I watched as colorful birds fluttered from tree to tree. It was a sunny day an almost perfect day if it weren't for the one dark grey cloud that hung threateningly in the sky.

Taking advantage of the sunny day. I decided to take a walk outside since I spent most of my time in the house since my arrival.

The sound of faint whistling got my attention as I walked further into the garden. The whistling got louder and louder as I walked and I stopped in front of a large water fountain. It sounded like the whistling was coming from the fountain.

I walked around the fountain as I examined it with my eyes for speakers. As I rounded the corner I found Carlos sitting on a black wooden bench with his eyes closed and head positioned up to the sky. His lips were pursed as he whistled a melody.

"Just five more minutes Chris. Steph's bridesmaids are killing me."

"Are we all such a bother?" I chuckled and Carlos's eyes shot open.

"Oh it's you that's casting a shadow," he smiled. "I didn't mean you. It's Abigail and Madeline. They've been fighting over me," he groaned, running a hand through his hair.

"So you came out here to escape?" I asked and he nodded.

"It's a beautiful day. I've missed the sun. Thought I'd never see it till Sunday." 

I chuckled. "Why Sunday?"

"I'm leaving for Spain on Sunday."

We heard footsteps and talking and we both turned at the same time to see Christian round the fountain with Stephanie by his side. They were holding hands. "I guess we weren't the only ones to take advantage of a beautiful day," Stephanie smiled.

"I was wondering if I heard right," Christian smiled.  "Liz and Carlos. Where's my soon to be brother in law can't be far behind if Liz is here."

All of them chucked and I felt like there was something I was missing.

Stephanie clasped my shoulder with a smile. "My brother can be a pain in the arse. Liz probably just needed a few minutes alone," she chuckled, taking a seat on the bench.

I enjoyed the fact that she knew he was a pain in the butt. "He's having a shower," I told her. I escaped as soon as he went into the bathroom. Unplanned I went to the library to put back a book I borrowed and I saw how beautiful it was outside. So I abandoned all plans of reading.

Stephanie checked her wristwatch. "Well, I think we should head back inside and start getting ready."

Christian checked his watch. "Steph the guests will only be arriving at six. it's only three pm."

"Mi Hermano, do not interfere with women when it comes to dressing up. How are you getting married when you don't understand women," Carlos grinned.

"I don't need to understand all women just my woman," Christian said proudly.

Carlos rolled his eyes as a smirk played on his lips. "How are your lips not swollen from all that ass-kissing?"

"Moisturizer and I can kiss her ass all I want. She's mine," Christian laughed and moved to kiss Steph on her forehead.

"Awww shut up I'm going to cry and vomit at the same time at how cheesy you being," Stephanie giggled causing Carlos to laugh. She moved to stand again. "Liz can you come with me. There is something I want to show you."

I didn't have anywhere else to go so I shrugged. "Sure."

"Boys don't be late. I will murder the both of you," she said to both of them.

"Yes mam," they both said in unison.

Stephanie and I began walking out of the garden again. "This garden is beautiful," I voiced my thoughts and Steph let out a sound of agreement.

"It's called the garden of Sage," Steph smiled to herself. I could see that she was a million miles away with a daydream look on her face.

"Why the garden of Sage?"

"My mother," she said, breaking out of her thoughts and turning to face me. "I made this garden in honor of her. My birth mother used to love gardening. I learned from her," Stephanie smiled but it was broken. "I wish she was still here Liz not that I don't appreciate all that Charlotte's done to fill that void but I just wish I could talk to her one more time to hear her voice or feel her hug at this time you know. I was only five when I lost her." A tear fell from Stephanie's eye and I found them starting to prick at my eyes as well. It was hard to see someone that was always so happy crying.

I pulled Stephanie into a hug and held her as she sobbed into my shoulder. "Steph your mom would have loved the woman you turned out to be and even though you can't see her don't doubt that she won't be with you when you achieve the biggest milestones in your life."

Stephanie pulled away from me. She had a smile on her face as she wiped away her tears with the back of her hand. "Thank you, Liz. I needed that," she sniffled and we continued walking.

"It's okay I can imagine how you feeling. You getting married tomorrow and you want your mother it's only natural."

