People are beautiful, animals are beautiful, nature is beautiful and life is beautiful.

Why?

Because I love people, animals, nature and believe it or not I fucking love life; well you know me, I am or used to be one of those people who would do anything to not spare a single day in this world but with just one person it had all changed.

No matter how cruel people are you still might find yourself wanting to live because of that one person, no matter how vulgar certain animals are you don't find yourself hating all of them because sometimes that one animal could mean something no one ever has, no matter how many disasters the mother nature had bought upon us humans we still find ourselves living in it because it will always be the place where the sun rises, flowers Bloom, waters flow and fruits be borne. This is our world and no matter how much we hate it that ounce of good will always outweigh the surfeit of bad.

And this is one such moment like that. No matter what my mother had done I will always love her and see her as the good, pure and kindhearted woman she was. This is why a tear trickled down my cheeks when I see her walking down the aisle, a bouquet of roses in hand, the beautiful white dress hugged her body perfectly and I give back the smile she flashes under the veil when she passes me, the smile that I always wanted to see her in and it's there. I could say she finally did see the light through her dark times and it's all by the power of love.

Love can do marvels to a person's life and me, my mother are living breathing affirmations.

Jared walked her down the aisle and gave her hand to the man who is going to love her and be her home for eternity. John is no simple guy, infact he is everything my mother had wanted in a man and to fulfill all those you can not be a simple person because my mother is one hell of a complex woman with even complex expectations; expectations my father was never able to fulfill. I'm not saying what mom and dad had wasn't perfect, it was all kinds of everything I have ever wanted in parents but they only showed all the perfects and made us convince that 'this is your mom and dad' but now that I've grown I see the imperfect they have been hiding and it all became loud and clear when John gave everything to mom that dad never did.

After what happened at Luke's party, mom decided to postpone the wedding until Mason gets back to his right mental state which isn't all that good right now because he still do get horrible nightmares and flashbacks but he was strong enough to say that the wedding should not be put off on his account.

The last few days would be something I'd cherish forever because I have spent most of the time in mom's house. Not for her but for Mason and Jared and shockingly we did get along well which was more than enough to bring a smile on her face. Eventhough Damien completely hates my mother, he made his time to hangout with us and I could say all of us made some sacrifices just to see a smile on each others face.

I tighten my hold in Damien's hand and lean my head against his shoulder as the couple at the alter pronounce their vows.

"Hey, I think we should install another book shelf" I tell him.

"Your mom's getting married and your thinking about bookshelves"

"Yeah why not." He lets out a small laugh and mutters a 'sure'. We have been planning and buying everything needed for our apartment and I could say from another week or so we would be all set for the moving in and second bookshelf had been in my list for a long time because hear me out, how can one shelf be enough when there are two readers in the house? It's not. Tell that Emma who persuaded that one book cupboard be enough and we should listen to her because apparently she is the internal designer of our apartment, one we never really wanted.

Anyways, I win the book shelf argument. In your face Emma McKay!

The crowd stood up from their seats, clapping and awe as they be pronounced as husband and wife.

"I fucking hate suits" Jared muttered as we walk out of the Chapel and head towards the reception which is in a small but charming Inn.

"Who does?" Damien agreed and for the third time I am going drool over attractive Damien is in suit 'cause the black dress shirt tucked into his slacks and the top buttons undone revealing a bit of his glorious tattoos and the silver chain. A black suit jacket completing his formal look and making my pussy scream. I swear suits are made to make women weak to their knees.

"Don't look at me like that, Lia" he said and I stop my mind from going places to it shouldn't be. "Like what?"

"Like you are thinking of all the ways I'm going to make you scream and beg for me to stop. Especially the things you aren't supposed to be thinking in a fucking church" he whispered against my ear, I felt my panties getting wet and just as warm as his hot breath against my skin. I let out a shake breath and wiped my sweaty palms.

"Let's just get this day over with." He opened the door and I got in, Jared already in the back seat, his suit jacket lying next to him.

We drive off the church and head to the location.

***

Light illuminates from the many crystals hanging off the chandelier right in the middle of the ball room and the dance floor below it.

The guitarist started playing the chords for Heart like yours by Willamette Stone, right after the first dance song and the crowd started filling in, mostly from John's side.

"Excuse me for a moment," I tell ma and pa who have been keeping me trapped since the moment they arrived and I won't lie, it was actually amazing to meet them again because the two people- who have been more of a mom and a dad after Noah died than my own- deserves to see the woman I have grown up to.

They finally excused me and I walk towards Damien who was standing against the bar, a glass of scotch in his tattooed hand and he sips the drink all the while his eyes trained against mine. I point my hand and he places his glass back and take my hand with a soft smile.

He walks us to the middle of the dance floor and I place both my hands behind his neck and his goes around my hip. We sway to the sweet melody of the song and I lean my forehead against his, closing my eyes.

I inhale a breathe and fucking live this moment.

I live it so strong and so deep until the lyrics of the song rings through my ears and to my whole body. I know this song is going to be home to my ears for a very long time.

