn't good enough for you." His voice lingered between us. I wish Father would say the same thing when I break the news to him. I sighed, knowing Father wouldn't see it from my angle, and I wasn't ready to tell him every fucking thing Rafael did against me; I wasn't ready for a war.

"It isn't going to be easy." His smile faded.

"I know," his voice became gentler. "I know it isn't going to be easy convincing them." He brought my hand to his lips and pressed a soft kiss against my knuckles. "But I also know this," his eyes met mine. "No matter what happens, I will always be here." The sincerity in his voice nearly made me cry. "If you ever need someone to listen," he smiled, "or moral support."

"You've got me." He nodded while I laughed softly. "Since when did you become dependable?” He gasped dramatically.

"Oh, poor Carson, he is deeply offended," he touched his chest dramatically. "I have always been dependable." I raised an eyebrow.

"Really?"

"Of course, you just never noticed because you were too busy chasing a certain idiot." I burst into laughter; if it were before, I would have been offended, but not anymore.

"You really don't know when to stop, do you?"

"Nope," he winked at me, "and I have no intention of learning especially now that my little niece could finally read the handwriting on the walls." I giggled hard; Carson was a mad man, I saw, while those girls kept running after him. The lighthearted conversation continued for the rest of the drive; for the first time in what felt like forever, I wasn't thinking about Rafael or Nikolai. I was simply enjoying the company of someone who genuinely loved me and cared about me, my sweet little uncle. I giggled at my thoughts; if Carson heard that I called him that, he would almost kill me. Too soon, the familiar gates of the Moretti estate came into view. This was my second home; it had been a long time since I saw Grandpa and Grandma, my dad's parents. Carson slowed the car as the massive iron gates opened; the guards saluted immediately.

"Welcome, master Carson and Miss Elena," I smiled warmly at the guards.

"It's good to be home." Home is where the heart is, anywhere you are welcome is home. The car rolled along the long driveway before finally stopping in front of the grand mansion. Carson climbed out first and retrieved my suitcase. Together, we walked toward the entrance. The front doors were open, but before we could step inside, I heard my father's furious voice echo through the entrance hall.

"I have had enough, and who the fuck let you back here?" I froze, who was he shouting at, that was unusual, dad rarely lost his temper, I hurried inside, and the scene before me stopped me on my tracks, father stood on the center of the grand hall, his face was dark with anger, his fists were clenched tightly at his sides, standing a few feet away from him was a woman I had never seen before, she looked beautiful, elegant and unbothered about my father's outburst. 

"Valkor," she tried to reach him.

"Stay the fuck away from me and my daughter." Father thundered; the entire room fell silent. Even the servants standing nearby looked frightened, but my grandparents were just watching. I glanced towards Carson, keeping my voice low and whispering.

"Who is she?"