Third Person Omniscient POV

Tyler lowered himself down onto the chair, glaring not so subtly at Malcom who cleared his throat awkwardly and spun around so that Tyler would not see his face or expression. "Well? Unless you tell me then my answer remains the same, no." Tyler snapped impatiently.

Malcom sighed and hung his head low, tears brimmed his eyes and he quickly wiped it away before once again clearing his throat. He stared out of the window and into the garden at the back of his mansion and found himself lost in the daises that grew from the earth's soil.

"Daisy, that was her name." He began, his grip on the chair tightening as he recalled her laughter in his ears, her hands on his body, her lips against his skin, his hand against her stomach. "We started dating from the moment I left home, god we were perfect for each other."

"How come I've never heard of this Daisy?" Tyler asked in confusion as he leaned closer towards his brother, his lips pulled into a frown. "I–I don't know I guess it just never came up." He shrugged nonchalantly, lying through his teeth. The reason why he never introduced her is because she asked him not too, she wanted to wait till the moment was right but the moment never came seeing as their family went downhill.

"Daisy got pregnant Tyler, and considering the circumstances who could we tell? Dad who was locked behind bars? Mom who was recovering yet relapsing from drug abuse? You who was too occupied taking care of mom to even think of himself? Tyler I–Daisy and I felt like you guys had too much on your plate to worry about another."

"But why would we worry about you having a kid?" Tyler asked. Malcom sighed and shrugged his shoulders once again, "I don't know, we just thought no one would care since everyone had their own lives as problems on their plate, we didn't want to burden you guys."

Tyler groaned and abruptly stood up, he tucked his hands into his pockets and arched his brows questionably, "Malcom, what does that have to do with anything? You could have still visited, Daisy was the one pregnant, not you."

"The baby died."

Tyler suddenly stiffened, his wide eyes swivelling towards his brother who suddenly sniffles and quickly wiped away the tear that cascaded down his cheeks. He blinked back the tears furiously and spun around to face Tyler who has yet to respond, too shocked to even say a word.

"She died and Daisy fell into depression thus me falling into depression as well. Seeing my fiancé mourning our daughter did not help my mourning either and for months I couldn't even get Daisy to leave the house, far less the room. And then one day when I came home she was just gone, she left me a letter saying that she was sorry and she couldn't live in this house anymore and be reminded of what she lost and I've never seen her since then

This isn't an excuse as to why I didn't visit but Tyler you have to understand that despite what you and mom went through I was trying myself to get through my own grief and loss of my entire family. I couldn't face you nor mom, it would have just reminded me of everything I've lost in general. Dad, mom, even you.

So you can hate me all you want, I didn't tell you this to garner your sympathy, I just wanted you to know that I didn't abandon you because I was living the lavish life and I absolutely forgot about my entire family. I just want you to know that the reason why I brought you all here and why I want us all to move to England is to get a portion of the family I lost, and I know that sounds selfish but think about it. It'll restore us, Tyler. Mom, Dad, you and me, doesn't that sound nice?"

Tyler pursed his lips in a thin line, the desperation on his brother's face broke his heart and Tyler realized something then and there. His brother was just as broken as he was, maybe more considering Tyler didn't experience losing a fiancé and his unborn child but yet still they harboured the same pain.

Both their lives were a mess, unravelled to the point where all that was left was bits and pieces that they both desperately wanted to glue back together. "Just–Just considering it, please." Malcom pleaded as he closed the space between him and his brother. They stood face to face, gazing into each other's eyes and Tyler saw the brother that he once knew.

He knew the man downstairs last night wasn't his brother and he only proved him right today. Tyler's lips quirked upwards and he surprised both himself and Malcom when he wrapped his arms around his body and brought him in for a hug.

Malcom's body stiffened against his brother but Tyler didn't care. He hugged him tighter, his eyes flickering shut once Malcom's body relaxed and he hugged his brother back. "I'll think about it, Malcom. I promise I will," he reassured his brother before they both pulled away. "And I know sorry won't fix what happened to you in the past but I am sorry, your only mistake was thinking that telling me would have burdened me in some way, you're my family, you can never be a burden."

Malcom smiled slightly, a sad smile Tyler realized, one that he longed to fix. They both were two boys longing for their perfect family once again, it was something that always kept them strong as younger boys, their family.

And now that it was tarnished all Tyler and Malcom longed for was to fix it.

But at what cost?

Tyler backed away and dismissed himself from Malcom's study. He made his way back into his room and retrieved his phone from his pocket, the picture of Arabella in her red dress popped up onto the screen and he smiled sadly.

He was conflicted, he had to make a choice between the woman he has grown to love and the family he spent two years longing over. He typed a message and slipped his phone back into his pocket before flopping down onto the bed, his mind racing with thoughts.

Me: we need to talk, I'll text you when I leave and when I land. I love you.

~ ~ ~

Arabella's eyes flickered across the phone as she read Tyler's message. Her lips quivered as she typed up a response and flung her phone onto her bed, willing back the tears that pricked her eyes.

Me: okay, I'll be waiting for you at the airport. I love you too.