The heat coming from every breath Damien's exhales is going to provide warmth for the rest of my life.

His strong hands around my body is going to hold me through every storm and peace.

And our love is going to make us live, flowers will bloom at every step we take together, beauty will be created in everything we touch and light will be illuminated from everything we look into because a love like ours is something that Oscar Wilde, Jane Austen and Ernest Hemingway failed to write about and Whitney Houston, Elvis Presley and Céline Dion failed to sing about; this type of love is not for the weak.

It's for me and him.

Damien and Rhea; since that first time his eyes locked with mine and claimed me at that exact night not knowing how much of a hold he had upon me, not knowing that my little heart was his and only ever be his.

And for that he will be my rise and my downfall.

My eyes shot open as he spins me around and pulled me back, his lips slamming against mine. I wrap my hands around his neck and he tightly held me closer, our lips moving in sync and everything around us seemed to spin and come back to halt as he pull away.

I bring up my thumb and wipe my lipstick off the corner of his lip.

"You need to shave," I tell as I felt the prickles against my palm on his jaw.

"Do I? It seemed you enjoyed it" he said and a laugh emits as he nuzzled his face against the crook of my neck and his light stubble tickling me.

"Yeah, I kind of do." I lightly tug the end of his hair and my lips pressed against his shoulder while we slow dance to the music.

He pull away when we felt a presence beside us. I smile when Mason whispered something to Damien's ear and he narrowed his eyes at Mason.

"I'll go check on Jared," Damien said against my ear and placed kiss on my cheek before walking away. I take Mason's hand in mine and placed the other on my hip with an eyes roll when he merely stood there awkwardly.

"If you want to dance, ask dimwit" I tell and kept my hand on his shoulder.

"I've never done this before, okay. Don't blame me" he said looking down at his feet when we moved to the song.

"You are doing fine for a first timer," I tell and he looks up with a smile.

"The first time we met, I thought you were a spoilt brat" he said and I cock an eyebrow at him with a scoff.

"I you were a real jackass" I tell and pretended to think for moment, "Oh wait, you still are." He laughed shaking his head.

"Thank you, Rhea. For everything," he admitted with all seriousness. I didn't reply because he seemed like he had more to say.

"You didn't treat me the way everyone else did. You made me feel exactly what I needed to and it's like- "

"Like I knew exactly what you are going through," I finish for him.

"Maybe we have so much in common than we thought we did." I let out a sigh and my eyes draw towards Jared who was talking with Damien and Lily.

"Do me a favor?"

"Hmm?"

"Take care of Jared," I tell Mason and gave back the smile Jared was giving.

"Okay?"

"Okay" he said and just as I was about speak my phone vibrated in my dress pocket. Yes! Not only is this dress beautiful it has fucking pockets. How cool is that. I take my phone out and glared at the unknown caller ID. Excusing myself, I walk away from the dance floor to the corner of the room and answer the call.

"Hello?"

"Little sister."

I halt in place and my blood ran cold recognising the voice. I would recognise that voice in a million, if I had to. I didn't know to panic or to feel somewhat good that I'm hearing the one person's voice whom I once loved most dearest as my own sibling and best friend. But the remembrance of the way he lied and left was itself was enough to cause some bitterness.

I guess I haven't forgiven and forgotten all of my past.

"Nathan?" I spoke with gritted teeth.

"How sweet you remember me?" He said and the sarcasm dripping in his tone was new as day.

"What the fuck do you want?" I whisper yelled into the phone.

"Brooding with the bad blood are we? Maybe we could solve that issue if you come meet me in the barn, near the waterfront."

"Ha you wish. If you want to talk, come in here" I tell because I have lost all my trust in him and there is no way in hell I would do exactly as he says. Maybe I did some time ago but not anymore.

"Okay then, let's do this the hard way. If you don't do as I say know that the next soda your brother is waiting to drink is going to be his last," he said and I look at Jared who was standing near the bar with Damien and Mason. I saw him tell the waitress something. I widen my eyes and a sudden fear took place when they all laughed at something Mason said.

"You are lying" I tell and slowly walked towards them because I am not risking my brother's life and I fear for mine if I do as he says. So, the only thing my mind said was to tell Damien and I am going to do just that.

"I am not and before you take another step know that your little boyfriend will go down the drain along with your brother. Do you really wanna risk them both?" He asked and I tighten the phone. I look at the service entrance where all the workers come into the ball room and see the waitress who was standing with a soda and a glass of scotch on her tray. She looked at me, a smirk took place in her face and I shake my head 'no' pleading.

"What do you want me to do?" My voice breaks.

"I want you to go towards them. Keep your phone on the counter and tell them you are going to use the restroom"

"Okay, I will come but you tell the waitress to leave too" I tell.

"She wouldn't do anything until I tell her to. So you do exactlyas I say because I will know everything you do"

"But-" the line goes dead and I take a breath before walking towards them with a smile.

