***
While waiting for one hour, Alicia gets to do a few things and have some rest after it. And somehow the woman hears a long-awaited ring on the doorbell and, quickly turning off the TV and putting the remote control aside, goes to the hall door. When she quickly opens it, she sees Amelia, who smiles shyly at her, holding a belt from her purse. “Amelia!” Alicia smiles widely. “Alicia!” Amelia pronounces amicably. “It’s been a while…” “That’s right…” “Come in!” When Amelia crosses the doorstep, she and Alicia take each other in an amicable hug but step away a few seconds later. “My gosh, you became so beautiful after giving birth to your child!” Alicia admires with a wide smile, holding Amelia’s hands and looking at her from head to foot. “And you’re in good shape! I wouldn’t say you are a woman, who has already given birth.” “Thanks for the compliment,” Amelia smiles shyly. “Many friends and close people of mine say I’ve changed for the better. Even if many women I know got kind of worse after giving birth.” “Yeah, I know many of them.” “Raphael says I got more attractive after giving birth, and he got a much stronger love for me.” “Are you probably keeping a diet if you brought your body back?” “No, I’m actually doing nothing! And I wasn’t gonna lose weight after giving birth. I just eat healthily and watch how much I eat. And I move much… When I was pregnant, I didn’t overeat, even if many people told me to eat for my child and me. So, here’s the result: I lost something after I gave birth and lost something thanks to healthy food and activity.” “Great. You did it fine.” “Oh, friend, you make me blush!” Amelia closes half of her face with a hand with a slight smile. “It’s the truth, honey. Giving birth was very good to you.” “Thanks again.” “Listen, come into the apartment. Why are we standing here? Relax, sit down…” “By the way, didn’t I really bother you by visiting you?” “No, no, come on! I was waiting for you after you said you wanted to come to me.” At this moment, Amelia and Alicia quietly go to the room of the woman. “I just wanted to use a moment while Raphael decided to stay home,” Amelia confesses. “I can’t go out anywhere and leave Hailey alone.” “You’re lucky I got a free day,” Alicia laughs shyly. “Definitely.” At some moment, Amelia glances at the writing table and sees some unfinished sketches of clothes that Alicia was drawing for fun and did not put them anywhere. “Beautiful drawings,” Amelia notices with a slight smile. “Very beautiful…” “Thank you so much,” Alicia thanks shyly. “I draw these drafts just for myself… You know I love doing this.” “You’ve got a talent. So sorry that many more people did not discover it.” “But my students know about it as I’m reading lectures for them at the university. My job has to do with drawing sketches of clothes.” “Could you paint a picture and then sell it for a few thousand pounds?” “I don’t know…” Alicia shrugs slightly. “I’ve never tried to paint something else except clothes on men or girls.” “I’m sure you will do this. Because you can draw clothes and people very well.” “Thanks, but honestly. I don’t aim to do this.” “Sorry. You know how much money you could get. You would be able to go on a long vacation.” “I’m pleased with everything. I’m living a quiet life, working, getting great money, and, thank God, don’t feel hungry and don’t live in poverty. But drawing is the same hobby of mine as cooking is.” “So, as you want…” Amelia shrugs. “But instead of you, I would think of how to make your hobby your source of money.” “Giving design lessons at the university, often drawing, and telling something is enough for me.” “Okay, I just suggested.” Silence settles in the air for two seconds, during which Amelia looks around with interest. “By the way, don’t you want to eat or drink something?” Alicia asks. “Tea? Coffee?” “Oh, no, thanks,” Amelia replies gently. “I already ate at home before coming to you.” “Alright, let’s sit down and talk then.” Alicia points at the bed and sits on it as well as Amelia does. “You said you got something important that I should know about Raquelle's life… Tell me everything. Have you got some suspicions about it?” “Yes, that’s right,” Amelia nods with sadness in her eyes. “Why are you so sure about it? Why do you think something is happening to my niece?” “Say, how long ago did you communicate with her?” “Oh, honestly, I haven’t communicated with Raquelle since she went to New York after the story of Eleanor,” Alicia confesses tiredly. “I got busy with my job, business, adopting a girl… I had no time to give it to her, honestly…” “So, do you know nothing about how she’s doing now?” “Sadly.” “You know, I get a bad presentiment about it.” “Presentiment?” “Yes…” Amelia moves her sad eyes to her hands. “You see, friend… I’ve lately thought about Raquelle very much. But I couldn’t remember her for a long time because I got memory issues after I gave birth.” “You? Memory issues?” “Yes, I began to forget much and then barely can call memories.” “After giving birth?” “Exactly.” “Alright. What’s next?” “So, somehow I managed to call the memories of that girl. And since that day, I’ve been thinking much about everything I found out thanks to the lines on her palm.” “Yes, yes, I remember… You said something about problems that would happen in her life.” “That’s correct,” Amelia nods. “And something tells me something bad is already supposed to happen in her life.” “Already?” Alicia rounds her eyes. “Again?” “The lines on her palms said she would have to get through many tests. A lot of time will be gone before she finally gets peace and lives a quiet life.” “But she just got off that stinker, who got her ashamed of everyone and made people believe that she was bad!” “Do you mean Simon Ringer?” “Him. That scumbag poisoned my niece’s life…” Alicia sighs heavily. “Oh, the poor girl was so worried because of him… I still can’t forget it, and I think about that time with a heavy heart…” “Yeah, but that’s good everything was solved, and people realized that stinker lied,” Amelia notices with a slight smile. “But I’m sorry people haven’t learned the name of their antihero.” “Right… She was worried about that stinker. But she found out it was Simon after everything had already been over.” Alicia shakes her head. “I wish that scoundrel burned in hell…” “By the way, didn’t Raquelle sue him?” Amelia asks. “No, she decided to pity him and did nothing. Even if she had been determined to sue him.” “Sorry… Very sorry…” “I wonder, what’s that stinker doing now?” Alicia asks. “Where did he go after he was revealed?” “Who knows, friend,” Amelia shrugs slightly. “If only he didn’t decide to do something terrible to my girl, as he promised it in his letters. So to say, to use the fact that she pitied him.” “If only it didn’t happen…” Amelia starts fingering over nervously. “I don’t like the fact that the man stayed unpunished after what happened. He should’ve at least paid moral damage to Raquelle.” “What could she get from him?” Alicia sighs heavily. “Simon doesn't have pennies. He gave his money to the one to publish those false things.” “Sorry that the owner of the magazine decided to hide after the lie was revealed. He could’ve been sued, as well.” “Alas, it’s impossible now. The magazine is no longer available, and the owner can’t be found even in the daylight.” “Raquelle shouldn’t have shown that nobility. She should not have done it. It might give her many problems.” “So…” Alicia looks at Amelia with sadness in her eyes. “Do you think Ringer could plan something against her again?” “Anything may happen,” Amelia replies thoughtfully. “And if that man comes up with something, he will definitely make the life of your niece much more terrible.” “My God…” “I don’t wanna scare you. It’s just my personal assumption.” “Does your anxiety about Raquelle have to do with the fact that Simon Ringer didn’t get a punishment for everything he did?” “Think yourself, Alicia!” Amelia makes a short pause and fixes her hair. “That man is mad at Raquelle for a certain reason. I don’t think he wanted to slander her for no reason.” “But what did my girl do to make that stinker get so mad at her?” Alicia wonders. “Raquelle never knew him! But he’s mocking her as if he’s known her all his life!” “He’s the only one to know the answer. But knowing the situation, we can be sure he would do what he wants if he decided to ruin the life of Raquelle somehow.” “Oh, Amelia, you’re starting to scare me more and more…” Alicia puts her hand on her heart. “I say again, I don’t wanna scare you. I’m just letting you know why I’m worried about that girl. Knowing many problems are going to happen in her life, I would not be surprised if she really had to run into that man again.” “I believe you,” Alicia pronounces quietly. “I believe…” “Believe?” “It seems like I worry about her for a reason. I’ve been obsessed with a bad presentiment for a few days. My heart tells me that something is not right about my niece.” “So! Since you’re worried, too, it means something is not really fine.” “Your words are making me much more sure about it.” “You’ve been doing a bad thing by not calling her and not asking her how she is doing,” Amelia says confidently. “I’m sure she would tell you everything.” “Ah, I’m also sorry about forgetting her…” Alicia sighs heavily. “If only she didn’t think that I wanted to give her to her husband as soon as possible to forget her and do my things.” “Well, knowing you and her grandfather aimed to get her married so hard…” Amelia rolls her eyes up. “And the fact that you haven’t called her for a few months…” “We wanted to do our best! We wanted her to have someone by the time we’d have to leave this world. I would not be calm if Raquelle stayed all alone. Without a husband, without children… I don’t want her to live the same life I did.” “I understand, but it’s a very responsible step. Marrying and giving birth to children. These are the things you should be ready for. Not what you should do without a force.” “Nobody forced Raquelle. Mr. Cameron and I just hurried her. She got too obsessed with her career and didn’t even think of creating her own family. She never cared about men and rejected everybody, who was in love with her. Though, many boys were pretty good.” “Maybe, she thought they didn’t deserve her. Agree, you can’t listen open-mouthed after the first confession of love or after the first compliment.” “But she could at least try! She could go on a date with a man once, and she would not owe him! And she would forget him if she did not like it!” “Raquelle just chooses a partner, listening to her mind, not her feelings. At first, she thinks and analyzes, and then she decides if she needs it. And she lets her feelings go. That’s what the lines on her palms say.” “It hardly happened in the case of Terrence. She saw him, fell in love, and forgot about her mind.” “Anyway, your niece didn’t want to date anyone to suggest that they do it, and she watched her potential partners closely. So, since she chose Terrence, he was much better than those, who wanted to be with her. There was something about him that others didn’t have.” “Oh, there’s no meaning in talking about it!” Alicia waves her hand. “Thank God, my girl met a man. Now we only have to wait for her to get married to him and give birth to a baby. And we should better hurry her up because she must become a mother while she is young.” “What if she is not ready?” “Many women are not ready for a child’s birth, but they become excellent mothers when doctors bring their little sweethearts to them. If Raquelle gave birth and saw her baby, she would fall in love with him or her and would not break up with him or her even for a minute.” “No, Alicia, a child is a great responsibility. You can’t throw it away after you get sick of it. But when a woman is not ready to educate a baby but gives birth under the pressure of her close people at the wrong time, she’s gonna hate that one all her life and blame him or her for not making her goals and dreams come true. Yes, that woman will hardly leave them. Yes, she’s gonna feed them, wash them, dress them up, and cure them. But it’s going to be like a job that she doesn’t like to her. She’s going to consider educting a child her job. For which she will not get any money.” “Raquelle has many helpers that would help her watch a baby. She doesn’t have to watch him or her all day. My girl has the opportunity to hire a nanny and do what she wants. I see no reason to delay the birth of children.” “Anyway, she would lose one year because she would have to take care of herself and get ready for the birth of her child. And she would spend one more to bring her body back. That’s when she would be able to come back to work.” “My sister got her body back literally two weeks after giving birth to Raquelle.” “What if she has to face consequences after she gives birth? I don’t want it, but giving birth doesn’t always happen well. For example, I have memory issues. Another woman may lose her hair, get her teeth worse, and get much more problems.” “Raquelle is young! Everything is much better for young people. Don’t compare her with you because you are no longer a girl. You gave birth at the late age.” “Even young people may have problems, trust me. Giving birth is a great stress for any woman’s organism.” “I don’t know anyone.” “Anyway, you would make it worse if you forced her to give birth against her wish. If her man wanted to get her pregnant with a child that she didn’t want.” “Any woman wants to have a child.” “Not any woman.” “I don’t know anyone, who doesn’t want it.” “Raquelle may not wish to have children now, but she would decide to do it when she is about to turn thirty. And her baby would be wanted and loved by the mother. I wanted to have a child for a long time, and Hailey is my wanted girl. I am ready to educate her and give her everything she needs.” “Oh, c’mon, let’s argue about it!” Alicia waves her hand sharply. “Anyway, listen to my advice. While you can always get divorced in case you don’t like your husband and meet another man after getting married, you can’t get rid of your child.” “Let’s not talk about it.” “Okay…” Amelia falls into silence for two seconds. “Moreover, Raquelle would hardly think of a baby now when she has to get through many things.” “Anyway, I’ve gotta call her and find out how she’s doing there,” Alicia says confidently. “Why didn’t you call her before?” “I wanted! But I could not do!” “You could find at least two minutes to ask your niece how she was doing.” “Yeah, but… There’s something…” Alicia falls into silence for two seconds. “The case is that someone cut off my phone cable in my apartment two weeks ago.” “Phone cable?” Amelia wonders. “But I immediately called a master, and he fixed everything… And in parallel, I accidentally crushed my mobile phone and bought a new one some time ago.” “Were you the only one to get a phone cable cut?” “It’s weird, but yes. I asked my neighbors, and they said everything was fine.” “Could it have to do with Raquelle’s problems?” “Why do you think so?” “I think it can’t be a coincidence.” “Oh, I don’t know, friend…” Alicia sighs heavily. “But I’m not sure about it.” “It’s just kinda weird…” “No, it’s probably just a coincidence.” “Anyway, think better. It’s all happening for a reason.” “I don’t care about it, I care about the fact that Raquelle doesn’t answer my letter.” “Letter?” “Yes. I sent it two weeks ago, but Raquelle hasn’t sent me an answer.” “Are you sure she received it?” “I was told the letter was delivered.” “I don’t know then…” Amelia sighs tiredly. “Maybe, she will answer later? You sent a letter to another country, not a different city. It takes much more time.” “Alright, I will wait for a while. And I will try to call her again. The phone is working again, and I bought a mobile phone. So…” “Do it as soon as possible.” Amelia glances aside for a second. “Honestly, I wonder to know what’s happening to her.” “If something bad is happening to her, I will have to go to the USA to support Raquelle.” “Do you have money for this trip?” “There’s something… Anyway, I could borrow it from someone and then do my best to pay my debt from my salary.” “If you need it, I can help you. I can give you as much as I can.” “Thanks, Amelia,” Alicia smiles slightly. “I knew I could count on you.” Silence settles in the air for two seconds. “Oh, poor Raquelle…” Amelia sighs tiredly. “I’m so sorry for the girl… She didn’t deserve all of that…” “Yeah…” “Even if Simon decided to show up, something tells me the case would be much worse than false articles.” “Oh, my God…” Alicia shakes her head with horror in her eyes. “If only she had the strength to take it all…” “The fact that she is a strong enough girl could help Raquelle,” Amelia says thoughtfully. “What’s happening in her life makes her stronger.” “Yeah… She’s had to fight with something or someone all her life… She wasn’t loved and was bullied at school, and she had to fight off jealousy and compete with other models… That stinker slandered her and made everyone turn their backs on her.” “I know…” “Oh, Amelia…” Alicia sighs heavily, shaking her head slightly. “When would she find her happiness? I thought everything would be changed after meeting a man.” “I told you that Raquelle would have to get through many tests,” Amelia replies with sadness in her eyes. “Even if there will be a break between then, Raquelle is gonna take much before she finally gets peace and love in her life.” “How long do we wait for it?” “I don’t know. That’s what the lines on her palms say.” “What is my girl gonna take before she stops suffering so hard?” “I don’t know, Alicia, I don’t. But remember, someday, fate will reward her for all the pain. For everything that she’s had to get through.” “I’ve gotta go to a crunch and pray for her. God to help her and not to leave her at a hard moment.” “We can only count on God’s help in this case.” “If I could help her with something, I would do that immediately,” Alicia confesses quietly while tears show up in her eyes. “Maybe, should you talk to Raquelle’s grandfather?” Amelia suggests amicably. “What if he is aware of that situation and tells you much more than you and I know?” “Mr. Cameron? Oh, yeah…” Alicia scratches the back of her head. “I forgot about him… And I haven’t communicated with him for a long time…” “You totally forgot them!” “I’m not happy, either… But I wouldn’t be surprised if Mr. Cameron hasn’t communicated with Raquelle for a long time.” “Who knows, sweetie,” Amelia shrugs slightly. “Anyway, you should talk to that man. Raquelle’s grandfather lives much closer to her than you do. It’s easier for her to go to his home and tell him something.” “I think I will do that…” Alicia frowns slightly, stroking her chin. “I will call him closer to the evening, when it’s seven or eight o’clock in New York. It’s too early for them now. But I don’t want to wake Mr. Cameron up with my call.” “I’m sure he’d say something and make the situation much clearer,” Amelia says confidently. “I hope, friend, hope…” Silence settles in the air for two seconds, during which Alicia looks aside with sadness in her eyes and thinks about something not very nice, and Amelia watches her, feeling truly sorry for her friend and her niece. “Ah, Alicia…” Amelia sighs heavily. “Come to me…” With these words, Amelia takes Alicia in her amicable hug, which the woman accepts with pleasure, as well as her friend, guessing the problem of Raquelle may have to do with Simon, who did not get a punishment after trying to defeat the girl somehow. Nobody can guess what will happen today or tomorrow. Everybody could expect anything from Simon… Any little trick. Any claim. Any action. And this kind of suspense does scare them much more. Ringer completely understands that suspense kills someone much stronger and uses it to drive his victim as crazier as possible.***
