Breaking Beauty: A Second Chance Romance

by Stella Andrews

  I stare at her with such a look of pure hatred that she laughs. “What’s the matter, Sebastian, does the truth hurt? Well, I hope it does because if we are under threat it’s all because of you. If you’d just done what we asked, none of this would be happening. Your love for our daughter has destroyed us all and I hope it was worth it.”

  “You’re wrong.” She raises a well plucked eyebrow and I say coldly, “The only person who has destroyed everything is you. You drove Angel away because of your scheming and you are about to do the same to your other daughter. You think you have this family’s best interests at heart but you’re wrong. You have your best interests in your sights and always have. I pity you Mrs. Johnson because you will die alone. Your daughters won’t care because they will lead by example. You will be left to dwell upon your brutal decisions and your daughters will move on to better lives without you in it. In fact, you should have died with your husband because nobody cares for you now.”

  She makes to speak and I say cuttingly. “Do you really think Anastasia is going to thank you for selling her into a lifetime of hurt and pain? What mother wants her daughter chained to a loveless marriage to a monster? Every day she will fear for her life because once her husband has her company, he will have no further use for her. Angel and I will move on and be happy and guess what, we won’t be asking you over for Thanksgiving? So, think about what you’re about to do Mrs. Johnson because this is your last chance. Call this charade off and leave us to deal with Tobias Moretti.”

  I stand and make toward the door and she says icily, “That’s it, run away little boy, just like your father. He never could stand the heat either. Your words don’t scare me because you’re wrong about Mr. Moretti. He is charming, good looking and successful. What mother wouldn’t want that for her little girl? So, run along and take that disappointment of a daughter of mine with you and I’ll look forward to the day when she decides she’s had enough and leaves you in her dust.”

  I say nothing and leave, deciding any words are wasted on that vicious excuse for a human being.

  As I slam the door behind me, Martha waits, looking agitated. “I’m so sorry, Mr. Stone, she doesn’t mean those words, she’s afraid.”

  “It’s ok, Martha, you don’t have to defend her, I know exactly the kind of person she is.”

  Martha looks worried and whispers, “Please, follow me and you can wait for Angelica in the kitchen.”

  I do as she says because of all the people in this house, she is the only genuine one in it and I can tell she’s upset. As I take a seat at the large wooden scrubbed table, I relax a little for the first time since the meeting. The scent of baking fills the air and Martha pushes a cinnamon roll toward me and pours a coffee from the pot on the side. “She’s frightened, Mr. Stone. Ever since Mr. Johnson passed she’s been lost. She never had the need to make any decisions herself and when Angelica threatened to destroy her, it sent her over the edge.”

  “Why are you defending her, Martha, she never has a kind word to say to you?”

  I’m surprised when Martha’s eyes mist over and she wipes away a lone tear that escapes. “Because she’s family.”

  “What do you mean?”

  She sits down heavily in the seat opposite and says in a whisper, “Mirabelle is my cousin. She’s my father’s niece.”

  My face must register my shock because she laughs softly. “I know, it’s hard to believe, but it’s true. My father was her uncle and her father his brother. They were very different people and Mirabelle led a richer life than me in wealth but not emotion. Where my family was full of love, hers wasn’t. Her parents were the same as she is now and emotion was in short supply. When my own family died in a car crash, they took me in and took charge of my life. Mirabelle and I became like sisters. We were good friends, and she wasn’t always this selfish person she is today. However, when she married Harvey, it was a match made by her parents and there was no love involved. She became withdrawn and aloof and when the girls came along, she couldn’t cope. She asked me to come and live with them and I loved every minute of it. I care for those girls like my own and wanted to give them the love their parents appeared incapable of doing. So, you see, Mr. Stone, Mirabelle is just as much a victim as the girls. She knows no different and feels it’s the only way. Please don’t judge her harshly, she’s a good person underneath it all.”

  I stare at Martha in shock. “You love her?”

  Nodding, she says in a small voice, “I always have. She’s family.”

  “But she treats you so badly, why do you stay? You could have found happiness with a family of your own?”

  The pain in her eyes makes me regret my words, and she shakes her head.

  “I could never have children of my own, so this was the next best thing. Love always passed me by and when the girls came along, it was a different type of love I craved. You ask me why I stay and let her treat me badly? We are sisters, it’s what they do. Take those girls upstairs no doubt saying terrible things to each other. They do that because they care. If Angelica didn’t care for Anastasia, they wouldn’t have fallen out so deeply. You see, as children they were always close. They shared everything and were devoted to one another. When you came along, Angelica wanted your company more than her sister’s and it drove a wedge between them. It’s no wonder Anastasia wanted what her sister had because she saw how happy you made her. I suppose she was jealous and didn’t know how to deal with it. They started fighting and things were never the same again.”

  “So, you’re saying I’m the one responsible for them falling out?”

