Page 52 of Always Meant To Be

Or maybe I’m just a silly, foolish idiot with Stockholm Syndrome.

It doesn't take long for the waiter to get our orders, Rome giving them mine, still allowing me to play with his ring with my head on his shoulder as my eyes now watch my sister.

Something doesn't feel right; she's been too quiet for my liking, only watching Romeo.

I watch with a furrowed brow as she hands her waiter a vial filled with liquid, both their eyes going to Romeo. I quickly look down before feeling them on me, and I wait.

When I look up again, she has a smirk on her face, but this time, her eyes are on my stomach, and the waiter is gone. Instantly, I know what she's planning.

That little….

"Miss, a fresh water for you," the same waiter says a few minutes later while another puts my food down.

I narrow my eyes at him, causing him to flinch and quickly move away, causing my attention to catch a red mark on his neck. The hickey looks new.

My eyes go to my sister. Again, her eyes are on me, but this time on my drink.

Surely, she's not that vile….

"Elena,doch', you need to eat up, you know it's rude not to try the food at least, and you're eating for two now," Mama says with concern, but I don't look at her, instead I sit up from Romeo's shoulder and keep my eyes on my sister.

"Somehow, Mama, I don't fancy being poisoned," I rasp, and Liliya's eyes widen in shock that I called her out in front of everyone.

Damn, I really had hoped I was being paranoid.

Romeo's and my father's chairs scrape, and they stand along with several other men around us. Aldo is instantly at my side.

I tilt my head. "You're that desperate for a man who chose me over you that not only you'll sneak cameras into our bathroom but screw a waiter to get him to do your bidding for you?" Her face starts to go red with anger, and I slowly stand. "What was the vile you handed him, Liliya? Was it something that would harm just my unborn child or me as well?"

"Marco, go gather all the fucking waiters, Ray, check the fucking cameras to see which waiters served both my wife and her sister!" Romeo snaps.

I'm not proud of it, but a small part of me believes he could be in on it, trying to get me out of the way so he could have her.The rational part of me knows he doesn't want her, and his ring finger is proof of that, but it doesn't stop the guilt building that my mind went that way.

Needing out of here and away from these people, I lean over the table, and I sneer, "Don't worry, big sister, once my baby is born, the contract will be complete, which means I'm free to leave." Romeo growls but I smirk and state, "Unfortunately for you, dearsestra, I think my husband would burn the world to the ground before he lets me leave him, and I’m pretty sure he’d put a bullet in your caked up face before he ever allows you anywhere near him again."

She goes to speak but soon screams when I grab the steak knife before me and stab it between her fingers. I turn to Aldo and request, "Take me home, please?"

He looks at me with such care that it makes my heart hurt, reminding me so much of Andrei, whom I miss so much.

He nods, and I go to walk ahead of him, but Romeo grabs my hand, making me look his way. I don't really make eye contact because of my guilt.

"I'll see you at home, Rome," I murmur and walk away, everyone's eyes on me.

"You've been through a lot, Elena, he's put you through a lot," Aldo whispers as he walks me out the back door toward the car to miss the paparazzi we all know Liliya called.

I nod, not at all surprised that he saw where my thoughts went, and I rasp, "Doesn't stop my guilt, though, Al."

Al opens the car door for me, kissing my forehead before I climb in. Smiling, he leans down, admitting, "Maybe not, but it doesn't make him love you less," before he stands and shuts the door.

Silent sobs rack my body.

Is it too hard just to be happy?

Eighteen

Romeo

I watchmy wife leave with Aldo, who surprisingly volunteered to be her main guard despite hating that position.

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