The United States of America. New York. The house of Raquelle and Terrence. It's about two o’clock. The relationship between the lovers has gotten much colder in the past two weeks. They were pretending that nothing happened somehow, but now nobody even tries to be silent about the fact that they cannot just stand next to each other. The servants try not to run into the girl and the man and either hide somewhere or do their work quietly. Terrence and Raquelle fight almost every day and cannot walk silently without reproaching each other for something or blaming each other for a reason and without. So, today, they began to sort out their relationship again while being in their room and doing something. “Ar-r-r, fuck, are you blaming me for what’s happening to us again?” Raquelle resents loudly, sitting on the bed with her arms crossed over her chest. “As if you do not know it!” Terrence snaps sharply, trying to find something in the dressing room. “I am guilty of nothing!” “Of course, nothing!” “I'm not guilty of Simon going insane. I’m not guilty of the fact that he cannot still stop and leave me alone.” “Ah, yeah, I forgot…” Terrence turns sharply on Raquelle. “You are our innocent one! Absolutely innocent!” “Of course, I am!” Raquelle throws loudly. “Aha, innocent and coward!” “What?” “Weren’t you the one to give up and run away quietly to your auntie in England when that bastard went crazy for the first time?” “What does it have to do with it?” “It does not have! I just state the fact!” “Could you just shut up and stop making me irritated?” “I am at home! I will say anything I want! But you better shut up. Close your fucking mouth and listen to what you are told.” “Do I have to listen to you?” Raquelle simpers contemptuously. “Who are you?” “The one, the house of whom you are living!” “Ah, that’s how…” “Coward idiot…” Terrence shakes his head and crosses his arms over his chest. “The idiot that was afraid that everyone would start to judge her and point at her with a finger, saying, ‘Yes, that’s the girl, who did not want to recognize her mistakes and quietly got out far from the problems, naively believing everything would be solved by itself!’” “I had to leave!” Raquelle exclaims, sharply jumps off the bed, and comes to Terrence. “I should have come to myself after everything that happened. You, scoundrel, do not even know what I felt when I found out about that fucking scandal that almost destroyed my career and good name. How mad I was when I suspected you of everything.” “Oh, yes, yes, yes, yes…” Terrence rolls up his eyes again with his arms crossed over his chest. “Don’t continue, I know everything. You felt bad and wanted to die from the shame you had to take because of that bastard.” “Yeah?” Raquelle puts her hands on her hips. “What if I wanted? Would you be happy?” “At least, I wouldn’t have stood in the way of such an egoistic and sick idiot like you!” “Ah, that’s why…” “Egoistic, sick, and cowardly. Running away from a problem is such a cool way to avoid it. For you.” Terrence sharply points at Raquelle with a finger. “You are a coward! The coward, who cannot face a problem and solve it! Instead of running away somewhere with the hope that everything will be solved by itself, or someone will do everything for you.” “Ah, am I a coward?” Raquelle smirks loudly, pointing at herself with a finger. “I understand you don’t want to confess it. But I want and will tell you the truth.” “Oh, yeah, as if you are not a coward…” Raquelle throws rudely, rolling her eyes up. “What?” Terrence resents. “Me?” “Yes, you!” Raquelle puts her hands on her hips. “You are afraid of having a deal with Ringer! You are afraid of getting your precious ass hurt because of him.” “You’re crazy…” Terrence shakes his head. “Really crazy…” “You gave a fuck about your promises because of cowardice. Did you forget that you promised and swore you would never leave me and abandon me at a difficult moment?” “When did it happen?” “Do not pretend that you forgot it!” “I have never even thought of helping such an egoistic bitch like you!” “A few weeks ago, you said different things!” Raquelle recalls loudly. “You said you would not leave me! We would solve this problem together! And much more bullshit!” “You are out of your mind. It’s never happened!” “Do not make me an idiot, MacClife. I’ve got a very good memory, and I clearly remember what I heard and what I say.” “It’s your sick fantasy that will never become reality.” “You’re a chatter! The chatter that talked to the wind and left me alone with my so many problems!” “Stop saying bullshit!” Terrence throws coldly. “It’s disgusting for me to hear it.” “Could you really be a trustworthy armor?” Raquelle simpers. “What kind of protector are you if you leave the girl in trouble and pretend you do not have to do with it?” “I protect and help only those, who REALLY deserve it,” Terrence says with his head proudly raised. “Not some nasty cads that think only of themselves.” “Ah, I am a cad…” Raquelle crosses her arms over her chest. “Don’t you wanna look at you? Don’t you wanna think about who you are? Or do you always think of yourself? Because you are literally in love with you!” “Yes, I love myself!” Terrence says confidently. “And I think you don’t have a man like me. I am too good for you.” “Ha, let me know, why are you?” Raquelle simpers contemptuously. “Everything you have not appreciated in the past few months.” “What have I not appreciated? The fact that you talk to the wind and could easily forget your promises?” “I promised you nothing!” “You did, Terrence, you did. You promised much!” “What did I promise, let me know?” Terrence puts his hands on his hips. “Promised to get the help of the police!” Raquelle throws her hands up. “Where’s your so-called friend from the police that you talked so much about? Where’s he? Huh? I have not talked to him and have never even seen him!” “Nothing would help you anyway!” Terrence says rudely. “Even if you call out the whole police of America! You can change nothing!” “Yeah? Maybe, you did not talk to him? What if you want me to drown in my problems?” “I give a fuck about all your fucking problems. GIVE A FUCK! ABSOLUTELY!” “Ah, you give a fuck now!” “Why would I the fuck care about matters of the one that has NEVER asked me about mine?” Terrence resents. “Are you a fucking princess? The princess, to whom everyone owes? What do they do? Bow? Kiss your hand? What?” “Would you bow?” “You?” Terrence quickly looks at Raquelle with a contemptuous look. “No! You did not deserve it!” “It’s alright, MacClife, it’s alright,” Raquelle says confidently. “Do not worry anymore. I will solve all my problems somehow. And I am not counting on anyone.” “I would love to see you solving your problems.” “Watch me then!” “Hey! Where’s your pal from the police that you talked much about? The one that was in love with you! Where is he? As far as I remember, he was supposed to return to New York soon and call you. But that man has not let us know about him for nobody knows how many days and weeks and does not definitely care about you.” “You do not have to do with it, scumbag!” “Maybe, you also did not talk to him, and you decided to let things happen as they wanted?” “Me?” “Admit that you love being into this bullshit and bringing yourself to despair!” “Did you go nuts?” “Tell me you don’t need anyone’s help, and you are pleased with everything.” “What…” Raquelle opens her mouth widely. “How do you dare to say it to me?” “You’ve been in shit all your life and cannot live a quiet life for the reason,” Terrence replies confidently. “I am not guilty of the fact that my life is so hard!” “Who’s guilty?” “I don’t know!” “If you wanted, you would end this bullshit a long time ago and live a quiet life.” “My life would be much quieter if you and that bastard Ringer had not decided to ruin it,” Raquelle says rudely. “I would live VERY well and not suffer as much as I do now.” “It’s okay you live living in this shit, but why do you the fuck get all of us involved in it? What the fuck?” “It’s not my fault!” “No, sweetie, it’s yours! You did know we were in danger! And you understood that you framed all of us!” “I framed nobody!” “Of course! That bastard threatens everyone, calls our numbers that he got somehow, threatens literally to go to our home, tells his pals to watch us and our houses…” “What do I have to do with it?” “You do have to do with it! It’s your work!” “What?” Raquelle resents. “You did give Simon all the data!” “Did you hit your head when falling down? Did you go crazy from hysterics?” “Here’s the explanation for the fact that the stinker could easily manipulate us whenever he wants. Why all of us have to live in fear and be afraid something might happen to us.” “Do you wanna play I’m playing a drama?” Raquelle wonders. “Do I wanna destroy all my close people but pretend to be a victim, so nobody thinks it’s all my fault?” “I would not be surprised!” Terrence puts his hands on his hips. “You are sick. A sick, hysterical idiot that dares to blame other people for her tricks.” “The only one to blame for everything is Ringer,” Raquelle says confidently. “Yeah? What about Natalia? Did you forget what you did to the poor girl?” “Huh, you mean that betrayal? Who was pretending to be my friend and dreamed of revenge.” “How did you, bitch, dare to blame her for what she never did?” Terrence smirks evilly. “You did blame her for telling Simon the address of my mother and giving him all the contacts of us.” “So, did that blonde-haired rag tell you everything?” “Yes, she did! She told me what you decided to do!” “One more accomplice of Ringer. That helps you and that bastard ruin my life.” “Natalia is guilty of nothing!” Terrence protests loudly. “She is a person, who is the most loyal one that I’ve ever met.” “Ah, so, she is loyal… SHE IS A FUCKING DOGGY!” “How did you dare to go to her home and tell her that? And you fought with her! Gave her tons of slaps, beat her, pulled her by the hair… Insulted her, humiliated…” “That bitch got what she deserved!” Raquelle says confidently without regret. “Do you know what the poor girl felt when she heard those false charges? When you blamed your friend all all your tricks! What were you the fuck thinking of?” “I give a fuck about what that bitch felt! I give a fuck about everything. Everything that is happening to that prostitute, who has been fucked by hundreds of men!” “Don’t dare to say it about her!” “I say what I want!” “Sorry that there was nobody near you to call an ambulance and ask them to take you with them. So, they put on a straitjacket and drug you with a sedative. And lock you where you would not hurt anyone. Expect yourself.” “Simon told me everything! He proved that the scumbag was pretending to be my friend and planning to take revenge just because she was jealous of my success.” “Ah, Simon said it to you!” Terrence simpers contemptuously, rolling his eyes. “Simon told you Natalia was allegedly revenging on you because of your success!” “Yes, HIM!” “Why would she take revenge on the psychopath, who got nothing in her life? Who can do nothing but shake her ass on a runway and show off for cameras in underwear?” “Yeah, but you did get literally everything in the world! You got the fuck nothing! Nothing but the love of little girls, who have already found new idols! Love of little girls, who got a crush on you just because you were running half-naked in front of cameras for many years and acting as a sex hero. Shaking your genitals and wishing to get them into the mouth or the ass of a gal!” “EVERYONE knows me!” “Come on?” “I am MORE successful than you are!” “It’s alright, MacClife, nothing will be left of your fame very soon. Someday, even little girls will lose interest in you. They will lose it as well as they got it.” “Oh, yeah, you are a fucking worldwide star, who is known to everyone!” “EVERYONE does know me! Children and adults! Men and women!” “Don’t flatter yourself, my darling. You are popular only among the same teenagers. Who consider you just as a sexual object. But you are so arrogant, as if you’re worldwide famous and have done so many great things, thanks to which you could get your own monument.” “Everything is waiting for me!” “Do you see where you are going, our princess? Huh? Do you sometimes look under your legs?” “So, loser, do you envy my success? While I photograph for magazines and participate in fashion shows, you hang around nobody knows where and do nothing. You’re just dreaming of becoming a famous musician. Whose songs nobody needs! You’ve been trying – or you’ve been pretending to do it – to do your best to bring your old fame back, but you can do nothing. Because nobody needs you. Nobody gets a crush on your kind of gorgeous body.” “Ha, I am much more famous than you are!” Terrence simpers contemptuously. “I have been a part of celebrity circles for much longer. And know much more people than you have met while building your career.” “Nobody remembers you anymore! Ask anyone who Terrence MacClife is, and nobody would answer.” “I AM FAMOUS!” Terrence cries. “I AM LOVED BY ALL THE PEOPLE IN THE WORLD!” “The only thing you can be proud of is a starring role in a teenage movie that nobody thinks about now. And you can make a note about undressing in front of cameras many times. To make all the little girls in the world happy!” “Don’t envy my great success,” Terrence says with his head proudly raised. “Do I envy?” Raquelle simpers evilly. “I would be one hundred times more popular than you! I am one of the sexiest girls on the planet! The role model! The favorite lady of girls! The dream of any man! I am a celebrity! The famous worldwide model!” “Stop pretending to be a superstar, who everybody owes, and who is allegedly known and loved by everyone. Nobody should serve you and make your caprices come true. And you are known to a minimum of twenty percent of the people living in the world.” “Ugh, it can’t be compared with the five percent of people that know you…” Raquelle sniffs with her arms crossed over her chest. “You became so presumptuous that you put your career in the first place, give a fuck about your close people, and started acting like a diva.” “Ah, so, am I acting like a diva?” “Yes, like a diva! Who is too confident and believes that everyone loves her.” “Everyone loves me! And everyone knows me!” “And who made herself think her best friend was allegedly revenging on you because of your successful career and got angry as she got nothing in her life.” “Is that not the truth? That bitch is only hanging around some clubs and flirting with any men she meets! She wants to find a young, rich man and get married as soon as possible to waste his money.” “Do you really care? If she does, she does! It’s her business! She is a single girl and has a right to meet men and talk to them.” “Well, maybe, while she does not try to meet a rich and handsome guy, she helps my greatest enemy ruin my fucking life.” “Natalia would never betray us the way you did it!” “Me?” Raquelle pronounces amazingly. “Yes, you!” “Come on!” “Natalia still cannot come to herself after what you did to her. After she ran into the aggression of the psycho idiot.” “Ah, she is a poor, unhappy girl…” Raquelle smirks contemptuously with her eyes rolled up. “Yes, she is! She is shocked by the fact that you dared to go to her home, screamed at her like a hysterical girl, attacked her with fists, and almost beat her.” “She was madly lucky I did not make her gorgeous face ugly. Or she would have never met a man.” “You are sick, Cameron,” Terrence shakes his head. “Sick! You attacked the poor girl without a reason, almost beat her, and brought her to shock.” “Of course, shock…” “I saw the condition she was in! And I comforted her when that girl couldn’t stop crying bitterly.” “Ah, so sorry…” Raquelle rolls her eyes up. “Ah, poor girl… She was crying bitterly…” “Nobody must have a friend like you. Nobody.” “Listen, MacClife, why did you start to defend that scumbag so hard?” Raquelle wonders, putting her hands on her hips. “Since you are standing by her, it means you are happy with the fact that they’re mocking me and trying to destroy me.” “Yes, I am by her side!” “Ah, sorry, I forgot! You are with them. You had a business with Ringer much earlier than that scumbag met him.” “Do you think I should’ve pissed her off when she asked me for support and help? She wanted someone to comfort her after her psycho friend almost killed her.” “You were so happy to run to that idiot!” “Simon was absolutely right when he said you were sick. All of us made sure that you must get therapy and stay far from those, who appreciate life much more.” “So, MacClife, did you fall in love with her?” Raquelle simpers evilly, crossing her arms over her chest. “What?” Terrence resents. “Have you been lately spending time with her?” “Huh?” “Do you not want to explain where you have been going since our first fight?” “Wow, did you really notice that I was not at home?” “Imagine!” Raquelle throws loudly. “It’s none of your fucking business!” “C’mon, MacClife, confess that you fell in love with that blonde mop. She got what she wanted and got your attention on her.” “Do you understand what you’re talking about?” “Do you think I didn’t see how she always flirted with you and smiled cutely? I saw everything! And I made absolutely sure that she dreamed of being with you.” “You are out of your mind…” Terrence smirks evilly. “C’mon, tell me you fell in love with Natalia!” Raquelle demands coldly, feeling a strong pang of jealousy and understanding that everything is burring inside her from just thinking Terrence would spend time with another girl. “Tell me about your new affair with that betrayal! I would be ‘happy’ for your happiness! For the happiness of two betrayals, who left me alone after swearing they would never leave me and would always be by my side, despite nothing.” “I am not in love with Natalia!” Terrence protests confidently. “She is my good friend! The friend that I am supporting after what you did to her.” “Of course, friend…” Raquelle