"Did you hear about the woman who slept with Bella's fiance?" Mrs. Rinaldi asks the group.

"No, what do you know?" Elena D'Angelo asks.

"Don't tell anyone, but I heard that she is a cousin of his half-sister. People also are saying that she is a lesbian, but that could be nonsense since she slept with a man after all," I roll my eyes at the gossiping women beside me.

I came over here when there were five women my mother's age they were talking about New York fashion week which I enjoyed talking about until their daughters came over, and changed the topic to which husbands have a mistress and which wife has a lover on the side.

I thought about leaving twenty minutes ago when my mother left to catch my brother before he got wet diving into the lake, but my idiotic self decided to stay to see if anyone would bring up anyone I have an interest in gossiping about.

So far they have gossiped about everyone who I either do not know much about or they are gossiping about people I have no interest in having as an enemy. They go on to talk about Bella Guerra's fiance's mistress.

I yawn and take a deep drink of my orange martini. I finally focus on the conversation when I familiar name comes into the conversation.

"Did you hear that Rosalie West just moved out of her parent's house?" Elena asks the other woman.

Mrs. Rinaldi aka Pippa Rinaldi gasps in shock. "I never would have imagined that out of all the West spawns she would leave the nest."

"Well after she miscarried her illegitimate child it was rumored to be that her parents ghosted her," the bitch says.

"Isn't she friends with that whore who is fucking Mason Morelli?" Pippa whispers to her friend.

"Yes, I can not believe that she would tell everyone that she was raped," Elena mumbles trying to keep her voice low, but I hear every fucking word that comes out of her gossiping mouth.

The grip on my glass tightens, but before I can break the glass into a million pieces I set it gently down on the table in front of me.

I go to leave them to their bitchy gossip but I am stopped by the next words coming out of their mouths.

"They should have stayed with Declan Diaz especially Brooklyn who is nothing but a whore and a lier. I think it is good that Rosalie's infant died because then it would not have to be brought up with those whores-" before she can get the rest of her words out of her ugly mouth I grab the nearest knife.

Before anyone can stop me the knife is through Pippa's hand resting on the table. She screams a loud piercing scream that has everyone at the party jump in surprise. The low music that was playing only a minute ago is shut off at the commotion.

"What the hell are you doing," Elena screams in panic.

"I am teaching you gossiping ladies a lesson on who you should gossip about and what topics you should bring up," I tell them with an evil glint in my eyes.

Miss. Elena D'Angelo does not know when to shut the hell up. "We were just telling the truth you crazy bitch," she shouts.

I glare at her. "The truth you want to be talking about is the fact that I can kill three men at the same time I have done it multiple times. The truth is that the loss of my best friend's unborn child made everyone a little cold-hearted."

Pippa whimpers and stares at the blood flowing from her hand in horror while Elena goes to open her mouth once again. I click my tung at her and shake my finger in front of her face.

"No, don't you dare start talking I can take this knife out of your dear friend's hand who is expecting her first child, and kill her slowly and torturously in front of you," I warn her and her eyes dart to her friend's flat stomach in surprise. It's a bluff but they don't need to know that they just need to fear me for the time being.

"Now back to what I was saying. The truth is I never wanted to be raped by a monster who liked the taste of blood in his mouth. You have never had to watch as the man you thought loved you kill one of your best friends in front of your own two eyes. Never in your life did you have to sit on your knees in front of a man who you despised because you were keeping your younger sibling safe. You were never trapped in a cold, dark, and damp cell with rats and spiders crawling around your body as you were getting fucked until you passed out because of blood loss.

"You never fucking watched as your best friend lost their only child that they could have had because of the man you thought you trusted. You never have been possessed and followed by men all your life because you were a smart and beautiful woman with the ability to knock out a man twice your size. I have been brutalized many times so has Rosalie West one of the bravest strongest women I know. Even stronger than me since she has never picked up her gun and placed it against her forehead ready for the fucking pain to go away. So do not fucking tell me what the fucking truth is.

"I god damm know what my truth is and the woman who is the closest thing I have as a sister. So if you want to shame us because we could not save our children or because we have been raped and beaten fifty shades of blue then leave and never fucking come back," I hiss at them my blood boiling over to the point of no return.

"You would not kill an innocent child," Pippa whimpers.

My glare turns to her. "You're only 3 weeks pregnant it is hardly a fetus. You could still lose the child espiacally if you do not quit smoking 2 packs of cigarettes every day. Plus it would not be the first time I killed a pregnant woman who is under the one-month scan," I tell her thinking about the woman I killed not knowing that she was pregnant with an innocent child in her uterus.

"After all, I was the one to rip apart the woman who forced Rose to lose her child in the first place. I protect the people I love and you two are not one of them. You are just trash to be discarded and used. So watch your tung, you should never cross the woman who is not afraid to kill anyone after she watched the horror unfold before her own young eyes," I snarl.

They both shrink back and I give them both two last glares before pulling the knife out of Pippa's hand and dropping it to the grass. I turn on my heel but not before giving them some information.

