Chapter 4: 'An angel's smile is what you sell'


"Get out of my house, now!" Elena replied.

"Why can't you understand, Elena? He doesn't want you anymore. He wants to get rid of you and the shame that you brought to our family. You're the biggest regret of his life. Why don't you just sign the papers and get out of our lives?" Stefan said, his tone as cold as his eyes.

His words were hurting Elena. She was vulnerable and she would have believed him if it weren't for the fact that she the depth of her husband's love for her. Damon loved her madly, devotedly, with every fiber of his being. He could never say that about her.

"Tell him to say it to my face and I'll sign the papers." Elena replied confidently.

"He doesn't want to even look at you." Katherine spat.

"Katherine, you can try your best to turn him against me, but he will always be mine." She replied, folding her arms on her chest.

"We'll see about that." Katherine replied, smirking. "So am I to understand you're not signing these papers?" she asked.

"Yes." Elena replied, smiling.

"Then here," Katherine said as she picked up the one envelope and tossed it to her. "You need to present yourself to board tomorrow to give your statement and if you refuse we will take this to court."

"What the fuck?" Alaric said as he took the papers from Elena's hands. "You can't demand her to be present tomorrow. Legally, you have to give her a week's notice before a meeting."

"Oh we mailed it. Didn't we, Stefan? You didn't receive it? Too bad." Katherine replied, smiling wickedly.

"I'll be there." Elena replied, taking a deep breath. It wasn't like she had any other way.

Katherine's smile fell from her face, for a second her eyes blazed with hatred before she recomposed. "Very well. See you tomorrow." She replied, picking up her bag.

"You still have a chance, Elena." Stefan said coldly. "Sign those papers and we bury this right here."

She scoffed, looking away. It took everything inside her to appear confident when she was anything but that.

"Are you sure, Elena?" Stefan asked again. He didn't expect the scared and vulnerable girl to fight them back. He and Katherine had fully intended to intimidate her into doing what they wanted.

"Yes, I'm sure. Now please leave." She replied, tiredly.

Stefan nodded, looking at Katherine. He put his hand on the small of her back and led her out of the house.

As soon as they were out, she dropped down onto the couch, exhausted. She had been through so much today, she just couldn't bear it anymore. She started thinking about everything that was going wrong in her life.

Her husband kept ignoring her because he thought she was cheating on him, she was running out of money and she didn't have a job, print and electronic media were ruining her reputation, people harassed her publicly and now finally her husband's family was dragging her to the court for fraud. Could her life get any tougher?

Her hands start to shake. What if she could never prove her innocence? Will Damon leave her forever? The very thought pained her.

"Elena, it will be fine." Jenna assured her, giving Elena's hand a squeeze. Her assurance did nothing for Elena. She didn't know how anything will possibly get better. She covered her face and started to weep grievously.

It broke Jenna's heart to see Elena this way, her sobs were so agonizing that Jenna felt her own eyes fill with tears and she held the shaking girl. "I don't know what we will do, Jen. We don't even have a lawyer yet."

"We will find a way, Elena." Alaric comforted her.

"Elena, please stop crying. You know it's not good for you." Jenna reminded her. "Think about the baby."

"This is all too much, Lena." Jeremy said as he paced around the room, anxiously. He was very protective of his elder sister. He didn't like it when someone upset her. "You should have signed the divorce papers, Lena. He isn't worth it. Damon Salvatore doesn't deserve you."

"Jer, stop!" Jenna interrupted.

"While you've been crying your eyes out for him he has been fucking sluts." Jeremy spat, dropping the bomb on her. Her heart stuttered, stopped for a moment, beat really fast, stuttered again. No. He couldn't.

"This marriage is over, Elena." Jeremy added. "Stop trying so hard. I don't want you to destroy your life crying over a guy who didn't even wait a week before he moved on. I don't want you to shatter yourself for someone who trusted everyone else but you."

"No, he can't." Elena choked. "We are still married, he would never cheat on me." She added, speaking more to herself than anyone else.

"I saw him, Elena." Jeremy said. "He was leaving the bar with a girl. Stefan is right, he doesn't care about you anymore. Your marriage is dead. It's over and there is no use trying to save it now. You'll only be tormenting yourself. If he cared he would talk to you, he would ask for an explanation but he didn't. He threw you out of his house in the middle of the night."