crosses her arms over her chest. “You've probably been dreaming of fucking her.” “Even if I was in love with her, I don’t doubt I would be MUCH happier,” Terrence says confidently. “She would love me with all her heart and be ready for ANYTHING. Anything to make me happy.” “That bitch cares only about money. She would not pay attention to a beggar because he would not make her wishes come true. But you are a perfect partner for her. Young, with money, and famous… Rochester would not miss such an amazing chance.” “If I met her earlier than I met you, I would be with her. I would marry her and become VERY happy. MUCH happier than I was with the one that loves only herself and cares only about her fucking ass.” “DATE HER THEN! If you’ve become one of those, who got a crush on her beautiful face! Which I should’ve made ugly for nobody to look at her. Do my best for her parents’ great money not to make a man look at an ugly girl.” “Oh, my gosh…” Terrence growls loudly, rolling his eyes and running his hands over his face. “How you’re annoying me…” “And yeah, are you not as worried about your career as you were before?” “I do worry! But I am not as obsessed with it as much as you are! And I have a FAMILY in the first place! I want to have a good WIFE and my own CHILDREN! But I have NONE OF THAT!” “What about your musical career? Did you decide to give up and give a fuck about it? Huh?” “Do you want it?” “It would be great.” Raquelle simpers loudly, with a part of sneer and evil. “But you understand that your star has already faded away. You were popular only when you were a teenager. At the beginning of the 00s. Only thanks to one role. That’s all! Nobody remembers you! You are known only as the guy from the movie about the best-looking guy in school. They remember you as Mason Houston. And you will never become someone else.” “I want to disappoint you and tell you that I will not give up and will get famous as a musician,” Terrence says with his head proudly raised, crossing his arms over his chest as well. “Yeah!” Raquelle makes a loud, mocking sneer. “I cannot see it, my dear! If there was progress in your career as a singer, it would be clear. Now you are just waiting for someone to offer you something. When someone goes to your fucking home and offers you a contract for recording an album, or at least only one song.” “Yeah, what about you?” Terrence wonders. “Why are you sitting at home and doing nothing? You’ve had no shootings for magazines, given no interviews, and had no meetings with your managers for a few weeks…” Terrence throws his hands up. “Where is that?” Terrence asks. “Where are the paparazzi that were following your tracks and could not stop taking photos of you? Where are the offers of work that you were getting every single day?” “My work is put in second place,” Raquelle replies rudely. “Damn… Are you no longer a high-demand star? Do people start to forget about you and not want to see your face on magazine covers, in commercials, and in fashion shows?” “The one they do not want to see is you. Your insolent face irritates absolutely everyone!” “No, YOUR face irritates everyone!” “That’s what YOU think!” “You are trying to save your career so hard and show up everywhere is possible, but it makes people much more irritated and makes them hate you.” “Come on!” “Young girls are about to catch you and leave you behind. Much fresher faces. Much more talented people. And you are nervous. You are because you cannot compete with them. Everyone likes new people much more than those, who try to show up everywhere is possible.” “Do you mean yourself?” “YOU!” “When I deal with Simon, I will work on my career,” Raquelle raises her head proudly. “And I will do my best to become much more famous. I will go to work somewhere abroad.” “Yeah?” Terrence simpers evilly. “How are you going to do this? DO you believe in tales, in which kindness gets victory over evil?” “Yes, I do!” Raquelle throws loudly. “Wrong! Life is not a tale or a movie.” “I do know it!” “No, sweetie… You thought it was just a game. Or your nightmare you would be over after opening your eyes and realizing that you were lying in bed. But it’s not a movie, Raquelle Allison Cameron. It’s real life. And you cannot change it.” “I KNOW!” “And the most important thing is that you are not the only one to be a part of it. All of us are a part of this nightmare. Everybody, who is guilty of nothing for each other and has always been loyal to those, they truly love.” “I’m not guilty of what happened!” “And you do not care! You do not care that all of us are in danger. You do not want to do anything. Do just something to prove that you really love us.” “Do you want to say I do not love?” “You do not love! You love only yourself and give a fuck about those, who surround you.” “It’s a lie!” “You have never tried to do just something to save us from Simon’s threats.” “What can I do? WHAT? Tell me!” “I don’t know!” “If I had a chance not to let Ringer hurt someone, I would use it. But I can do NOTHING! NOTHING!” “You give a fuck about us! You give a fuck about what’s happening to us, what we feel, what we do, and what we want. You care only about yourself. You care about one thing – Simon not to do anything to YOU!” “Do not make me an egoist.” “You are an egoist! The egoist with mental issues! Who gives a fuck about her close people! You do not definitely care about your grandfather and aunt’s lives, knowing you have not communicated with them for nobody the hell knows how long.” “NOT TRUE!” Raquelle protests loudly. “I do worry about my aunt and grandfather and never forget them.” “As far as I remember, you wanted to call them on the day we received the first letter from that bastard and read it with Natalia’s pretense. But I don’t remember you going to the room after saying goodbye to your former friend and calling Alicia or Mr. Cameron. You were walking in the house for two or three hours, doing nothing and thinking about something. Or you were afraid all of us would’ve found out about your dirty business.” “I DID THE FUCK NOTHING!” Raquelle screams at the top of her lungs. “Everything that is happening now is Simon’s fault! Not mine! And I’m trying to do my best to find a way to get away with him once and forever.” “You are doing NOTHING!” Terrence throws rudely. “You give a fuck about those, who love you. Who raised you. Who did MUCH more for you than you have ever done in your fucking life for someone.” “You don’t know what I have done!” “Poor Mr. Cameron and Alicia… I am so sorry they got such a thankless, egoistic scumbag that cannot love and befriend.” “Ha, as if you are so good and innocent!” Raquelle simpers evilly. “I would be much better than you! At least, I care about those, who surround me. I do not give a fuck about their matters. And I ALWAYS listen to them when they want to share something with me.” “So, you better listen to your father!” Raquelle throws rudely. “Who wants to share something with you.” “Do not meddle in the case that you do not the fuck have to do with,” Terrence pronounces irritably. “Why don’t you love your parents in the same way: you say good things about your mother but shower your father with dirt?” “I said it’s NONE OF YOUR FUCKING BUSINESS!” “What’s wrong? You do love your mommy so much and do everything she tells you! You run to her after the first call.” “Close your mouth, bitch…” Terrence hisses through his teeth, tightly clenching his hands into fists. “Or you will regret it…” “Why does the obedient sonny get excited when that woman asks you to meet your mother?” “I said SHUT UP!” “Good boys must listen to their mommies and do anything they say. And they never argue with them when they say something to them.” “What are you the fuck HINTING at?” “Mothers better know what would be better for their sonnies, who do not know life and do not understand what’s good, and what’s bad.” Terrence starts growling quietly, getting more furious because Raquelle openly insults him. “Yeah…” Raquelle pronounces thoughtfully. “At first sight, you do not look like a mamma’s boy…” When Raquelle laughs evilly, shaking her head slightly, the furious Terrence quickly runs to the girl, painfully grabs her under the arms, and sharply throws her on the bed along with a loud feminine squeak. Then he grabs her wrists strongly and raises her hands above her head, raising himself above her. The girl strongly shakes with her widely open eyes and is full of a scare, feeling she is getting obsessed with the fear of what might happen now. “So, do you want to say I’m a mother’s boy?” Terrence asks loudly. “SO, AM I A FUCKING MAMMY’S BOY?” “So, don’t you like hearing it?” Raquelle simpers evilly. “You’ve probably tolerated mockeries your whole life because your mommy is holy for you.” “HOW DO YOU DARE TO TALK TO ME LIKE THIS?” “You’ve always asked her for a piece of advice before doing something. You decided to start dating me after you got permission from her. Your mommy gave her agreement, and you did it!” “Ah, you, bitch…” “I wonder if there’s at least one case when you did something without your mommy’s approval? Or has she always been a part of the life of her son? The adult son that cannot get off the mommy’s skirt!” “Advising you to keep your mouth shut, you, nasty girl,” Terrence hisses, looking at Raquelle with a smoldering look, gripping her wrists much stronger and keeping her hands raised above her head. “Or I will have to cut your long tongue.” “Let me go now! I feel pain!” Raquelle starts resisting and tries to set her hands free, which Terrence is holding so strongly while raising himself above her. “YOU HEAR WHAT I SAY, YOU, SICK HYSTERICAL GIRL?” Raquelle screams at the top of her lungs. “LET ME GO, I SAID!” “Who you called a sick, hysterical girl, bitch?” Terrence gets wild, literally going to kill Raquelle with his icy look. “WHO YOU CALLED SICK?” “The one with mental issues is you,” Raquelle says, confidently looking into Terrence’s eyes. “Do you understand who you are talking to now? DO YOU KNOW WHO YOU ARE TALKING TO?” “I know! A sick bastard!” “Did you forget that I have very many contacts? Did you forget that I can ruin your life and career to the fuck by just talking to someone?” “You did ruin it to the fuck!” Raquelle snaps coldly. “YOU RUINED EVERYTHING! YOU DID IT WHEN YOU CAME INTO MY LIFE!” “I will play with you and pity you. The whole world will know who you really are. What a scumbag and bitch you actually are.” “Do not threaten me!” Raquelle sharply moves her hands to try to set them free from Terrence’s tight grip. “Let me go! Let me go, I said!” “Close your mouth,” Terrence hisses through his teeth. “LET ME GO RIGHT NOW, SICK BASTARD! LET ME GO, I SAID!” “I will quickly shorten your tongue if you don’t shut up now.” “BASTARD! CURSE YOU! I HATE YOU! HATE! BURN IN THE HELL! ALONGSIDE RINGER AND ROCHESTER! I HATE YOU, SCUMBAGS! I HATE YOU!” “SHUT UP, YOU, BITCH!” Using the moment when Raquelle raises her head, Terrence grabs her hair with one hand so strongly that she cannot hold down a shout. “Or I will deal with you much earlier than Simon wishes to do it,” Terrence threatens. “AR-R-R-R…” Raquelle growls irritably. “I am so sorry that I stood in your way. I am sorry that I got in touch with the scumbag, who is not better than Simon.” “SAME! I AM ALSO SORRY THAT I STOOD IN YOUR BEST! THE ONE THAT RUINED MY WHOLE LIFE!” “That’s why you agreed with Ringer against me!” “Come on?” “I don’t doubt you planned everything very well to push me to actions that would ruin my life.” “If I want, I can easily ruin your life without the help of that bastard.” “You have already done it! ALREADY!” “AND YOU RUINED MY LIFE!” Terrence presses Raquelle’s hands much tighter to the bed, understanding that every single muscle of his body is tense. “And now I understand it very well. I finally opened my eyes. I realized I lived with a brainless, egoistic idiot that got too many mental issues!” “The one who definitely has unstable mental health is you,” Raquelle snaps confidently, setting her insolent and cold gaze into Terrence’s eyes full of evil. “The bad rumors about your disgusting character were spread for a reason, and the media were right when saying you were a hysterical girl, who cannot control himself. “Do not make me mad, scumbag! DO NOT DO!” “Your mother probably knows about it and is trying to control you so hard. Not to let you do much stupider things than you have done for all your life.” “If you say one more word, I swear you will really regret it,” Terrence smirks with hate in his eyes. “You did get me too enraged and made me hate you as much as I had never done before.” “So, don’t you like to hear the truth? Don’t you like to hear someone calling you a sick, hysterical girl?” “I will strangle you now…” “I get it. You have always thought you are an irresistible guy with a perfect reputation and want to keep being the one for people. You do understand you are a bastard and always praise yourself much, but you deny it and pretend to be an angel for everyone. And now you are trying to make me think I am sick.” “Shut up, bitch!” Terrence shouts with anger in his eyes. “SHUT UP!” “So, who pronounced you the one? Who sings praises about your spiritual handsomeness? Those little girls, who have a crush on Mason? Or did you call yourself the one?” “HOW LONG ARE YOU GOING TO MAKE ME NERVOUS?” “But it’s alright, MacClife, it’s alright. Nobody will think so very soon. Someday, people will know you’ve got unstable mental health and a disgusting character. They will know how you get excited for no reason and believe you are the most irresistible and handsome one.” “Ar-r-r, I will kill you, bitch…” Terrence growls irritably. “I would watch you when someone published articles about your mental issues and too high self-rating. I would watch you getting nuts because little girls would no longer admire you. And people would understand you are actually not an angel.” Raquelle simpers evilly. “So, to get you revealed sooner, I will have the pleasure to contact all the editors of magazines and newspapers and reporters from all the channels,” Raquelle says confidently. “I will tell them what a nasty bastard you are, who loves himself as much as he loves his mommy. Without whom he is nothing.” By this moment, Terrence loses his patience. There are really rumors that his character is by far not perfect, but the man denies it too hard and tries to look like an angel for others, terribly afraid that one fateful day all his fans would know about the lie they have believed for very many years. Raquelle makes absolutely sure that her first impression was right, and this man is really terrible and mentally unstable. The girl would not be surprised if he had some propensity for violence toward the defenseless. That’s what Raquelle thinks about when Terrence squeezes her throat strongly enough and starts choking her and shaking her so that she hits the back of her head against the bed. She strongly shakes from a scare and starts choking from a lack of air caused by the man’s hand, which squeezes her throat, and which she is trying to move off with her widely open eyes. “I see you became too sassy,” Terrence hisses through his teeth, focusing his smoldering gaze into Raquelle’s scared, widely open eyes and squeezing her throat as strongly as possible. “YOU THOUGHT YOU COULD DO ANYTHING! YOU THOUGHT YOU COULD TELL ME ANYTHING YOU WANT!” Terrence grabs Raquelle painfully by the hair and pulls it strongly, while she still beats him on the hand that is strangling her. “While you are MY girlfriend and live in MY house bought for MY money, you will not dare to snap me,” Terrence says confidently. “YOU GOT IT, BITCH? GOT IT?” Maybe, Raquelle would say something, but she cannot do this because she cannot breathe due to the lack of air. “YOU BECAME TOO THE FUCK ARROGANT!” Terrence resents, as his nostrils inflate. “BUT IT’S ALRIGHT! I WILL QUICKLY SHUT YOU UP! YOU, BITCH, WILL KISS THE FLOOR I WALK ON! YOU WOULD BE AFRAID TO SAY JUST A WORD!” Still squeezing the throat of Raquelle, who gets sharply white from fear or a lack of oxygen, Terrence also squeezes her yawl while she is moving, trying to move off his hand and even beating the man everywhere with her legs and hands. “If you keep showing off, I shall kill you,” Terrence says rudely. “I WILL STRANGLE YOU WITH MY OWN HANDS! DO IT MUCH SOONER THAN RINGER! YOU ANNOYED ME TO DEATH! YOU DID! I AM SICK OF YOUR FACE THAT I CANNOT STAND ANYMORE!” Terrence squeezes Raquelle’s throat much tighter, making her get a stronger wish to run away from him as soon as possible before this man decides to kill her. “Psycho…” Terrence hisses through his teeth, literally killing Raquelle with his cold gaze, while she strongly hits him on his hand that is squeezing her throat. “Someone like you must be locked in a mental hospital and get drugs. THEM TO SHOW OFF LESS AND NOT TO MAKE PEOPLE WORRY ABOUT THEIR LIVES!” Terrence hits Raquelle with the back of her head multiple times. “Don’t think I will be scared of your mental issues,” Terrence says in a rude, low voice. “I am not afraid of you! If you are too sassy and insolent, I, bitch, will quickly tame you. AND IF I HAVE TO USE A FORCE, I WILL DO THIS! IF YOU, BITCH, DO NOT UNDERSTAND WORDS!” Choking with a strong lack of air, Raquelle hits Terrence on his hands several times, looking at him with her widely open eyes and full of horror. “Remember, bitch, now your life depends on ME,” Terrence says confidently. “Because I can tell the whole world I stood in the way of the psycho bitch and have regretted it hundreds of times. I can tell everyone who you really are. You are a selfish, nasty scumbag that plays with the feelings of those, who surround her. And got tons of problems. Did you get it? GOT IT, I ASKED?” Terrence shakes Raquelle being almost green from fear or a lack of air for a few seconds, squeezing her throat and holding her suspended. But then he, not going to kill her, lets her go sharply and throws her on the bed. While he gets up and clenches his hands into hard fists with a quiet growl, the girl starts coughing frequently, greedily catching as much air as possible, grabbing her neck, and trying to calm down after the great aggression that the man showed towards her for the first time. “Are you really insane?” Raquelle resents loudly through a cough. “You almost killed me!” “I could have done,” Terrence pronounces rudely with his head proudly raised. “But I don’t want to go to prison for the murder of the one I am not sorry for. I am not going to ruin my life because of you.” “You, scumbag, really have mental issues!” Raquelle coughs loudly again. “Scumbag… Scumbag…” “Was it not enough for you? NOT ENOUGH?” “SICK BASTARD! Go to a fucking doctor and take some sedatives before you’re taken to a mental hospital! Before you kill someone!” “Shut up, scoundrel…” Terrence tightly clenches his hands into fists and gets every single muscle of his body tense. “Or