THE CEO'S RUNAWAY BRIDE

2. SURPRISE

2. SURPRISE

5 Years Later

Rosa's hands shook as she held her cellphone in her hand. It had been five years since she set foot in the US since she saw her parents and her siblings. It had been five years since she ran away on her wedding day. Her parents tried to reach her. They made countless efforts to reach her, and they finally did. Rosa knew that it was not her parents who wronged her, so she let it go and spoke to them.

Her father was worried about her. Her mother was distraught.

"I did not want to go through with the marriage Papa, please understand that," Rosa had begged.

"I just need some time alone to think through everything and make the right decision," she had pleaded. Rosa knew that her parents agreed not because they actually wanted to, but because they couldn't force her to come back, their hands were tied. She was miles and miles away.

"You should make the decision and come back home, don't stay too long, Cara. We miss you already," her mother had said. Rosa was tearing up then, but embarrassment after leaving her own wedding would not allow her to go back. She did for the good of everyone, for Sebastian, for his girlfriend. They were free to be with each other. It was perfect for everybody.

Rosa told herself that five years ago, and she managed to tell herself that every day since.

Her life had changed drastically since the day she took the step to leave her wedding. At first, she went to stay with Bianca's aunt, who took very good care of her, and then she made her way out of the country. She decided to go to culinary school then, and with time and support from her parents, she was able to open a restaurant. Rosa felt more fulfilled than the 20 year old that was about to get married. Something was still missing, though.

Her pains, her struggles, her happiness, and her success for the past five years seemed to fly past her as she held her phone. It was her brother Matteo calling.

Rosa hadn't spoken to Matteo since that day. He must have known that her parents still kept in contact with her. It must have been them that gave him her number. Matteo and Sebastian were so close that talking to Matteo felt like talking to Sebastian. She didn't want to talk to Sebastian. She felt like she had betrayed her brother almost as much as she betrayed her husband to be.

"Matteo," Rosa said as she finally picked up the call. She tried to breathe in, and she joped that her voice didn't sound as shaky to him as it did in her ears.

"Rosa, it has been a long time. I am in your city, in the airport, can you text me your address, I need to see you." Rosa blinked at the phone in surprise. Those were certainly not the words that she was expecting from Matteo. He was in her city. Why? How? She didn't want to see him. She was at least sure of that. In the past five years, her family had given her space, and they gave her the time to heal, which was expected really. She was her own person, but now, her brother came all the way across the world to see her. Why?

"What are you doing here?" Rosa asked, exasperated.

"I don't have the time for this, Rosa. This is urgent business. If you don't send me your location immediately, I will simply track you and come and get you," Matteo said, and Rosa gasped. The audacity! Rosa had forgotten how crass the men in her family could be. She knew that Matteo would definitely track her location if she didn't tell her. Rosa almost wanted to let him track her, but she managed to remain calm. He would arrive angry if she didn't let him.

"6, Avenue Street, and you better explain why all of this is happening," Rosa said as sternly as she could. She would not let her brother bully her. She was an adult, not a child anymore.

"I am on my way," he said and then disconnected the call. After dropping her phone down, Rosa began to pace. Why was Matteo here? How long could she hide her secret? Was something wrong with her parents? Is that why they didn't call her instead? Was something wrong with Sebastian? Was he asking for her?

Rosa tried her very best to get over Sebastian, but that was almost an impossible endeavour for her. She might have done the right thing then by letting him go, but that didn't mean that she stopped loving him.

The sound of the doorbell made her shriek, and Rosa rushed to open up the door. The image of her elder brother scowling greeted her.

Rosa definitely remembered her elder brother. When he called her, a picture of him came to her. Now, seeing him in flesh was different. It hit her truly that five years had passed. He was older and more mature. It seemed like responsibility aged him. She didn't remember so many lines on his forehead or around his eyes. He looked like he hadn't gotten sleep in ages.

"Matteo," Rosa cried and then pulled him into a long hug. Matteo smiled then, the frown eased from his face, and he didn't look so much like he was carrying a burden too heavy for him to bear.

"Rosa," Matteo said and hugged her tight. He hadn't seen his little sister in the past five years. He hadn't spoken to her either. He was angry at her at first, at his parents too, for letting her just run away from her wedding, from responsibility. He was angry as he saw his friend break when she was gone. Sebastian acted like everything was fine, but Matteo could see past it all. His friend was dying inside. One heartbreak after the other.

He was angry when he got on the flight, and he planned to see her. He was angry when he called her and threatened her to send her address. When he knocked on the door to her place, he was pissed, but when she opened the door and he saw his little sister that had grown into a woman, all his anger dissipated.

"How are you, Matteo? You look so tired. Was the flight really long? Come here, have a seat," Rosa said and helped into a chair. Matteo couldn't help but smile. She was behaving, just the way she had five years back. It was almost like the five years of silence never existed. They just fell back into harmony.

"It was fine Rosa. I am just fine, you do not have to worry about me," Matteo said and Rosa nodded, looking away.

"Oh, what was I thinking? I haven't gotten you anything to drink. Would you like a glass of juice?" Rosa asked. Matteo felt like she was avoiding conversation. There was something that she didn't want to talk about, but that would not work at all. He was here to take her home, all the issues would have to be hashed.

"A glass of juice would be fine," Matteo said and Rosa stood up quickly to get the glass of juice.

Matteo looked around the house. It was a small nice and cozy place. A little too cozy for a woman who was living alone. He couldn't put his hand on the reason why it was so cozy though.

He stood up when he saw the frames and he started looking. There was a picture of his sister wearing a chef's hat and holding a certificate. Matteo was quite proud of her. Of the things that she had achieved with time. If he was sure of anything, he knew that there was no way she would have done all of that while married to Sebastian. She wouldn't have found the need to, and that was okay.

He saw another picture of her in her restaurant, probably the opening, she was with someone else, around her age, most probably her friend.

Matteo spotted a frame of two children, and he wanted to study it more when Rosa shouted his name.

"Matteo!" He turned back at his sister and raised an eyebrow. Why was she shouting so much?

"I have your drink, do well to come sit down," she said with a shaky voice and rubbed her hands over her dress.

Matteo studied her with suspicion, abut walked over and sat down with the drink.

He took a small sip and then looked at her.

"Rosa, there is something that I need to tell you," he said. Rosa grew tense. She looked nervous before, but she was cold now.

Matteo held her hands, and told her to relax, "Calm down, Rosa. Papa is sick, he keeps on asking you to come home, I know he is asking you on his own, but I am here to ask you as a brother. Come home Rosa, come see your father. We miss you." Matteo said. Rosa was shaking her head in negative. The gesture hurt Matteo more than it should have.

"I can't Matteo. You have to go back, tell Papa that I can't come back."

Matteo didn't come with any expectations, but the reply was painful.

"Even if it is to visit Rosa, just for a while. You can come back after if you want. I do not like the strained relationship we have now." Rosa seemed to be thinking of her answer, of what she would say when the door to her house opened.

Matteo looked to the door as two familiar looking children flew in, racing for Rosa it seemed.

"They couldn't wait to see you," a very beautiful woman said to Rosa.

"Mama!" The children cried and hugged Rosa tight.

"Mama?" Matteo asked. It was going to be a long trip.