SYMBOL OF LOVE

-SAGE-

" I don't like it here," I whisper, clutching Shawn's hand tightly.

" They have arranged a dinner just for us, it would be a disrespect if we don't show up." Shawn mumbles, looking at the marvelous mansion in front of us.

" Sage," I shudder, peeking at my father as he glares at me.

" Don't create a scene here and make sure to apologize for your disgusting behavior the other day." he hisses.

" Yes, father," I mumble, staring at the ground hard.

We walk up to the front door which is answered by a maid before she leads us into the dining room. The Romano's were already there, waiting for us except Hades.

" Hello, Mr. Martinez. So glad to have you here." Mrs.Romano smiles at my father as they exchange greetings.

" Hello aunt, you're looking wonderful tonight." Sabrina immediately chimes in, earning a wide grin from Mrs.Romano.

" Thank you, my dear. You're looking gorgeous, I'm sure Enrique is a lucky man." Mrs.Romano laughs with Sabrina.

I gulped looking at Enrique who was standing there like a child waiting for his mom to shop for groceries so he can go home as soon as possible. Enrique's gaze caught mine for a moment as I felt tingles running into my veins, I looked away from him immediately.

I smiled at Mrs.Romano as she shot me a glare. She wasn't very impressed with me.

" I so wish my Hades was as lucky as Enrique is." she spats, looking at me from head to toe.

Hades' sisters giggled with Sabrina at this comment, I clutched my dress looking down to hide the tears pooled into my eyes. I didn't want them to see how weak I was.

" Mrs.Romano, any human being with perfect eyes can tell that Sage is much prettier than Sabrina or any other woman in this room," Shawn said as Sabrina gasped.

She looked at Shawn sadly which broke my heart. Shawn shouldn't have said that, it hurt Sabrina so bad.

" Shawn." My dad gritted out.

" It's alright, Jared." Josephine immediately said, saving Shawn from embarrassment.

Shawn pulled out a chair for me before he sat down on the one beside it. Elliot pulled out the chair on my other side when Leo stopped him.

" I'm sorry Elliot but brother is coming soon and I think he'll like to sit beside Sage," Leo said, gesturing at the chair.

Elliot looked at me and then at Leo, he looked troubled as to he wanted to listen to Leo or sit here but at last, he sat on the other chair, leaving the one beside me for Hades.

But where is Hades?

Probably freeing someone's soul from their body.

" Where is my son-in-law, Mrs.Romano?" Father asks, glancing around the room.

" Right here." I choked my own saliva as Hades' voice boomed in the room.

Shawn rubbed my back, offering me a glass of water when I smelled his strong masculine scent near me. The chair was dragged out the next moment as I felt him sitting down beside me.

His smell and warmth from his body were making me sweat terribly but I didn't dare to look up at him.

" Look at me, my sweet." he whispers, placing two fingers under my chin before he guides my face towards him.

His handsome face greets my eyes as I smile at him. He was perfect beyond words, his face was sculptured with such exquisiteness, I couldn't even point out a flaw.

" Hi." he whispers, planting a kiss on my lips.

" Hi." I smile shyly.

" Hades, this is a dining table not your bed." Mrs.Romano growls as Hades chuckles.

" Thank you for reminding me mother otherwise I would have never known that." Hades gasps childishly making Mrs.Romano's face go red in anger.

" Hi." he whispers again, interwining his fingers with mine before pulling my hand on his lap.

" Hi." I whisper back, peeking at a glance of him.

The dinner begins as everyone serves themselves. Shawn and Hades load my plate with a lot of food before they begin serving themselves. I pick up the fork with my left hand and begin eating from one side, hoping this will finish soon. The air in the room was thick as the Romano ladies kept glaring at me so did Enrique's mom and Sabrina.

Hades puts more potatoes on my plate as soon as I completed half of the food on my plate. I glared at him angrily but he just gives me a flying kiss, making me blush like an idiot.

" You know, I can play piano perfectly," Ethan says, breaking the thick silence.

" No one asked but that's great," Hades mutters, stroking my knuckles with his thumb.

" Yeah but Sage has more talents than I do, she can choke on her own saliva, a unique one." Ethan bursts out laughing with the others.

I look back at Hades who was fuming at Ethan's words but then smiled at him.

" I can choke on air, can you do that Sage?" Hades asks me, raising an eyebrow.

" I don't know." I shrug.

" We'll have a competition someday." he winks, playfully.

" No one chokes on air." Enrique snaps.

" I do," Hades argues.

" That's unique." Sabrina smiles at Hades.

" I can play piano with my toes." Elliot chimes in.

" Wow." Shawn chuckles.

" I can play with piano with my tongue." Leo laughs, Hades cracks up laughing at his brother's words.

I smile hearing his laughter, it felt weird to hear 'the scary mob boss' laugh but it gave me butterflies in my tummy too.

