Elise's pov

The room was lit by soft light to set the mood, the trail of petals led further into the house but I couldn't move. My heart was in my throat and at that moment all I could do was stare.

It was all how I had dreamed.

We had once had a conversation before about proposals and I was so surprised he remembered.

My hands came up to my mouth to stop the son that broke through. I knew my perfect makeup was ruined by the involuntary tears spilling down my face but I could care less.

The candles, the scent of the roses. Everything was all too overwhelming but I loved it.

This is it. This has to be it.

The giddiness bubbling inside me nearly spilled out as I continued to try and convince myself that it wasn't a dream but real.

He was waiting.

"Okay, you've got this Elise." a little pep talk to get over the nerves because I knew that at the end of the trial Marcus was waiting for me and it was best I didn't keep him waiting any longer.

Slowly and shakily, I took the first step. Then another.

That's it, one foot in front of the other.

The trail led me further into the house and my heart swelled with each step.

As I got closer to the main part of the house, I noticed that my family was present and they were smiling. I also say his family.

Oh my God, oh my God. I panicked internally not being able to believe that he got everyone here to witness such a beautiful moment.

He was really thoughtful.

Finally the path gave way and there he was.

He was dressed in a beautiful black, perfectly tailored suit with a bouquet in his hand and the most handsome smile on his face.

A little band behind him started to play a slow love song that added to the atmosphere and made me start to tear up again.

My eyes drifted to the neon sign behind him which said "Will you marry me?"

This was real. I couldn't believe it.

"Marcus..." was all I could say.

"Elise." He said my name for the first time in years, he only said it when he was very serious. "Today is about to be the happiest day of my life. I can hardly believe it!" He laughed.

"I know, I know." More tears kept pouring out and my throat bobbed as I swallowed down a sob. I can't believe it too. This is all... so beautiful."

"I took everything you said about a proposal back when we were in college. I noted it down and made sure to do everything perfectly just to impress you."

A chorus of "awnn" could be heard from his family and mine.

But he wasn't done. "All this wouldn't have been possible without you, Elise. I would have been so lost but I'm glad I had you by my side every step of the way."

"I'm glad I had you too."

"Elise-"

"Just skip the proposal and pop out the question."

My rush made everyone laugh, him as well.

"Okay, okay." He laughed slowly, lowering himself on one knee.

"She said the long speech isn't necessary so here goes."

Time slowed as I watched my dream finally become a reality.

"Will you marry me?"

I opened my mouth to say it.

"Yes."

That was it. That word to seal it all but...

It hadn't come from me.

I stood frozen as Victoria stepped out from behind me, running into his arms. He lifted her, spinning and laughing.

Everything replayed in my head.

I had been so delusional that I didn't see that his eyes kept flickering behind me. He wasn't thanking me for giving him tips for my proposal.

He was thanking me for giving him tips to plan this proposal... for her.

I felt a presence come up behind me, the person leaned close to my ear and said, "The only crime you committed was loving my brother?"

Brother?

Marcus didn't have any siblings.

Turning, my eyes landed on the person who spoke and it was someone I had never expected.

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."

Elise's pov

We returned to the table separately after that.

My eyes drifted to the couple of the year, Marcus eyes were already on me making me look away.

"Lucian, I am a bit offended that you never told us that Sebastian Deluca is your son." My father said, "After all our years of friendship, you sly dog."

Mr Grey chuckled but it sounded strained. "I didn't mean to but... it's a bit complicated. Do accept my apologies, Mark."

My father clamped his hand on his shoulder. "It's fine, my friend. So, why is he back here after all these years?"

Mr Grey exchanged a look with his wife then said, "Sebastian is here because he wants to open a branch of his company in New York."

"What?" Marcus exploded, shooting to his feet. "Why am I just hearing about this? And I never agreed to this."

"Calm down son."

"Don't tell me to calm down!" He snapped. "New York is my territory, London is his. We all had an agreement to never cross paths so what the fuck is going on?"

"Enough!" Mr Grey snapped.

A low chuckle came from Sebastian, making Marcus shoot him a glare. "Come on, baby brother. Territory? Are we five." Sebastian said, amused. "This is all business and times have changed."

"Shut it." Marcus snapped.

The relaxed aura from Sebastian turned to something deadly that made the hairs on my arm stand. "Careful, Marcus."

