Chapter 25

"Christian I've been meaning to tell you something." He glances up and smiles then looks back down at me, pressing his lips to my forehead.

"Can it wait? My parents are approaching."

And the dread comes back in full force.

I turn and see a beautiful older woman with sandy blonde hair elegantly make her way over to us. She reaches Christian and pulls him into his arms while she kisses his cheek. "My darling boy, I've missed you so much," She says, her voice thick with emotion.

Christian smiles warmly, "I've missed you too mom." She pulls away then and hits him on the arm. "Ouch! What was that for?"

"You don't ever ignore my calls ever again young man. You may be in your twenties but I can still ground you." She says angrily pointing a perfectly manicured finger at him, even though there is still softness in her voice.

"Mom, not here. Don't treat me like a baby." Christian replies, sounding exactly like a child being scolded.

"Oh but you will always be my baby, Christian. That will never change." She caresses his cheek and I can't help but feel the pang of jealousy that washes over me whilst watching their exchange. The love in the room is potent, and stifling.

"Where are my manners? You must be Ana, my Mia has told me so much about you. I would've preferred it to come from my son of course, but I'm thrilled with your presence nonetheless." She pulls me into her embrace and I feel my eyes flutter shut at the warmth she's showing me.

When she pulls away she beams at me and I can't help the smile that graces my face as well. "Hi, it's a pleasure to meet you Mrs Grey."

She waves me off with her hand, "Please, Mrs Grey is my mother-in-law. Call me Grace darling."

"Ok," I smile. "You look so beautiful tonight Grace."

A slight blush covers her cheeks and she chuckles then turns to Christian. "I like her very much Christian, you can keep her for as long as you like." Then she turns back to me. "You are absolutely stunning as well my dear. I love your dress."

I grin back at her, "Thank you Grace."

"I hear that your family is attending tonight as well?" Grace says, looking around.

"Yes they are, unfortunately." I say the last part under my breath, but it doesn't go unnoticed by Grace, who regards me strangely. "I mean, I'm not sure where they are, we travelled separately." We all hear a throat clear behind Grace and she turns and takes the hand of an attractive older man. He is good looking in a George Clooney sort of way.

"May I be introduced to my gorgeous daughter-in-law to be?" He says, smiling.

Back off, flight instinct. It's just a joke.

"I'm Ana, you must be Christian's father." I say, holding my hand out to him, but he just ignores it and pulls me into his arms as well.

"In case you haven't noticed, we're a hugging family." He laughs heartily and Grace laughs with him. They're so carefree, it's envious.

"Honestly though Christian, I am so happy you found Ana." Grace turns to me, "He's come so far in a year and a half. He was so upset when Elena broke off their engagement, I mean they had been together for nearly six years. He barely got out of bed for two weeks, didn't eat or sleep. I didn't think he would ever get out of-"

"-Stop mom!" Christian says abruptly, making me jump. "Ana doesn't want to hear about Elena, and neither do I. Can you just drop it?" I've never seen him be so short with a person before.

"You were engaged?" I whisper, glancing up at him.

"I never gave her a ring we were just messing around for a couple months. It wasn't anything set in stone." He says, taking my hand.

"I think I'm going to go to the bathroom. Excuse me." I say to Christian's parents.

"Do you want me to show you where they are?" Christian asks, clearly wanting to talk.

I pull my hand out of his grasp, "I don't need you Christian, I can do it on my own." I spit, and Christian clearly understands that I'm not just talking about the bathroom because his face fills with hurt. Well fuck it, he hurt me just now. I turn and start walking away, feeling the familiar burning behind my eyes.

When I eventually find the bathroom I walk through the door and roll my eyes at who's in front of me, wiping smudged mascara off of her cheeks.

"You've got to be fucking kidding me."

She turns and gasps like I've scared her. "Ana?"

"Elena. Uh, you ok?" Can you tell I'm not good at comforting people?

"I'm fine." She sniffs, making me roll my eyes directly in front of her. "You don't like me do you?"

I sigh and walk to the mirror, checking my deep blue smokey eye isn't resembling a panda. I'm good for now. "I don't like a lot of people Elena, you're not special."

Her eyes fill with tears so I move closer and pat her shoulder awkwardly. "Uh, I didn't mean it. Sorry."

