You Come First

Chapter 4: He Remembers, They know

The tray that Patricia is holding hits the ground causing all of the glasses to break. Everyone in the room is quiet and waiting to see what transpires next.

"Excuse me, I think I lost my hearing aid, what did you just say?" asks Mercedes.

Roman who is looking at her with so much love says to her, "We are getting married in two weeks."

Tate who is watching with interest starts to laugh before walking towards them and pulling Mercedes away from Roman. "No offense buddy, even though we were not together for real, the whole point of Merc and I pretending to be girlfriend and boyfriend is to keep idiots like you away from her."

"What the hell did you just say to me," says Roman as he grabs Mercedes from Tate and holds her close to his body.

"You heard me, why is it that after all this time you want Mercedes? Not to mention that you have an ax to grind with the Smith's family. Word is on the street is, you are plotting revenge on them and what better way to take them down is by getting Mercedes to dirty her hands. You are planning on using her to bring them down," Tate says as he smirks in Roman direction.

Looking at Roman, Tate can see how furious he is becoming so to add more fuel to the fire he looks at Mercedes and says, "Baby you see what I tell you, men like him is what I call the undecided. He could not live happily ever after with your sister so he moves onto the backup plan. That is why you should not give in to him and have someone who wants you to pop that cherry, someone like Tobias."

Removing himself from Mercedes, Roman runs up to Tate and punches him in the face sending him flying to the ground. Getting on top of him, he continues to punch Tate as he yells at him, "Don't you dare tell her garbage like that again, I will not allow any man to have what is mine."

As Mercedes is screaming at Roman to stop, David and Benjamin pull him off of Tate who is now bloodied. Turning around Roman marches towards Mercedes but stops when her mother Patricia blocks her daughter from his view.

Taking a deep breath, Roman looks into Patricia eyes and says, "Mam, I am not going to hurt your daughter, please allow me to hold her."

"How can I when you have hurt her in the past, after everything she has done for you," Patricia shouts at Roman but is interrupted when Mercedes says, "Mom don't."

Roman looks behind Patricia towards Mercedes and says as he starts to walk closer, "Don't what Mercedes?" Pausing he goes on to say, "Don't tell me that when I lost my sight you where the one along with a few housemaids that help me. You were the one that taught me what you learned in school or help me with my school work. How about when that she-devil you have for a sister and her friends bully me, you were the one to stand up for me knowing that later your father would punish you, but you didn't care and fought back anyway."

"Every Holiday you made sure I was happy especially on Christmas. When I was sick, you take care of me without being spiteful. Did I forget anything? Oh yes, I did! A year ago and a half ago, I got into a car accident and it was found that I needed a liver transplant. My family and friends weren't a match and people did not want to help because your sister drags my name through the mud. At the last minute, an anonymous Donor was a match and decided to help on the condition that they remain classified."

Patricia moves out of the way to allow Roman to get closer to Mercedes because she senses that he is not going to hurt her daughter. Roman grab Mercedes's hand and bend on one knee as he says, "You were that Donor and I will be forever grateful to you. With that being said, Marry me, Mercedes."

Mercedes can not believe the words that are coming out of Roman's mouth. She never thought that in a million years he would say that to her, but she realizes that he is only saying it because he knows the truth. Pulling her hand out of his grasp, she politely declines his proposal.

David who is watching his son being turn down goes up to Mercedes and asks her, "Is there a reason why you turn down Roman? You are in love with him, aren't you?"

"I don't know anymore, it is hard to explain because two years ago I would have jumped in his arms and say yes. But that day, on my sister and his rehearsal dinner, I decided to let go of him and that is why I can't marry him. He will always be my first love, but keep in mind that he hurt me deeply to the point that I question my own insanity," Mercedes says with tears in her eyes.

Holding up her finger she tells David, "Let me finish! Now that he knows the truth and has his memory back, is he doing this for love or is he doing this because he realizes my family screwed him over and I am the backup plan for revenge? I can not, no, I will not be a puppet nor will I be used by your family because my family has already done it."

"I understand you, Mercedes, I remember how you were treated like a nuisance by the Smith's and I am not doing this for revenge. I am doing this because if I wait any longer to claim you as mine, not only will you be available for some bastard to take you but an open invitation for your father's plot when he needs you," Roman says as he stares at her with longing.

"I have a feeling you know something she doesn't," says Tate who is wiping the blood off his face.

"More than something," says Ethan as he walks next to his father.

"Mercedes, please consider saying yes, your father is an evil man. I should know, I experience it first hand and even though he disown you, that man is vindictive when he wants something. This is the only way my son can make sure that you, the woman he is in love with, will be safe," says David.

"Listen to Merc, I can only protect you so far, but marrying Roman can make you untouchable. Your father can still destroy me and now that I have gotten Macy's pregnant, I am a dead man walking. I can see that Roman have true feelings for you because my jaw feels dislocated," Tate voices his opinion as he rubs his jaw.

"Alright, I will marry you, Roman Gabriel Rossi," Mercedes says smiling.