The CEO’ s second choice

Elena

Mirabelle refuses to even speak with me after what happened at the Summer Fable and I decided not to push it. She would forgive my outburst sooner or later. We are currently on our private jet to visit my sister in Paris. Sebastian would be working this side as well as it was his biannual visit to Dumont Enterprises this side. I haven't seen Eliana since my wedding and truth be told; I miss the prim and proper Wiltshire twin and could not wait to see her! A few hours later, we land and make our way to Sebastian's villa in the French countryside. We would go sightseeing later on and I could not wait!

Sebastian's cell phone beeps, indicating an incoming call, and I immediately tune out. This would be his work for some reason or another. They always seem to need him. I guess that's the life of a CEO. I was a complete and utter ball of jetlagged excitement, nearly bouncing off the vehicle walls. Not only would I be visiting my sister for a week, but the following week I would be starting at Exeter! Was my life coming together or what?! I have been keeping in touch with Anabelle as well and her marriage is, unfortunately, a-go for next April. I felt sorry for my best friend because she was the one losing her identity in her arranged marriage. Not to mention that her mother wants her to drop out of uni before the marriage so she could focus on her social life and being a wife to Thomas.

That is the only part of the heiress life that I despise duty.

After we arrived at the villa, Sebastian had a lay-down for an hour or two alongside me, then we were off again. I couldn't sleep properly because I was so excited at the prospect of seeing my sister again after so long. As soon as we get to their mansion, I spot my sister on the front steps, waiting for us. "Wow, she looks different," Sebastian remarks, and I see what he means. Eliana looked... happier and her body language wasn't as poised as it used to be in London. The car didn't even come to a proper halt before I shot out and ran to greet her, much to my husband's chagrin.

"Eliana!" I call and see the tears in her eyes as well, before wrapping her in a hug. She smelled so familiar and like home! "Elena, oh I've missed you!" she exclaims, and I feel her tears as they hit my shoulder. We broke our hug and looked at one another. "You look as beautiful as ever, Eliana," I start, "and happy, you look so happy!" She giggles through her tears and wipes mine away while shaking her head. "You were always the natural beauty and being married to Sebastian seems to have brought that out more." She says and looks at my husband, sighing. "Hello, Sebastian," she says with a smile and he wraps her in a hug as well, something I think she was not expecting.

She looks up at him with wide eyes and he chuckles. "I don't hate you, Eliana. You followed your happiness and I could never fault you for that, even if your happiness lay with my uncle." He says and this seems to turn her tears into sprinklers because she wailed! Oh, Eliana, was the guilt truly eating at you all this time? I watch the former lovers as they hold one another and feel the tears run down my cheeks as well.

These two have a history, I realise that and respect it. But they also have unresolved issues stemming from their playact relationship, which is why I do not feel jealous of this. They let go and Eliana led me inside as Sebastian's phone rang yet again. "Sorry, my love, I will have to see you later on. There is an emergency meeting at Dumont Enterprises that require my attention." He says with an apologetic smile when he returns. I shrug at this, as it is nothing new to me. "I understand. Hurry back," I say and he kisses me goodbye before leaving.

I turn around and see Eliana's eyes, which had widened to dinner plate circumference. "What was that?!" she exclaims, leading me to chuckle. I lace my arms with hers and we walk towards the back terrace. I told her of my journey with Sebastian and it was as if I was telling a love story because my sister was all tears and tissue.

"That's absolutely beautiful, Elena," she says as she dabs her eyes and smiles at me. I think I might have just made her week! We continued to chat a bit before we walked up to the nursery so I could see little Morgan, and what a cute sight she was! I watch my sister with her daughter and my heart absolutely melts at the sight of her with her child. This wasn't Lady Wiltshire anymore, and I was so happy about that. I sensed no chip on her shoulder or heaviness in her heart; she was free. Free of my mother and I have to say that I felt the same. My mother kept us under her thumb for far too long, Eliana especially, and now my sister finally had her happily ever after.

"How does it feel, being a mother?" I suddenly find myself asking and her head whips up to meet my gaze. She smiles wistfully. "That's not something I can readily explain," she says with a laugh. Then she looks down at her daughter again and takes her tiny hand, planting a kiss. “I'm not sure who coined the phrase, but it's like watching your heart right outside your body, constantly, daily and feeling the love grow with each passing day. It engulfs you and also terrifies you." She says, but I don't understand at all. Would I ever?

I watch her and sigh. "Mirabelle wants me to start falling pregnant, but I don't feel ready yet. And I am starting at Exeter in a few weeks so I cannot welcome a child right now. It would be unfair to them," I admit to her, but all she does is smile sadly at me. "No one is ever ready to be a parent, Elena. But I understand what you're saying and where you are coming from. Don't allow them to bully you into bringing a child into the world. It's your body." She says and lays her daughter down for her afternoon sleep. She laces her arm with mine and we walk downstairs yet again. "How does Sebastian feel about having children?" She asks me and I think back to our conversation two weeks ago. "He accepts my decision, but knows we will have to produce an heir in due time," I say, but she shakes her head. "If you only think of a child as an heir, you will never know the true meaning of motherhood, Elena. That is Susanna's mindset, not ours."

I blanch at this. Wow, I have never thought of it that way. The way I have been referring to a child was definitely our mother's mindset. Realising this cements my earlier notion about having children and equating them to my upbringing... Now I definitely do not want any. At all. But then I look at Eliana and how she completely adores her daughter and my mind changes again. Am I capable of giving love like that?

I ponder this even after Sebastian collects me from Eliana's place. "Please come around again, Elena. I truly have missed you." She says and I hear Sebastian's phone ringing again even though he has just come from Dumont Enterprises. "I'll be here every single day-!"

"What do you mean? Are they okay?" I hear my husband's worried voice cut through my sentence and my ears perk up. He looks at me with a deep frown etched in his brow, then pales. "Okay, we'll take the jet out and be there as soon as possible. Thank you for letting me know." He says and kills the call. Fear creeps into my heart when he looks at me, and I feel my world slipping away at his next sentence.

"My parents have been in a car wreck," he says in a daze, and I rush over to him. I look up at him with worried eyes. "Are they okay, my love?" I ask, needing to know. I haven't made peace with Mirabelle yet! I need to make peace with her! But all Sebastian does is shake his head sadly and lead me to our waiting vehicle.