Chapter Forty-two

Elia

''I—I don't,'' She answers.

My heart stops beating at once as the crowd stares at us in disbelief. It takes me a moment to process back the words she said; not looking at anywhere or anything but at her. The way she stares down at the ground, it shows that she's somehow regretting this but she's determine of her choice.

''I'm sorry. I can't do this anymore. I can't keep on pretending or forcing myself to love you when that feeling is no longer here. I don't want to hurt you or cause you any pain—so, I'm sorry.'' She mutters, loud enough for me to hear while I continue to look at her without showing any signs of looking away.

I take a few steps towards her before cupping onto her face, ''We can talk about this. We don't have to get married today if that's what you want but we can talk about this. Don't do this,'' I furrow my eyebrows—wanting to seek the truth in her eyes but what I see is causing me pain.

''There's nothing to talk about,'' She pushes me.

''I love you, Elia. I really do but that was all in the past, you've made me realise the truth that my love for you was temporary. You made me go through all the pain and I had myself going strong even though I was dying so now, please, forgive me.'' She looks up at me, somehow her blue eyes are refusing to look straight into my eyes yet they stay still—wanting to make me understand.

I grab onto her wrist, ''I love you. I love you. I love you. Don't walk out of this hall without me. Don't turn around and look away because I need you,'' I say.

To my surprise, she starts to pull away her wrist from my grasp before walking out of the hall; not even glancing back at me while I stare at her back—trying to reduce the amount of pain. As I turn to look at Elliot and my mother, they are both looking back at me; somehow not expecting this.

Just like that, I quickly run out of the hall; wanting to earn a better explanation from her for leaving me here all by myself. My mind goes blank as soon as I step out, not quite believing myself losing her—the only person I've come to love. Truly love.

I run my fingers through my hair messily, feeling myself being lost. My heart continues to break at the sight of her leaving me at the altar, leaving everything behind and stepping away. She must've felt that way when I left; the kind of pain that makes me want to kill myself.

I stop running when I see her with Elis.

As soon as Elis turns to look at her, he seems surprised—somehow not expecting her to be there with him. They just stare at each other for a few seconds before I see her starting to speak; but I remain focus on Elis, wanting to see his reaction. He won't stop looking at Rose but if I'm in his shoes, I wouldn't stop looking at her either. Especially when she chooses him.

Slowly, I continue to make my way towards them; but my steps stop as I see her cupping onto his face before he starts to lean in, kissing her after wrapping his arms around her waist. They kiss passionately slow without rushing anything which causes me to only stare.

In his arms.

Instead of mine.

My eyes are starting to tear up at the sight and as soon as they break the kiss, I see Elis turning to look at me; surprising me slightly but by the look on his face, it shows how he wants to accept her but at the same time, he also want me to be happy. What is happy if it doesn't come from both of us?

Then, Rose turns to follow his gaze, looking directly at me. I continue to look at her, somehow not believing that this is happening—with the woman that I love. Maybe, it has always been my fault. I left her behind when she needed me most, I guess this is what I get for hurting her.

''I forgive you, Rose. I want you to be happy. It doesn't matter if you choose my brother over me, as long as you're happy—I'm happy because I love you. Whoever you choose is your choice,'' I say, slightly smiling even though it pains me to fake a smile; I want her to see how I'll try to live with it.

She hugs me tightly, making me feel a whole rush going through my body so I wrap my arms around her body before kissing onto her temple, ''I will always love you.'' She mutters.

Slowly, we break the hug and look at each other before letting go. I immediately look at Elis, my eyes are almost tearing up for letting her go—but this is what I have to do. Let her go. If she's happier with him than with me, I'll let her go; if I only cause her pain while he causes her excitement.

''Don't hurt her like I did. Don't leave her or I'll come and kill you—it doesn't matter if you're my brother,'' I say, meaning every single word as I look into his eyes.

Elis clenches his jaw, ''I'm not taking what's yours, I don't want you to suffer because of me.'' He replies. For once, I start to realise that he's actually giving in; he doesn't mind suffering just so that I'll get the happiness I long for. If I continue to follow my heart, I want to stay and try to make her stay.

Now, I don't know.

''No, she deserves you. Someone who can take good care of her, love her, cherish and protect her. You deserve each other and believe me when I say this because I'm not lying. It pains me to let her go and see her end up with you but if that's her happiness and her choice, she's all yours.'' I assure.

I glance at Rose for a few seconds before leaning in to kiss onto the side of her face, if this is the last time that I'll be able to touch her—then, it'll be memorable. I quickly walk away from them once I feel the tears escaping from my eyes; wiping them as my back is facing them.

