Alyssa's POV:

Morning has come,I was still awake, my cheeks held dried tear stains, whole night passed by with me crying my heart out,

The scene of walking the aisle with the brother of my old flame just made me want to puke my guts out,

would I even call him an old flame we never even dated, I kissed then left, the end, I groaned in frustration,

My phone rang, I let it rang, never picked it up, I knew it was Sash but I can't face her she was right all along I am a goody two shoes daddy's girl who will jump in the blazing pit hole for her father, I heard a knock, I didn't answer,

"Alyssa you are still in last night's clothes" Daddy commented his tone was a little hard but I just stared at the ceiling,

"Alyssa can you hear me?", no answer, let me mourn in silence Daddy,

"Alyssa I am warning you this drama is not going to work, freshen up and get yourself at the table in 15 mins, don't make me come to your room again", He ordered and left,

I silently stood up and after 15 mins I was at the table, consciously there, unconsciously lying in my pile of ruins,

"Alyssa focus", I lifted my eyes to meet his, he was glaring, am I getting on your nerves father,

"Answer me", "Yes father", he shut his eyes and massaged his forehead, Am I ticking you, tick, tick, tick.

"Finish your breakfast and fix yourself you look like a damsel in distress for goodness sake", I just placed my toast in my mouth, He stood up and went to his room, I went to mine,

It was 2:00 my phone rang, "Hello" "Hey why aren't you answering", "Sasha" my voice broke down, "Baby are you alright" she asked,

"No I have to tell you something come to me please", I pleaded desperately, I needed my best friend,

"I am on my way", in few minutes she was at my place, trying to calm me down,

I spilled every detail of my life in Miami, I told her about Carlos, she was shocked, I told her about Maddy, I told her about Stan, Mason even Jordan, I told her about our suspension vacation,

she listened with a smile on her face, she wiped her tears when I told her how I repaid them, how selfishly I left them without a final goodbye, How I broke Carlos's heart, I shattered his heart into pieces and this marriage will show how much I despise him, marrying his brother,

"stomping over his broken heart with my Prada heels", I cried on her shoulder, she softly rubbed my back,

"No wonder you hide all of that, it was all too awful and so heart wrenching", I stared at her now,

"But why his brother is forcing you to marry him", she asked her voice laced with irritation,

"He is ambition driven, he has been working hard for many years to get where he is today, he wants the company and his dad is blackmailing him to marry someone, he can't say no",

"Well he is an asshole he doesn't care about you nor his brother, he only cares about himself, that selfish loser, how cruel can he get, he knows about you and Carlos but still no he wants to be a bitch sorry about that, I know he is your future husband but I hate him to the core",

she finally finished her hateful speech which I didn't hate at all, I quite agree with her, this person was not the Ricardo I met two years ago,

he changed, "What if Carlos changed too", I asked suddenly feeling a little suffocated I can't handle his hate towards me Oh it will bury me alive!,

"let's just hope for the best", some one interrupted us, "Hello Miss I am your stylist today, should we start Madame", I looked at Sash who was giving me a thoughtful smile,

It was 4:00 when we started now it was 6:00, it took me two hours to prepare for my funeral dinner,

"You look beautiful Madame", "Thank you", I replied to the stylist, who looked satisfied with her masterpiece, she fled soon after we were done, so did Sash,

I begged her to leave, she even wanted to accompany me to the dinner I forbidden her to even think about such nonsense but I smiled later, she went to the elevator pouting, my baby loves me so much,

I wore a black knee length dress

I wasn't feeling quite colorful to tell you the truth, I was rather feeling dull and full of remorse.

"Beautiful my darling", Daddy commented, I just faked a smile, I have mastered it already, gotta be prepare for my future life,

"Ricardo is a pretty lucky man to get a wife like you",It felt like someone chopped my finger off in front of me, I fake smiled again,

"Alyssa say something", I want to die, "Yes father", he groaned,

"Fine let's go we are getting late don't want to keep your future mother in law waiting", like a bullet it pierced my heart,

Our car arrived at our destination, my heart was beating like a drummer performing his solo, it reached it's climax when the door was opened for me,

The mansion was build in a secluded area, no noise, only elegance and beauty, I quite admired their home,

it spoke the language of elite class, it mocked me what are you doing here you Liar, here to embarrass yourself,

It laughed at my juvenile attempt to be strong, to be a good faker, I just followed my dad to my doom,
We were received by Mr Dwayne himself and Ricardo who was gazing at me quite weirdly,

his eyes were fixed on me, he gave me his hand, I wanted to slap it away from me but I took it with a fake smile, I hugged my future father in law, he was so sweet to me, sweeter than my own father, at least I will have a faithful father figure when I get married,

we stepped in, Oh how I was so mesmerized by the beauty of this mansion so classy, so glamorous, I was speechless

"Oh how long you made me suffer Robert, my what a gem, come here my darling let me hug you",

A beautiful woman welcomed me, she had Carlos's eyes, his golden eyes, I was lost, she hugged me kindly,

I stayed that way a little longer she didn't minded it at all, she gazed in my eyes with such affection, I felt like I had a mother,

"My love you are so beautiful, Ricardo is pretty lucky", I fake smiled, my eyes were just lost in hers, "I told her that earlier, you better keep her happy Ricardo",

"Believe me Sir I will keep her safe and sound", I was brought to reality by this comment, I stared at Ricardo, who was just smiling with Dad and my future father in Law,

I was a little comfortable knowing Carlos was not around and like God listened, I heard some steps on the staircase,