you will really regret it…” “Look at yourself! Look who you look like! You are like a psycho! A sick psycho!” “You, bitch, got really loose and sassy… YOU BECAME TOO FUCKING ARROGANT!” “Ah, I became arrogant!” “But it’s alright, I will quickly wash your brains and make you remember who Terrence MacClife is forever.” “I do know who he is!” Raquelle says rudely and sharply gets up from the bed. “This is a nasty, sick bastard, who must be in a mental hospital. And who is terribly afraid that people will know about his mental issues.” “You, bitch, will ask for TROUBLE! I WILL TURN YOU TO DUST!” “I wonder, who did you take after? Not your mommy, definitely. Because she is absolutely fine and does not act like a sick psycho.” “Close your mouth…” “And not your daddy… Mrs. MacClife would hardly communicate with a mentally ill man.” “Would you keep snapping at me?” “Probably, that woman is suffering so much because she gave birth to the sick sonny, who must get therapy and stay under her control.” “Shut the fuck up…” “Now it’s clear why you are so attracted to her. Because she doesn’t let you go. Because she doesn’t want you to kill someone and go to prison. So, you have to be a mamma’s boy and ask her for permission for everything.” The furious Terrence wants to run her as fast as a bullet. But when he moves, the girl runs away from him and has to start running after him because he is not going to let her go. The girl does only a few circles in the whole room before the man grabs her by the collar along with her defeating shouts and sharply pulls her on herself. Raquelle unsuccessfully tries to get out and literally breaks her voice when Terrence pulls her to the bed by force, throws her on it as easy as something light, raises himself above himself, and has to start to fight with her hand in hand to avoid hits on the face that she tries to give him and her attempts to pull his hair out. “GET OFF ME!” Raquelle screams at the top of her lungs. “GET BACK! A-A-A!” “STOP SCREAMING!” Terrence demands loudly. “THE WHOLE NEIGHBORHOOD IS ABOUT TO COME HERE! TO WATCH THE SICK PSYCHO!” “MAY EVERYONE COME HERE! TO WATCH THE BASTARD THAT IS LIVING NOT FAR FROM THEM!” “I SAID SHUT UP!” Terrence tightly closes Raquelle’s mouth with a hand not to hear her defeating shouts. That’s why she can only moan loudly with her eyes popped out and hit the man in the arms. She does not manage to get out of the trap for a few seconds, but she gets a couple of seconds thanks to a slight hit on the groin, gets up, and runs to another side of the room. However, Terrence quickly comes to himself and runs to Raquelle again when she wants to open the door and run away from the room. He grabs her hair painfully, shortly pulls her on himself, and starts shaking her strongly, looking at her with a more frightening look, which only someone with serious mental issues may have. It’s so frightening that the girl starts being scared of her mad boyfriend and cannot stop screaming from fear. Even if she finds the courage to fight with a tough enough man. “Do not dare…” Terrence hisses through his teeth with evil in his eyes. “Hear me… Do not dare to say these things about me! DO NOT DARE! CLOSE YOUR FUCKING MOUTH AND DO NOT OPEN IT! OR I WILL SHUT YOU UP FOREVER!” Terrence squeezes Raquelle’s yawl tightly. “WHILE YOU ARE LIVING IN MY HOUSE, I WILL NOT STAND THIS BEHAVIOR!” Terrence says confidently. “YOU WILL DO EVERYTHING I TELL YOU!” “M-m-m, you’re showing yourself like a tyrant more and more…” Raquelle notices, confidently looking into Terrence’s eyes with her head proudly raised. “DO NOT MAKE ME MAD, SCUMBAG!” Terrence strongly shakes Raquelle, holding her under his arms. “I AM NOT KIDDING! YOU WILL MAKE ME DO THIS!” “I’ve seen or heard something like this before…” Raquelle falls into silence for two seconds and smirks evilly. “Ah, right… Your daddy was a tyrant, as well. He was beating your mother… Insulting her… Humiliating… And he eventually ran away. He ran away like a mean coward.” “CLOSE YOUR MOUTH NOW!” “I’m surprised that she forgave him so easily after what he did to her. I guess she does not have pride and self-esteem as she, so to say, let herself get humiliated like this and forgave the one she should’ve run away from.” “Scumbag…” Terrence hisses with evil in his eyes. “Wouldn’t his sonny take after him and become the same as he is? Or much worse – a much nastier bastard and scumbag that has no shame or coincidence. But… The sonny does act like a sick psycho, who definitely needs to get therapy. And tell the whole world about his strong aggression not to let innocent people suffer. Not to let them suffer as well as I did. Because of one nasty scumbag, who has ruined my whole life and made me shake every time I see him in front of him.” “Close your mouth…” “But don’t hope I will do the same thing and give a fuck about your mockeries of me,” Raquelle says confidently. “Do not hope, MacClife. I’ve got a sense of pride. And I would never humiliate myself for a bastard, who treats me worse than a doormat.” Terrence honestly tried to hold on until the end and hold himself down somehow not to do something that would lead to terrible consequences. However, Raquelle makes him enraged on purpose and makes him lose patience and control over him. Not moving his icy gaze off his girlfriend, who is terribly scared and white, he lets go the hands of the girl, turns her face sharply aside, and looks at everything he sees in the room with a heavy breath while she is standing in the same place, watching him and waiting for his reaction. At some moment, Terrence turns aside, but then he raises his hand sharply and slaps Raquelle in the face strongly enough. So strongly that the girl cannot stand on her feet and falls to the floor with a loud shout, sharply grabbing her cheek. Besides, while falling, she hits her head against the corner of the second bar of the bed placed where the legs usually are, and feels a sharp pain in her temple that makes her wince strongly. Raquelle did not really expect anything like this. Terrence’s slap got her deeply shocked and made her unable to say something for a few seconds. She could take anything. Even his wish to control her and his attempts to strangle her. But not a slap… Her own boyfriend just raised a hand on her and hit her so strongly that she could not keep her balance. At this moment, Raquelle gets obsessed with just one thought – starting to date Terrence was the greatest mistake. The mistake that turned her life to hell. The mistake that she made under the pressure of her family, who insisted that she should have found a boyfriend and gotten married. The girl did not actually want it. And by succumbing to her aunt and grandfather, she literally doomed herself to an unhappy life. Raquelle is dreaming of the life she lived before she became someone’s girlfriend. A tense silence settles in the air for a few seconds, during which the furious Terrence is breathing heavily and often, tightly clenching his hands into fists, and Raquelle stops holding down the tears that show up in her red eyes and starts shaking strongly, still being shocked and rubbing the cheek that is burning after the hit. “You…” Raquelle pronounces in a shaking voice, stuttering while watching Terrence with her widely open eyes. “Y-you… Did you go insane?” Raquelle sniffs quietly, still sitting on the floor, holding her cheek, shaking from fear and wishing everything that is happening was just a nightmare. “D-do you understand what did?” Raquelle wonders, stuttering. “You slapped me! Slap-ped…” Terrence says no word and just watches Raquelle with his widely open eyes full of anger, while his hair is a little disheveled. He is clenching his hands into fists so tightly that his chuckles get white, and every single muscle of his body gets very tense. But at some moment, the man realizes what he just did. And somewhere at the bottom of his heart, he gets ashamed of his action, which the man would not love to tell anyone about. Even if there is no emotion on his face that would say that he is really sorry. He would hardly love to apologize for what he did right now. Because Terrence is so wild that he does not know good and bad things and is obsessed with his emotions. Bad emotions, which made him literally a monster that is not able to control itself or show any good and tender feelings. “You hit me!” Raquelle pronounces a little louder with tears in her eyes and sniffs quietly. “Hit me!” “You are guilty!” Terrence throws in a low, rude voice. “If you had behaved well, nothing would have happened!” “So, am I guilty of the fact that you slapped me in the face?” “You provoked me! YOU! YOU MADE ME THE ONE! IF NOT FOR YOU, I WOULD, BITCH, HAVE DONE NOTHING!” “Scumbag… Scumbag…” Raquelle gets up slowly on her feet and looks into Terrence’s eyes with hatred. “STINKER! BASTARD! SCOUNDREL! I HATE YOU!” “Do you want to get a slap again?” Terrence raises his hand. “Since you understood nothing, I, bitch, WILL HIT YOU ONE MORE TIME!” “CURSE YOU, BASTARD! I HATE YOU! I HATE YOU!” “I BECAME THE ONE BECAUSE OF YOU! BECAUSE YOU ARE BEHAVING LIKE THIS AND ALWAYS PROVOKING ME!” “My God…” Raquelle shakes her head. “I am an idiot… Idiot… I stood in the way of the monster… THE STINKER THAT TURNED MY LIFE INTO REAL HELL! WHO LETS HIMSELF DO THESE THINGS!” “MY LIFE HAS NOT ALSO BEEN A TALE WITH YOU!” Terrence says rudely. “I HAVE NEVER BEEN HAPPY ALL THE TIME I HAVE LIVED WITH YOU AT THIS HOUSE!” “My gosh, why did I actually listen to my family? Why?” Raquelle slowly comes to the window and closes her face with both hands, trying to hold down the tears that are about to start to roll down her cheeks. “Why didn’t I think enough when agreeing to do that crazy thing? WHY?” “What prevented you from saying 'no' when I suggested that you move in here?” Terrence shouts. “No one made you get your stuff and move to this place! Nobody forced you to do this! YOU did agree! And YOU are pretending to be a victim!” “I don't know…” Raquelle pronounces in a lower voice. “I was blind… Too blind to think about something. Sometimes love makes you so blind that you might not notice how you fall into the abyss, which even ten people can't get you out.” “You could say you did not want to date me! And we would have quietly gone on different ways and never met again. WHY DID YOU THE FUCK RUIN MY LIFE?” “WHY DID YOU THE FUCK RUIN MY LIFE?” Raquelle starts screaming, sharply turning on Terrence. “WHY DID YOU THE FUCK MAKE ME BELIEVE I WOULD BE HAPPY?” “Seriously?” Terrence smirks evilly and crosses his arms over his chest. “You are guilty of everything! Because of YOU, our life was like hell!” “Ah, because of me?” “You’ve never cared about me! You’ve always ignored me as if it should happen! Did you think I would take it forever and pretend that everything was fine until the end of my life?” Terrence wonders. “No, bitch! Everything has a limit! EVERYTHING! AS WELL AS MY PATIENCE!” “I WISH YOU BURNED IN HELL, SCUMBAG!” Raquelle sniffs loudly. “I WISH YOU BURNED IN HELL FOR WHAT YOU’VE DONE TO ME! Stinkers that dare to raise a hand on a girl never deserve forgiveness from their victims and those, who know it.” “YOU PROVOKED ME!” Terrence says rudely. “YOU ARE GUILTY OF THE FACT THAT EVERYTHING ENDED LIKE THIS!” “I AM GUILTY OF NOTHING!” “You are guilty of EVERYTHING! EVERYTHING ABOUT YOU! YOU RUINED MY LIFE! I WOULD HAVE BEEN A THOUSAND TIMES HAPPIER IF I HAD NOT MET YOU!” “As well as I would have been! I think our first meeting was a great mistake that gave me only trouble. Since you stood in my way, everything HAS BEEN RUINED TO THE FUCK IN MY LIFE! I STOPPED BEING HAPPY!” “I agree with you in this case,” Terrence pronounces much quieter. “I am also regretting not finding an excuse to refuse to work on the photoshoot, on which they invited us to work together. It was my greatest mistake that I will regret my whole life.” Terrence sits slowly on the bed, doubles over, and runs his hand through his hair. “And I followed you nobody knows where…” Terrence adds in a low voice, slightly squeezing the bridge of his nose. “Went to London to get the attention of the girl, who turned out to be a betrayal and mentally sick!” Terrence shakes his head. “What was I actually thinking of?” Terrence wonders. “I am an idiot! Just a brainless idiot that succumbed to his feelings…” “Ha, feelings…” Raquelle simpers evilly, crossing her arms over her chest. “Yes, FEELINGS!” Terrence moves his hands off his hair, sharply gets up from the bed, and turns on Raquelle. “But I was too blind to see the real you. To see that you are a nasty, selfish bitch, who thinks only of herself. Who cares only about everything about her. Who gives a fuck about others.” “I also thought you were different when we began to date,” Raquelle throws rudely. “Tender… Caring… Nice… I naively believed you were a decent man. But I was wrong. You are the same insolent and non-educated bastard that you were on the day we met for the first time.” “I WOULD BE THE ONE IF NOT FOR YOUR INDIFFERENCE TO ME! IF YOU GAVE ME AT LEAST A LITTLE BIT OF ATTENTION, I WOULD BE A GOOD BOYFRIEND TO YOU.” “I DO NOT NEED YOU!” Raquelle screams at the top of her lungs with evil in her eyes. “I DO NOT NEED! I HAVE NEVER LOVED YOU! NEVER! AND I BEGAN TO DATE YOU JUST TO MAKE MY GRANDFATHER AND AUNT STOP ANNOYING ME WITH RELATIONSHIPS AND MARRYING!” “THANK YOU FOR THE FUCKING CONFESSION!” Terrence gets wild. “YOU CONFESSED EVERYTHING! YOU CONFESSED WHAT I UNDERSTOOD A LONG TIME AGO!” “Yes, I don’t love you and have never done! I used you to stop hearing what made me more irritated every year.” Terrence says nothing and clenches his hands tightly into fists with a heavy breath. “I am fucking sick of always hearing that I must get married and give birth to children,” Raquelle adds loudly. “I HAVE DONE SINCE I WAS EIGHTEEN! I’VE BEEN TOLD THAT EVERY FUCKING DAY SINCE I WAS EIGHTEEN! I wanted to work and build my career, but someone always tried to ruin my dreams. My family never cared that I DID NOT ACTUALLY WANT TO GET MARRIED! I DID NOT WANT TO DATE MEN! I did not want to waste the time that I could have spent on getting famous and getting the love of my fans. But when you came into my life, my grandfather and aunt began to press on me much more. They were the fuck HAPPY that a man came into my life! THE YOUNG AND RICH MAN! They lost their mind! Even if I never hid how you treated me. As if it was FINE! And they never asked if I wanted to have a relationship, a wedding, and children. If they had known I did not actually want to get married, they would’ve looked at me as if I was an idiot and said something was wrong with me! A girl MUST think of a family!” “If I had known it earlier, I would not have even come to you,” Terrence says in a low, rude voice. “Because I need a girl, who would THINK of a family and WANT it. Not the one that’s obsessed with her career and everything about her. I used to think I found the one. But now I understand I made a great mistake by deciding to start dating you.” “Nobody holds you!” Raquelle points at the door with a finger. “I AM GIVING YOU FREEDOM! I do not need you for anything! And I am very sorry about wasting so much time on you and not being determined when I was literally forced to start to date you.” “It’s your problem,” Terrence throws coldly. “Your slap in the face became the last drop of my patience and pushed me to what I was dreaming about so much.” Raquelle sharply turns her back on Terrence. “Alright, I’m done with it!” Raquelle says confidently. “I am no longer going to live with you at the same house and take the way you treat me.” “I am not holding you,” Terrence replies without emotions on his face. “Take your stuff and get out of my home. I would be happy to get off such a nasty bitch like you. And I cannot wait for the day when I choose another, more decent girl, who would love to have a family and is ready to sacrifice just something for me.” “You can go to the fuck and live as you want. I don’t care what will happen to you after we break up. Get hundreds of lovers, get married – I give a fuck. I will not cry.” “I will not be upset if we are strangers.” “Excellent! You can take your stuff and get out of here. And remember well, I will put you, Ringer, and Rochester in prison for all the tricks that you did to ruin my life. I swear on the graves of my parents, I will not leave it without my attention and will sue all of you. And you, scumbag, will lose the status of an innocent angel forever. You will become a fucking, egoistic creature that loves himself and could easily become one of those, who humiliate and beat a woman.” “Do what you want. But remember, you will get nothing. I will not give you anything from what I have. Even one fucking cent. Besides, there is nothing that belongs to you. It’s MY house and MY territory. You cannot kick me out of here because the house belongs to me. Luckily, you are not my wifey, you are just a guest. I am able to kick you out if I want. I can tell you to get your stuff and get out of here right now not to walk before my eyes and make me wild by your pretense. Take your stuff. Everything to the last cloth. Leave NOTHING that would remind me of you.” “I do not need anything from you. I DON’T NEED ANYTHING FROM YOU! YOU CAN LEAVE IT WITH YOU!” Raquelle starts to run around the whole room and sweeps off everything that starts falling on the floor with a crush from the table, which is placed near the bed. “Take everything!” Raquelle shouts. “I can earn everything by myself! I DO NOT NEED THE FUCK ALL OF THAT! I WILL TAKE NOTHING FROM WHAT BELONGS TO YOU!” “NOBODY WILL GIVE YOU THAT!” Terrence says loudly. “And I do not need your house! I have never felt like it’s my home! NEVER! As if I’ve been a guest of yours! And I’ve always felt bad here. I’ve wanted to run away from here. I get happy when I leave this place and go somewhere.” “I feel bad here, too. But I’m sure if another girl lived at this house, she would do her best to make this place a paradise for me.” “THEN SUGGEST ROCHESTER MOVE HERE! HER TO MAKE YOU HAPPY!” With these words, Raquelle takes a small box from the table and throws it on the floor as strongly as possible, breathing heavily enough and tightly clenching her hands into fists. “LIVE THE FUCK HAPPY!” Raquelle adds irritably. “And I wish you happiness,” Terrence throws rudely. “I wish you to cure yourself, be happy by shaking your ass on a runway, and howl from loneliness someday when you don’t have even a dog.” “I hate you, Terrence James MacClife.” Raquelle confidently comes to Terrence and looks at him with evil in her eyes. “I will never forgive you for what you have done. I hate you for betraying me when I counted on your help and support.” “I betrayed nobody,” Terrence crosses his arms over the chest. “And I did the thing that you did to me. Everything’s fair. Or did you, bitch, think I would keep taking the way you treated me? No, my sweetheart! Never!” “I