Once I'm far enough from them, I let myself cry the amount of pain and sadness without hiding. This isn't the first time someone has caused me pain but this is the first time for me to feel this much of pain—the pain that I can't bare. The kind of pain that I want to end.

Memories of us are always in my mind.

Making me remember.

My eyes wander around before landing onto a beautiful pair of blue ones—I'm immediately mesmerised by her beauty; the way she is looking back at me with the amount of adoration, I can feel myself slowly attracted towards her. It's not just her beauty that has drawn me but the way her eyes are highlighting her every feature. She's too beautiful.

''Come with me,'' I say to one of my men before standing up and walking directly towards her; somehow earning her attention. We won't stop looking at each other which I find a little bit amusing. My lips curve up into a smile as soon as we're close enough, seeing a glimpse of her cheeks blushing.

One million dollars.

She's worth more.

Every single one of them.

Slowly, both of us stops laughing and she peeks through her hands to see me looking straight at her. She seems to be out of breath and so am I. We both continue to stare at each other's eyes—which we've been doing quite a lot. I must say, that.

I push a few strands of hair on her face slowly and my thumb stops on her cheek; as I leans in. It might be a sudden act, a sudden kiss but it feels like I want to kiss her, especially now. The way her eyes are looking into mine, it's attracting me. Her beauty is slowly mesmerising me, each time.

I smile at the memory.

She tucks a strand of hair behind her ear which earns my attention immediately as I press my lips into a thin line—not quite understanding why I'm reacting this way. Without me realising, I am starting to lean in towards her so that our noses are touching; completely attracted. Fully.

When I continue to lean in, I start to see her eyes closing which causes me to brush my lips against hers; wanting to feel the softness. My eyebrows furrow at the sudden rush in my body, volts of electricity flowing in my veins but before my lips could fully meet hers, the microwave interrupts us.

The fuck. I thought.

My heart continues to ache.

''I want to ask you. When you look at me, what do you see?'' She asks, her blue eyes looking directly into mine—seeking for answers.

I lean in so close that our noses are touching as I look straight into her eyes, ''Mio amore,'' I say and within seconds, I already brush my lips against hers before leaning back once more; waiting for her respond. We stare at each other, not really knowing what just happened but she starts to wrap her arms around my neck, kissing me.

My eyes open as I feel someone staring at me from behind which causes me to turn around; meeting the familiar pair of green eyes—seeing her staring at me with a smirk on her face. I clench my jaw in anger; not appreciating her presence, how the hell did she find me? I thought.

''What do you want?'' I ask.

''I thought I'd stop the wedding but let me guess, she stopped it herself.'' She replies which starts to raise my anger but I try my best to hold back from choking her throat and shoot her face—that would bring me an ultimate point of pleasure. It's not worth killing her but it'll be worth to release my pain.

When I try to walk away and leave her all by herself, she continues to speak, ''Don't think that our agreement is over, Elia. You left the mafia but do you think that they'll let you go, just like that? You're mistaken—they'll come and hunt you down. You hold their greatest secret, they don't trust you enough to let you live your life without telling others. Then again, they don't have to worry about getting rid of you because I'll be doing that for them,'' She smiles, purposely taking a few steps closer towards me; making me glance down at her.

''I think you're the one mistaken. You forgot who I am.'' I start to push her away, making her take a few steps away from me, ''I own half of Europe, sweetheart. I even own your men. Incase you've forgotten, things can easily be changed with money—and by the looks of it, your father doesn't mind me killing you. He's tired of your pathetic attitude, being a fraud to others.'' I reply.

Her eyes widen immediately.

''You can't overpower me. Look at us right now, your men or should I say, my men; has their guns pointed at you.'' I lean in, smiling as I run the back of my hand on her cheek, roughly before grabbing onto her face, ''Welcome to the real world, you can't trust shit.'' I mutter.

Just like that, I glance down at the laser pointed on her chest; making her look down and stay still at her spot—not expecting me to bribe them in order to kill their own boss. Well, not anymore. I own them now; they'll do anything I say. My lips curve up into a smirk, pecking onto her cheek; purposely.

''Dire ciao a satana per me,'' I say.

Then, I walk away from her without a second glance after hearing her body drop dead onto the ground. I immediately walk down the pavement, not wanting anyone see me being there—knowing that there are no evidence of me being involved; besides, my whole family is practically involved with the mafia yet they keep it low-key.

''Elia,'' I look up to see Rose nearing me.

Her blue eyes piercing into mine.