"Also the woman who was fucking Bella's fiance was fucking Bella herself," I inform them before turning my back on them for good.

And I am met with Rosalie's ashen face that hardens as she glares at the women behind me. I feel my chest deflate at the watery glint in her eyes.

Since she lost her unborn child almost 2 years ago she has hardened her heart to any thought of the life she was so close to holding in her arms. She has not allowed herself to grieve properly but I am one to talk.

I make my way over to her and wrap my arms around her. "Do not do anything rash, Rosalie. Later you can find them and do whatever the hell you want to, but you can not do anything that would draw attention to yourself and you know that," I whisper into her ear.

She nods her head and wraps her arms around me holding me close. I feel a little wetness on my shoulder, but I ignore it and focus on rubbing calming circles on her back.

She sniffles before pulling back. "I think I am going to leave early," she tells me.

I nod my head in understanding and watch her walk away towards the front of the house. I stand there for a moment allowing myself to absorb those women's harsh words to us. I never thought that someone would be so cruel to the fact that someone lost their chance to have a child.

People in this world that I grew up in are so cruel to women, especially towards women who do not give a shit about what people think. But you would be surprised what can hurt me and to be victim-blamed is something that is a sticky subject for me.

I shake my head trying to ignore what those stupid women said and think about the fact that I have a bar less than 5 feet away from me with all the booze I could drink.

I make my way to the bar feeling relieved that everybody who was watching my display of viciousness is talking about business or fashion like that scene never happened. When I get to the bar I order a glass of champagne from the bartender.

I am just about to take a sip of the bubbly wine when a hand on my lower back stops me. "Brooke I want you to meet someone," Mason tells me.

I turn toward him and come face to face with a handsome man with dirty blonde hair. His body is muscular but lean you can tell that he works out a few times a week. He has a handsome face with sharp cheekbones that could cut glass. But his eyes are the most appealing thing about him they are like orbs of silver with a unique green spot in his iris.

He is not ugly but he is not my type at all he seems more like the sporty athletic type than a bad boy with tattoos and a cigarette problem.

"You are one fine woman. Sexy and feisty," he smirks at me not even hiding the fact that he is checking me out.

"Stop it, Oliver," Mason snaps grabbing me by the waist and pulling me towards him.

The man that must be Oliver snaps out of checking me out and shifts his eyes to Mason. "I apologize mate but I had to complement your beautiful woman in the only way I know how," he smirks.

Mason says something under his breath that I do not catch but it clearly states that he is irritated with this man. I touch his chest which makes Mason come out of his irritated stance. He looks down at me and smiles at me before raising his gaze to Oliver.

"Do not say anything that would make you seem like a playboy in front of my woman," Mason warns with a warning in his eyes.

"Mason get to the point," I remind him.

His grip on my hip tightens in thanks before he introduces us. "Brooklyn this is Oliver Russell my associate and best friend since grade school. Oliver this is Brooklyn Russo, my girlfriend."

Oliver's eyes flash with joy for his friend before his face goes back to being amused. He smiles a big toothy grin at his friend. "I am happy for you! You look extraordinarily happy."

Mason steps away from me to clap Oliver on the back. "I am Oliver. I am with the woman I love. Maybe you should come back and work here," Mason suggests.

"Mason you know that I have taken over for my father at the hotel company. It has been what he wanted since he found out he was having a boy. I can not leave unless he permanents me to," Oliver tells him not failing in keeping his happy persona in place.

"You could always build an office here on the island," Mason offers.

Oliver shakes his head and notices something behind my head. "We can talk more tomorrow at the board meeting, but I have just found me a lady for the night," Oliver saunters off leaving me and Mason alone.

Mason must see my bewilderment at the past conversation because he chuckles. "Oliver has always been someone to get distracted easily, especially if there are pretty women around."

"He seems very joyful," I offer with a shrug of my shoulders.

He laughs. "He is."

His laugh dies as soon as it started. Instead, he looks at me concerned. "Are you okay after that problem you were fixing?" He asks.

My smile dies as well and I decide to answer by evading the question. "I am fine just a little annoyed that those women felt the need to bring those traumatic situations up at an event."

He nods his head in understanding before opening his mouth to say something but the announcer for this evening announces that dinner will be served in 10 minutes so those still talking need to finish our conversations and sit down at their designated tables.

***

I scrape the rest of my plate with my spoon as I savor the delicious flavoring of the peach cobbler. I look up from my dessert haze and look at Mason as he leans back in his chair with his legs parted enticingly.

He is talking with Will and Brian about a deal they need to make with someone in Chicago. I ignore their boring conversation and look at Viola who is looking beautiful as ever.

She is wearing a spaghetti strap dress with a modest neckline. The color of the dress is hot pink and orange and it flows to the floor. Her makeup is green and pink ombre eyeshadow with a light pink lip gloss.