"Carlos meet my friend Robert and Ricardo's fiancee", I turned, I saw him coming down, his dashing self descending the stairs, he was looking so irresistible, he shook my dad's hand and then our eyes met, it almost felt like thunder struck us, he was frozen for a second but he moved and gave me his hand, I was shaking,his eyes were piercing my soul,

I could not read what was he thinking, I only felt cold, his stare was empty, I felt a little broken, I offered him my hand,

he touched it gently and pressed his lips on my cold hand, his hot lips touched my skin leaving weird sensations in my body,

"Nice to meet you Alyssa", he said coldly, I heard my heart break into millions of pieces, I controlled myself, my name felt so foreign on his tongue, He changed too, this was my punishment,

I composed myself and replied with my mastered fake smile,

"Nice to meet you too Carlos", "Alright let's sit shall we", the most awkward seating arrangement ever, I was sitting with Mum,dad was on the sofa on the right side, Mr Dwayne was on the left and Carlos and Ricardo were right infront of me, I gulped,

"My Alyssa you have really beautiful eyes", please mom don't, I knew who was watching me, keeping an eye on me, two hawks one dove, believe me I am here to make peace not war,

"Thank you um", "My name is Amelia Crawford but you young dumpling will call me mom or mama or whatever you like just say it", she was so sweet,

"I will mother", she bear hugged me suddenly, which literally knocked the air out of me, I knew they were amused and inwardly laughing at my awkwardness, but their expressions were solid as rocks,

"What do you think about Ricardo love I hope you like him", she asked, I was caught off guard, what should I say?, in front of Carlos, way to go Mom, "Um I a...", I just blushed,

"Ricardo why don't you take Alyssa to the pool area you are clearly staring at her like crazy", No I want to stay Mother!!, Ricardo rose and gave me his hand I took it and we went to the pool area,

The wind was silent and a little calm, much calmer than the drama which was happening inside the house, I was facing the pool, Ricardo was beside me, he was wearing a suit like his father, Carlos too was wearing a suit.

Ricardo was wearing a white three piece tailored suit, Carlos was wearing a black one.

But I melted when I saw Carlos, It is the first time I am seeing him in a suit, "You look gorgeous Alyssa", I was brought to life by Ricardo's compliment,

"Thank you", I muttered softly, I felt like hell, being in the same room with Carlos took all my energy, to be fake happy was hard, his coldness towards me made me entirely weak, I can't do this any more,  I am tired,

"I am not a monster Alyssa I am desperate in my own way, I want this badly", no answer, what can I say to him, I am sad,

"I had a conversation with Carlos in the morning that's why he didn't make a fuss about it", I turned,

"he was fine with it?", "He didn't say anything, I guess he was fine", don't know why but this didn't make me happy at all I wanted the night to end,

I just diverted my gaze to the pool again, "can't you find someone else Ricardo you are killing me", I finally spoke,

"You may consider me rude and selfish after my confession but to tell you the truth I am glad it's you", I turned towards him, I was shocked, he stood tall not even ashamed of what he said,

"How dare you say that Ricardo I once knew you", I answered in anger, his steel gaze against my golden fire,

"that's the thing Alyssa I know you, I have seen you it's better if you marry me, I know you are a really kind hearted lady you will be a good wife",

"You ruthless brute how can you say that to the person with whom your brother was in love with, you selfish jerk",

I tried to walk pass him but he grabbed me by my waist, my soft body smashed against his hard chest, I placed my hand on his chest to create some distance but it was useless,

"Was Alyssa, it was old news", he hissed, I gulped, his grip was hard,

"Let me go or else I will slap you", "Try it love", I closed my eyes and took a deep breath, this monster of a man, I can't believe he is Carlos's brother, oh what kind of a punishment is this,

"Please let me go", I whispered, I was scared, he planted a small peck on my lips and unfolded his hands,

I was stunned, he placed his arm on the small of my back and guided me in, "there you two are, come dinner is ready", Mom said while pulling me towards the dining room,

I didn't see Carlos, I couldn't lift my eyes, I was too red, the small peck was like hell to me, he was sitting beside me, communicating with his father, all this time I was comparing him with Carlos who didn't show up for dinner,

I think he left, he couldn't bear my existence, it must have suffocated him, This man on my right was hard, cold, a realist,

Carlos on the contrary was passionate, Warm, kind, born a dreamer, I was so broken, I can't even imagine living in the same house with Carlos,

Ricardo was so rude and authoritative, he wanted a doll, my strings were in his hold, the dinner was finally over,

I was silent when we departed, my signature smile fooled them perfectly, Ricardo placed a kiss on my forehead and bid me farewell,

Mom and dad were really nice to me, the car ride was silent like always, dad glanced my way several times but I was just lost, too tired to fight with him,

"Alyssa did you enjoy the dinner?", "Yes father", he didn't ask anything else, our car stopped at the signal, a knock on the window I let it down, that same man with a Vendetta mask handed me another rose and he went back to the woods,

I was surprised, he was the same guy, with the same rose, on the same signal, I gazed at it.

I came into my room, now two roses sit on my dressing table,

"One withered, one alive, looks like they represent my love life, my old love has withered, new one has replaced it, it's a little thorny as it pricked my finger", I stood up and went to bed,

I didn't hear his voice tonight, just saw his eyes that said "you betrayed me Alyssa",it haunts me all the time,
"Good night Alyssa, let darkness embrace you" I whisper to myself and closed my eyes for the present, wish it was for a life time.

***** ****** ******
Hey loves I hope you like this chapter,
Geez Ricardo take a chill pill mate, why you gotta be so rude :(
Poor Alyssa ❤ Ricardo wants her too,
Brother brawl 👑
What will happen next?
Carlos can be pretty cold.....
vote and comment loves
Xoxo Thegirlinthegreycoat