"He didn't throw me out, his brother did."

"Elena, you were just a phase for him. He used you like an object and now that he is tired of you, he is throwing you away."

"Don't!" Elena warned him. "Don't talk about my husband like that. He loves me. He is just hurt, that's why he is lashing out…"

"If he loved you and if he wanted to make things right he wouldn't be fucking sluts." Jeremy replied.

"Jeremy, enough is enough." Alaric warned.

"He doesn't even care about his child inside her. He fucking asked her to kill the baby. He doesn't love her. She is better off without him." He spoke the bitter truth Elena was afraid to hear.

In the past week, she had called Damon over and over again to inform him about her pregnancy. She begged him to hear her out for the sake of their child. She told him over and over again that she was innocent and she wasn't having any affair with Mason. But he didn't answer a single message. What if Stefan and Katherine were right and Damon indeed wanted nothing to do with their child? Would her baby live without the love and affection of a father? The very thought broke her heart.

Realization hit her. What would become of her baby if she didn't prove her innocence? She will have to raise her child all by herself. She knew how it felt to lead a life without a missing parent. She had none. She was an orphan herself. She didn't want the same fate for her child.

She sat motionless, her eyes glued to the floor. Her life was falling apart right in front of her and she couldn't do anything.

"Talk some sense into her, Jen." Jeremy said, bitterly and stormed out of the house.


June, 2014.

The loud screams of his mother woke him up. Damon rushed to his mother's room. Lily was holding a knife, shouting, warning them to stay away. "He is here. He wants to kill me." She screamed. Lily sometimes had severe panic attacks followed by hyperventilation and dizziness. She would lose all her senses and attack anyone near her, claiming that they wanted to kill her. In those times, even Damon couldn't find courage to go near her and calm her down.

"Mama, no one is here." Damon said, stepping closer.

"No, he is here. He wants to kill me. Please, save me." She begged, sobbing.

"Lily!" Elena said, taking a step toward her. "Damon will chase him away. You're safe. We are here."

"Elena, he is here. You can see him, right?" She asked, hopefully.

"Yes, I can."

"He is right there in the balcony." She pointed.

"Yes, he is there. Damon will find him and you'll be safe"? Please, calm down now. Give me the knife." Elena said, softly.

"What are you talking about… there is no one—"He trailed off when Elena glared at him. "I'll check." He added, taking a cold sigh.

"Give me the knife, Lily." Elena said as she took the knife from her and placing it on the table behind her, before enveloping the old shivering woman in her arms. She led Lily to her bed. "Take a deep breath!" Elena murmured patting her back.

"Is he gone?" Lily asked as soon as Damon came back to the room.

"Yes, he ran away. Didn't he?" she looked up, hoping he would follow. He nodded, folding his arms on his chest. "Can you please get her a glass of water?" Elena requested, her eyes focusing on Lily as she checked her pulse.

He nodded, pouring water in the glass from a bottle placed on the side table. "Thank you," Elena said, taking the glass from him. "Sit with her please, hold her." She told him as she got up.

"She isn't stable… I…"

"Mr. Salvatore, she needs comfort provided by human contact. I promise you she won't attack." Elena replied. He felt a bit embarrassed. Now, she would think that he was afraid of his own mother. "I'll get her anti-depressants." She said, getting up.

"No, please. Don't go!" Lily said, holding her hand.

"I'm right here." Elena replied, cupping her face. "I'm just getting your medicine."

Lily hesitantly withdrew her hand. When Elena signaled him, he sat next to his mother and embraced her. "I'm sorry. I didn't want to bother you. I know you've worked all day and you're tired—"

"No, it's okay. I was up anyway." He replied, a soft smile playing on his lips.

"Here, take these." She said as she put the tablets onto the palm of Lily's hands. "This will help you calm down." She added, sitting next to her.

"Damon, you can go now." She said, patting his back after a while. "Elena will take care of me."

"No, it's okay. I'll stay until you fall asleep." He replied. He heard her sigh in relief. She was still shivering from fear. He held her hand tightly, assuring her of his presence.

"Do you want to talk about it?" Elena asked.

"No!" She refused.

"Lily, it will help you feel better."

