Chapter 97 Chapter Ninety-seven

Chapter 97 Chapter Ninety-seven
Elena's POV

"And the family had decided that the wedding would take place on her birthday." My breath stopped immediately it felt like something was squeezing my heart. It was becoming too painful to breathe. I didn't want to get married, even if I wanted to, not to this asshole, not to this man who will bring me nothing but pain, and to think my family was going to throw me into this hell on my supposed happiest day.

"But father..."

"Shut up, Carson." Grandpa shut Uncle Carson up before he could even start. I knew he wanted to say something; he wanted to defend me. He didn't want me to get into this marriage. When Carson saw that it was a dead end with my grandpa, he turned to my father, his brother.

"Valkor aren't you going to ask Elena if this is..."

"Carson, one more word from you and I will knock some sense into your head." Grandfather spoke again; this time he was reprimanding Carson. My dad's eyes went to me.

"Smile," Rafael whispered into my ear, "or this place would be turned into a bloodbath." I swallowed hard, then forced a smile. I didn't want anything to happen to my family; they are all that I got, no one else. I just can't allow my stupidity to put them in danger, but that didn't stop the pain in my heart. It didn't stop my grandfather's words from echoing in my head. I tilted my head back to Rafael; he was smiling widely now, as if he was far too pleased with himself.

"Is this what you want?" I whispered. He glanced down at me.

"What?"

"To ruin my birthday for your stupid wedding?"

"Our wedding." He corrected.

"And you chose my birthday for this?" He shrugged as though the decision had nothing to do with him.

"Not my fault but your grandfather." My fingers curled tightly against my dress, I had just told this man, I didn't want to get marry to him, I had hope he understands that our relationship was over because I was sure that we are no longer in love with each other and now, my entire family is planning a wedding I didn't want on my birthday, I wouldn't blame them because this was all my fault, now my heart is shattered but the cruelest part was that everyone was excited about the news while I wasn't and I couldn't even tell them, I don’t want to get marry, before I could even say a word, Sarah, Rafael's mother rushed toward me.

"My goodness!" She wrapped her arms around me. "Congratulations, my lovely little girl." I stood stiffly in her embrace.

"Thank you, Sarah." The words came out automatically; at least that is what they all expected. They said the words, and I replied to that with this. Sarah pulled back and held my face between her palms. "You don't know how happy I am. I have always wanted you as a daughter." She gently caressed my hair. "Now it's finally happening." I forced a smile, then nodded.

"I am happy as well." My stomach twisted at my own words. Who was I kidding? I don't want to be her daughter. Another person came forward.

"Congratulations!" It was Amara, she was smiling widely, as though she had been waiting for years for this, waiting to get rid of me. "I can't believe my baby, is going to be starting her own family soon." She muttered, pulling me into a hug.

"Thank you!" I said, like the words were programmed in me and I just needed to press it. Then the voice came up. She slowly pulled away and walked away from me, and then more people came, congratulating both of us. I look around the room at the other side, stood Shannon and Carson, neither if then we're smiling, Shannon eyes were fixed on me and Carson looked equally uncomfortable and worried for me, I knew that look, they must have been wondering why I didn't say I don't want to get married to Rafael when I had already told them that I will tell father after the party that I wanted our engagement call off and now, my wedding had just been announced and I didn't say a word, just two months from now and I will the wife of this devil but I just can't say I don't want to. All I did was stand there; one by one, more people came to congratulate me. Every smile, every hug, every cheerful word felt like someone was slowly tightening a rope around my throat. I couldn't breathe, my mind stop working, while Rafael's smile kept widening, like he was the happiest man I've, as though he had won something that he never thought he could, eventually the crowd began to thin, people returned to their conversation, some guest moved toward the dining, while others bid their goodbye, I stood there frozen, my hand trembling as Rafael walked to his family side, where his father was talking to my father. At this point, I wanted to leave. I needed air because I was feeling suffocated, and suddenly someone worse than Rafael and every goddamn announcement that I had heard, approached me.

"Oh my daughter," the words daughter made me want to throw up, I closed my eyes, dear God, not her, I don't want this woman around me, please not her, but no, this annoying woman had to approach with a wide smile pasted on her face, "I didn't realized we would meet like this," when my lashes parted I glared at the woman in front of me, irritation and anger filled my lungs.

"Stay away from me." Her smile disappeared, but she was still trying to act perfectly fine.

"Elena..."

