Chapter 25— Shattered chandeliers

Diana’s POV

Behind him were Marco, Anna and a few other people I didn't recognise, they were probably friends of Marco or Marcel who also didn't want my engagement with Raphael.

They didn't look like family members; you would know a Lorenzo when you saw one; they had a different charisma, and the way they carried themselves was different.

Not like I am being biased, but the truth is they walk and talk like they own the world. Well, you wouldn't blame them. That's what comes with being the most prestigious family in New York City.

Even Marcel had this trait, but he was more subtle than the others.

The others were outright rude; I didn't notice this about Marcel when we were dating, maybe because I was blindly in love, so I was overlooking most of his excesses, but now that I was free from the shackles of a stupid love, I could see him for who he is.

Looking at him standing over there with those people behind him, panting heavily. It made me wonder what I saw in him that even made me like him in the first place.

Diana!

Raphael came to stand in front of me, protecting me from whatever Marcel was probably gonna send our way the next time.

"You can't do this here Marcel."

"Says who?" He shot back at Raphael rudely.

"This is my introduction party and you shouldn't be causing such commotion in here."

"Introduction what?" Marcel laughed ominously "introduction party? Well, I am sorry to disappoint you, but I can't let this happen."

"Says who?" Grandma Audrey interrupted.

"Grandma, please stay out of it", Marcel warned.

He picked up another chandelier, I recognised the chandeliers as the ones that were placed at the entrance path of the event hall.

He went ahead to remove those chandeliers just because he wanted to ruin my introduction.

I scoffed.

He threw the chandelier again; Raphael turned swiftly, moving me away, and the chandelier fell to the ground, scattering into multiple pieces.

Just as he was about to turn, a chandelier hit him from behind.

Everyone screamed in shock.

I saw the pieces of chandelier falling from his back to the ground just at his feet.

That didn't stop him from turning back to face Marcel.

I raised my hands to cover my mouth in awe and shock; pieces of the chandelier glass had pierced through his tuxedo and were stuck to his back.

I could see blood stains on his back.

"Upps, it hit you" he laughed ominously.

"Marcel you need to leave or else-"

"Or else what Raphael?" Mrs Riley interrupted. "You would call the cops on him? You would beat him? Well do that and let everyone know the kind of monster you are."

I couldn't believe my ears.

Mrs Riley was saying all those things to her son. How long does her hatred for her son go? If I wasn't witnessing this I never would have believed that a mother would hate her child the way Mrs Riley does.

This was nothing but pure hatred. He was injured by her second son and all she could do was call him a beast?

I stood confused and angry, watching as the blood stains got thicker on his suit.

I moved closer to him, placing my arm on his shoulder.

"You are bleeding, Raph; we have to get you to a hospital now before it becomes worse,", I said almost in a whisper.

"I will be fine, Diana, don't worry, it's just a small scratch." He said trying to hide the pain in his voice.

But I knew better "You are not fine, Raph. I can see the way the blood is at your back, and it doesn't look good."

Raphael kept insisting that he was fine. He asked me to step back a little as Marcel picked another chandelier.

"Aren't you tired of all this?" I yelled from behind.

"Yo, bitch, learn to keep your mouth shut, this doesn't concern you."

I giggled. "Oh, Marcel, this concerns me a lot because it is my introduction party, and you are ruining it," I said angrily.

"So now you've got the nerves to talk back at me? Because you think you would become the heiress of the Lorenzos dynasty." He smirked. "Well, sorry to burst your bubbles, but that won't be happening, not on my watch."

"Marcel-"

"Don't you dare mention my name from that filthy mouth of yours, you dirty lying impostor, bitch."

The word impostor hit me hard.

I bowed my head, not in shame but in anger; I was thinking of the right words to use; as I raised my head, the next thing I saw was a chandelier flying over in my direction. It was so close that it was about to land on my head.

But then Raphael came hugging me tightly, burying my face in his chest.

I heard the sound of the chandelier shattering at his back.

"No, no, no Raph."

I tried to move away from his embrace, but his grip was tight; I couldn't even move; he only gave me enough space to breathe in and out.

I couldn't even move my hands.

"That's enough Marcel," Gramps yelled.

"No, gramps, it's not enough, except you promise to give Me everything right here and right now with your signature seal as proof, then it's not yet enough."

"So all this, is because of the properties and my will?"

He laughed ominously. "do you think I was doing this just because I want Diana back? Hell no! I have got the real daughter of the Kensington's I don't need a fake one. Give me everything and then I would stop."

"Marcel! Stop this madness right now!" Mr Lorenzo Junior yelled.

"You think I would listen to a loser like you? You incompetent-"

The next thing that followed was the sound of a slap. I couldn't see the face of the person who slapped him because Raphael had refused to release me from his grip, but from her voice, I could tell it was Grandma Audrey.

"How dare you talk to my son, your father like that." Her voice was laced with anger.

"And how dare you slap my son, your grandson."

This was a battle; now, this wasn't about me anymore. It was a battle of who would inherit the dynasty.

By right it belonged to Raphael.

In common sense, what belongs to one belongs to all, but because of the hatred they had for Raphael, I guess they couldn't imagine his name being on the glass frame on top of the CEO's desk.

I heard an angry growl from Marcel; I knew what was going to happen next— another chandelier was on its way, but surprisingly, I heard the sound of the chandelier scattering to pieces on the ground, followed by the sound of a body hitting the ground.

Everyone shouted in awe.