"Elena, I can't."

"Lily—"

"Miss Gilbert, she refused, Didn't she? Then why do you keep insisting. Please don't make her do something she doesn't want to do." He said, strictly.

"Because I want to make her feel better, Mr. Salvatore." Elena replied, frowning. "Please, don't interrupt me when I'm working. I know what I'm doing."

"You're a nurse not a doctor. Stop acting like one." He replied. Girls like her thought they could do no wrong.

"You don't want to share it with us? Fine, write it down." Elena focused her attention back to Lily, rubbing her arm softly.

"Miss Gilbert," Damon took a deep breath, trying his best not to be rude with her. "These childish techniques wouldn't work."

Ignoring his comment completely, she skimmed through the drawer on the side table and took out a pen and paper and handed it to her. Lily seemed hesitant but she took it. In the next half hour, she scribbled down silently while Damon sat next to her and Elena took her place on a couch across them.

Soon, Lily started yawning and rubbing her eyes.

"I'm tired now. I want to sleep." She said, putting the paper to a side.

Elena immediately came to her side, she helped her lay down and put a light blanket over her. "Lily, how do you feel now?"

"Surprisingly, fine." She replied, yawning again. "Can you please stay with me tonight?"

"I can stay." Damon interrupted.

"No, I want my nurse here." Lily replied, closing her eyes. "You're too busy for me anyway."

"It's okay. I'll stay." Elena replied before he could argue further. They stayed quiet by her side until they knew she was slumbering deeply . Elena rose up and whispered that she was going to change for the night. He nodded, knowing she wanted him to stay with Lily until she was back. When she left the room, he picked up the paper in which Lily wrote about her nightmare.

Five minutes later, a loud cough interrupted him; Elena was standing by the door dressed in boy shorts and tank top. He stared at her for an embarrassing amount of time before he looked away, frowning.

Boy shorts were his weakness and the girl was already a temptation. That was one of the reason he disliked Elena a lot. Every passing day increased the deep interest and attraction which he felt for the doe eyed brunette. He reminded himself that it wasn't okay to think about his mother's nurse like that when his mother was so ill. Her eyes were glued to the bag, her hands digging something out from the bottom.

"What's wrong?" She asked, sensing his disturbed mood.

"There is nothing useful written on it. She tricked us. I told you it wouldn't work." Damon said, showing her the page, focusing on not looking down her top, which was deliciously revealing her cleavage.

"Of course, it wouldn't. Lily needs professional help from a psychiatrist. I only told her to write down because I wanted to distract her." She explained. "I only wanted to divert her mind from the nightmare. It helped her calm down, didn't it?"

Damon opened her mouth to argue, but stopped when he realized she was right. The girl was clever. He was impressed.

"But we can't keep distracting her. She needs professional help." She said, finally taking out a moisturizer bottle from her bag. She struggled with the lid of bottle. Rolling his eyes, he took the bottle from her hand, popped open the lid and offered it back to her.

"Do you think we haven't tried that? We have hired a psychiatrist for her. She gets therapy twice a month but her condition hasn't improved. She still keeps getting these nightmares. I have asked her doctor to increase the doze of anti-depressants but—"

"She needs attention and love from her family. Her world is unstable, perhaps due to trauma or some other factor that makes her feel out of control. She has been alone in this room for a long time. Instead of locking her up in the room you need to encourage her to go out and interact with others." She replied, empathy and compassion seeping from her tone.

"She gets uncomfortable." He replied.

"That's the part of her treatment." The brunette girl replied in a serious tone as she poured the contents of the bottle into her palm. An intoxicating tropical fragrance filled the room. Oblivious to his stare, she rubbed the lotion on her bare hands.

"I'll ask her doctor about this." He finally agreed, submitting to her. "If he allows we'll work on it."

"Sure," she replied. The lid of the bottle fell from her hands. As she bent down to pick it up, her shorts lowered, exposing milky skin of lower back. His body reacted immediately.

"Umm… Miss Gilbert, I should go, I have an early meeting tomorrow." He said, awkwardly. "Goodnight!" he said quickly as he left.


November,2016

He had parked his car directly across the road where he first met Elena. Since it was late night, the roads were empty or people would have definitely questioned him what was he doing lying on the middle of road.

