Chapter 18: Broken

The heart wasn't made of glass,

Yet it could break into a thousand pieces.

And while glue failed to put it together,

The gentle touch of a lover did the trick.

'This might just be the worst two hours of her day'. Sophie thought as she stepped out of the room. The DeAngelis Cousins followed closely with long faces, muttering what she didn't know and didn't care about.

She just finished attending a meeting with The DeAngelis cousins who were in charge of planning Elle's and Ralph's wedding to discuss their plans for the wedding, and for the first time in her life, she realized why her late mum always called men dummies'.

The meeting ended as an obvious failure. Leaving the planning of the wedding in the hands of The three DeAngelis cousins was the worst mistake Don Phillip could ever make.

Aside from the fact that they knew nothing about weddings, they were difficult to reason with. Especially the older cousin, 'Caleb'. God the man was unbearable and almost choked her with the smoke from his cigar. He smoked non-stop throughout the entire meeting.

'He'll possibly die from smoking '. Elle thought.

The Cousins had come up with a plan they tagged the three-point agenda. The first agenda was the venue, the second the cake, and the last was Elle's Wedding gown, and when they had explained the plans they had for each agenda with so much moral and pride, Sophie almost wept for Elle.

Firstly, Carlos had suggested they use their ballroom which was under renovation for the church wedding. Like some sort of a normal ball party.

Secondly, Collins had offered to make cakes since he once learned baking from one of his mistresses.

As if that wasn't all, the eldest Cousin, Caleb had picked out Elle's wedding gown and without question that was the ugliest wedding gown, Sophie had seen in her life. She was forced to ask Caleb if he got the dress from a junkyard. Mother Theresa will look better in her nun-like dresses than Elle would look in that gown.

Sophia had wasted no time telling the Cousins to shove their Agenda down their throats and of course, the DeAngelis Cousins didn't like the fact that their supposed hard-laid plans were disregarded without a second thought. That was the reason why they were leaving the meeting with long faces. But who cares? Sophie wasn't going to let these monger heads ruin her cousin's wedding. Nor will she subject Elle to the worst wedding in female history.

She requested that the planners of the weddings be changed. She didn't need the Cousins planning the wedding. From what she saw today, it was certain that no good idea could come from their mafia heads. She asked the DeAngelis Don to let her alongside his daughters plan the wedding. While the Cousins can stick with making security for the wedding available.

For now, she wanted to see Elle and talk to her about the wedding. After all, it was her wedding. Who knows what childhood fantasy she wanted to bring to life at the wedding?

"Miss Elle. Miss Sophie Wesley is here to see you".The maid announced as she and Sophia stood in front of Elle's door.

"Let her in".Elle's answered from inside the room.

The maid opened the door and Sophia walked in. The room wasn't what she expected. It was almost as though Elle lived in an Art Gallery. Her bed stood in the middle of the big room and her wall was decorated with lots and lots of paintings. Elle sat at the front of her window, drawing, she looked so beautiful with the sun radiating on her face.

'So this is Elle DeAngelis'. Sophie thought. She had seen her on the day her father visited Ralph and the Elders. But frankly, she looked more beautiful today. The sunlight makes her Auburn hair look like fire. Sophie fell in love with the hair color immediately. Perhaps she should dye her hair Auburn too and the white oversized white shirt blended well with it. She looked like a candle. One that could light Ralph's soul.

Elle was so focused on her drawing board that her concentration was impeccable.

"Welcome, Miss Sophie. Sorry for keeping you waiting". Elle said standing from where she sat after a few minutes.

"Hello, miss Elle. It's nothing. I must say. Your concentration is impeccable". Sophie replied. She attempted to shake Elle but stopped. The lady was covered with paint.

"My apologies. Give me a minute let me wash up". Elle said.

"That will be fine".

"Please make yourself comfortable". Elle said as she moved into the bathroom.

"I definitely will". Sophia replied.

Sophia couldn't help but admire what Elle had done with the room. She had an eye for beautiful things and the paintings in Elle's room were beautiful.

"Wow!" Sophie exclaimed as her eyes caught a glimpse of what Elle was currently working on.

"What do you think?". Sophie heard someone ask. It was Elle who had just stepped out of the bathroom.

"I don't know what to think, It's simply beautiful". Sophie replied.

"Thank you. Promise not to say a word to him, Am not done yet". Elle said she looked cute asking.

"Promise". Sophie promised before she continued. " Did you draw all this?" Sophia asked pointing at the paintings in Elle's room".

"Yes. I'm still learning anyway". Elle replied.

"Wow," Sophie exclaimed. "This is beauty and I can assure you that Your skills are beyond that of a learner. You can go pro.

