Chapter 96 Chapter Ninety-six

Chapter 96 Chapter Ninety-six
Elena's POV
"Let's call off the engagement." The words left my lips quietly, but the moment they did, I felt like the chains between my legs and arms were broken. But Rafael's expression remained stoic; he just stared at me.
"What did you just say?" His voice carried a strange mixture of confusion and disbelief. I forced myself to meet his gaze.
"I said we should break up." For a second, he simply stared, then he laughed, a loud, disbelieving laugh.
"This is a prank right?" I didn't smile.
"I am serious." His laughter slowly faded but not completely; he looked at me as though I had suddenly started speaking another language. 
"Sorry," he chuckled again.
"What is funny?" I couldn't help but ask, because at this point his laughter was irritating me, and I hated that he wasn't taking me seriously.
"You." My brows pulled together.
"Me?" I pointed to my chest.
"Yes," his voice filled with irritation right now, "what is this madness about?" His expression hardened. "Are you trying to get my attention?" I shook my head.
"No." If that is what his stupid brain is telling him, then he is mistaken.
"Then what is it?"
"I am tired Rafael."
"Of what?"
"Of pretending that we are in love." He scoffed.
"If you are angry because I didn't spend New Year's Eve with you, I am sorry." He stepped closer. "I should have been there. I know that you felt left behind." He reached for my wrist. "Come on, you know it's bad to take off your engagement ring." his fingers closed around my hand as he tried to slide the engagement ring back onto my finger. I immediately pushed his hand away.
"Stop, Rafael." He frown.
"What now?"
"I don't want the ring," I stared at the diamond in his hand, memories flashed in my head, at one point, this ring was my source of happiness, it was the one thing that brought me joy, the one thing that made me think Rafael would always be mine but I was mistaken, Rafael can never be mine, I shook my head, pushing the memory away, "I don't want this anymore." His expression darkened, his laughter faded away.
"Elena, don't start this."
"I have feelings." He opened his mouth, but I continued before he could interrupt me, "and I know you don't love me." His expression changed. "You love Arabella."
"Stop." His voice cracked like a whip. "I don't have time for this." I stared at him in disbelief. He turned, ready to walk back to the party. "Let's go."
"What?"
"My family has something to say." I remained rooted to the spot.
"But we are discussing something."
"It's not important." I looked at him, lost. Each day that passed, I wondered what I saw in this man. That made me like him; that made me tell my father I wanted him. "Come on," he reached for my hand again, but I pulled backwards.
"I'm not going anywhere with you till this conversation is over." His eyes narrowed.
"Elena," he warned.
"I mean it."
"You can be angry with me later."
"I'm not angry,"
"Then what is this all about?" I swallowed hard.
"I'm done with this." The word hung between us. Rafael's expression became completely blank; I could see that he still didn't understand me, or perhaps he simply refused to. "I don't love you anymore, " I whispered. His jaw tightened.
"You don't mean that."
"I do."
"You will change your mind." I shook my head.
"I won't." He laughed bitterly.
"This is because of my brother, isn't it?" My heart stopped. "Nikolai?" I didn't answer, because somehow the way he said his brother's name made fear crawl down my spine. "You have been acting strange since the moment you met my brother," I said nothing. "Did he say something to you?"
"No, stop bringing your brother into this." He smirked.
"Then why are you suddenly breaking up our engagement?" I parted my lips to speak, but I shut them because I couldn't say those words burning in my heart. I couldn't tell him that I was in love with his brother and that his brother was the opposite of him. With Nikolai, I didn't have to beg for attention; I didn't have to share with another female, maybe Gianna, but at least it was me he loved, but he was just scared of everyone around me. And staying with Rafael while loving his brother would be unfair to him. But I couldn't say those words now; I just needed to break up with Rafael.
"I simply realize that we are not right for each other." Rafael stared at me.
"That is it?" I nodded. "You spend all this time with me, and that is all you have to say?" Tears gathered in my eyes.
"What do you want me to say?"
"The truth." I looked away; he was trying to make me feel guilty, like I was the one having an affair with someone else.
"That's the truth, I don't want this union between us anymore." His expression hardened.
"Well, that is unfortunate." My heart sank at his words.
"What?" He stepped closer.
"Because the decision isn't only yours." I frown.
"What are you talking about?” He gave me a strange smile.
"Let's go inside." I shook my head.
"No!" 
"Elena!"
"I said no." he lowered his voice.
"My family is waiting." I shook my head.
"I don't care."
"You should," he looked towards the party.
"Why?"
 "I know you don't want to start a war between the families because no one embarrassed the Rossettis and got away free." My blood ran cold.
"What are you saying?" He smile.
"You know exactly what will happen when you call off the engagement." My chest tightened.
"C'mon, Rafael, don't be ridiculous; you know there would be no war if you tell your father that you love Arabella." He smiled.
"And who said I love Arabella?" His question left me broken.
"Rafael, please, just let's end it; you and I know you don't..."
"It's not happening." He cut me off, then turned. "Come with me, my love." I didn't move. Rafael looked at me. "Be a good girl, my family is waiting."
"For what?" I asked, he smiled.
"You would find out soon." His words left a chill running down my spine, suddenly I felt uneasy, I felt something was going to go wrong, when Rafael grabbed my hand forcefully and pull me back into the party, the celebration was still going on, the laughter, the voices, the food, the drinks, everything was still the same except the relationship between Rafael and me, because I had just told the man I was supposed to marry that I didn't want him anymore and somehow he felt I didn't have a say in it. My eyes drifted around everyone; for everyone, this was a happy family gathering, but for me, it felt like I was walking in the middle of a storm, waiting for lightning to strike.
Eventually, the party began winding down. Some of the guests started saying their goodbyes, and I was finally beginning to believe that Rafael was just trying to scare me. Just when I was about to breathe, my grandpa suddenly stood up, and the room gradually went quiet. He looked around the table, then smiled. "I have an announcement to make." My stomach tightened; I guess this was what Rafael was talking about. Everyone turned toward him, and Grandpa smiled. "Since all the important members of the family are finally here, I believe this is the perfect time." I frowned, my heart palpitations increasing, as the question rang in my head. Perfect time for what? Alessandro glanced toward my grandfather, then toward Rafael; something about their expression made my heart sink. I look at father his face was unreadable, then my eyes move to Carson, he was staring at me, his jaw was tight, I wondered what was going on, Carson wasn't happy with me then my gaze fall on Shannon, her brows furrow, everyone seems unhappy except grandpa, Rafael's family and of course the stupid woman that call herself my mother. Grandpa continue. "We have waited for this long enough." Rafael's face brightened. I felt a strange sense of dread when Grandpa gestured for Uncle Alessandro to come forward. Uncle Alessandro stood up and walked towards him. "There is one matter that both families need to settle." My fingers tightened around my phone.
"What matter?" The words barely left my lips, grandpa smile,
"The marriage." My blood ran cold. While Rafael immediately reached for my hand and smiled, I instinctively pulled mine away. How dare he? I told him I wanted the engagement off, and then he made this silly announcement. I glared at him while he frowned; Grandpa continued as though he hadn't noticed. "We have decided to pick a date for Rafael and Elena's wedding." The room erupted into excited voices while my heart slammed against my ribs. "And the family had decided the wedding will be on her birthday."