" So, we have decided the wedding dates. It's next week." Mrs.Romano announces with a grim expression.

Next week? That's so quick, I wasn't even prepared for this.

" Isn't it too early?" I whisper, peeking at Hades.

He looks at me with a frown on his face and nods in agreement.

" Mother, I think it's too early. Sage and I need time." Hades says.

" I don't think so, son." She smiles at him.

" But I need time," I say, holding her stare.

" Sage, we talked about respect, didn't we? You'll marry Hades whenever Mrs.Romano has decided." Father snaps, glaring at me.

I nod, looking down at my lap with tears pooled in my eyes. Hades slowly, caresses my thigh, leaning in.

" Don't worry, my sweet. I'll talk to them," he whispers gently.

I nod, trusting his promise as I play around with the food on my plate. Sabrina suddenly stands up, pulling Enrique up with her before reaching out for a glass of champagne. I stared at her in confusion with the others as she grinned from ear to ear.

" Okay everyone, I have something to say." she giggles, hooking her hand with Enrique's.

" I'm pregnant." She shrieks.

Silence. Clear and hollow silence followed her words as my vision blurred. A beeping sound broke the silence in my ears as I gripped the table cloth tightly until I could feel my nails digging in my palm.

Sabrina was laughing happily, hugging Enrique when my father stood up, congratulating her.

" Sage."

I could only hear their blurred voices and my own ragged breathing as I turned towards Hades. He gave me an apologetic look, rubbing my thigh. My disfigured vision shifted back to Sabrina, she was smiling as she placed Enrique's hand on her belly.

Blood pounded into my ears, my heart kept thudding in my chest. I couldn't look at them anymore. I had to get away.

" No." A whisper left my lips as I stood up with shaky legs, my knees threatening to buckle up any moment as I turned around, dashing out of the room.

" Sage." I could hear someone yell but I didn't stop. Not this time.

My footsteps resonated behind me as I ran down the hall, knocking a few vases down. The two guards at the door looked at me with wide eyes before they yanked the door open for me.

I dropped my clutch and phone, stepping out in the rain, running aimlessly until I tripped on my dress. A muffled scream made it's way out of my throat as I lay on the ground, in the rain, crying pathetically.

The thunder roar angrily, lightning brightening the night for a second before it went dark again. A storm was in my mind and heart, I just didn't know which one was more painful.

" Sage."

Hades kneeled down near me, pulling me into his arms as I thrashed, trying to push him away.

" Sage, breathe baby," he screamed, holding my hands behind my back.

Breathing was difficult. Really difficult. As if someone was choking me. I gripped his shirt in my fist, pinching my eyes shut as pain washed over me in waves. I could feel myself sobbing in his warm hold, my chest grew tighter with each sob as a bile rose in my throat.

Hades rocked me back and forth until I could feel the uneasiness wash away. He kept stroking my back, making it better with his soothing touch.

" Better?" he whispers, looking down at me.

My bottom lip trembled as I looked up at him, his dark eyes stared down at me, waiting for an answer patiently.

" It was supposed to be me." A hoarse whisper escaped my trembling lips.

" What?" He questioned, confusing floating his tone.

" It was supposed to be me. We would've been married for two years now and it was supposed to be me who would be pregnant not her. She took my place, it was supposed to be me. My baby. It was supposed to be me. Me! Not her." My lungs scorched as I screamed out the words.

I could feel intense pain in my head as I screamed out my words. My eyes burned as tears mixed with rain, ran down my cheeks.

" It was supposed to be me." A sob escaped my lips again as I clung to him.

" He doesn't deserve you, Sage. He doesn't even care about you, he got Sabrina pregnant and you're hurting yourself for someone like him. Don't do this to yourself, my love." he whispered, kissing my forehead.

I shivered, feeling his warm lips against my skin. Hades stroked my cheeks as the coldness in them faded away.

" I'll give you all the happiness in this world that you'll forget what pain and tears even feel like," he says, planing another kiss on my forehead.

" I love you Sage," he whispers.

I look up at his perfectly sculptured face, stroking his cheek with shaky fingers.

" I don't deserve you," I mumbled, wiping my tears furiously.

" You do, you deserve the entire world and I'm going to place the entire world beneath your feet," he says, planting his lips on mine.

I kissed him back, tugging his hair making him groan. Hades wrapped his arm around my waist, pulling me more into him. He nibbled on my lower lip, biting it gently before we broke apart.

" Do you wanna go inside?" he asks.

" No, I can't bear them right now," I mumbled, placing my head on his chest.

I can face death at this moment but not sit there watching the man I loved more than anything talk to my sister about their baby.

Their baby. Enrique and Sabrina's baby. Their symbol of love. Where is my love?

It probably died that day when I couldn't protect my dignity. I'm the reason everything ruined between me and Enrique. They all are right.

I deserve this pain.