How can I help you?

Elena.

"Go home and take a rest." He whispered, his tone, still firm, like he was negotiating a business deal, and yet, somehow, it felt comforting, and I felt wrong for feeling comforted by the man who should have become my brother-in-law.

" I loved him," I whispered, mindlessly, as I settled on the plush leather seat, the darkness in the car seemingly, merging with the one within me.

" Then mourn him...Cry it out." This time, he sounded warmer, softer.

"But don't lower yourself, don't trample over your dignity for a person who is not worth it " He added, almost snapped, and I nodded, a glint of resolve glazing my eyes.

" You are right. I won't beg for love. I am the Rossis' family heiress." There was a cold glint in my eyes as I vowed, and the flash of pride that fleetingly glazed his eyes as he looked at me, I saw it.

" Elena?" He called, so softly, and I felt like I was hallucinating.

I had known Lucien for as long as I knew myself. He was several years older than Marco and me, and growing up, he was always in the background, always watching, observing, in control, he was that steady presence that you could turn to, anytime.

He was called ruthless in the high society, and heartless in the business world.

I had seen him in business and in real-life situations, like at home, and each time, there was no difference, to him, the line between real life and business was forever blurry. He used the same standard tone, cold, emotionless, whether he was talking to business partners or to his parents. It was the same.

But now? Had his tone softened while calling me? My eyes cleared, and I looked at him, hard, just to make sure that I had not misheard.

" Elena, back then, the engagement was promised from our family to yours. " He whispered, softly, almost vulnerably. And my heart missed beats.

" It wasn't stated that you should marry Marco. No names were given..." As he said that, he looked angered, sounded like he was trying to control himself.

" You just chose him.."

" You fell for him..." He added, no, he spat,

And before I could speak, even before everything could register, he was gone.

He merged into the darkness, and the car door automatically locked itself before the driver pulled out.

" Where to, Miss Rossi?" I was still processing Lucian's words when the driver called out, and that successfully broke my train of thought.

Where to? A single lone tear slid from my right eye as I processed that question. Because the answer was supposed to be simple, straightforward, but it wasn't.

A part of me wanted to go to the Rossi mansion, my home, but the other part of me wanted to go to my apartment, Rossi Heights, but...

Just the thought of going back there, where, in the past few months, Marco and I had spent so much time together, created memories, shared laughter, kissed under the sunset, whispered things, I had even been actively planning on decorating it for our future, the master bedroom, big and warm. I had even fantasised about us becoming parents and converting the room next to ours into a nursery..and now the thought of going back there filled my heart with so much pain that I saw dots.

"Miss?" The driver's worried voice called again, and I was forced to make a decision.

" Take me to Rossi Heights. " I whispered, my dry voice seemingly mocking me for my poor choice.

My Rossi Height apartment was my eighteenth birthday gift from my parents, and while going there seemed like a masochistic choice, while it seemed like I was actively going to seek comfort in the place that reminded me of why I was hurting, my decision was set in stone.

I wanted to be alone, to grieve, in the best way possible, and when done, I would have no reason to think about Marco, Chloe, and their betrayal.

After tonight, I wasn't going to shed another tear because of him, I wasn't going to reminisce over the past either.

Going to my parents' home would mean no tears. I was their beloved daughter. They had done enough to shield me, to protect me from the harshness of our society. I wouldn't want to break down in their watch. That would really break their hearts. My Mom would even think that she had failed as a mother, I wanted to save them the trouble. I didn't want to pretend to be strong either.

Because heavens, I was not. My heart was numb with pain, inner cheeks were covered by wounds. When I couldn't express what I felt, I had to bite on my inner cheek to keep myself from losing it all. And now, I felt like the world was crushing on me.

"Can I trouble you to pass a message to my parents? Tell them I am safe. I will contact them tomorrow. " I instructed the driver, and before he could even respond, I was already outside, pressing on the elevator.

The Rossis and the Reids shared close ties, we were family friends, and I was very familiar with Lucian's driver, more than once, he had had to drive Marco and me back to the apartment, after late-night drinks over family events. He was like an elder brother, and I was sure he would pass the message.

When the door clicked shut behind me, the strong girl mask I had desperately worn for the entire night finally fell, and I went down to my knees, and heavy and heartwrenching sobs filtered through the air.

I didn't even switch the lights on, the darkness around me seemed to comfort the one within, and there, in the hallway of the house that we once shared, witnessed by the countless memories that we had once created together, I cried, I wailed, I cursed, I mocked myself, for being blind, for being stupid, for thinking that he and I had an happily ever after, and when I was finally done, my voice was gone, and I was a big mess. Makeup smeared all over my face, mascara running down my cheeks, trailing the path that tears took.

And as I stared at my reflection in the mirror, I was also scared by the person staring back at me.

It was around midnight by then. And I immediately started ransacking the house, going through everything, and removing anything that was connected to Marco and his privileged ass.

Mugs that had our names on them, gift cards that he had written to me, dresses that he had thoughtlessly bought for me, they all found their way to the trash can, and before long, his suitcase was already packed, anything that was his, his clothes, shoes, watches, they were all packed and placed on the door.

I was so fucking done with him that the sight of anything connected to him had me dry heaving.

It was not until early in the morning when I finished, and as I lay sprawled on the floor, fatigue finally caught up with me...

I just wanted to close my eyes, drift to sleep and wake up a new person, and I was about to go to bed when the doorbell shrieked in my ears, and wearing a displeased look, I dragged my body to the door.

Well, nothing prepared me for who I was about to see!

" How can I help you?"