He and Elena didn't have a perfect marriage but they were happy. They did fight from time to time like every normal married couple but they never went to bed without making up. It was Elena who would apologize and put everything behind even if she wasn't at fault. Many nights, they would sit and talk long into night, making love and whispering sweet nothings into each other's ear.

Then something happened. She started to change. She wasn't the chirpy, energetic girl whom he had known anymore. She started to hide things from him. Soon it was as if she was avoiding him. He started feeling a void, a weird hollowness in their marriage. Elena was putting him in a corner, away from her love, her unconditional, addictive love.

She started lying to him. On the pretense of working as a volunteer for Katherine's charity organization she would spend time with Mason. Katherine kept pointing out to him that numerous times she found them getting uncomfortably close to each other. He ignored at first, but soon Elena's friendship with Mason started bothering him.

Mason would complement her all the time, telling her how he thought she was the most beautiful woman he had ever seen. Mason and Elena used to be classmates and close friends back in high school. He had been told by her friends multiple times that Mason had a huge crush on her before and how everyone thought they would end up together in future.

His insecurities grew more when he would find her laughing at his jokes and getting excited whenever he called her. In his jealousy, he started pulling away from her, hoping she would get the cue and stop talking to Mason. He drowned himself in work expecting she would miss him. But it was like she didn't care anymore. He then tried a different approach. He started loving her more than before.

He still remembered when he woke up one morning seeing her combing her wet hair in front of the mirror.

Just the sight of her would make his day a thousand times better, he got up and circled his arms around her waist, nuzzling her neck and running his fingers through her wet hair "Today is the opening of Mikaelson s new hotel. They have invited Mr. and Mrs. Salvatore to be their grand guests, and before you ask ,yes there will be a music show. What do you say, will you be my date?"

She turned, rewarding him with a sparkling smile; her arms locked around his neck, she dug her face in his neck, pressing soft, spine tingling kisses along his neck to jaw. "Have I ever refused you? Of course, I'll be your date."

He was relieved, his Elena was still his. She still wanted and loved only him. He was really excited to spend the evening with her. Later that day, she called him, claiming Katherine was sending her out of town for organization work and she wouldn't be able to make it. Charity work was important to her and he understood that, even though he was annoyed that he wouldn't be able to spend time with her. But the next day, Katherine told him that she didn't send Elena anywhere and that their project had finished last week.

That was the first time he started doubting his wife's faithfulness, though he kept mum about it.

The ringtone of the phone snapped him out of his memories; he knew it was his mother. Ever since that horrible day, she had been trying to convince him that there was no way Elena could cheat on him. He took out his phone to check the caller id. It was Caroline. He answered, reluctantly.

"Damon!" Caroline said in a panicked tone. "Jeremy… he broke Katherine's car. She got him arrested Damon."

Damon sat up frowning "What? Is Kat okay?"

"She wasn't in the car, please can you come back?"

"Okay, I am on my way."


July, 2014

"Such a beautiful morning!" Elena talked to herself in a cheerful voice as she dusted the cushions on the lawn chairs. Although Mr. Salvatore had told her one too many times this wasn't her job but she wasn't a caveman, who lets things get dirty, unmanaged and walks around the house naked Just the very thought made her swallow thickly. She snapped out of it, fixing the flowers in the vase "Mmm, these smell good, the birds are chirping, it's about to rain and Mr. Killjoy is sleeping in late."

"I assume that's me." She heard his voice.

Her eyes widened as she turned around to see him standing behind her, holding a book she faked a smile. "That's ridiculous! No, please don't fire me. I really need this job." she blabbered, nervously making him smirk.

In the last two months he had developed an unannounced friendship with her. They spent a lot of time together working on Lily's treatment. She would accompany him during every doctor visit and weekend outing. She took her job seriously and worked tirelessly to help Lily overcome her physical and psychological issues.

In the meantime, he found a lot of things about the doe eyed girl that he secretly liked but he would never admit even if his life depended on it. She was outspoken and very warm and…

"What?" She beamed at him, fluttering her lashes as she waved a hand in front of his face. Why was he looking at her like that?

He rolled his eyes and stepped away, sitting on a chair while taking a sip from his orange juice "You talk to yourself. Would you like me to fund a psychological treatment for you too?"