"I could never share this with Charlotte. It's a very touchy subject with us and it would be even more emotional. Charlotte never wanted me to forget about my birth mother she kept all of her things for me. She wasn't the evil cruel stepmother. She was my mum. My second mum and I consider myself lucky to have her and Luca."

I listened to Steph intently. The way she spoke about her family brought a different kind of smile to her face. I wondered why Luca wasn't as accepting of Harry as his second father. Steph accepted Charlotte. Why couldn't Luca of given Harry that chance. The man didn't seem all that bad to me.

"Steph then why does Luca resent your father?" I asked and Stephanie bit down on her bottom lip.

"My father is a very busy man Liz and I think Luca misunderstands him. Fathers are generally hard on their sons but Luca thinks it's because father doesn't like him. Which is untrue. My father loves Luca that's why he sent him to New York. He saw that Luca had got mixed with the wrong crowd and instead of keeping Luca like a caged animal in the house and forbidding him and forcing him onto the right path he sent him away with James," she smiled. "That was the best thing he ever did for Luca and Luca will soon realize it himself. Because it was in New York he decided to become a doctor and it was in New York he met you."

A shiver ran through my body. If only I could have told her I meant nothing to him. "We haven't been together for that long," I cleared my throat.

"Time doesn't measure love. My brother is smitten with you.  I see the way he looks at you. It's the way my father looks at my mother and it's the way Christian looks at me." I wanted to tell her that she and Christian don't give each other murderous looks but I remained silent and listened as she spoke. "His eyes light up when he sees you and it's only you," she furthered. "His lips turn up in the corner ever so slightly but he hides his smile for you because he is Luca and hates showing emotion for some reason," she chuckled and my face paled.

He doesn't look at me like that. He can't.  I just stared at her in astonishment. He didn't love me. He couldn't love me. Steph was just mistaking it.

He loved Allison. He wanted to be with her. He wanted to move back here and be with her. Not me. He would never want me and Allison said it herself. I wasn't his type. She was.

But it didn't bother me it's not like wanted him to love me. I couldn't want that when he belonged to someone else.

We entered the house again and Steph lead me upstairs to her bedroom. She closed the door behind us and walked over to her closet, sliding the large wooden door open. A knock came on the door. "It's open," Steph said and Luca popped his head into the room.

"There you are princess," he said, in a voice of relief, and walked into the room. "What are you doing?" He asked and Stephanie chuckled, turning to me and giving me the I told you so eyes, before turning back to look in her closet again.

"See what did I just tell you, Liz," she chuckled.

Luca looked between us. "What did you tell her?"

"Girl things about shaving our eyebrows. Want to know more?" Steph asked and he crinkled up his face.

"No no that's fine. I'll leave you to it," he turned to walk out of the room. "Oh and Stephen, don't forget to shave your hairy back while you at it. You are getting married tomorrow," he called as he walked out of the room. Steph growled and I could hear Luca's evil laughter all the way down the hallway.

I couldn't help my rumble of laughter. It was funny when he wasn't irritating me for a change.

She let out a huff and then turned her attention to me. "Now don't be mad," Steph smiled sheepishly and I knew where the conversation was going when she took out a suit bag from her closet.

"You got me a dress didn't you?" I questioned with a raised eyebrow and she nodded frantically.

"Steph," I groaned.

"Please let's not have this argument again," she cried. Steph looked at me with her round glistening eyes. She unzipped the large bag revealing a long, red gown. The dress was cut into a sweetheart neckline. It had no detail but the soft satin material gave it all the elegance it needed.

"This is some dress," I said looking it over.

She sighed, satisfied. "I knew you'd love it. Now can you try it on? I promise I'll close my eyes," she teased.

I took the dress from her and she placed both her hands over her eyes. I pulled off my clothes and put the dress on from the bottom since it would be easier.  The material was soft and light. It hugged my bust and waist showing a little cleavage and it flowed from the waist down.

"Open your eyes Steph," I chuckled. She removed her hands and looked up at me.

"Wow, Liz. You look incredible. This color is amazing on you." She stepped forward, examining me closely. She went behind me and loosened my hair tie. My hair fell loosely around my shoulders. It was wild and wavy.

"Liz?" Steph called.

"Yeah."

"Can I finish the look for you?"

"But Steph you need to get ready too."

"I'll do you then you do me," she said coming to stand in front of me again. She had an excited look on her face like a kid that long-awaited a Christmas morning.

