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Chapter 3

'Meet me at Rose Diner in 1 hour' I typed furiously and sent the message to April Salvatore from Stefan's phone.

'What about Hotel Pacific? ' she replied.

Rich brats.

'Done' I messaged.

'Okay.'

I deleted the messages immediately and put Stefan's phone on table. My heart was pounding as I heard Stefan's voice, "Elena... Did you see my phone... I can't seem to find it"

"It's here," I yelled from the kitchen, engaging myself in kitchen activities. Calm down. He isn't going to find out! I told myself.

I looked at Stefan as he went through his phone for a while and then put it back in his jeans pocket. "You sure you want us to go. We can stay here and give you company," he said, smiling.

"No," I said immediately and cringed at my stupidity. Calm down. " You guys have fun. Go and have a super romantic date. Don't stop on my account," I smiled in a reassuring way.

"Elena, it's Friday night "

" She's not going. Let her be," Caroline entered into the kitchen, looking stunning as always. She gave me a wink because Miss. Forbes probably thinks that I was spending time with Damon while they're away. Well too bad. I was meeting his sister.

"You are looking... Wow," Caroline and I looked at each other and burst into laughter. Stefan's reactions were always so amazing like he was seeing Caroline for the first time. Stefan's face turned red and he left from the kitchen muttering, "I'm never ever giving you compliments again."

"He's cute," I winked at Caroline. She blushed like a teenager.

"and Damon is hot," she exclaimed but I hushed her. I didn't want Stefan to know about this right now. He was too overprotective of me and I don't know how he would react in front of Damon. I couldn't have him spilling the beans about us being best friends. "Take your time Elena but tell him soon. Okay?" Caroline said sincerely and I nodded.

..

..

I reached Hotel Pacific 15 minutes before as I wanted to be prepared. I have to convince April that she had to forget Stefan because if she won't desire Stefan anymore, Damon would stop this non-sense. She had to understand that love can't be bought and unlike her stupid brother I hope she would understand me.

I looked around but there was no sign of April. I thought she would be here before me. The girl claimed to love Stefan. You know excitement and all…

"Looking for my sister, " I jumped, hearing a velvety voice behind me. I turned around and came face to face with Damon Salvatore. His eyes were shooting daggers at me." Come with me," he grabbed my elbow and pulled me through the crowd, I was struggling, earning weird looks from people but he didn't stop.

"Leave. Damon, I swear you're going to regret it," I struggled against him but he wouldn't bulge. He took me to one of the private room and locked the door. I glared at him. "What the hell was that?"

"You tell me. What the hell is this? You messaged my sister, pretending to be Stefan and… asked her to meet you. What was your plan? " he took threatening steps towards me.

" Yes, I did because I thought that unlike you, your sister will understand that what you're doing is wrong. You're ruining lives here Damon," I snapped at him, I watched as his hands clenched by his sides.

"You really need to shut that filthy mouth of yours, " He gave me a warning look and I rolled my eyes.

"You know what? From the amount of energy, I am wasting on you, I can imagine that there would have been no use of talking with your sister. Like brother like sister. You really don't come off from good blood do you? " I said. Honestly I was fed up of this. I couldn't do this anymore. It was like my life was on roller coaster since the day he entered in my life.

How dare you comment about me and my family?" He yelled at me and I flinched.

"How dare you enter our lives like you own us? How dare you order us around like we're your fucking puppets? Get this through your thick skull that we're not. At least I'm not your puppet. " I gave him a death glare, not backing down. I tried to move out but his grip on my elbows stopped me. He pushed me into the wall, making me whimper.

"No one talks to me that way. No one," he said through his teeth, his breath hit my face. I opened my mouth to say something but he interrupted me "Your brother wants to join medical school right? Guess what he won't. I'll make sure of that."

He pulled back and turned around to leave but I grabbed his hand, "Wh.. What do you...mean?" I felt life escaping from my feet. My family was my everything. My parents had always worked very hard to provide us. Father with hospital and mom with her job, it was always me and my brother. I have practically raised Jer like my own and I understood him. I wanted to support him monetarily, as my parents couldn't afford his fee and Jer was already doing double shifts for his dreams. I loved him to bits and I would never allow anyone to hurt them.

"You heard me. I won't…"

"Don't you dare Damon. I did nothing wrong to you. Why are you doing this to me? " I asked in frustration.

"Because I can, Elena. The world has no pity for weak. " He said in a dead calm tone. He took his wrist out of my grip and turned around, not before saying "You've exactly 24 hours to decide. See I'm still giving you a chance, now let's see how you redeem it."

He smirked at me before slamming the door. At the same time, Liam's name flashed on the screen. I picked up the call and heard his strained voice "Elena where are you?"

"I'm in New York, Liam," I pressed my palm on my forehead, I was having a freaking headache from the drama. "Why ask?"

"Look, I don't know your parents told you or not but I thought you should know, since you're practically Jer's mom, " he said and the room started spinning around me as I imagined the worst.

"Liam? "

" Okay… Jeremy has been taken by sheriff. He's accused of supplying drugs. Test results are yet to come if he's taking them or not," he rambled and fell on the nearby bed. "Elena. You there?"

"Yeah… Umm… He's not taking drugs. I know my brother, " I stammered as tears ran through my eyes. God what was happening?

" Elena, I know… Jeremy is a great kid. Police is investigating. I hope Jeremy gets cleared up soon, " he said and I suppressed my whimper.

" Yeah... I'll talk to you later," before he could say anything, I hang up. I put my palm against my mouth to push back my screams as I thought about the offer.

If I didn't do what Damon asked, my brother would be accused of taking drugs, God knows what he must be going through... He would never make it to Medical college.

If I did accept Damon's request, it meant committing suicide. Marrying Damon after everything he had done? No way in hell. I couldn't do that.

Now the last option, telling Damon I was not the one Stefan loved, in that way I would be free but then my best friends were doomed forever. Damon won't let them live their happily ever after.

I was torn. I thought I would find a way out if this but it was like, the more I was trying to get out of this mess, the more I was involving. Sacrificing my brother's happiness wasn't an option. Sacrificing my best friends happiness definitely not an option. So the last option was to bow down in front of Damon Salvatore.

But what about me? I won't be happy. Liam and I were planning our lives together for quite some time. I was not in love with him, that I knew but I liked him. He was perfect guy. I didn't know what to do anymore...

Note- May won't be able to help, so anyone interested in beta editing.. Do message.. And don't forget to review guys..