Arabella slumped against the foot of the bed, dragging her legs to her chest as she willed back the tears. There was a knock at the door and Arabella snapped her head towards the door and outside stood Nessa and Tessa fiddling with their hands nervously as if they were approaching a wild animal.

"What do you guys want?" She asked. They hesitantly sauntered into the room and Tessa closed the door behind her. "Dude as much as I despise you I wouldn't wish this on my worst enemy–that is you of course–this is messed up, no one should be forced to marry someone they don't love. I–I'm sorry, Arabella that this is happening to you." Tessa exclaimed as she made her way towards Arabella.

She smiled and picked at the thread sticking out of her skirt, Arabella shrugged her shoulders nonchalantly and turned towards her stepsisters, her lips pulled into a tight-lipped smile. "That's what happens when you come from most wealthy families. Business before pleasure, there's nothing I can do about it now, if I break the contract we will be sued for everything we have and my father will go bankrupt which won't be beneficial to me in the end."

"But you didn't sign the contract right? Your signature isn't on it, you didn't give your consent." Nessa exclaimed frantically as she flopped down before Arabella, trying her hardest to reassure her. "I wasn't even born when the damn contract was signed, maybe Ryan yes but me, I wasn't even a goddamn fetus when my parents sold my soul. There's nothing I can do unless I want to risk putting my family in horrible debt."

"Well to hell with them!" Tessa snapped, her eyes widening in anger as she glared at the floor. Arabella smiled and a chuckle ripped through her throat as she gazed back at her sister. "Is someone suddenly showing an emotion other than anger and hatred towards me?" Arabella asked.

Tessa scoffed, trying to hide her concern as she flipped her hair over her shoulders and shrugged, "I simply cannot have an enemy who has no motivation to continue fighting. It doesn't make things interesting, that is all." She exclaimed, rolling her eyes when Arabella smiled.

"Come here both of you." She whispered as she outstretched her hands to them both. Tessa and Nessa didn't hesitate as they made their way into her arms. She hugged them both tightly, biting down onto her lips to prevent herself from crying. "N–now you both have to promise me that you won't let anyone do this to you in the future. Not your spouse, not your friends and definitely not your parents. Don't let anyone do anything with your life without your consent you hear me?" She whispered, her voice cracking slightly as she spoke.

Tessa and Nessa nodded their heads in understanding and Arabella pulled away, smiling through the tears that trickled down her cheeks. "Now I have to go speak–or rather scream at my parents before I leave. Thank you both for checking up on me. I've had the liberty of having two sisters I never asked for." She chuckled through her tears.

Tessa and Nessa giggled softly and watched as Arabella stumbled onto her feet and walked out of the room and towards her father's study where her parents and her godforsaken stepmother were conversing with one another. 

Without knocking Arabella barged through the doors, surprising everyone in the room as they jolted in shock. "Arabella."

"Evelin leave us be, I need to have a word with my parents." She demanded as she gestured towards the door, ignoring the stunned look on Evelin's face as she snapped her head between Arabella and her husband. Gale nodded his head, motioning towards the door before Evelin huffed out in anger and stormed out of the study.

"Dear–"

"SILENCE! I don't want to hear anything any of you have to say anymore. Now is the time to hear me! You two have betrayed me in a way I never thought possible. You mother I knew you had your antics, I knew you were barely even a mother to me when I came back to DC because you were too consumed in your job and boyfriends to even acknowledge your daughter but I never expected you to do something so heartless to me when I wasn't even born yet.

How could you live with yourself knowing that one day your very own daughter would have to marry a man that she doesn't love? How could you look me in the eye and say yes! I'm going to rip away her freedom and take away her dignity and sell her to the wolves before she can even say mama because I'm selfish and all I can think about is money and estates and not their daughter's happiness.

And dad! Oh, my loving father, the parent that I always preferred, the man who has never once turned his back on me, the man I've cried for more than I've cried for anyone else. You broke my heart into so many pieces and stomped onto it until it was only dust."

Gale's eyes brimmed with tears as he slowly rose from the chair, his eyes never leaving Arabella who was leaned against the desk, her brown eyes penetrating through his sharply as if she were gazing into his soul. He could see it on her face, never has he seen her so hopeless before and he only had himself to blame.

"How could you even look me in the eye right now and tell me that you give my hand–your princesses hand in marriage to a man she barely knows. How could you live with the fact that the most important day of my life will now be the worst day because of you? How could you call yourself my father? You both, despite any circumstances, should have never even considered signing that contract. To me, it's equivalent to selling my soul to the devil.

And I may be older but I will bring back the saying every kid has said at least once in their lifetime. I hate both of you and I will never forgive you for this, never. For now, I will leave you two in suspense, wondering whether I will show up on my wedding day and fulfill my legacy or whether I will not and your business and the Smith's name will crash And burn!"

With one final look at her broken parents, Arabella pushed herself off the desk and sauntered out of the study, slamming the door shut behind her with a bang.

Everything was out of control, out of her control and she didn't know what to do. She didn't know whether to choose freedom and love over the family and business.

And she didn't want to admit it but.

She was broken.

More broken than ever.