didn’t expect anything else from the accomplice of Simon Ringer.” “Are you pretending that you don’t hear me? Or are you really brainless and not able to understand what I’m trying to tell you?” “I want to hear nothing. Everything is over between us.” “Alright, if it’s so,” Terrence shrugs slightly. “But I hope everything that is happening to you will teach you something and give you some lessons. Maybe, after that, you would think a little and understand what you should change about yourself.” “Better think of your acts. Or Rochester would run away from you.” “And I hope you will go to a clinic to get therapy and leave it, being a different person.” “You better go there, scumbag,” Raquelle snaps rudely. “Stinkers like you do belong to that type of place. But I doubt aggression could be cured somehow in your case. It can’t be cured. You were born like this. And you watched your daddy enough.” “Probably, doing something in your case is worthless, as well. You will go nuts by the moment when that scumbag Ringer gets what he deserves.” “I wish someone did the same thing to you that you did to me. I wish everything you’ve done came back to you like a boomerang. I wish you, scumbag, suffered as much as I do and stayed all alone. I wish everyone hated and cursed you… Wished you to burn in hell… For you to have no friend… I wish your own mother turned her back on you… I want you to be alone until the last day of your life. I wish you died all alone.” “It’s waiting for you. You will die alone.” “You know…” Raquelle barely shakes her head. “Somehow I thought I could get the love for you. I believed I could get used to you and learn to be happy with you.” “I doubt you would ever love me,” Terrence says coldly. “You said you never loved me and started to date me just because your family pressed on you and wanted to have fun at your wedding. And I am more than sure that those people insisted on that, not because they didn’t want you to die alone. Because they got sick of taking care of the adult lady.” “I hoped everything would be changed! I hope a love would come to me later.” “Everything could be changed if you tried. If you hadn’t preferred your work over me. But you did nothing for us to get closer. And eventually, you killed my love for you. Every day, it was more disgusting for me to be next to you. I was thinking of starting an affair more and more. To feel like a loved and wanted man again.” “Don’t tell me about love. You didn’t love me too much and have never been interested in what’s happening to me, what I was feeling, or what I needed.” “What are you talking about?” “You needed me only for satisfying your needs. You needed my body, not my soul and heart. You have been using me all the time and feeling quite comfortable.” “Ha, when did you let me satisfy my needs the last time?” Terrence smirks evilly. “After we moved in here, you got busy with your work and began to disappear at your fucking shootings! The only time when I was happy was our first sex. I felt just incredible. You somehow tried to give me pleasure. And you did it quite well. But then everything stopped. You suddenly forgot me, stopped paying attention to me, and always rejected me when I expressed a wish to make love.” “Fuck, you’ve always had one thing in your mind – sex! Sex, sex, sex! You needed me only for that! You needed me to fuck me!” “And you needed me to shut your family up!” “Confess that you didn’t love me and wanted to date me just to fuck me at any time without any barriers. Or did you lose your interest in me after I made a stupid mistake by agreeing to lie in a bed with you and give you sex that you wanted so badly?” “I will not confess,” Terrence shakes his head without emotions in his eyes. “Because I loved you. Very much. I literally lost my mind because of you. I thought if you weren’t near me, I would not have a quiet life. I suggested you date me at my will and understood I was ready to change my life. And I am very sorry that you didn’t share my wish with me and preferred your career.” “And I am sorry I ruined my life by agreeing to date you. But I could’ve picked up any other man. That’s good I’ve never lacked men’s attention. Anyone would sell his soul to be with me.” “Anyway, I don’t want to be with the girl that can get problems where she could not do. I no longer want to date you. No wish to live with a bitch like you. The bitch that did her best to make me understand that I got cold for her and just cannot see and hear her. My love for you died as suddenly as it came to me.” “We have the same opinion on at least something!” “I want us to break up immediately. I want you to get me out of the chains as soon as possible and let me have an affair with any other girls.” “We’ve agreed about the breakup. I also want to feel single and get off the man, who I no longer find decent. The opinion of whom I refuse to respect. I refuse to think you are as important as you think. Now you are a nasty, selfish bastard to me.” “Excellent then!” “Don’t worry, MacClife, I will not hold you. And if it happens that Simon brings me to death earlier by torturing me like that, it will be much better for you because I will leave this world. Once and forever.” “Killing you would be easier than waiting for Ringer to get a wish to deal with you.” “So, kill me if you want to go to prison so badly. Where you would go for everything you’ve done anyway.” “Get out of here,” Terrence demands coldly. “Get out of here before I strangle you with my own hands.” “Yeah, I’d better leave.” Raquelle looks at Terrence from head to foot with contempt in her eyes. “If I don’t leave in the nearest few seconds, I will destroy everything here to the fuck.” Raquelle shakes her head. “I’m sorry about 'stealing' a few months of your life that you spent with me,” Raquelle says quietly. “You can now live as you want. I do give a fuck about what would happen to you. You are dead to me from now.” “I said, GET OUT OF HERE!” Terrence shortly raises his hand and clenches it into a fist, as his nostrils inflate from anger. “OR I WILL HIT YOU IN YOUR FACE AGAIN!” “Burn in the hell, bastard. I HATE YOU! DIE IN LONELINESS!” Breathing heavily, Raquelle runs out of the room as fast as a bullet and slams the door after leaving it, being quite excited while Terrence silently watches the girl with his head proudly raised and his dead eyes. Nobody assumed the events would have turned like this. Nobody thought this fight would be over with the slap that pushed these people to make the decision to break up. After such a furious fight, in which raising a hand and trying to strangle took place, Raquelle lost patience and no longer wants to live with this man in the same house. She decides to become free again and focus on solving her problems with Simon. However, Terrence also wants to break up with his girlfriend as soon as possible and become a single man. But despite the hate for Raquelle, he is sorry about letting himself raise a hand on the girl and not being able to control his emotions and hold his aggression down… He blames his girlfriend for everything. Who made him wild by behaving like that on purpose. But on the other hand, MacClife completely understands the decision of breaking up should have been made a very long time ago, and it was impossible to be avoided because their relationship got much worse. When he stays all alone, Terrence comes to a wall and hits it with a fist as strongly as possible with a loud shout. And then he slowly slides down the same wall and sits on the floor, pressing his bent legs to himself, leans on his knees with his chin, and grabs his hair strongly with both hands. “Why?” Terrence wonders in a little shaking voice, barely holding down a wish to shed a tear from despair and pain that literally tears his soul. “Why is this happening to me? Why did I the fuck decide to start an affair with that girl? Date the one that made me much unhappier!” Terrence strongly pulls his little disheveled hair and then shouts loudly, as if he is letting his emotions go out. “Why was I so blind?” Terrence asks. “Why? I had so many decent girls, who would dance attendance upon me! But I chose that fucking diva that loves nobody but wants everyone to love her!” Terrence growls quietly and runs his hands over his white face, not wishing to say anything and silently cursing himself for ruining his life by deciding to start to date Raquelle and not listening to those, who tried to warn him that the girl would not give him any kind of happiness.***
Meanwhile, Raquelle enters one of the bathrooms at the house, closes the door, and locks it. The shaking, white girl slides down against the wall, to the cold tiled floor, and starts crying so hard, grabbing her disheveled hair with both hands and feeling mild pain in her head after having her hair pulled out. The girl is still shocked after Terrence shamelessly slapped her in the face. She does not care that he was not shy about insulting, humiliating, and claiming that she was under his control for the past two weeks. Even when the man was so mad, she could take it somehow. But now, when she got a strong slap from the man for the first time ever, she lost patience. Raquelle is frightened. Really scared. She is afraid that she stood in the way of the mentally unstable tyrant that could beat her strongly and have no regret about it. “Why?” Raquelle asks herself, shaking strongly enough and literally choking with tears. “When would my life get much better? Why have I suffered like this since childhood? My parents died, my schoolmates humiliated me, my career was almost ruined because of the dirty lie, Simon swore to ruin my life, and I fought with my best friend, who was a betrayal… And now my boyfriend raised a hand on me and almost strangled me.” Raquelle makes a couple of quiet sobs, leaning the back of her head against the wall, and raises it up. “What did I do?” Raquelle asks herself. “Why? For what am I getting through all of that? Which sins do I have to pay such a high cost again and again? Why have I been a loser since childhood? Because of my aunt, who was in prison? Or my mother, who got everybody mad with her hysterics? My grandfather, who could not save the family of my parents? Why? Why do I always suffer?” Raquelle closes her face with both hands and keeps crying bitterly, being more sure that she is literally cursed. When she relaxes a little, forgets her nightmares, and starts to think her life has finally gotten better, she runs into new problems that start killing her slowly. As well as Terrence, the girl also wants to scream and rampage. She is starting to regret getting in touch with that man and agreeing to date him. She is regretting not finding the courage to make her family shut up and claim that she would decide she would love to date someone, have a wedding and give birth to children. She is regretting succumbing to the pressure and starting the unwanted affair that she is going to end. She will do this even if the whole world is against it and wants to try to make her think better and prevent her from doing it. Anyway, Raquelle and Terrence did not pass the test of the relationship that was made for them. Maybe, they do not really fit each other and should not have dated and lived together. Maybe, they really need to go on different sides and choose another way, forgetting everything that has happened between them and the fact that they were obsessed with affection that faded away as fast as it came.***
It’s getting closer to the evening. After a few days she spent at home, Natalia decided to go outside and walk a little in the city. The fight with Raquelle became a great shock for her, and she barely came to herself and found a wish to keep living. But thanks to the help of her father, who was next to her and supported her, and Anna and Terrence, the girl came to herself more or less and came back to her normal life, even if she is still upset by the fact that she lost her best friend. Walking in the city, Natalia reaches a small café and decides to drink something hot and have a rest. After entering it, she quickly looks around, sits on a table placed near the window, and puts her purse on a chair placed next to her. A few seconds later, a young waiter holding a pen and a notebook, who is always ready to accept an order from a client, comes to her. “Good afternoon,” the waiter greets gently. “What do you want to order?” “A cup of coffee without sugar, please,” Natalia pronounces gently, without emotions on her face. “A cup of coffee without sugar,” the waiter quickly writes something in a notebook. “Do you want to order something else?” “Not yet,” Natalia shakes her head. “If I want something, I will call you.” “Alright. In this case, please, wait for two minutes until your order is done.” “No problem…” The waiter nods and goes somewhere quickly, leaving Natalia alone. The girl looks around the whole café, in which quiet music is playing, and in which almost all the tables are taken by at least one person, who is drinking and eating something. Now she needs to distract herself a little to forget that she lost her best friend. The past few days were very hard for her, and she barely got over it. At the moment, Natalia is worried not less than her former friend Raquelle, even if every one of the girls cares about many of their problems. “I doubt I could come to myself after what happened at the nearest time,” Natalia thinks. “It was very hard for me in the past few days. It’s hard to believe it’s really happening to me…” Natalia sighs silently and moves her eyes to the window. “Thank God, Dad was with me…” Natalia thinks. “He has supported me well all this time… And Anna didn’t leave me alone and called me almost every day. And Terrence… I’m so grateful to him for giving me support and being next to me all this time. I will never forget his kindness and care… Terrence is a wonderful man and an amazing friend. Someone like him must be appreciated… But Cameron is an idiot. Because she didn’t appreciate such a treasure.” Natalia sighs very quietly and folds her hands on the table, looking through the window or around with her sad eyes and still thinking about something. While the girl is falling into her thoughts and being far from here in her mind, the door of the café opens, and another visitor comes here. A young, attractive man with luxurious brown, disheveled hair, hazel eyes, and a little white skin. A tall person with good physical data. It seems like the man is not less than eighteen because he really looks like a young boy thanks to his pretty, perfectly shaved face without birthmarks or pimples. He is wearing black, shabby jeans, a shabby leather jacket, and a gray t-shirt and has a tiny choker on his neck. His style could be described as a little rebellious, careless and relaxed. Besides, the guy slightly slouches and looks a little hesitant. As if he is afraid of something or always doubts himself somehow. If the man walked much straighter, he would be a little taller… After looking around in search of a free table, the man sees that all of them are taken by at least one person. Mothers and children are sitting, teenagers are loudly discussing something interesting and laughing, and adults and old people are spending quiet time. Someone is here all alone, and someone is spending time with a big company. It gets the dark-haired man a little upset because he came here to eat a little. But when he, being sad, wants to leave and go to another café, he stops his eyes on Natalia sitting on one of the tables, whom he sees from afar. That girl seems very beautiful to him and makes him crack a slight smile and notice that she looks quite sad. “M-m-m, what a girl…” the man thinks with a slight smile. “She is an incredible beauty… But very sad… However, I’m sure a smile would look very good on her face. Ah… I do wanna cheer her up, whatever happens to her. I wanna see a smile of that girl…” The man watches Natalia for a few seconds, while she keeps thinking of something and does not notice that the young man is watching her with great interest. “Maybe, I should take a risk and try to sit down with her?” the man asks himself. “And eat. I wouldn’t have to go to another café. I’d use a moment when all the tables are taken by those I wouldn’t like to sit with. So, I would get a reason to pick up a beautiful girl and introduce myself to her.” Meanwhile, Natalia quickly looks around and moves her eyes to the window. “Okay, trying is always good!” the man decides confidently. “I will try to talk to that girl and comfort her a little. I can't miss a chance to meet such a beauty. A charming beauty. Maybe, I’ll distract from my problems and cares and get a chance to spend time with a beautiful girl.” After bracing himself quickly enough, the man raises his head up, spreads his shoulders, unconsciously sucks his stomach in, and confidently goes to the table, which Natalia is still sitting at and looking at her hands at this moment. And when the pretty, dark-haired man comes to her, he starts speaking to her politely: “Good afternoon. Would I bother you if I sat down here?” Natalia does not answer the question of the stranger and does not notice him at once. She wakes up from her trance a few seconds later, shaking her head slightly, clearing her throat quietly, and glancing at the man, who came to her. “Erm, excuse me, what?” Natalia pronounces hesitantly. “Did you want to ask me something?” “Can I sit at the table with you?” the stranger man asks quietly. “Sit down?” “All the tables are taken, and nobody is sitting with you… I would like to eat, but I’d have to spend a lot of time going to another café. I would like to eat…” “Erm…” “Would you mind if I made a company for you?” “Well, erm…” Natalia pronounces hesitantly. “Yeah… Sure… Sit down, please. If you want it.” Honestly, Natalia does not absolutely care about the fact that the man decided to sit down with her. Moreover, she did not almost look at him when talking to him and focused her attention on her hands. Nevertheless, the girl did not want to be mean. So, she decides to let the stranger sit down with her. After getting permission to sit down, the young man quickly sits in a free place against Natalia. He is silent for two seconds and looks around a little hesitantly with the hope that a waiter will come to him. And first, he pays attention to Natalia’s sad face, which he finds very beautiful. Just like the girl is, who always gets the attention of men. Who seems much more beautiful when she is near than when she is far. When he silently finds the courage, the young man starts speaking quite in a nice, quiet voice, which does not irritate and does cause a wish to listen to it over and over: “Hey… Why is such a beautiful girl sitting here alone and feeling sad?” “I just walked in the city and decided to come here,” Natalia shrugs slightly. “I would like you to smile. Because I am sure a smile would make your face much more gorgeous than it