You chose him...

Elena.

" Let me walk you downstairs. " Firm and steely, Lucian's voice rang beside me, and when I turned, to face him, something shifted in me.

His gaze, unlike many, didn't hold pity, or shame, it was shrouded by my anger, not mine, probably, his brother's.

" You knew," I whispered, my voice barely above a whisper, as I tore my gaze from him, directing it to the couple who were practically glued to each other on the stage, swaying their bodies gracefully, dancing to the music that sounded like sweet mockery to my ears.

Their world was perfect, rocking, moving, while they had effortlessly shoved darkness into mine, and I didn't know how to move on. Looking at Marco's firm hand circling Chloe's tiny waist, bitterness surged within me in waves so violent I felt like I was choking.

It should have been me in that position, it should have been me he was holding. Those now noisy cheers should have sounded like the sweetest thing ever, directed to me.

The ring that gleamed against the light, its presence hard to ignore, should have been mine, should have been on my finger.

Those warm congratulatory messages, they should have had my name in them...The champagne toast, they should have been Marco's and mine.

But instead, I was forced to blur in the background as someone else lived my dreams, smiled through the happiness that should have been mine. And somehow, I was forced to act like I was okay with it, simply because since I loved Marco, I should have been happy for him, even if it broke my heart, even if he had to tear apart my dignity to be happy.

What kind of twisted logic was that? Love meant sacrifice? I wanted to shove that sentence back to his throat and choke him to his death. But, I had already embarrassed myself enough for the night. That should have been enough, no?

I was still the Rossis' family heiress, after all. I had to save my family some face, a way out.

" I did, " Finally, after what felt like an eternity, Lucien replied to my earlier question and I swarved my head to look at him.

He looked composed, like always, like everything was under his control, and yet, the ticked jaws, the clenched fingers, those subtle yet powerful movements seemed to defer.

"It doesn't mean that I agree with him, though. I just didn't think that he would be stupid enough to do it like this." He added, almost in a heartbeat, and for a moment, my gaze lingered on him, longer than it was necessary, and I saw something in his eyes that I had never noticed before. ..compassion, not pity, not pride, and not disdain.

" They look good together, don't they?" To distract myself, I directed my gaze to the newly engaged, and they just happened to share a kiss.

F*ck! That stung more than anything else. Seeing their lips locked onto each other served as another blow, meant to rewind the betrayal, the pain, and my eyes stung, with tears threatening to break dams in my eyes.

No. I could not break down, not under their watchful and judgmental eyes. Not while they were waiting to see me fall apart.

"They are," He agreed, and I didn't know whether it was his brutal honesty, or the fact that Marco and Chloe were still kissing the living sin out of each other's breath, but my heart constricted.

" Their characters...." He dragged, his gaze searching for mine, and I felt it, the confusion in his tone.

" They are cut from the same cloth..." He concluded, and that successfully broke me.

Because... because it was the truth that I was unwilling to admit.

The majority said that Marco and I weren't suitable for each other, that I was too stable, too grounded, to be with an entitled heir like him.

I had wanted to prove them all wrong, I had loved Marco, ignored the whispers.

I had chosen him, over and over.

He forgot birthdays, he forgot special occasions and like always, I defended him, covered him up, and now, as his elder brother's words cut through the air, something cracked within me, and I felt like my world was swinging.

" There there." He whispered, stilling me, even before I knew I needed an anchor.

" You need to get out of here." It was a command, one that I complied with, without asking a question.

Lucien was an enigma of power, authority, his presence commanded attention. He didn't need to open his mouth to make people bow, his presence did.

Probably, offering to walk me out was the best thing ever, more than pity and kindness. His solid presence meant I could walk with my head high, amidst the sea of judgment.

Swiftly, he locked my hand with his as he guided me towards the exit. And as we passed the couple, I took one last look at them, before focusing ahead.

Eyes followed us, sharpened by curiosity and judgment.

' What a pity... ' As we passed, someone whispered and I felt my composure crumble...But Lucien stilled me, firmly.

" Keep your head high...Don't embarrass yourself, your family." He reminded, and my gaze darkened.

Lucien was always like that. Grounded, hardly showing any emotions, any weaknesses... To him, business came first, emotions weren't necessary.

Even during my lowest moment, the best advice he could offer was business related, strategic, but I had to admit, his presence was the only string holding me from crumbling, and each step we took, from the audience, from the masses, felt like a step towards freedom, breathing space, and I couldn't wait to crumble down and cry it out later.

' She was the girlfriend..'

' She looked so happy earlier..' Those words pierced through my heart, through my senses, but I kept my chin high, amidst the violent emotions that were surging through me, amidst the shame, amidst the humiliation.

And behind me, Marco carefreely danced, not bothered, while next to me, his brother's steady presence held me.

He was the brother who stayed. And my heart refused to take that casually.

" Thank you for being here." We were in the parking lot, his driver ready to take me home, and that feeling was the best thing ever.

" Go home and take a rest..." He whispered , as he guided me in.

" About tonight..." He hesitated,

" The promised engagement was from our family to yours."

" No names were given."

" You didn't have to marry Marco, "

" You just happened to choose him....."