"Who was it?" Damien asked and I keep my phone on the counter.

"No one" I tell him and leaned closer to him placing my lips on his. I kiss him deeply and dropped my hand to his pocket. I slightly lift my leg to hide my hand taking his phone out and dropping it into my pocket.

I pull away out of breath and placed soft kiss on his lips again.

"I'm gonna use the rest room" I tell them and eyed my phone on the counter which Damien looked at before placing his hand on his pocket. He looked at me and I already knew he was analysing me.

"I am okay" I say hoping that he would catch my lie. He always will and he is going to.

"Lia-" I didn't let him finish before storming off the ballroom. I see the barn at the far end near the river. I take a detour from inside the Inn instead of walking outside. When I reached the end of a hallway, I take Damien's phone out of my pocket. Unlocking it, I dial my number and lifted my long dress revealing the garter around my left thigh. I place the phone in between the garter and my leg.

I use the exit from there and walk outside towards the bar which was a bit far away. My heels dig into the damp grass land as I speed walk and droplets of water fell to my face. I look up at the sky and the clouds have darken alerting the thunders and rain coming. This type of weather used to be my favourite but right now there's nothing I want more than to see a little bit of light.

When the rainfall became heavier and heavier I ran towards the barn. I place my hand on the closed wooden doors and lean my head against before opening them and walking in.

The doors closed behind me with a loud thud and the whole place was I complete darkness. I take a few careful steps ahead and stop when a single light flickered, hanging in the middle of the large space. I draw my eyes down from the light towards the figure standing in front of me who was facing away from me.

"Tell me what you want to say and let me go" I tell and shivers ran through my body when he turned around with a humourless laugh.

"You might want to take seat for that" he said pointing towards the chair. I look at the wooden chair and back at him. I smirk took over his lips and if I never recognised his voice I'd think this someone else because the boy in front of me is nothing like the person whom I knew years ago.

"I'm fine" I tell and hugged my body. Nathan walked towards the chair and turned it around facing towards me and he sat down, placing his ankle over his other leg and arms crossed. He stared into my eyes which made the air around me tight.

"How are you Rhea?"

"Get to the point," I scoffed and he nod his head.

"Do you remember Mr.Valore?" He asked and my eyebrows drew close as I didn't recall that name.

"Your father's business partner" he added and a hint of the person he was talking about came to my mind. But why would he want to know about my father's business who was from years ago?

"Yes," I tell.

"Okay then tell me who he was."

"Why do- "

"Just say it!" He shrieked and stumble a few steps back.

"He was my father's business partner. He helped my dad to build his business and then after few years for some reason he left" I tell as it was all I knew and never in my life have I seen him or met.

"It was never your father's business," he said with gritted teeth and leaning to the front.

"Mr. Valore did everything to that business. The business that your father is making a living from. Your father is so fucking selfish and greedy that he didn't want to share the money that my father bought into the business" he yelled and stood up. The chair fell to the floor with a loud noise.

"Yeah, Mr. Valore was my father. Your daddy pulled some strings and brought hell upon my family. He led us to bank ruptcy, ruined the family name to the whole front and-" a sly laugh escaped his mouth "took my fucking mother away from us."

"My dad never got a job. So, he did every shitty thing to make a living until he was dropped to his death bed. My big brother felt so helpless that he got drunk and drove down a cliff. Mother couldn't handle the pain having a dead son and a dying husband so she shot herself right in front of my eyes," he said looking away and I couldn't help but feel bad not knowing anything about this.

"I'm sorry," I tell in a low voice not knowing why because I still couldn't believe my father was ever able to do such a thing but deep down something told me to apologise because it was the truth and no one would ever lie about such a thing.

"No, you are fucking not."

"What do you want me to say?" I ask and he turned around, digging both his hands in his pockets.

"Nothing. I want you to listen," he said. I nod my head and looked down at my feet.

"The last words my father told me was to make sure Sangster pays for what he did. Make sure to put him through the hell that he put my dad in. Make sure his children go through everything we did." I shot my eyes open and looked at him with wide eyes. He cannot say what I think he's going to. Please don't.

"No," I felt the tears collecting at the corners of my eyes as my chest tighten.

"You wanted to know why you went through the hell you did and now you will know," he said and my hand flew to my mouth as my breath hitched at the end of my throat.

"Where do you want me to start?"

"Please d-dont," I cried.

"The part where Noah died? Nini? Or..." I stumble back and my stomach clenched internally alerting that in a few moments everything is going to fall apart.

".... the part where you get raped."

"You didn't. I fucking trusted you" I spoke and my voice broke just the way the pieces of my fragile heart is going to fall down.

"Oh I- " he pointed a finger at himself "didn't rape you. Gee I'm not that cruel but I did however hire someone to rape you," he said so casually and my lips quivered, the vision in front of me started blurring when the tears flowed down my cheeks.

"B-but why me? Why not go straight to my father?"

"Where's the fun in that?" He said and my head started aching at every word coming out of his mouth.