is now.” “Honestly, I have no wish to smile.” “Why?” At this moment, the waiter comes to the table and puts a cup of coffee that Natalia ordered on the table. The girl moves her eyes to him and puts on a polite smile to thank him for the order. “Thank you so much,” Natalia says gently and quietly. “If you need something, I am not far from you,” the waiter replies with a wide smile and moves his eyes to the man, who just sat down with Natalia. “Do you want to order something?” “Erm, I don’t know yet…” the stranger replies thoughtfully. “I want to examine the menu…” “One minute, I will give it to you now.” The waiter goes quickly somewhere and brings a small book with pictures of dishes and drinks, which he gives to the young man a few seconds later. “Thanks a lot,” the man thanks with a slight smile. “When you are ready to order, call me,” the waiter says amicably. “I will be near you.” The waiter turns around and quietly goes to do his work, and the stranger moves his eyes to Natalia, who looks into her cup of coffee with her sad eyes. “So, what happened to you?” the man asks. “Well, nothing special,” Natalia replies quietly. “I just have some problems, but you should not fill your head with that.” “Really? What happened?” “I am sorry, young man, but I’m not in the mood to meet men and talk to people.” “Don’t you like my pretense?” “No, the case is not about you. I just have no mood to meet someone.” “Anyway, I feel sorry for you,” the man says with sadness in his eyes. “Judging by your face, I see you’ve really got serious problems.” “Well, maybe, my problems would seem not so catastrophic for you…” Natalia replies hesitantly. “But it means very much to me.” “You know, everyone has their important problems.” “You’re right…” Natalia moves her eyes slowly to her hands, holding her cup by the handle. “Everyone’s got their problems…” “If you want, you can tell me about your problems,” the dark-haired man says softly. “I would be happy to listen to you and try to support you somehow.” “Do you really care about it?” “I just want to help you and do my best to make you smile.” Natalia says nothing and smiles slightly, even if she still looks sad. “M-m-m, a smile looks so good on you,” the stranger notices with a slight smile. “Thanks, but now I don’t want to smile at all,” Natalia thanks quietly. “Open your heart to me, and you will get better. You would start to smile.” “You know…” Natalia tucks a strand of hair behind her ear. “Honestly, I have never shared my problems with unfamiliar people.” “Sometimes an unfamiliar person could understand you much better than someone to be close to you,” the stranger notices confidently. “Maybe, you’re right…” “But if you don’t want to talk about it, you can say nothing. And if you don’t like my company, I will leave and not bother you.” “No, no, you don’t bother me,” Natalia protests softly. “And alright. I will tell you what got me so upset.” “Speak,” the stranger folds his hands in front of himself. “I am listening to you closely.” “I’m upset because I fought with my friend some time ago.” “Your friend?” “Yeah, my best friend.” Natalia falls into silence and moves her eyes down. “I mean my former friend…” “Wow…” the stranger expresses sympathy. “But why?” “She just thinks I am guilty of something that happened to her.” “Does she have a great problem?” “Yup…” “Whatever happened, I am very sorry for you,” the man replies with sadness in his eyes, being true at showing his emotions and listening to Natalia with interest. “Thanks a lot, but your sympathy would not help me. It would not bring my friend back that I loved so much.” “I get it… It’s always hurtful to lose your friends, especially when you’ve befriended them for ages, but they do something bad to you. And unfortunately, new friends can’t always become much better than old friends.” “You’re right…” Natalia agrees thoughtfully. “I’ve got many friends, who are trying to help me, but I don’t get better yet.” “How long ago did you fight with your friend?” “Two weeks ago.” “Oh… It’s been a while…” The man moves his eyes to the menu of the café placed in front of him and starts examining it slowly. “Have you ever lost your closest friend?” Natalia asks. “Have you ever fought with that one?” “Honestly, I haven't had best friends in my life yet,” the man confesses shyly. “Huh?” “I speak to many people very well, but nobody has become the best friend of mine.” “Really?” “There is nobody I could trust literally much more than myself.” “I see… Have you ever been charged for something? Have you been charged for the fact that something happened because of you?” “Erm…” the man bites his lip slightly. “It has happened… Many times.” “It’s a disgusting feeling, huh?” “It really is!” “Are you worried about something?” “Now?” “Yes.” “How could I say it?” the man pronounces thoughtfully. “Not everything is fine in my life. I also have very many problems that make me nervous.” “Really?” Natalia expresses interest. “Do you have problems?” “Yes. There’s something…” “It’s serious?” “Erm… I’ve just been unsuccessfully trying to find someone for a very long time. But I have not done that yet.” “Find someone?” “I’ve been looking for that one for many years, but…” The man falls into silence for two seconds and sighs. “I mean, I know where I could find that person because it's not hard,” the man adds hesitantly. “But I cannot find a reason to get closer to that one. And I do not even know how they look. I knew it somehow a long time ago, but now that person could change a lot. I may not recognize that one.” “Have you been trying to find your friend?” Natalia asks. “Well… Almost…” “What’s your problem? You could contact that one and explain the situation!” “Yeah, but everything is too complicated.” “That’s how…” “Erm…” The man falls into silence for two seconds, biting his lip slightly. “Excuse me, what's your name?” the man asks hesitantly. “I just realized that I still do not know your name.” “Ah, yeah, sure…” Natalia replies with a shy smile. “My name is…” Natalia stutters a little, but then she exhales sharply and introduces herself: “Natalia. My name is Natalia… Natalia Rochester, to be clear.” “Nice to meet you, Natalia,” the man pronounces with a slight smile. “My name is Edward.” The man named Edward shakes Natalia by the hand to welcome her. “Edward Lockhart,” Edward specifies a little hesitantly. “It’s also a pleasure to me…” Natalia says with a shy smile. “Nice to meet you, Mr. Lockhart…” “You can call me just Edward.” “Well… Okay… As you wish.” Natalia starts looking at Edward better for the first time since he sat down with her. And the girl unconsciously starts comparing him with the one, who looks really similar to this young man. “By the way, you have some resemblance to one man…” Natalia confesses. “Really?” Edward pronounces surprisingly. “Who is that if it’s not a secret?” “One friend of mine.” “Friend?” “He’s doing a lot to help me come to myself after my fight with my friend.” “But why do I remind you of your friend?” “You just…” Natalia says thoughtfully and bites her lip slightly. “You’ve got… Similar features.” “You know, you can often meet someone, who may have some resemblance to you.” “Yeah, I know. But you do remind me of my friend. Even if you look much younger, My friend looks much more adult than you.” “And what’s his name, if it’s not a secret?” “Terrence?” “Terrence?” Edward rounds his eyes, tensing a little and taking his breath away. “I think he's one of the most wonderful men I’ve never met. Yes, that guy loves himself too much and doesn’t miss a chance to ask for compliments. But Terrence is actually a good man.” “Great…” Edward moves his eyes aside for two seconds. “Moreover, he’s having to get through a hard time now. So, we… So to say… We’ve united… To overcome our problems together.” “I kind of thought about the actor with the same name. He was very popular at the beginning of the 00s. The girls had a crush on him and dreamed of meeting him in real life.” “That’s him,” Natalia confesses shyly. “Come on?” Edward opens his eyes widely, moving them to Natalia sharply. “You know Terrence? Terrence MacClife? The actor?” “Yeah, that’s him.” “Wow… Do you know such a famous person?” “Yeah, I had to meet him.” “Are you lying to me?” “Nope, I’m not. And why would I lie to you?” “But how did you meet him? Where? When?” “It’s…” Natalia starts wrapping her finger around her cup of hot coffee. “A long story. But you can trust my word. I really know Terrence MacClife, and I'm friends with him.” After hearing all of this, Edward tenses the muscles of his body a little and twists nervously on the chair, while his little scared eyes are running fast from one side to another. “It cannot be true…” Edward blunts under his breath. “No, no… It’s…” Edward shakes his head, trying to formulate his thoughts, but stuttering constantly. “Damn, is this a coincidence?” Edward asks himself. “Or is this just a contingency?” “Erm…” Natalia frowns slightly, looking at Edward with suspicion. “Is that really true? Is that really true?” Edward shakes his head again. “No, no, I don’t believe it… I don’t believe it…” “Excuse me?” “Huh? What?” Edward shakes slightly and moves his eyes sharply to Natalia. “Did you say something?” “Why did you get so nervous? Did I say something wrong?” “Erm… N-nope… N-n-n-nothing…” Edward glances aside and runs his hand nervously over his head. “Everything is alright.” “Listen… Yeah… I know you can’t meet a famous person every day. But… Still…” “No, no, it’s alright… I… I’m okay…” Edward exhales sharply, trying to brace himself somehow. “It’s alright…” “If you were a girl, I would understand your excitement,” Natalia frowns slightly. “But now I don’t understand you…” “It’s alright, Natalia, don’t think about it,” Edward smiles a little falsely, moving his tense glance to Natalia. “Don’t think about it…” “Come on, Edward!” Natalia smiles shyly. “If you’re a fan of Terrence, there’s nothing bad with it. I’m sure that not only do young girls like him.” “Erm… Y-y-yeah…” Edward locks his fingers tightly, while his eyes are running chaotically from one side to another. “Yeah, I… I’m a fan of him… And… I’ve even seen him… Once… There was a case when I was too close to him.” “Really? When?” “It happened in the middle of November 2014.” “Somewhere one and a half years?” “I think so.” Edward clears his throat. “In short, I was walking in the park and checking something out on my phone. But at some moment, I paid attention to the crown of young girls, who were whooping happily for a certain reason. I thought that they could be so happy only in case they met a celebrity. And I was right. Because when I came closer, I saw that they surrounded Terrence. He was giving them autographs, taking photos with them, answering their questions, and showing off like a peacock… He paid attention to every girl and spent a lot of time on it.” “Wow…” “I recognized him immediately and decided to watch him. I was a little nervous because he could see me and get mad that I was kind of chasing him.” “So, didn’t you come to Terrence?” “Alas, I did not find the courage to come to him and just watched Terrence from some distance. And I chased him a little when he went somewhere. Yes, I really wanted to talk to him and tell him who I was. But I wasn’t absolutely ready for that.” “Didn’t he notice you?” “Nope. He cared about his fans much more at that moment. Though I can’t say I was standing far away from him. Vice versa, I was very close. I was able to look at that man closely. And when Terrence hid somewhere, I was a little upset because I couldn’t find the courage to put an end to this story. And I am upset that I haven’t gotten another chance to get closer to him. This story could’ve ended much earlier if I had been much braver and more determined. But alas, I was scared.” “I see…” “Anyway… Terrence is doing a good job… I… Really love… A couple of movies… Where he played a role… And… I like one TV show…” “Oh, I’ve watched all the movies where he played!” Natalia laughs shyly. “But I didn’t actually care about the storylines. I just wanted to admire that pretty boy. And I imagined myself next to him. Because he’s so hot and sexy…” “Every girl thinks so…” Edward smiles tensely, thinking about something as he is fingering over nervously. “I personally knew some of them…” “Well… Not every girl…” “What do you mean?” “My friend… I mean, my former friend has never had a crush on him.” “It happens,” Edward shrugs. “It’s the truth, Edward. While all the girls drooled over Terrence, she was rejecting him. Wondering why everybody went crazy for that penguin.” “I got it…” “Yeah, I agree that feeling the girl up and asking her to lie in bed with you on your first meeting is not good. But she should not have used the man for her own interests.” “Oh, did your friend date him?” “Yes, she did.” “And who is she?” “The famous model.” “Wow, as I understand, are you kind of connected with the show business if you know the famous people?” “No, I’m not connected with the show business. Though, my parents are tightly connected with the fashion industry.” “Really?” “My mom is a lawyer, and my dad is a journalist. She represents the fashion companies at the court, consults them on everything, and participates in concluding some contracts. And he is the author of his own column in the very popular magazine and has regular interviews with famous people from the fashion world.” “I got it…” Edward pronounces with great interest, while a bright gloss shows up in his eyes. “But what are you doing?” “Me… Erm…” Natalia bites her lip slightly. “Well… I can help my parents at times… But actually… I… I’m trying to get to know me better…” “I get it… I haven't also found my way in this life. I’m running from one side to another.” “Excuse me, what’s your age?” “Twenty-four.” “Twenty-four? Come on? But you look much younger.” “Many people don’t believe I’m actually older than it seems at first sight,” Edward laughs shyly. “I would say you’re not less than eighteen or twenty.” “But I’m already twenty-four. But I’m going to turn twenty-five very soon.” “Soon?” “Yup. In May.” “When I looked at you, I thought you were even younger than me.” “But what’s your age?” “Twenty-four, too.” “Oh, you and I have the same age!” “It happens.” “I’m sure you’re going to be the same stunning beauty that you are now at any age.” “Oh, Edward, don’t make me blush…” Natalia smiles shyly, moving her eyes to her hands with a feeling that her cheeks are burning. “It’s true, Natalia. I know many girls, but you’re the most beautiful one.” “Stop it…” “Don’t be shy, please.” “Anyway, it’s nice for me to hear it.” “I don’t have any doubts that you have to hear it very often.” “Yeah, many people tell me that I’m beautiful. And I don’t suffer from a lack of self-confidence.” “You are doing the right thing,” Edward exclaims with his head proudly raised. “Or maybe, you don’t know how beautiful you are yet.” “You can make the girl feel blushed!” Natalia takes a couple of sips of coffee. “It’s clear that you’re a professional at that.” “I just always say what I have on my mind. I don’t like lying and flattering. If I think the girl is beautiful, I say it personally to her.” “That’s good.” “So, don’t think I’m lying to you and having you wrapped around my finger. I really liked you.” “Anyway, I'm happy to meet someone new.” “I also love meeting new people. Talking to them, discovering something new… Forgetting about my problems and trouble that I’m fed up with.” “I can’t get rid of the feeling that you’re kind of alone.” “It’s true,” Edward confesses hesitantly. “I’m like a lonely wolf in this world.” “But what about your family? Don’t you have it? Mom? Dad? Brothers? Sisters?” “I’ve never known my mother. My father and she got divorced when I was a kid. They decided to break up somewhere two months after I was born.” “Couldn’t endure each other’s character?” “Maybe. Father never told me about why it happened.” “You lived together?” “Do you know your mother?” “Nope, my father got married again at some moment. And they had two more children.” “You lived with them?” “Yeah…” Edward glances at a visitor to the café walking by the table. “But my relationship with Father was always bad. He had a very hard character. He always banned me from mentioning my real mother and refused to tell me just something about her or introduce me to her.” “Did he want you to think your mother was his second wife?” Natalia wonders. “Yes, there was a period when he insisted on it. But then my father gave up on it and accepted the fact that I called his new wife by her name only.” “So, did they not hide that she was nobody to you?” “Yes, I always knew that the woman wasn’t my own mother. They never hid it from me.” “How did you get on?” “Telling the truth, I didn’t love her much, but I never wished her anything bad. And I never befriended my half-brothers, even if I don’t have anything against them.” “And as I understand, aren’t you living with them?” “I’m not, now.” Edward falls into silence for two seconds, while Natalia drinks some coffee from her cup. “I had to leave home when I was seventeen. I could not bear my father, who always insulted me, humiliated me, and never showed love for me. I was always like a ballast for him.” “It’s weird…” Natalia frowns slightly. “But why didn’t he leave you with your mother?” “I don’t know it, either. But something tells me that I would’ve been much happier with her.” “Do you know something else about her? How she looks, what her name is…” “Nope, I know nothing about her…” Edward replies hesitantly, locking his fingers tightly. “No name, no last name… Or the way she looks…” “It seems like your parents had a serious conflict?” “Maybe. My father always got mad when he heard the mention of my mother.” “Did she hurt him somehow?” “I can’t say anything. But it’s possible, knowing about the wild reaction and reluctance just to show me the photo of hers and call her name.” “Do you communicate with your father after your departure from your home?” “Nope. I don’t. I don’t have a wish to.” “Aren’t you missing him?” “Why would I miss the one, who doesn’t need me?” “Your father was probably worried when you left his home.” “Don’t worry, Natalia, my father doesn’t even think about me. He is now very happy with his wife and their common children. I'm the child of the other woman and have never been a good addition to their perfect picture.” “Of course, you can do what you want, but I wouldn’t be so categorical.” “You just don’t know what that woman was doing to me. It was super easy for my father to slap me in the face, hit me on my head, take something away from me to punish me, or lock me in my room. And it was absolutely fine for him to shout, insult, and humiliate me. He did that every freaking day. He told me to be perfect at everything, but he always devalued all my successes.” “Really?” Natalia pronounces with sadness in her eyes. “I asked myself many times why he was doing that to me. Why I was like a red