RYLAN "Tell me, does Rylan treat you right?" Grams seriously asked her like Elena was dating a depraved or morally questionable man and not her grandson. Elena forced a smile on her face. "He does. He is a gentleman." Grams nodded to herself in approval before I saw her eyes shining with excitement. "So, how did you two meet? I asked Rylan but his vague answers didn't do it for me. I want the whole thing. Besides, he said that I would like it a lot better from you." She rambled and I saw the slightest trace of nervousness flickering in Elena's eyes. Something told me the reason wasn't Grams but Dad. His silent watchful presence could be a bit unnerving. "I used to work at a diner where Ava used to visit with Stacey. Rylan had come along one day and that's how we met." Well, this part was technically true. "I don't believe it was love at first sight and all. This guy here doesn't have a single romantic bone in his body." Grams spoke with disapproval in her voice

ELENA It was Saturday, hence the day I was to move in with Rylan. I had been staying with my parents for some months and Dad had grown very much accustomed to my presence. He was heartbroken that I was moving out just like the first time I did when I graduated school and went to college hostel. Mom was upset but happy for me. Liv on the other hand had been really excited and she promised to visit as soon as she could. Lately she had been drowning in work and her boss wasn't too amiable to say the least. I flopped back on the bed, totally exhausted and I wasn't even halfway done with all the unpacking. Organizing my room has always tired me more than anything. Here we were talking about settling in at a new place. Rylan had Chris get my things to his house before he left for some meeting. That had explained his formal wear when he was earlier at my home to pick me up. That made me wonder why he was there in the first place. Chris was perfectly able to pick me up.

ELENA The footsteps of Ava and Stacey retreated down the hall taking away the last bit of sound with them. There was deadly silence looming over us as Rylan sat pinning me down with a stare. Scary. Unnerving. Blank. "Dog shelter. She meant we are going to a dog shelter." I don't know what made me say it. No response. Nothing. Not even a muscle movement or a flicker of anything in his face. "I uhm understand if you don't like dogs or something." I blurted before deciding to shut up. Obviously he wasn't concerned about some dogs at the moment. Another long second of deafening silence passed. "What are you trying to do?" The crisp coldness of his authoritative voice slashed through the air thick with tension. "Huh?" I blinked, not really catching the meaning of his words. "Ava is referring to you as her mother. What game are you playing?" I blinked again, stupefied by his question. How were the sentences even related? "Why

ELENA This is it. It was finally the day I was going to get married. I was going to get into a false relationship, deceive everyone. My mind was totally messed up. My reflection in the mirror stared right back at me, looking just as confused. I was feeling a hurricane of emotions, happiness not being one of them. Pretending in front of everyone, trying not to have a breakdown and oh— actually getting married to that asshole. In short I was the happiest bride in the world! And the paparazzi were just the cherry on top of everything. The news of our engagement was the headlines on the day after the party. The day we went to shop for bridesmaids' dresses , the paparazzi were outside the shop and there were a lot of them. Rose had to call her bodyguards who escorted us to the car. And today they were going to be even more in number. "El, I don't get it. Why are you so nervous? It's not like you're marrying a stranger or a monster." Liv chuckled

ELENA I freed my hair from the numerous hair pins and watched as the curls cascaded down my shoulders. I took one long glance at myself in the full length mirror which immediately had me thinking back to the day I had. Everything was literally perfect. Perfect venue, magnificent decor and the most beautiful wedding dress that had the most perfect fit. Every girl’s dream wedding. Except it was far from a dream. I sighed before my hands reached the zip at the back of the dress. I pulled it down only a few inches before I couldn’t. It. Was. Stuck. Damn it! No matter how much I struggled with it, it was all in vain. I closed my eyes in pure distress. Stacey wasn’t here to help me. Even Ava was at her grandfather’s place. That left me with…God! I couldn’t imagine asking Rylan to help me with this. And the stunt he had pulled earlier made the situation all the more worse. Fuck, what option did I have!? I wasted another five minutes trying before giving