  “Yes, but you couldn’t have known. You see, Anastasia has always struggled with being second best. When she saw Angelica grab the boy they both wanted, it was too much for her to bear, so she withdrew into herself. When her parents told her of their plan, she seized it with both hands. Finally, she would have everything she thought she ever wanted, but you had other ideas. I’m sorry, Sebastian, but this web of deceit and lies spans across decades. It’s no wonder things have blown up the way they have and I can only hope that Angelica finds a way of diffusing the situation because if Anastasia goes ahead with Mirabelle’s plan, it will break her just as they broke Angelica.”

  It’s a lot to take in and my head spins with it all. Martha smiles softly and refills my mug. “Here, take a moment to think on what I’ve told you. I’ll go and check on Mirabelle and see what’s happening upstairs.”

  She walks away but turns back when she reaches the door. “Please don’t think badly of Mirabelle, like I said, she thinks she’s doing the right thing for us all.”

  As I watch her walk away, I feel nothing but sadness for the women who live under this roof. I just hope that Angel has a way out of this, for all their sakes.

  29

  Angel

  I am so angry; I almost can’t think straight. My mom is something else. How on earth does she make her decisions, not based on what’s right, that’s for sure? It was one thing meddling in my life but to do the exact same thing to Anastasia is astonishing.

  I head straight to my sister’s room, not even caring that she won’t thank me for it. It’s been years since we shared a good relationship and it’s all because of the woman downstairs who calls herself our mother.

  Preparing for the battle of my life, I am surprised to see Anastasia leaning against her window frame as I head inside her room and without looking, says in a quiet voice, “She told you then?”

  I inch inside the room hesitatingly because now I’m here, I’m conscious that one word out of place could ruin everything.

  “Please, tell me you’re not going through with it. Not out of fear of what I might do, you know I would always have your back, despite what’s happened.”

  She turns to face me and my heart lurches as I see the pain in her eyes and the tremble to her lip. “My decision isn’t based on that. Whatever you think, I’m not out for some petty revenge, or to please our loving mother.”

  “Then wh
y?”

  She shakes her head sadly and moves across to sit on the bed, taking her pillow and hugging it to her chest as if it’s the only protection she will ever need.

  “Because of me.”

  “You, what do you mean?”

  She shrugs and looks so dejected it breaks my heart. “You see, Angelica, I have always been second best to you and there’s no denying it. You were the eldest, and I always looked up to you. It was obvious from a very early age that daddy favored you over me and I told myself it didn’t matter. I adapted to being second choice and tried to mold myself into the perfect daughter, in mom’s eyes, anyway. When Sebastian came along, you drifted further away from me and it hurt. You were always so popular and appeared to have it all, whereas I just trailed on your wake. It went on for years and I was so incredibly jealous of you.”

  She laughs softly and smiles. “I don’t blame you for any of it, despite want you may think. It was my problem, and I thought I had it under control. The night you left; was the night I discovered my future was planned out for me with Sebastian. Mom told me there was no point in fighting it because you had run away and the burden was now on my shoulders. I was to marry him to give daddy his heir apparent and keep you from going soft as they put it. It was my duty and the chance to repay their investment in me.”

  “Investment, you are their daughter for Christ’s sake! You didn’t ask to be born, what planet are they on?”

  She laughs and I smile as we are transported back in time to a place where we constantly moaned about our parents. We share that unfortunate accident of birth and often used to compare notes on things they said to us and it was good to have someone who understood.

  I move across and sit beside her and place my arm around her shoulder like we used to. She lays her head against me and it’s as if the years just melt away and we are those two children again, just us against the world.

  “You do know you don’t have to go through with this, don’t you? I have someone who wants to buy Tobias out of the business and isn’t afraid of making him sell. I will always provide for you and mom; God only knows why and you don’t have to go through with this ridiculous arranged marriage.”

  Anastasia nods and says in a small voice. “I know that. You know, we’ve always fought, but we both knew it was never serious. When you ran away, I always knew you would come back. Sebastian made it obvious that he wasn’t interested in me and just played at being the perfect fiancé in public. I never saw him outside of that and yet a small part of me hoped that if you never returned, he would fall in love with me.”

  She laughs ruefully. “I’m such a fool. I just wasted five years of my life trying and now I’m right back where I started. Second choice and without purpose.”

  “Is that what this is, you need a purpose?”

  “Maybe.”

  “But I can give you a job in the company if that’s what you want. You’ll be your own independent woman and free to meet and fall in love with the man you were always meant to find. Not an arranged marriage with the local criminal.”

  She shrugs and says sadly. “You don’t have to spell it out, Angelica. I can google with the rest of them and know a lot about Tobias Moretti and not all of it’s good. I’m fully aware he’s just using me and is not to be trusted.”

  “Then why?”