Her eyes widened in surprise. This was different. He never talked to her more than what was necessary.

"Well, sometimes I need expert advice." She fired back.

He shook his head with a sympathetic sigh returning to his book. Elena liked the fact that he read a lot. She always found him reading a book in his free time. He had a vast library with books of all genres but she saw him read horror and suspense the most.

"You know I noticed you spend a lot of time reading suspense novels. It's my favorite genre too. In fact, I read so much Sherlock Holmes that…"

"Miss Gilbert, I can't concentrate if you keep talking." He said, bluntly. "Please, if you could—"

"Okay." Elena replied, frowning. She kept quiet for a minute. He looked up and caught the reflection of whatever inner battle she was fighting shining in her eyes. He focused back on his book, concentrating now.

"The mistress!"

He looked up from the book "Sorry?"

She sat back, pointing to the book. "The mistress killed the husband's brother with the help of her lover."

A flash of anger went through his eyes and his lips formed a thin line as if controlling the outburst. "Why would you ruin it? It took me two nights to reach mid book." He almost threw the book on the table.

She giggled. "Because I was bored and I have no one else here to talk to and you ruined my conversation with the wise Elena."

He shook his head, hiding his amusement. "And this was your revenge?" Somehow she could easily outsmart him.

She smiled taking a piece of sliced fruit and eating it.

He sighed. Fine! She wanted a conversation? He would talk to her. Secretly, he wanted to get to know her.

"This nursing thing…is it all you would do? I know you still go to college so what exactly do you aim for?"

She shrugged. "Nothing in particular. I just want to be a millionaire, just like my father."

He almost spurted out the orange juice "What? Your father was a millionaire?"

She laughed "No! He also wanted to be one. "

He sighed shaking his head, she kept on laughing and laughing but seeing that he didn't join she slowed down. "A smile won't kill you." She could swear she had never seen him smile.

He shrugged. "It wasn't funny."

She rolled her eyes."Oh! I didn't make the cut, sorry Simon Cowell."

"What?" he asked, puzzled.

"Simon Cowell… the judge from America's got talent." She said as if it was the most obvious thing in the world.

"I'm not familiar with that show."

"Do you even watch TV?" she asked, surprised. He raised a brow and she added "but then you drink orange juice for breakfast. Your life choices puzzle me."

"What's wrong with orange juice?"

She scrunched her nose. "It's very bitter, I mean you own a business empire. Can't you afford a nice flavor juice? "

He huffed. "Nice flavors are unhealthy. "

She instantly asked, "Why on earth would you want to stay in shape? You don't have a life outside library and office anyway… wait, I get it you are that guy who secretly hopes to be on the GQ magazine's cover." She extended her arms making a pose "Handsome and wise ; Damon Salvatore- the business tycoon."

He finally chuckled, and she faked shock. "You can smile?"

He sighed, frowning again. "Got what you wanted?"

She shook her head. "So moody. Seriously, how does your girlfriend handle all your mood swings? "

He looked up as if slightly offended. "I don't do girlfriends."

She replied with a smile, sarcasm evident in her tone." I wonder why. You're so interesting, energetic and full of life. Women should be fighting to be with a fun loving guy like you."

He smiled, looking down. "You can stop now. I get it."

She rubbed her hands together. "You know I can help you. I can set you up with someone. I do have friends that are the into high profile 'bores' who can take them shopping , club parties and golf , you know things people like you do for fun and people like us do after fifties."

He nodded as if impressed. "You think I can't get a girl on my own because of my personality?"

She replied with a nod of her own. "Yes, but don't worry. If you hire me as your personality booster adviser, I can help you overcome your insecurities and casual shyness. You will be as polite and as fun as me in no time."

He smirked. He had to admit she was interesting. "What if I don't want to be a blabbermouth and ear basher as you?" he replied.

She gasped. "Rude!"

He shrugged.

She stood up "See that's the reason you're single and yes Mr. Killjoy is your title."


November, 2016

Elena was devastated when Jeremy called from the police station informing them about his arrest. Wasn't she already in too much difficulty? Now Jeremy had to get arrested too. Alaric told her to wait outside in the parking lot while he went inside police station to get details.