She pulls the skirt of her dress up as she strolls through the grass to our table. A pair of orange strappy Steve Madden's peaks out from under the hem of her dress. Her hair is in a smooth low bun that shows a pair of gold hoop earrings.

She raises her orange purse with a gold chunky chain above a waiter's head who is picking up a broken cocktail glass in her hurried movements I see her freshly done nails that have orange stripes and neutral-colored nail polish.

She is out of breath when she plops down next to me in what was supposed to be Rosalie's chair.

"Wow that was a lot of dodging I had to do to get to this table," she laughs.

I nod my head and smile at Mason's kindest sister. "I watched," I told her.

She wipes at her face and smiles at me. "How are you after everything?" she asks reaching for a basket of sweet rolls.

My smile slowly drops and I look around at the party. "I am healing slowly but surely. I think it helped that I killed the man who was personally responsible for my abuse," I lie giving Viola a tight-lipped smile.

She nods her head as she understands, but I doubt she does. I thankfully do not have to continue our conversation because the woman next to her draws her into a conversation about the latest episode of Riverdale.

I place my head in my palm as I watch the party guests finish eating their desserts and talk with people at their tables. A warm rough hand lands on my back. I look up and stare into Mason's warm eyes.

He goes back to talking with Will and Brian but keeps his hand on my backtracing lines across my spine. It is like he does not want to stop touching me. During dinner, he had his hand on my thigh which made warm tingles spread across my skin. I am ready for this party to be over so I can have my man all to myself. I pull his hand from my back and interlace our fingers.

A few minutes later a small voice from behind me speaks up. "Brooke, may I talk to you?" Riley asks in an unsure voice.

I look behind me and see Riley who looks skittish. "Of course," I say standing and letting Mason's hand drop from mine.

He frowns at the lost contact but notices Riley and nods his head towards her in an understanding way.

We walk towards the garden maze and sit on a bench that is facing the entrance to the maze.

"I want to apologize," Riley begins. I turn my body towards her to let her know I am listening. "I know it was not your fault that Anna died. She was sacrificing herself for your brother, and I would never want a young child to die so young, but I am grieving for the loss of my closest friend.

"For the past month, I have been dealing with grieving the loss of Anna and disappointed in her because the last moment we had together was me finding out she broke your trust. Which may have been another reason why I have been a bitch to you. I know I have a lot of healing to do from the loss of the girl who has been with me since I was a baby. But just know I am sorry that I have been so mean and have been throwing words out just to hurt you. I hope you can forgive me," tears leak from her eyes.

"I do not blame you for trying to grieve Riley. I hope you can heal in a warm environment if you can not be near me because if I make you think about Anna's last moments then you do not need to be near me. I just want you to grieve properly and remember Anna how she would want you to remember her with memories that you had together," I tell her.

She breaks down into heavy sobs that break my heart. I pull her into my arms and allow her to cry into my shoulder because I know she needs that comfort after thinking about the one person who can't be here to comfort her.

I hold her in my arms whispering comforting words into her ear. She pulls back whipping below her eyes. "Sorry," she mumbles.

"It's okay," I pat her back giving her a weak smile.

"I think this summer me and Samuel are going to go on a month-long trip to Europe. I want to visit Greece, Austria, Switzerland, and Ireland. Anna always wanted us to go to Greece and Ireland after Graduation and I am going to keep my promise. Do you think Mason will allow Samuel to go with me because I do not think I will be able to go by myself," she looks at me with caution in her eyes.

"I will make sure Mason allows him to go with you if he doesn't there will be hell to pay," I promise her. Her head drops in relief.

"Thank you," she whispers into the night air.

"No need to thank me, Riley. You deserve a relaxing summer before you go to college. But promise me you will take photos of every location you go to," I warn her.

Her lips quirk into a half-smile. I look up at the sound of shoes hitting the sidewalk. Mason and Samuel are walking this way talking in low words.

"Looks like our men have found us," I tell her, winking. She nods her head and stands.

They end their conversation and Riley walks over to Samuel. Sam wraps his arm around her waist and waves to me in greeting before entering the maze.

Mason offers me his hand I latch onto it and he pulls me up from my seat. He cups my cheek and pulls me into a slow tantalizing kiss that leaves my lips numb.

He pulls away from me and pulls us down another pathway. "I have something to show you," he tells me eyes alight with love and something akin to nervousness.

I raise an eyebrow. "What do you have to show me?" I ask looking down to the uneven pathway to make sure my heels do not get caught in the vines littering the pathway.

"It's a surprise," he tells me like I am an impatient child.

I don't think he is wrong on the impatient kid metaphor.

But I still roll my eyes at him as he helps me step over a branch. "Did Samuel tell you that Riley and he are going to Europe for a month?" I ask.

"Yes," he answers and I look up at him with my head tilted to the side. It is his turn to roll his eyes, but he gives in to my curiosity. "I told him that he should take a leave of absence and spend time with his girlfriend, but I expect him to check in with me and to check in with some of my hotels in Greece and Austria."

"So you're going to make him do work while he is on vacation?" I ask him.