"Okay," I gave in reluctantly. "But I'm not good at doing makeup," I fairly warned.

Steph spent the next hour straightening my hair and doing my makeup. She did this thing called a smokey eye with gold eyeshadow on my eyelids. She applied red lipstick to my lips and subtle blush to my cheeks.

"Wait I forgot your shoes," she said and ran back to the closet. She came back out with a shoebox and handed it to me. I opened the box and it was red six-inch heels to match the dress. 

Blaire would be extremely jealous when she learned there was no struggle from me at all to let Stephanie do my make up and pick out my clothes.

Next, it was my turn to help Stephanie into her rose gold dress. The dress shimmered when natural light caught it. It had a gold pattern around the center.

I did my best to curl her hair. I used to help my mom and aunt sometimes so I knew what I was doing. When I was done with her hair she applied her own makeup light pink eyeshadow and pink lipstick. She looked beautiful. She didn't want to wear heels because she was afraid of slipping. She didn't want to take any chances.

"Steph why didn't you just go to a salon and get pampered by a professional," I asked while I curled the last piece of her hair.

"I don't like going to the salon or beauty parlors," she admitted. "I prefer doing it myself or with Charlotte and now with you," she smiled.

A knock came on the door. "Steph darling." It was Charlotte.

"Come in mum," Steph said and the door opened revealing Charlotte.

She was dressed in a Royal blue long-sleeved ballgown. Her naturally curled hair was straight and touching her shoulders. "Blimey mum. You look like the queen," Steph said causing Charlotte to chuckle.

"Well thank you, darling. It was you that designed this dress," she walked over to us. "You girls look lovely," she said, her lip quivering as she wiped away a tear. "Oh, these moments remind me of just how big my children have gotten."

"Don't say, big mum. Especially now that I'm pregnant."

"Should I start saying old?" Charlotte chuckled.

"You may but you should stop once I turn thirty. Now please don't cry because you going to make us cry with you."

Charlotte nodded. "Perhaps we should take a picture to commemorate this moment," Charlotte said.

"The photographers are downstairs-"

"No not like that," she said with a wave of her hand as she thought. "A what you may call it..." she trailed. "A selfie," she snapped her fingers in realization.

Stephanie began chuckling and I giggled. Charlotte was an adorable woman when she wanted to be and I liked that about her. She was strict when she needed to be and goofy unexpectedly. She had the ability to adapt to the atmosphere of the room.

Stephanie pulled out her phone. A broad smile on her face. "Alright, ladies get in real close.

Charlotte put her hand on my back and leaned in close to me almost smashing our heads together. Steph took the picture and Charlotte let go of me. "Wait no I think I blinked. Can we take it again?"

Steph laughed. "You came out perfect mum," she said showing me and Charlotte the picture.

My heart melted at the picture. It was beautiful.

Another knock came on the bedroom door. "Steph are you done, love. We are already late to greet the guests," came Christian voice.

"Just a minute," Steph said and checked her teeth in the mirror for lipstick before walking over to the door and pulling it open.

"Wow." Christian was speechless. He moved to kiss her and she put a hand to his lips stopping him.

"Liz and mum are in here Chris," she giggled.

"Oh," he walked into the room. "Mrs. Charlotte, you look lovely and so do you, Liz," he complimented.

"You look dashing young man," Charlotte complimented. "Well, I think it's time for me to go find your father Steph." She smiled at me and walked out of the room.

"I should go find Luca," I said and moved to walk past Stephanie. "Thank you for everything," I told her and she pulled me into a hug.

"No, thank you for staying with me."

I walked out of the room just in time to see Luca round the corner. He was fixing his bow tie and running a hand through his gelled hair. He stopped in front of me and paused. His eyebrows furrowed as he just stared at me. "Er- wah," he cleared his throat after a while of avid staring and I chuckled. "Hi," he then said and I smiled. He looked away and licked his bottom lip.

"Hi," I looked away too. He looked er- wa too. His black tuxedo outlined his broad muscles when he flexed his arms. His beard was short and neat.

Stephanie and Christian's chuckling got us to look up at them.

Were they staring the entire time?

"I think we should go downstairs, Chris. Give these two some privacy," Stephanie smiled, shooting me a wink and my eyes widened. I could feel the blush creeping up on my cheeks.