I saw Marcus swallow and look away briefly. What was that?

Then suddenly it clicked in my head why Sebastian's name was so familiar. I couldn't believe that I hadn't noticed it initially.

Sebastian Deluca was the CEO of freedom tech.

The third Largest tech company in the entire world. He was on every article in Forbes, business insider, New York times and the entire tech world has been raving about him for years.

"The prodigy of England's tech revolution." "The man who rivaled Silicon Valley before thirty."

And yet I... I had mistaken him for a staff.

Somebody kill me now. My face turned red in embarrassment as my mind replayed our discussion and even how I had gone as far as telling him not to sneak into "higher up" residence.

Who dug this pit for me? I was about to fall inside. I just wanted to vanish because the humiliation was eating me up.

I managed to sneak a peak and he was already looking at me.

No, fuck. Big mistake.

He shot me a wink and his smirk widened.

Something about that combo was lethal and made my stomach flip so I looked away and focused on Marcus instead.

"New York is mine, Deluca." Marcus spat. "My life, my company, my client, my people. You can't just swoop in here and plant your flag like you belong."

"Belong?" Sebastian said the word like it was foreign, an amused look on his face. "It seems you have forgotten that I am Sebastian Deluca, brother. Whether you like it or not, I belong wherever I decide to be and there's nothing you can do about that."

I sucked in a sharp breath. I have known Marcus for years and if there's one thing he hates it's things being out of his control. A new piece was on the cheeseboard that he didn't approve of, it was unraveling him.

"Don't fucking test me." Marcus said through gritted teeth, pointing a finger at Sebastian. "You've been out of this family for years, remember your place and don't think you can crawl back now and play king in my city."

Sebastian laughed. A deep belly laugh like Marcus had just cracked the joke of the century. "You know I am not doing this for your precious little inheritance or family name."

Yup, there was something deep about this family that I didn't know about.

"If you were actually half the CEO you pretend to be then you won't be afraid of a little competition. Or can't you stand against me without father's influence?"

Even the air went still.

Victoria, who always looked smug, shifted uncomfortably in her chair. I noticed Mr and Mrs Grey exchange a tense look. My family and I simply sat back and watched something dangerous unfold.

That's when it hit me

This wasn't just rivalry. This wasn't just about New York.

This was a family war.

A memory suddenly crept in. I was eight at the time and had slept over at the Greys' mansion. I couldn't sleep for some reason so I wandered down the hall barefoot looking for only God knows what.

Then I heard hushed voices from Mr Grey's study.

Curious, I paused to listen.

"...he's disgraced us enough. He's no longer part of this family."

"...he'll ruin everything if we let him stay..."

"...our other son will carry the legacy. The right son."

Back then I didn't understand what or who they were talking about because Marcus was the only son I knew. I chalked it off as me mishearing them or maybe I had just dreamt about it.

But now, sitting in the middle of the tension between this family, I realized that it was a dream and the son they had spoken about was real.

Sebastian was that son. The one they had erased and now he was back.

Why had Sebastian been erased in the first place? Why keep him hidden all these years? And more importantly, why come back now?

Marcus' voice snapped me back to the present. "Stay out of my way, Sebastian. I'm warning you."

Sebastian leaned forward, eyes locked on Marcus. "Try and stop me."

A chill ran down my spine.

Mr. Grey coughed awkwardly. Mrs. Grey plastered on a fake smile, trying to steer the dinner back on track, but it was useless. The storm had already been unleashed.

If Sebastian was this powerful and successful, then why had he stayed in the shadows for so long? Why New York, of all places? Why now, at the exact moment Marcus decided to propose to Victoria?

There were too many questions and secrets.

Marcus threw his napkin down and stormed away from the table, Victoria immediately getting up and following at his heels with a huff.

The tension reduced slightly but it was still there.

Then Sebastian turned to me and I felt my heart stop. He slowly leaned close to me, my heart started again and raced wildly.

What's he doing? Stop, damnit! I wanted to scream but my tongue felt heavy like lead.

"I'll be in touch." He whispered.

I blinked. "What?"

He rose from his chair, stretching lazily. His lips tilted into that maddening smirk again. "When I need you. You'll know."

And just like that, he walked away.

As I watched the mysterious, tattoo covered man walk away I couldn't shake off the feeling that from here on out, things were going to be different.

I just didn't know whether it was going to be good or bad yet.