Elle's smiled briefly. "Thank you". She replied. "I heard you met with my Uncles this morning. How did it go?".

"Frankly, Your uncles may just be the worst wedding planners I have ever seen". Sophie replied. Elle burst into laughter. 'She was beautiful' Sophie thought as she continued. "Well, I have told your father to leave the planning of the wedding to me, you, and your sisters".

"Me??". Elle asked.

"Well. It's your wedding and I heard your sister Elena is pretty good at organizing events".Sophia replied.

"Well, that is true. But I can't assure you I can offer much help. I'm not as good as Elena when it comes to planning events. But I'll help in any way I can. So what do you have in mind?" Elle asked.

"Firstly. Your father said you asked that the wedding be moved a few months from now. Is there a reason why?".Sophie asked.

"Not really. But I don't know Ralph so well. I'll like some time to know a little about him before I get married to him".Elle replied.

"It's a good idea. The only problem is I doubt Ralph will even give you the time to know him, especially with how he locks himself indoors all the time" Sophie said.

"Think he will. He asked me to go out with him in the first week of November".

"Wow". Sophie exclaimed. "Did he?". She asked to confirm.

"Yes, he did".Elle replied.

"Ralph never hangs out with anyone aside from Jack. He really must like you a lot to set up a date". Sophie said. She saw Elle blush with a smile on her face. Everything about Elle looks red when she blushed, but without a doubt, her smile was beautiful. "Ralph hasn't been himself since we lost an important member of our family, Johnny".

"I heard about that from my Dad. Sorry about that. Was Johnny and Ralph close?". Elle asked

"I don't know. Ralph is kind of a mystery even to us, Wesleys. So I can't tell whether or not they were close. But I know Johnny's death got to him. He has stayed locked up in his room for three days now without food or talking to anyone". Sophia replied.

"Three days?". Elle asked shocked. "Won't he die?"

"Jack said he does it all the time when he wants to clear his head. So I guess there is nothing to worry about".Sophia replied

"Who is Jack?" Elle asked.

"The guard always following Ralph. He's Ralph's guard and best friend. He knows Ralph better than anyone".

"Sorry to ask but What is Ralph like?". Elle asked.

"Ralph Ralph Ralph! Sophia said the name repeatedly before she continued "I don't know how to answer the question".

"Ooh. That's ok".

"No. I don't know how to answer because even I can't say for certain what Ralph is like. Like I said earlier. Because Even for us, Wesley's Ralph is a mystery".

"How is that? I felt you grew up with him".

Sophia sighed.

"Not exactly. We grew up together. I, Ralph, and Thomas. But even then Ralph was strange. He was smarter than us, always quiet, and loved his own company. Although he was attached to his mother back then. Ralph was a happy kid whenever his mum was around him, he glowed with happiness and life."

"Then what went wrong?" Elle asked.

"He lost his mum in a car accident when he was ten. Ralph was involved in the accident as well but he survived. Some said the accident was staged. However, from that day, something seemed to have been broken in him. He never cried at her funeral, hardly talked to anyone, and was always sad, it seemed like he was in a world of his own, alone. His Dad, 'Don Alessandro' who became Don around the same time didn't make things any better. After His mum's Death, his Dad 'Don Alessandro' became obsessed with protecting Ralph at all costs and he believed that to save one from great evil you must become an even greater evil and so with that in mind he made Ralph go through some sort of training words can't even describe. My father said he tried to stop him, but Ralph's father was not someone who listened to people. His wife's death broke him too. Ralph's father made lots of enemies when he was Don so when he got sick and died Ralph's life got threatened. A few months after his father's death, my father faked Ralph's death to protect him. No one knew he was alive or what happened to him in the last ten years. I only found out he was alive four years ago. Aside from me and my father no other soul knew. I was so happy when I found out. I felt at ease knowing he would find peace outside this life and be free, But with how he is now. I can assure you that he hasn't found peace and still feels lonely in a world of his own. A part of me even feels he passed through more hell when he was away and has now returned more broken".

"Ooh" Elle was speechless and could not find the right words to express her thoughts. After all, she has heard today from Sophia, Ralph no longer seemed like a devil's advocate to her. The last few days, she has been a little wary of his true intentions and that was why she asked her father to postpone the wedding ceremony to avail her some more time to get to know the man. But now, after listening to everything, she just wants to run into Ralph's arms and hug him tightly to assure him of her protection and care.

"I know My cousin might not be your ideal man. But I can assure you that he isn't as bad as they say. He might be broken but he's sweet and caring and he doesn't joke with family".

Elle stretched out her hand and held Sophia's hand and said " it's about time I become his guardian Angel".

They both smiled at each other.

"Now let's go pick out your wedding dress!" Sophia exclaimed.