  “Because I want to break free from this ridiculous life I live. If I stay here, mom will continue to control me and I’ll always be second best. If I marry Tobias, she can no longer touch me. I’ll be free to make a life of my own and I’m under no illusions that involves my husband to be.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “I expect he’ll just carry on as normal and wheel me out on the odd occasions like Sebastian did. The only difference between my past and future is that I will have chosen it. I’m happy about that because I doubt I’ll even see much of him. I will be free to pursue my own interests and my life will be comfortable and hopefully drama free. Don’t pity me, Angelica because I’m done playing the victim. You may not fully understand my reasons but know I’m doing this for me and no one else. Tobias Moretti will become my husband in name only and I am more than happy about that. You’ll be free to marry Sebastian and mom will have her future guaranteed.”

  “Are you sure about that?”

  “Yes, why?”

  I lower my voice and even to my own ears I sound desperate. “Tobias Moretti is bad news. He may be all charm and good looks on the outside but inside the river of hell runs in his veins. He’s a cold-blooded killer and I’m worried that he has plans for all of us that involve him gaining control of the company by making sure we are no longer around to challenge him.”

  For a moment there is silence and then Anastasia laughs incredulously. “You think he’s some sort of mafia boss, don’t you? You believe I’ll wake up one morning with a horse’s head on my pillow and my coffin in the corner. This is the modern world now, Angelica, nobody can kill another without questions being asked, even Tobias Moretti.”

  I feel so exasperated, I shout, “For goodness’ sake, wake up and understand the desperate situation you are in. Tobias may be the successful businessman in public but he runs the largest family outside of Italy. That man is mafia and you are about to sell your soul to the devil. Don’t do it, for god’s sake, please, I’m begging you because I think he wants to marry you to gain control of the company and that means getting me out of the way first. When he gets what he wants, he will have no further use for you and then your happy ever after will become the stuff of nightmares. Please Anastasia, trust me and let me handle this. I’ll make sure you are safe and secure and you can live a happy life without fear.”

  I almost think I’ve got through to her when she looks at me with hope in her eyes and says in a whisper, “You would really do that for me, after everything that happened with Sebastian. I thought you hated me.”

  The tears fall freely as I reach out and pull her to me and stutter, “I love you; I always have. It’s you and me against them all and I’m so sorry I ran and left you to deal with an impossible situation on your own.”

  She starts to cry, and it breaks my heart as she says in a faltering voice, “I just wanted him to love me. I wanted him to look at me like he always looked at you. For once I wanted to be the center of someone’s world and not the reserve. I wanted the fairy tale, but all I got was the horror story. I’ve had enough, Angelica. I need to get out and if that’s from the frying pan into the fire, then I may as well get burned because I want to see what Anastasia can do without her family holding her back. Tobias may be taking me from one prison to another but I want to see what that means for me. I’ve had enough of this life and I want more. He’s rich and as I said, uninterested. I will make sure I travel; see places I’ve never dreamed I could visit. I will embrace my new life whatever it may bring, safe in the knowledge he doesn’t want me and won’t stand in my way.”

  She breaks off and I see the determination in her eyes. I struggle to get my head around what she’s just told me and feel responsible for her pain. I make to speak and she shakes her head, saying firmly, “I know you want to change my mind and I know you have the best intentions for doing so. Maybe things would have been different if you’d stayed but I doubt it. You and I both know what it was like to grow up in this house and this is my escape plan. Don’t worry about who I’m marrying because it’s doubtful he will even remember I’m there by the time I’ve finished. No, if there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s how to play the game and this is one I’ve trained for all my life.”

  She reaches out and grasps my hands, pulling me in for a hug. “Now go and be happy, Angel, you deserve that at least, we both do.”

  For a moment, we stand in silence, clinging onto the past. Two sisters who shared so much, bound on different paths. No more words are necessary because we both know where we now stand. However, as I make my way to join Sebastian, what Anastasia doesn’t know is I’m not the same girl who left here five years ag
o. I grew up and now I’m not alone. I have a family who needs a visit because if anyone can see a way out of this mess, it’s them.

  30

  Sebastian

  Something changed when Angel returned and I see the fire in her eyes along with something else. Acceptance. We left her family home after assuring Martha we would keep in touch and she was silent all the way to the freeway. After a while my curiosity gets the better of me. “What happened?”

  She sighs and tugs at her hands. “She’s determined. Nothing I said would change her mind, and she’s adamant she’s going ahead with the wedding.”

  “What else?”

  She looks at me in surprise and I raise my eyes. “Something changed.”

  She smiles gently. “Yes, it did. I found my sister again.”

  My heart settles a little as I see how happy that’s made her and I wonder what went on in that room upstairs.

  She looks out of the window and says with determination. “The thing is, Seb, since I came back, I’ve achieved the impossible. Somehow, we have resolved our differences, and it’s made me realize what a fool I was to run in the first place. When I saw Anastasia, and we actually had a civilized conversation, I realized the extent of the damage I caused.”