"I said stay away from me." The room became quiet; several people turned to look at us. I didn't care. My eyes burned with tears; I was already mad at it, and now she had to add to my anger by approaching me with her annoying face and voice. "I don't know you." Her face crumpled the moment I said that, but she still wanted to speak, to explain herself as if I had asked for one.

"I understand that you are upset."

"You don't understand anything." My voice shook. "You weren't there." She flinched as I snarled, "You weren't there when I needed a mother." Tears filled her eyes.

"I know."

"No," I shook my head. "You don't." I turned away from her; my eyes found Rafael. He was smiling, as though watching me struggle and die in silence was somehow proof that he had gotten what he wanted. My anger boiled over, and as he took a step towards me, his smile widened.

"Congratulations, sweetheart." I stared at him, my annoyance increasing.

"Don't call me that." His smile faded; I saw fear flicker in his eyes, as if he was scared that I would speak up.

"Elena..."

"I want to be left alone." I cut him off while I turned away before he could answer or threaten me.

"Elena!" This time it was my father's voice, but I didn't stop, I kept walking, I couldn't face my father, I couldn't even tell him that what I wanted I no longer wanted it because I am not sure he would even agree to call off the wedding when it was me who said I wanted all this. I reached the stairs and my vision blurred; tears were already threatening to fall from my eyes. "Baby, wait." Father's footsteps were accompanied by his words, while I climbed faster. "Please," he pleaded, but I didn't turn around, didn't slow down. Then suddenly his footsteps stopped, and I glanced back; Grandpa had already caught Father's arm.

"Leave her."

"But..."

"She is just overwhelmed," Father frowned, then tilted his gaze towards the stairway.

"But she is upset."

"Nah!" Grandpa sighed. "Do you know what happened when I announced the wedding between your mother and me?"

"Moretti," Grandma called softly. Then Grandpa smiled.

"Your mother ran away." A few people chuckled. "She was terrified." Father shook his head, then looked at me.

"That was different."

"Was it?" Grandpa patted his shoulders. "Your daughter is shy, just like her grandmother, but don't worry; she will calm down." I stared at them from the staircase. I wasn't shy; this wasn't me being overwhelmed. This was me not wanting to get married to Rafael, because I don't love him anymore, but who would believe that. Still lost in my thoughts when I heard Amara's voice.

"Come on, Valkor." My stomach tightened. They are all trying to convince Father that I wasn't upset but nervous. "You should know your daughter," she smiled, "she is probably just shy." I clenched my fists as the word " shy echoed in my head. That was what everyone thinks this is all about: that I was running upstairs because I was embarrassed about getting married. Who would be embarrassed by something like this? And Clarissa immediately turned toward Amara.

"Don't meddle." What's this? Is she trying to stake her claim on Father and me right now?

"What?" Amara asked.

"This doesn't concern you." I didn't hear what Amara reply to her but I think their voices distracted father and now his attention was in them, and just like that, no one cares about me, I didn't wasted another second, I let my feet carried me down the hallway until I reach my room, I slammed the door shut, as I locked it behind me while I leaned against the door, my entire body shook, the tears I had been holding back finally spilled, and I slid down the door and covered my face, 

"No," a sob escaped my lips, "I don't want to get married to Rafael." I shook my head as more tears drop from my eyes, my fingers tightened around my phone, then somehow I feel like I needed to talk to someone, I needed a friend but I didn't want to tell Shannon, she will freak-out, she would tell Carson and Carson will tell Grandma, and I don't want war, I don't know what Rafael is capable of but I will not risk my family for this. And for all the people in my life to call was Nikolai, the brother of the man putting this pain and fear in my heart. I scrolled through my phone, when my fingers stop at his name, I stared at his name on my screen my heart hammered, few hours ago, I had promised myself that I will never chase him again but right now, I couldn't do this alone, I need a friend, so I press the sent buttons, the phone began ringing, one ring, two, three, but no answer, I wiped my tears with the back of my hand. "please answer." I called again. When the fourth and fifth ones ran out, my breath became shaky; maybe he didn't want to answer, maybe he already knew his family had announced my marriage to his brother. "One last time, and I will not call again," I whispered, and just then, he took the call.

"Elena?" The moment I heard his voice I broke.

"Nikolai..." My voice came out as a sob.

"Elena are you crying?" His voice sounded alarmed. "Tell me who hurt you?" I could already feel his emotions; he was concerned for me. I pressed the phone against my ear.

"They..."

"Give me a few minutes, and I will be there."