rag for a bull. Why he actually took me with him if he never loved me.” “Maybe, your mother is actually dead?” Natalia assumes and takes a sip of coffee. “No, I know for sure that she’s alive and healthy.” “Your father told you that?” “It’s the only thing I managed to make him say. My mother is kind of alive and living her life.” “Got it…” “If I had had an address of hers, I would’ve left the home of my father and stepmother many years ago. I would’ve gone where I wouldn’t have been something like a fly that could be invisible but can make people irritated after running into someone.” “I guess you’re right,” Natalia shrugs. “You know what’s happening better.” “Yeah, it doesn’t mean that my mother wouldn’t treat me so terribly. But… I wanted to believe that I would be lucky. That at least she would need me.” “And what did you decide to do?” “Nothing. I started to live on my own after I left my home. I understood I would go nowhere and didn’t know what I would do. But I decided I would leave home after turning eighteen because living with Father was insane. However, I had to leave one year earlier because he kicked me out after we fought in hell. He told me to go wherever I wanted and never stand in his way.” “But what about a place to live? A job?” “It was hard, I don’t deny it. But that’s good I managed to solve that problem, even if I had to save money for everything. I didn’t have so much money – only something that I was keeping for some time or earning by doing some job. I did my best to survive… I did my best not to die of starvation and not to get frozen outside.” “And you did it?” “Yup, more or less. I have money for food and clothes, and as for a place to live… One kind old lady let me in her place.” “Old lady?” “A lonely one. Her husband died a long time ago, and she is not able to give birth to children. We somehow met outside and started talking. I told her about my situation, and she offered her help to me. I could kind of move into her apartment and live there for as long as I needed it.” “And did you agree?” “At first, I refused. But some time later, I decided to accept her suggestion and started to live with that woman, who got very close to me later. I could say, she replaced my mother and father for me. And she got attracted to me. She even sometimes calls me a son.” “Do you still live together?” “Yes, we do. And I’m afraid I will never leave. Because I don’t have money to rent and buy my own place. It’s all too expensive.” “Did you tell your father where you lived?” “Nope, I don’t think I have to tell him about it.” “But, Edward…” “I’m no longer a child and am living my life. I don’t wish anything bad to my father, but I don’t want to see him at all. Yes, I’m grateful to his for giving me life, letting me have a home, and something like that. But now I want to do it on my own.” “Alright, as you wish,” Natalia says thoughtfully and, biting her lip slightly, glances aside. “I’m not the one, who should tell you what to do.” “Anyway, regardless to all the difficulties, there are many good things about living on your own. For example, you can live as you want. You don’t have to get permission from older people and argue with them about wishing one thing but having another thing imposed.” “That’s right. But I’m personally lucky in this case. My parents have never imposed anything on me, and they don’t judge me for my actions. They love me for who I am.” “I must confess that I’m a little jealous of you.” “And I’m truly sorry for you. I am really sorry that your relationship with your father was bad.” “It’s alright,” Edward smiles falsely. “I’ve already accepted it. I used to fit his claims so badly, but at some moment, I just stopped being good for him and pleasing him in everything.” “Anyway, you’re still young. Your whole life lies in front of you. You will surely meet the people, to whom you will mean a lot. With whom you will not feel lonely.” “I wouldn’t say I was so lonely. Not saying about my friends, I was also very close to my grandmother on the father.” “Your grandmother?” “I spent literally much more time with her than with my own father.” “You lived with her?” Natalia specifies. “Not quite… I just visited her… She kind of helped my father take care of me because he was too busy with his work and couldn’t give me a lot of attention.” “Did you get on well with her?” “Much better than with my father. She was very kind, nice, and caring. I often visited her at home, even after my father took me with him. I loved her literally much more than him.” “Doesn’t she know what happened between your parents?” “I tried to ask her about it, but my grandma said nothing, too. Either she didn’t really know it or she was silent at the plea of my father. She always said that if I wanted to know something, I should’ve asked him about it. He was kind of the only one, who could put everything in order.” “My God, what did woman do if nobody even wanted to hear anything about her?” “I’m afraid I will never know it,” Edward sighs resignedly. “I will never know what they’ve been hiding from me for all these years. What became the reason for a conflict in my family.” “Excuse me, Edward, does your stepmother know about this situation?” Natalia specifies. “Does she know about your mother? Or does your father prefer not talking about her?” “Nope, she knows about her. And the paradox is that my father talks about that woman with my stepmother.” “Really?” “Yes, I’ve heard their talks many times. Though, I never managed to find out at least some good information. They didn’t even mention the name of that woman. They always called her just ‘Edward’s mother’.” “Was it nice for her to talk about it?” Natalia wonders. “I guess she just understood that she couldn’t strike my mother out of the lives of my father and me. So, my stepmother quietly tolerated the meetings of my father with my real mother and talks about her.” “Did he meet her?” “Yes, as I learned from their talks.” “My gosh…” “Agree.” Edward clears his throat quickly. “Actually, I heard many talks of them, but they didn’t even guess it.” “At all?” Natalia rounds her eyes. “At all. I tried to do everything carefully. And what they were discussing made me wish to find out the truth much more. I dreamed of finding out what they were hiding from me and who my mother was.” “Weren’t you afraid that the truth could disappoint you?” “Why should it have disappointed me?” “What if your mother is by far not an innocent angel? What if she has committed some sons, which are the reasons why your father hated her and banned you from talking about her?” “Maybe, that’s true. But I wanted to know it anyway. I wanted to know the truth. I wanted everybody to tell me everything, looking into my eyes.” “Don’t you want it now?” “I almost gave a damn about this idea and decided to leave everything as it happened. Because… What would change if I knew the truth? Nothing!” “Anyway, you’re the only one to decide it.” “I’ve done it. My father can live his own life, and I will think about mine. If we don’t interrupt each other, nobody will feel worse.” “As you wish…” Natalia takes a couple of sips of coffee. “Do what you think is right.” “Didn’t I get you too exhausted with talking?” “No, no, it’s alright,” Natalia smiles shyly. “You can speak.” “I don’t know… Maybe, you have a lot of your own problems, but I’m showing off for you.” “Don't worry, Edward, you can tell me anything you want. I will listen to you with pleasure. And give you an advice if I’m able to do it.” “By the way, you kind of said your friend was a famous model.” “Who was dating Terrence?” “Yes. What’s her name if it’s not a secret?” “Raquelle Cameron.” “Come on? Raquelle Cameron? The one? Who makes all the men go crazy?” “Yes, that’s her.” “Wow… My gosh… I didn’t think you knew her.” “I’ve known her since school.” “Wow… How long was she dating Terrence?” “For eight months.” “I see…” “Why are you asking me? Didn’t you know it?” “No, I didn’t.” “But everyone knows it! Everywhere! Both of them are known to the whole world! And their fans dreamed of seeing them together.” “Not everyone.” “Don’t you care about show business?” “I don’t. And I have no time to do. I’ve gotta work too hard to earn something for life.” “Alright…” Edward glances at the window during the silence that settled for two seconds, while Natalia starts to look at her hands. “It’s wrong to say that they’ve broken up yet, but they will hardly manage to establish their relationship after something terrible happened,” Natalia confesses hesitantly. “What?” Edward specifies. “Do you really want to know it?” “I’ve talked enough, but now it’s your turn.” “Do you really want to hear the stories about other people’s problems?” “I just wanna talk to someone and distract myself from mine.” “Oh…” Natalia sighs tiredly. “Alright, I will tell you a short version, so you don’t get exhausted. In short, the case is that…” Natalia tells her new familiar named Edward the story, which became the reason for the conflict between everybody her former friend knew. Which turned the lives of every one of them upside down. “Oh my gosh…” Edward pronounces thoughtfully. “What a story… So, did the man named Simon Ringer almost ruin the modeling career of Raquelle Cameron somehow? And now he is threatening her and wishing to destroy her?” “Yup, and he refuses to explain what pushed him to do that.” “Is the danger threatening not only her, but her family and all their close friends?” “It’s true.” “So, is the relationship between Terrence MacClife and Raquelle Cameron far from perfect?” “I would say it's not perfect. Sadly, my former friend didn’t appreciate the treasure she got.” Natalia sighs quietly with sadness in her eyes. “She’s always been obsessed with her career,” Natalia confesses. “And even though she began an affair, she didn’t change anything and kept working much harder, not giving attention to her boyfriend. Who tried to pretend that everything was fine for a long time and save his relationship somehow, but later, he lost patience and gave a damn about it. Gave a damn about Raquelle and her problems.” “I'm very sorry…” Edward expresses sympathy. “I’m sorry about what happened.” “So, those people will break up at the nearest time. Terrence is thinking more and more about it. And Raquelle has actually never loved him and dated him just to make her family get off her.” “They dreamed of her wedding?” “Yup. They are for early marriages, and they wanted Raquelle to get married early. But she was too busy with her career and didn’t even want to date men. Just a few months ago, she met Terrence and decided to use him.” Natalia sighs heavily. “But that man actually loved her,” Natalia confesses with sadness in her eyes. “Even despite the fact that they had a wild relationship at first. He was sure he would be happy with that girl. But alas… This story will not become a tale with a happy end.” “Alright…” Edward pronounces thoughtfully. “I’m sorry it happened…” Silence settles in the air for a few seconds, during which Natalia drinks some coffee from her cup. “Listen, Natalia, could you introduce Terrence to me?” Edward asks determinedly. “Introduce Terrence to you?” Natalia rounds her eyes. “But why?” “Erm… Well…” Edward bites his lip slightly, moving his eyes down for a second. “Maybe… He… Need… A friend… At such a hard moment…” “Does it seem to me that you’re showing too much interest in Terrence?” “Me?” “I noticed that you got too tense when you heard Terrence’s name. You got kind of excited.” “No, come on!” Edward pronounces in a little shaking voice. “It seemed to you! I’m not excited… I’m absolutely q-q-quiet…” “Is there something that I don’t know yet?” “Nope, nothing.” “But such a great interest must be caused by something reasonable.” “It’s just curiosity. A wish to meet new people. Befriend someone. Meet a famous person. Nothing special.” “I don’t know…” Natalia leans back of the chair, crossing her arms over her chest. “It seems like you need something from Terrence.” “Please, Natalia, don’t look for any catches in my actions,” Edward says a little hesitantly, trying to hide his excitement too hard. “There is nothing. There will not be a thing.” “Alright, I will try to believe you.” “So, will you do what I’m asking you about?” “Me?” Natalia rounds her eyes. “Please, Natalia…” Edward looks at Natalia with sadness in his eyes. “Don’t refuse to do a little thing for me. I promise I will not forget it and will do everything you ask me about. Just introduce Terrence to me.” Natalia says nothing for a few seconds, thinking about something, while her eyes are set in the distance. “Please…” Edward pronounces with pity in his eyes. “Don’t refuse.” “Oh, alright,” Natalia nods. “Alright… I will help you.” “Really?” “I don’t know why you need it. But I truly hope that it will not lead to any bad consequences for him.” “You’re hurting me if you have such a bad opinion of me.” “The responsibility for this action will be mine. If something happens, I will be guilty. Because I am the one, who let you come into Terrence's life.” “I promise, nothing bad will happen. Trust me.” “I’ve known you for a few minutes only and can’t trust you.” “I get it. But I don’t wish anything bad to you, Terrence, or someone else.” “Alright, I got it. I will do what you’re asking me about.” “Thanks a lot.” “But let’s think about it a little later.” “A little later?” “Now you don’t better think about it and save your attempts to meet him at the nearest time for later.” “I barely understand you. Explain it, please.” “You’ve just heard that Terrence has a hard time. So… Let everything in his life come back to the right places.” “What if it takes too long?” “It might happen. But understand, everything is excited and worried about what’s happening to them. Yes, Terrence needs friends and close people now to forget about Raquelle’s betrayal. But I’m not sure if you should come into his life now.” “Do I have to wait?” “I promise I will introduce you to that guy, but not now. He’d better solve his problems and accept the upcoming breakup with my former friend somehow.” “Yeah… I guess you’re right…” “Treat it with understanding. I know you want to meet the famous person so badly. But now it’s not the best time to do it.” “So, alright… May everything get solved first, and then you will do what you promised.” “Great, so, did we agree about it?” Natalia gives her hand to Edward with a slight smile. “Sure!” Edward smiles shyly and shakes the hand Natalia gave him. After breaking the handshake, silence settles in the air, and Edward looks at Natalia with thankfulness in his eyes while she takes a couple of sips of coffee. “Thank you so much, Natalia,” Edward thanks with a slight smile. “Thanks for agreeing to help me.” “I hope you are really not lying to me,” Natalia expresses hope. “And you will not lie to Terrence, who feels too bad now.” “I will not. I promise” “Good. We’ve agreed about everything.” While Edward cracks a slight smile, Natalia drinks some coffee from her cup. “Thank you so much, Natalia,” Edward thanks with a slight smile. “You’re an amazing person.” “Me?” Natalia pronounces with blush. “I’m madly lucky that you and I met. I talked to you a little, and I already feel much better.” “Really?” Natalia smiles shyly. “It’s the truth! You seem a very interesting and smart talker. If it was possible, I would talk to you for hours.” “Oh, don’t say these things…” “Your pretense makes me feel so comfortable. And I did not regret deciding to come to you and talk to you.” “But I did nothing special!” “No, Natalia, you did it. You elevated my mood. To be honest, it wasn’t good, but now I feel much funnier.” “Thanks, Edward… I’m glad you feel better.” Natalia smiles shyly while she gets a little blush on her cheeks, being happy deep inside that at least someone paid attention to her emotions and feelings and really expressed an interest in what was happening in her life. “I must confess that I also love being with you,” Natalia replies hesitantly with a shy smile. “There is something that I really like about you.” “Nice to hear it,” Edward pronounces amicably. “Besides, I got better after talking to you. I don’t have absolute relief, but at least, I can finally breathe well.” “M-m-m, I can finally see a smile on your face,” Edward smiles shyly, looking at Natalia’s face with some kind of admiration. “And I was absolutely right when I thought it would make you much more beautiful.” “Were you watching me?” “Nope! I just went to the café, saw you and watched you a little. I saw that you were upset and wanted to cheer you up a little.” “You did it. Congratulations.” “So, I suggest that we get to know each other much better,” Edward suggests with a slight smile. “Tell more about each other and try to forget about all the bad things. I am more than sure that this is not the last meeting between us.” “What if I refuse?” “I will insist.” “Don’t you accept refusals?” “I don’t accept them from such a charming girl. I will not give up until she gives me a positive answer.” “M-m-m… You are determined! And stubborn!” “I don’t meet such a beautiful girl every day, with whom being is so nice.” “Oh, my gosh…” Natalia moves her eyes to the cup of coffee with a shy smile, forgetting about the problems that were slowly killing her nerves some time ago. “You make me blush…” “And I could also pay for your order,” Edward suggests confidently. “Have you paid for your coffee?” “No yet… And honestly, I totally forgot about it. Thanks a lot for reminding me of that.” “Then everything is for my account.” “What? No, no… No… Don’t do this…” “What’s wrong?” “I’m kind of awkward… You and I don’t know each other at all, but you would pay for me.” “Do not worry, you will give me no problems. I will surely pay for your coffee and be happy to buy anything you want.” “No, Edward, thanks, but I can pay myself.” “Such a charming girl makes me wish to do something nice for her and let her drink a cup of coffee on my account.” “Oh…” Natalia shrugs with a shy smile. “Alright, if you want it…” “Great!” Edward exclaims with his head proudly raised, spreading his shoulders. “Maybe, you wish to buy something else? I pay for everything!” “Actually, I wanted just to drink coffee. I went here to sit a little and have a rest.” “Alright, I will pay for your coffee then.” “Are you going to buy something?” “Yes, yes, of course, I will. I’m terribly hungry and dream of eating something delicious. And I saw the café and decided to come here.” “You haven’t almost examined the menu.” “Nope, I’ve examined everything. And I already know what I want to order.” “That’s how…” “I will ask a waiter to give me something, and then you and I will talk a little. And you would also give me your phone number, so I’m able to invite you for a walk the next time.” “Alright, I will… I will hardly do away from you so easily now.” “You noticed it right! So, I advise you to get ready for my invitation at the cinema or somewhere else.” Natalia says nothing and thinks about something with a slight smile, while Edward looks for a waiter and asks him to come to him by making a calling gesture. “My gosh, what a beautiful voice he has…” Natalia thinks. “So melodic, soft… Nice… I wonder, does he actually sing? I would definitely listen to a couple of songs performed by the artist with such an amazing voice… And I wanna spend much more time with him to listen to his voice… It’s like a tranquilizer… Like a lullaby…” Natalia smiles much wider, watching Edward closely, who says something to the waiter that comes to him and points at dishes on the menu that he wants to order. “Gosh…” Natalia thinks. “Did I finally meet the one, who is interested in my body less than in my feelings and soul? Did I really meet the one, whom I could talk longer than one day with? I wouldn’t like to refuse a chance to spend time with the owner of such an amazingly nice voice… Besides, his hands are so warm… And tender… And actually, Edward is really handsome. Not worse than Terrence, who is also good-looking…” Natalia laughs quietly because of her own thoughts. And when Edward decides what he wants to order and says everything he wants to the waiter, the girl smiles shyly at her new acquaintance, who gives the blonde his cute smile and definitely looks at her and admires her beauty that slayed him almost shortly after he saw her. When they get sick of just looking at each other some time later, Edward and Natalia decide to sit at the café and talk to find out much more about each other. Every new second, it’s getting clearer that the man really liked the girl, and she does not want to miss a chance to spend a lot of time with her. And the blonde also liked the sympathetic guy with a very nice, beautiful voice. Both of them feel some kind of attraction to each other and are happy to talk about something. And the girl is happy that at least someone noticed her beautiful face and charming smile and considered her a nice talker. It lets her know that the man is not from those she met before. No matter what Edward wants to get, Natalia does not want to miss a chance to spend time with this man and hopes he would not like to meet her only once.***
