CHAPTER THREE

Elise's pov

Sebastian.

He straightened, hand in his pocket as he stared down at me. I opened my mouth to question him but Marcus dragged my attention back to him.

“Elise, thank you so much for everything.” Why was he thanking me? “After the breakup you told me that the best way to heal is to revisit what once made me happy and I realized that I was happiest with Victoria. So I talked to her and we sorted things out.”

That's not what I meant you idiot! I meant, me!

I wanted to scream and cry but all I could do was offer a weak smile as he planted a soft kiss on her lips which made me want to throw up.

Victoria's eyes slid to me and I saw that smug look in her eyes. “Elise,” the way she said my name made me sick. “Can you believe it? We're getting married.”

My throat felt like it was closing up but I managed to force out, “Yeah... congratulations.”

She moved closer to him, making sure to show me her ring and let me know that she had won.

***

After the celebration died down we all sat at the table to have dinner. I couldn't even look in the direction of anyone so I kept my eyes fixed on the tablecloth

I didn't understand why he had brought my family but I didn't want to talk to them. No one even noticed as they all spoke amongst themselves.

Then, someone drew the chair next to me and sat down. Their presence made the table go silent, I looked up and saw Sebastian. This made me remember his statement from earlier.

“Sorry for keeping you guys waiting, I had to take a call.” He said smoothly.

I could see the confusion in my family's eyes but when I looked at the Greys they had this tense look in their eyes.

“Who is this?” My mother finally asked

Mr Grey cleared his throat, “Everyone, I'd like you to meet Sebastian Deluca. My son.”

All eyes snapped to Sebastian including mine. Something was amiss, how did they have another son and all these years they parade Marcus as the only child.

Also, Deluca? Why did he have a different surname? What was the unspoken tension going on between them? And why did his name sound a bit familiar?

My mom opened her mouth to ask another question but the sound of Marcus's ring tone interrupted her. He gave an apologetic smile then excused himself.

This was my shot.

“Umm… excuse me. I need to use the bathroom.” I didn't wait for anyone's response as I got up and hurried after him.

I stayed in the hallway waiting for him to finish his call and once he did, I approached him. He smiled at me, “hey, Lise. Why are you back here?”

“I don't think you should get married to Victoria.” I blurted out.

His smile dropped and he sighed, running a hand through his hair. “What's the problem now, Elise?”

The way he said my name stung. “I-i just think you are rushing things and should find a better person to settle down with.”

“Rushing things? Jesus, Elise. Victoria isn't a stranger, we have dated for years and just had a little misunderstanding and went on a break which all couples have.” He said. “I am a grown man and I know the difference between right and wrong, I don't need you to tell me.”

“I'm just saying—”

“Saying what? Elise.” He snapped. “That I should find a better person?”

I remained silent.

He scoffed. “And who do you think this ‘better person’ would be? You?” He laughed. “Please come off. Tonight is going to be a happy night. I don't need your moodwings—or whatever this is—getting in the way.”

He walked past me, calling out. “Sort out yourself before you come back to the table. I don't need this negative energy to ruin everything.”

I stood rooted to my spot, eyes blurred with tears as I remembered the way he had laughed when he said “you?”, like it was the most unimaginable thing he had ever heard.

I knew he didn't mean to hurt me and was just overstimulated but that didn't make it hurt any less.

A broken sob escaped, making me clamp my hand over my mouth as my shoulders shook. Was it too much to ask him to love me?

After a few minutes of crying I heard a voice behind me. “You should just give up.”

Sebastian. Quickly wiping my tears, I turned to face him, not caring that I looked like hell.

“Look, I don't know you and I don't want to know you so can you please stop following me around and stop talking to me?” I was tired of him just popping up at times when I felt like my world was shattered.

He raised his hand in surrender. “I'm not here to make you feel worse, I'm just saying the truth.”

This made me scoff. “The truth? You know nothing about me, Marcus or our situation so whatever ‘truth’ you think you know is false. Keep it to yourself.”

I turned to walk to the bathroom, I needed to splash some cold water on my face before facing Marcus again.

“Give up.”

He said it again. I turned angrily on my heels and matched up to him. “I will not give up on Marcus because I love him.” Eyeing him up and down I continued. “From the look of things you probably don't know what it means to be loved or to love someone or else you wouldn't be casually throwing the word ‘give up’ around like it was that easy.”

He visibly flinched at my words. Good.

He was silent for a moment, staring down. I guess he had finally gotten the message.

Turning, I continued on my journey to the bathroom then— “Alright, I'll help.”

I turned, confused. “What?”

“You're right, I know nothing about love and you seem to do. I want to see what it's like for someone to love a person and you need to learn that not all love is worth fighting for and what better way to do that than team up, try to get you your man and see how that works out?”

Why was he offering to… help me? “What do you gain in all this?”

“Nothing, I'm just bored.”

I shot him a dry look which made him chuckle. “Okay, okay.” He held his hand up in mock surrender then turned serious. “It might not seem like we have the best sibling relationship but I don't even need to know much to know that Victoria isn't the right person for him. I have failed to be there all his life but what's a better way to redeem myself then to help him escape and claws and be with someone who is actually right for him?”

It all sounded so suspicious but still… he was willing to help me get Marcus. I had been fighting alone for so long and a little help would go a long way.

I must have been silent for a while so he urged me, “so…? What do you say?”

“Let's do it.” I stretched out my hand. “But if I find out that you lied to me, I will not hesitate to ruin you.”

“Ouu, feisty.” His hand was warm as it enveloped mine. “Okay, little vixen. We've got a wedding to stop.”