Luca looked at me the same time I looked up at him and our eyes met. "So I ur haven't seen you for half the day. How was your day with my sister?" He asked.

"It- t'was great," I stammered.

"Cool," he said sticking his hands in his pockets.

Carlos rounded the corner next dressed in a navy blue tuxedo. His hair was combed to the side. He looked extremely handsome. "Wow, Liz you look amazing. Save me a dance yeah?" He said and walked to the stairs.

"If it wasn't for my sister I'd of dislocated that fuckers jaw a long time ago," Luca growled.

"Easy why so angry?" I asked and he offered me his arm as we walked to the stairs. I put my arm through his.

"There's just something I don't like about him."

We descended the steps and the ground floor of the house was packed with people dressed in their best.  They were all being guided to the event room. "Hey Luca," A woman called from the crowd of people. She had blonde hair and was wearing a pink poofy dress that sat on her knees.

"Danny," Luca smiled at the woman and I stared at the two. "How you've been?" He asked.

"Good are you back for good this time?" She asked.

"Not sure," he said and she turned her gaze to me.

"Oh Dan, this is Elizabeth," he said and then he turned to me. "Elizabeth, this is my cousin Danielle."

"It's so lovely to meet you. Aunt Charlotte has been singing your praises about you to my mum."

I tinged Charlotte was so happy that I was with her son that she was telling all her family members. My stomach churned. Why was the universe making this so hard.

"I'll see you guys in there. I've got to find Robert and the kids," Danny said letting go of my hand and hurrying away.

My face was paling as I thought about what the future held. Was I supposed to just go back to America and forget that I've ever met these people. Forget Luca existed.

How was I going to that. I could barely go for three hours without seeing Luca or wondering what he was up to. A very unhealthy habit I picked up because we spent most of our time together.

The wedding would be over tomorrow and most of the houseguests would be leaving. I needed to leave as well. I couldn't stay here and get any more attached. 

"Princess are you okay?" Luca asked and I looked up at him to see concern etch its way onto his features.

"Yeah. Ur Luca," I started and he looked even more concerned at me this time. "There is something I want to talk to you about," my voice was croaky. I was sad even thinking about leaving here. But I had to. I was becoming too comfortable and I needed to wake up from my daydream before reality caught up with me.

"Kids hurry," Charlotte called. "We want to start the first dance."

I sighed and we continued our walk to the room. The room was decorated with a clean theme of silver, black, and white. The lanterns had the effect of floating, its warm yellow light casting a mystical glow. The room looked like it was something out of a fairytale. Round tables were arranged at the back of the room with silver chairs and black tablecloths.

Everyone began moving to the center of the room and violins began to play.
Luca held my hand as he pulled me to the center of the room all the while I stared at his face. My heart began aching at the thought of telling him I wanted to leave. He placed one hand on my hip and one on my shoulder pulling me close to him. My breath hitched in my throat when our eyes locked.

"What did you want to talk about?" He asked with scrunched eyebrows.

My heart began racing and I swallowed hard. "I want to go home to Pasadena after Stephanie's wedding," Luca looked at me shocked. He twirled me and then pulled me back to him the action having butterflies forming in my stomach.

"Why do you want to leave?" He asked. I looked at him carefully.

"To spend Christmas with my family," I smiled and he nodded lost in thought.

"I didn't think about that," he let out a breath. "When do you want to leave?" he asked his voice dropping an octave as he avoided my eyes. Before I could answer someone tapped his shoulder breaking his concentration and he turned around. I peered over his shoulder. "Allison," he said in a voice of shock.

She was dressed in a black body fit dress that sat on her thighs. Her blonde hair was pin-straight and falling over her arms and shoulders. "What are you doing here? If my mother-"

"She won't this place is packed," she said entwining their fingers and then looking at me. She eyed me up and down and then looked at Luca who still had his hand on my waist."Baby you look so handsome. Come with me," she said, pulling him away. His hands fell from me and he gave me a shrug throwing up his hands as if to tell me he didn't know what was going on either.

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A/N

Thank you guys for 6k reads and for all of the votes. I appreciate everyone one of my readers. Whether you let me know you're reading or not.💜💜💜

Chapter 38 is in my Englishman's POV and is the continuation of the ball. I will release it at the end of this week.

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