"No, it's not that." She shrugs away from my stiff hand. "I don't know what to do about John and the wedding, it's all too much for me."

Ok. Now I'm intrigued. "Why? You two looked utterly besotted with each other when we saw you." I say, not bothering to hide the disgust in my voice. I hate lovey dovey couples.

"Look, if I tell you something, promise not to tell Christian?" She says seriously and I shrug. "John was my professor at college. We started dating secretly during my first semester and it was exciting and discreet but now, we're free to be a couple and I'm just scared he's not as interested in me now that the secrecy and sneaking around has gone."

I sit and process what she's told me until something dawns on me. "How old were you when you started college? Same as Christian?" She nodded. That would have made her eighteen. Something didn't add up. Unless, "You cheated on Christian for the last three years of your relationship?"

Her eyes widen and she shakes her head, "What? No, I-"

"-You just said you started dating in your first semester of college. You broke up three years after that. Holy shit, you got engaged to him when you were seeing your professor?" My voice was getting louder and I was fully aware of it. The panic in Elena's face was evident and I shook my head at her. "I'm telling Christian."

I turn and start to walk away when she says, "I wouldn't do that if I were you."

I scoff, "Why not?"

She steps towards me. "Because I can tell Christian about how you threatened me. Who's he going to believe? His new trashy girlfriend, or the ex he can't get over?"

I get it. She thinks she's won judging by the smug look on her face. When you're a wounded animal in the company of a hungry lioness, you can either cower and submit, or feign strength. Wear your blood like a red cape of courage. That's what I do. And I never lose a cat fight.

"Tell him that I threatened you. Because that's exactly what I'm about to do." I say, slamming the bathroom door against the wall and walking towards her quickly. "Stay away from Christian and I or the door isn't going to be the only thing slammed up against the wall. Got it?"

"You can't threaten me. C-Christian will break up with you!" She says, her voice shaking.

For the third time it ten minutes I roll my eyes at her. "You have your fiancée and I have my boyfriend. Just get over yourself. You clearly love this John guy so just suck up your insecurities and tell him for fuck sake." My eyes widen when I realise that's the exact thing I should be doing. Why am I such an idiot? "I have to go. Just, leave us alone." Without a second glance I leave the bathroom and go in search of Christian.

I spot him across the room and make a beeline for him when someone takes me by the arm and pulls me into another bathroom.

"Hi Elliot. What can I do for you?" I say, knowing by the anger in his eyes that this conversation isn't going to be good, this guy has probably only ever heard of me when I've hurt his brother.

"Why are you here?" He says, frowning. "You ran out on him. I don't get it. All you've done is hurt him and he still keeps going back to you."

"Look, I know you must not have a very high opinion of me but I know what I did was wrong and Christian and I have talked about it and we're officially together now." I try to go past him but he grabs me and lightly pushes me back. "What do you want from me?"

"I want you to leave my brother alone." He says in all seriousness.

I sigh and run my hand through my hair. "Listen, I think we both know that I don't deserve Christian, I'm fully aware of it. And I would love for him to find someone worthy of him, but I can't let him go, and I know he wouldn't leave me. I can't live without him, so I'm just going to have to spend the rest of my life proving that I deserve his love. And I will. Because I'm in love with him." It feels euphoric to finally say it out loud, even if it is to his brother that hates me.

I can tell my declaration has surprised him, because for a few seconds he stands there, silently opening and closing his mouth.

"Are we done? Because I'd like to go and talk to my boyfriend now. What is with you insanely rich people wanting to talk in bathrooms anyway? Is it the soap or the faint smell of urine?" I say, walking past him. He takes my arm again, gently this time. I turn and look at him.

"Just please look after him. He's been through a lot."

I nod in understanding. "So have I. We're good for each other."

He smiles at me then let's me go and I walk into the ballroom again. I look for him for a good five minutes before I see him and my heart stops.

Because instead of me being in his arms, it's Elena.

And I break all over again.

A/N - Hi guys! Sorry this took so long to get out, I've been super busy. Isn't that always the way? For those of you wonderful people who asked me how my exams went, they were great! I got the results I wanted and I'm really happy, and a happy Sophie = more writing!

Thank you for all the patience you've shown me, and for sticking with this story for as long as you have! I'm very grateful:)

As always, please follow, favourite and review. I love hearing what you think!

Sophie xxx