Chapter Two

Unable to grasp the reality that Becca had suddenly disappeared, Elena locked herself in her room. She sat on the floor, huddled against the wall, tears burning in her eyes. She hadn't expected this, not even in her wildest dreams.

Why did it have to happen now, just months away from fulfilling her lifelong dream of becoming a nurse, something she had wanted since childhood? Why did it have to involve Dominic Salvatore, of all people? She thought, tossing her head back in frustration and hitting it against the wall. She clenched her fists in anger.

Meanwhile, Isabelle wouldn't move an inch from outside Elena's door. She'd been standing there for two hours now, hoping that Elena would let her in so they could have a mother to daughter conversation, but it didn't seem so yet.

She refused to give in to the exhaustion that was starting to settle in, despite her constant yawns indicating that she needed rest. Her mind was set on staying put until Elena decided to open up to her. Despite Ben's attempts to persuade her to rest and take her place, she remained adamant.

“Elena, are you in there?” she asked, knocking on the door again.

Inside the room, Elena lifted her pain darkened eyes to the door and even though she knew it wasn't right to keep her parents waiting, most especially her mom but, she couldn't bring herself to opening the door because then it would mean giving a chance for a discussion, one where she might give in to her mother's persuasive words.

With this in mind, she remained quiet and scrubbed a hand over her face as if to wash the pain and anger away, then she lifted herself and sat on the side of the bed. Seemed more like she was prepared to talk, perhaps not so ready as she dropped her head, trying to weigh her options in her head.

After a while, she lifted her head as if she had it all figured out now, then she wiped her face dry with the back of her palm and ambled towards the door. Just as Isabelle was about to knock again, Elena turned the knob and opened the door.

Isabelle's arm froze in surprise as she lowered it awkwardly and even though it felt like the words were difficult to say, she was also waiting for Elena to invite her in.

“You can come in.” Elena finally said, retreating back to the bedside.

Sitting beside her, Isabelle turned to face her as she stared into her eyes and gripped her hands.

“I know this is a lot to digest, but in all honesty I don't know why your sister chose to do what she did.” Isabelle said, shaking her head as she spoke the words. “But the reality of things now is that she has gone missing, and you are our only hope else, We both know what Dominic Salvatore is capable of; I don't need to remind you.”

Of course, she needn't be reminded of how callous of a person he was, but then at this point, she didn't know what to believe anymore. Would he look like the rumors she heard about him, or was he a completely different person on the inside? She reasoned, staring back at her mom.

In the middle of all this, the biggest question on her mind was why her sister would choose to ruin her life in this way? If at all there was anything wrong, the best she could have done was to open up to her and not just dump an awful reality on her, just as she's done.

“Elena, you aren't saying anything.” Isabelle said, looking at her in the face.

“What do you want me to say?” Elena asked, tears rising up in her throat, but she managed to quell them. “This isn't what I want.”

“I know, dear,” Isabelle said, placing a hand on her shoulder. “I just need you to say anything but no.”

As the conversation continued between them, Ben stood outside, pressing his ear against the door as he tried to eavesdrop on their conversation, but their words were rather too difficult to pick.

“Mom,” Elena called, lifting her teary eyes to her. “I will only agree to this on one condition.”

As the words fell upon her ears, Isabelle adjusted herself on the bed, ready to listen and if it was something within her power, she would do it immediately. Her face held a look of expectation and curiosity.

“Tell me, what is it dear?” she asked, staring at her with undivided attention, for the fear of missing out a word should in case she blinked her eyes.

“You know quite well that I'm still very young and of course I'm a virgin and I plan to remain that way.” she said, not sure how it would sound to her mother as it even sounded strange to her.

Isabelle crinkled her face in confusion. For heaven's sake, this was a marriage and not some sort of vacation, so how on earth would that be excluded? As a matter of fact, that was the real deal, so why would she choose to leave it out? Besides, this was just her own opinion. For someone like Dominic Salvatore, her opinion didn't matter to him. Actually, no one's opinion mattered to him. So why stress the need?

“I don't understand what you mean by that, sweetheart.” Isabelle said, a sudden look of confusion masking her face.

“All I am saying is that, in my marriage with him, there would be no sex as I have no intentions whatsoever of getting married to him. Besides, I have no feelings for him.” she said, saying the words as she felt it.

Isabelle stared at her, bereft of words. The whole arrangements had been made — paper signed and other necessary things had been put in place. All that was left was for her to go to him, not like she really did have any say in it.

Things would have been a lot better if Becca hadn't disappeared suddenly, but now that it has come to this, there was nothing they could both do.

“Can you listen to yourself? How can you suggest such? You're making a mistake here. Dominic Salvatore isn't someone to mess with, he'll end your life with just a snap of his finger.” Isabelle said, demonstrating with a snap of her finger.

At the sound of it, Elena's spine stiffened as she felt every ounce of seriousness in the words as if it was Dominic who had said so himself.

Sensing the fear in Elena, Isabelle exhaled sharply, realizing that she had allowed her emotions get the better of her.

“I am sorry dear, but this is Dominic Salvatore we're talking about here, and we can't be so sure he would agree to that. Not when we're on the other side of the table that doesn't allow us to raise an opinion.”

“I know, mom, but I am not some old-fashioned item that should be given out. I'm human, and I want you to see that.” she said, uttering the words as every nerve in her body seemed to shrink at the thought of having babies for him. “If I am going to get married to him, there would be no sex!”