When Elena felt a little nauseous she opened the door and jumped out of the car, locking it. Maybe she should go check on Jeremy too. When she turned around the corner, she nearly crashed into someone. The person immediately held her before she would fall. "Sorry, I was—" Her words were left unsaid when she recognized the person she had crashed into. "Mason!" she nearly growled.

"Hi Lena, I arrived as soon as I could when I heard about Jer." He said, smiling.

She pushed him away. "This is all your fault. How could you?"

"I am sorry, Elena." he said, sadly.

"No, you're not sorry. If you were sorry you would tell everyone the truth." She choked through her sobs. "Do you know what I've been through because of your lies?"

"I know… I saw how they treated you. Believe me, I'm really sorry but I didn't have any choice. I have to do this for Kat." Mason said, unashamed.

"Mason, I'm pregnant. Please, don't destroy my marriage. Please don't wreck my reputation." She pleaded. "Tell Damon the truth."

Something in his expression changed that minute. A soft smiled played on his lips as he stepped closer.

"But, I did tell him the truth. I told everyone that I love you so much, Elena." He said as he cupped her face. Her eyes narrowed, what was he talking about? Before she could realize what was happening, his lips crashed on hers. Disgusted, she was about to push him away, when he pulled back.

"Damon?" he said, feigning surprise.

She turned around, immediately and found her husband standing behind them at a distance with fuming anger across his face and a smirking Katherine beside him.

"No. No. It's not what it looks like." She explained, desperately.

His eyes were bloodshot and red, filled with a mixture of rage and hopelessness. His jaw clenched and he glared, an expression he'd never directed her way before. His fists curled and uncurled and for a minute she was sure he would pummel Mason to the ground but he didn't. Instead, a tortured smirk played on his lips. "It looks like Mason already has this handled, Kat. No one needs us here." He turned on his heel and sprinted back in the direction he came with Katherine following him.

"No… No… Damon. Wait!" Elena said as she followed him.


An hour ago, in a drunken haze, Jeremy had somehow arrived at Katherine's house and had broken her car windows. Katherine's guards had immediately got him arrested on the basis of trespassing and damaging her property. After making sure she was okay, Damon requested her to take the charges back. "He is just a kid, Kat" He had said. "Things must have upset him. These charges will not look good on his record in future."

Katherine accepted his request and agreed to take her charges back. They had just arrived when Katherine told him to wait as she had a phone call to make. As soon as she was done, they hurriedly walked towards the police station. When they turned around an ally, he froze at the sight in front of him.

Only a few feet away was his wife locked in a passionate embrace with her lover. They were kissing as if their life depended on it. It was like being shot in the chest, as if he was burnt over a grill, over an open flame. Those five seconds were the most torturous moments of his life.

Mason pulled away, immediately as he saw him, fear evident in his eyes. "Damon?"

The blood of anger rushed to his face, followed by heartbreak. Then came the jealousy. It gathered up inside him and devoured him from within, eating his heart.

"No. No. It's not what it looks like." Elena added, pushing her lover away.

How dare she? How can she still continue to lie? He thought. Did she really think he would still believe her fake angelic face, her fake innocent eyes, her constant lies?

"It looks like Mason already has this handled, Kat. No one needs us here." He couldn't even stand to look at her anymore. He turned to leave but she followed him.

"No... No... Damon, wait!" she pleaded.

"Please… please, let me explain." She pleaded, coming behind him swiftly. "Damon! It's not what you think it was." She begged, holding his arm. Her touch burned him. He turned around, caught her wrists and pushed her against a car. For a second, she looked scared. She was trapped between him and the car, her hands locked by him on her either side.

"I saw everything. I don't need an explanation." He hissed.

"Please, Just give me one chance to explain myself." she whimpered.

"There is nothing left to talk about." He replied, his eyes boring into hers. She quivered slightly, tears rolling down her cheeks. What wouldn't he give to kiss her now?

"Just one chance, please." She begged.


Surprise! A quick update because of your wonderful reviews and because my beta is the most awesome beta in the world. Thank you Manali!

I worked really hard on this so please do tell me how you find this chapter. I'll be eagerly waiting for your reviews!

Thank you for reading, following and favourting.

P.s: I changed my mind about the length of the story. It would be 12-15 chapter story.

Please take care of yourself & Have a nice weekend.

Love

May