Terrence does not feel bored and does not get upset because of what’s happening in his life. And it seems like he does not actually regret what he did. He is definitely happy that he almost broke up with Raquelle, whom he seriously fought with today. However, no matter what happened, the man is sorry about the hit in the face, completely understanding that any girl would hardly forgive the one, who raised a hand on her. Sometimes he would like to apologize to Raquelle for his behavior. But when Terrence calls the memories of the disgusting way she has been acting towards him all this time, he bans himself from thinking about it. To forget about his problems for a while, he accepted the suggestion of his best childhood friend, Benjamin Parker, to go to the bar. The owner of the brown and hazel eyes and short, brown hair knows literally everything about Terrence and Raquelle’s affair because it started before his eyes. He knows how the relationship of the couple, which is not definitely destined to be together, started. “Hey, buddy your voice is kind of strange,” Benjamin notices thoughtfully, taking a cup of alcohol drink. “Something happened to you? Any problems?” “Many things happened while you and I didn’t meet each other,” Terrence replies quietly without emotions on his face, holding a glass of whiskey he has not drunk yet and looking at this. “Very many…” “Don’t ya wanna tell me? Maybe, I can help you somehow?” “I doubt you can do something. My situation is absolutely hopeless now.” “Well, first, tell me everything, and then I’ll decide if I can help you.” “Well, actually, there’s not so much to say…” Terrence puts his glass on the bar table and leans on it with his hand. “Today, I just seriously fought with Raquelle.” “Fought with Raquelle?” Benjamin wonders. “But why?” “Too long story… But we fought very strongly… So strongly that we told each other many bad things in anger and…” Terrence falls into silence for two seconds, sighs deeply, and finds the courage to tell Benjamin what he did. “I even slapped her in the face,” Terrence adds quietly and moves his dead eyes at the wineglass with whiskey. “And I almost strangled her with my own hands… Literally…” “What?” Benjamin gets shocked, rounding his eyes and setting them on Terrence as if he is trying to get confirmation of what he heard. “Slapped her?” “Yes…” “No, dude, I don’t believe it… You would never let yourself do anything like that!” “But I did it.” “Yes, I know you’ve got a hard character, and you’ve fought and confronted many people. But to slap the girl in the face…” Benjamin shakes his head. “No, I can’t believe it.” “You believe,” Terrence pronounces without emotions. “I slapped Raquelle in the face.” “But why did you slap her?” Benjamin wonders with horror in his eyes. “Slapped your own girlfriend! Beloved girl!” “There are reasons,” Terrence throws coldly. “Did she insult you somehow? Or…” Benjamin bites his lip slightly, trying to be careful with his words. “Your close people?” “She mentioned my father!” Terrence slightly clenches his hands into fists. “She started a talk about the man, who I hate.” “Did you raise a hand on her just because of that?” Benjamin rounds his eyes. “Are you crazy, MacClife? Did you hit your head?” “You know I can’t stand when someone starts talking about him. I can talk about anything except him. I mean, except what happened between them. And when I hear insults for my mother, I can’t hold myself down.” “Did Raquelle insult Mrs. MacClife somehow? She got on well with your mother! And she accepted her well. She was so happy after you told her you started to date that girl! She literally called her a daughter!” “No, but…” “But why did you do it then? I’d understand you if Raquelle insulted your mother somehow. Because I would also get mad if someone said something bad about mine. But you fought with her because of that and also dared to raise a hand against her. Just because she mentioned your father.” “She got me enraged,” Terrence replies thoughtfully, hesitantly. “She said so much bullshit to me that I lost my temple… And I stopped thinking of consequences.” “But you did never let yourself slap a girl, no matter how much she was annoying you. What happened to you this time?” “I know, but…” Benjamin sees that Terrence definitely avoids answering many of his questions. And it starts to make him get some questions and makes him think the conflict between his friend and Raquelle was much more serious if it brought to the moment when he raised a hand to her. “Something tells me that this guy doesn't tell me something,” Benjamin thinks, frowning slightly. “I know him too well… And I don't think the problem is about his mother or his father. Raquelle didn’t surely insult Mrs. MacClife and has always treated her well. The reason is not about what happened between his parents, MacClife couldn’t explode so easily. Yes, he’s like a bomb that could easily explode. But he needs a reason to do… So, if he raised a hand to Raquelle, the situation became much more serious. But my friend doesn’t wanna talk about it…” Meanwhile, Terrence notices a strange sight of Benjamin on himself and frowns slightly when he asks: “What are you thinking of? Why are you looking at me so strangely?” “Just reflecting on your behavior,” Benjamin confesses quietly. “I said Cameron was guilty of everything.” “Raquelle didn’t definitely know it was the thing to hurt you, but you attacked her for no reason.” “Yes, I told her nothing!” Terrence crosses his arms over his chest, moving them off the wineglass. “But she made me wild.” “If she didn’t insult your mother, what was the reason why you got so excited and raised a hand on her?” “I just couldn’t take it.” “C’mon, dude! You made your relationship with your girlfriend worse just because she mentioned your father…” “Do I have to love him? That man was cruelly beating my mother and mocking her. And when he got sick of it, my father just took his stuff and got out of the home to the fuck.” “I don’t say you have to love him.” “You know what surprises me?” Terrence hums quietly. “My mother forgave him for beating her, and she’s now keeping a good relationship with him. She’s acting as if nothing happened.” “Yeah, that’s strange…” Benjamin pronounces thoughtfully. “And the worst thing is that my father decided to show up when his son grew up and didn't need his help. He got a fucking coincidence! He wanted to ask for forgiveness and establish our relationship.” “Yes, he did a terrible thing. But you were not beaten. Your father did nothing bad personally to you.” “He should go to the fuck!” Terrence throws gloomily. “He should forget us and live his life. He does have his children and his new wife – so, may he live with them! What does he need from us? Why did he think I needed something from him? Or did that man think I’d accept him with open arms? No, he’s deeply wrong! I would kick him out if he dared to go my home.” “I understand it,” Benjamin says quietly. “But do you understand you could easily make your relationship with Raquelle much worse? You can’t take it out on a girl and especially raise a hand on her! You don’t do this to your mother when she is talking about your mother.” “I don’t do this because I respect my mother! And I would never raise a voice to her, even if she sometimes does what I don't understand.” “That's how!” Benjamin crosses his arms over his chest, being surprised by what he hears. “So, don't you respect Raquelle? Do I understand it right?” “I’ve never said that I don't respect her.” “And do you think the fact that you’re a boyfriend of hers gives you a right to give her slaps?” “I know I crossed the line. But that girl made me really wild.” “You had no right to beat her! No matter how bad she is!” “I should’ve shut her up. Or she would not have stopped speaking.” “Don’t you love her anymore if you dare to treat her like that? It’s not the behavior of someone, who loves!” “Oh…” Terrence sighs quietly and says nothing for two seconds, focusing his eyes on the distance. “Honestly, I don’t actually know what I feel for her: love, disgust, or something else…” “Listen, Terrence, I don’t wanna judge you ‘cause you’re my best friend,” Benjamin says quietly. “But you should know Raquelle would hardly forgive you after you slapped her in the face.” “I know…” “Cameron could forgive you for anything if she really loves you. But no girl would stand a man who raised his hand on her. Even if it happens once. Even if someone is obsessed with aggression.” “She has never loved me.” “Huh?” “Raquelle doesn’t love me. She just used me insolently.” “C’mon, died, why do you think so?” Benjamin wonders. “She said so,” Terrence confesses with sadness in his eyes. “During our fight, Cameron confessed that she dated me just to make her family get off her.” “C’mon, you can say anything during a fight. She was just very mad. Most likely, after your slap. So, she claimed something like that.” “I was too blind to see that. To understand that I chose the wrong girl.” “Stop, Terrence, get these thoughts out of your head,” Benjamin protests confidently. “I saw her eyes were shining when she was looking at you. Raquelle loves you.” “Aha, loves…” Terrence simpers quietly. “She is a liar! A false cad that just pretends that she cares about someone else but her.” “She was looking at you like God! Like her king or owner, who she was ready to obey.” “Like a king?” Terrence simpers loudly. “Fuck, don’t make me laugh, Ben! Stop saying some bullshit!” “Why is it bullshit?” Benjamin wonders. “I am not blind and can see what’s happening.” “Do you think I’m lying to you?” “No, no, I believe you. Of course, I do. You just shouldn't believe her words about not loving you.” “I am nothing for her, Parker! She used me and started to date me just because her relatives were pressing her and dreaming of marrying her off as soon as possible. And they were so happy that she moved into my house that they haven’t cared about her for a few months.” “Who doesn’t dream of getting someone married? Sometimes literally unfamiliar people want to get you married to someone! Do you think my mother doesn’t say it’s time to meet a good girl and marry her? No, buddy, she always tells me that!” “You know, my mother also says she dreams of attending my wedding.” “I would be more surprised if Raquelle’s family didn’t try to get her married to at least someone. All the girls are under great pressure. Many people can’t accept the fact that a woman can be happy without a husband and children.” “So, Cameron decided to end it all when I stood in her way. That bitch did her best to make me lose my mind. To make me run after her like a doggy and get her attention. And when it finally happened, and we began to date, she thought she could relax and live as she did before.” “Really?” Benjamin frowns slightly. “Really! Do you think it’s fine that she gave a fuck about me after we started an affair and preferred her career over me? When we met our friends and relatives, she smiled at everybody and played great love with me. But when everybody left, everything changed! And her great love was enough only for our first sex. Then it was suddenly gone – as well as her feelings! Cameron began to shoot for magazines and in commercials and participate in fashion shows, forgetting that she had a boyfriend, who wanted to get her attention.” “You know, MacClife, actually, many couples live like this: either two of them work all day long, or one of them does. That’s why lovers rarely see each other. And to your information, many of them manage to find time for their beloved people.” “Yeah, do you think she found it? Do you think she wanted it so much? When I suggested that we relax a little and spend time together, she said the fault was on tiredness or headache and went to sleep.” “Come on?” “I also had lots of work, but I, however, didn’t forget about my girlfriend and was finding time for her.” “That’s how…” “Everything suddenly changed after we began to live together. Everything had been fine before. At least, I thought so.” “Wait, wait… So, do you wanna say Raquelle began to ignore you after you moved into the same house?” “Exactly! I tried to fix everything many times, but Raquelle refused to spend at least two minutes with me.” “Wow…” “She didn’t almost talk to me. She didn’t care about how my day was, what I was doing, what I felt, what I wanted, or what I dreamed about… She gave a fuck! But she could talk about herself for hours. However, I gave a fuck about her.” “I can’t believe it…” Benjamin shakes his head. “I say nothing about sex, dates, or just walks at a park. It goes without saying, all of that made me start to get colder for her. I tried to save our relationship, but it was impossible to do this when only one person tried to do something.” “Damn, did your perfect marriage just seem perfect?” Benjamin rounds his eyes. “Exactly, it seemed. Everybody thought we were role models and believed everything was fine with us. But nobody knew what was actually happening to our couple. Nobody knew we didn’t enjoy a together life. Because of Raquelle. Because of her, our relationship was ruined to the fuck. Because of her, I began to dream of breaking up and living my former life. When I lived quietly and did not get rejected by any girl. Any girl was ready for anything for me, and that diva turned up her nose and pretended that I didn’t exist. Our relationship meant nothing to her. She began to date me just to get a checkmark. For her, it was just a goal. A goal of making her family shut up.” “Oh, Terrence, I’m so sorry…” Benjamin claps Terrence on the shoulder. “I didn’t think everything was so complicated about you.” “You know how it hurts… It hurts to know I was betrayed. I hope I’ll create my own family and live a happy life. But alas… The affair with that girl made me unhappy and made me suffer. To feel lonely. I was in a relationship, but I was alone.” “I get it…” “Raquelle killed all my feelings by herself. I was taking for all of that for a long time and closed my eyes to the way she treated me. But now, I am done, I have lost my patience. I no longer want to live with that girl in the same house. And I already told her about my wish to end our relationship.” “Did you break up?” “I could say so. And I hope she will get out of my home soon. I can’t take this anymore. I can’t stay in the same place with her.” Terrence takes a couple of sips of whiskey. “I think I will tell her to take her stuff and get out of my home to the fuck tonight. She can go wherever she wants – even live on the street! I don’t care! I’m no longer going to stand her face at my house.” “Something tells me she would leave your home after the slap you gave her.” “That’s fine! I don’t want even her spirit to be there. If she leaves just one cloth and just one thing of her, I will throw it immediately.” “That’s right. If you wanna forget her, you should get rid of everything that recalls you of her.” “You’re right. I will do this.” Terrence falls into silence for a few seconds and leans on the bar table with his arms, running his hand through his hair, while Benjamin silently watches him and slowly drinks his drink. “I didn't want everything to happen like that…” Terrence confesses with sadness in his eyes. “I didn't want our relationship to be ruined…” “I thought you had a chance to fix everything,” Benjamin says thoughtfully. “But after everything I heard, I can say one thing… You can do nothing. If Raquelle doesn’t really love you, she will hardly love you. They say you can’t force someone to do something. So, let her go. May she meet another man.” “I would feel really sorry for the one, who would fall in love with her. Because he is going to get through what I got through.” Terrence smirks evilly. “But actually, she doesn’t need a man. Cameron cares only about her career. Family, husband, children – it’s not about her. The most important thing is shaking her ass on the runway, shooting for magazines, and hearing praises.” “So, you really better break up.” “I would be madly happy about this breakup! I wanna be single and meet more decent girls again. I’m sure I’d easily find the one to be much better than that egoistic bitch.” “Exactly! Millions of girls are dreaming of being instead of Raquelle, who, I’m surprised, didn’t appreciate everything she was given.” “May she watch me and my new future girlfriend and bite her elbows. Maybe, she understands who she lost. Who she did not appreciate enough.” “Maybe, someday, she will do.” “Oh, if only you knew how happy I am that I broke up with her…” Terrence sighs tiredly, running his hand over his face. “This relationship really bothered me… Not because I didn’t want it. Because Raquelle did her best to make me regret what happened. She did what I could hardly forgive her for…” “It’s okay, Terrence, don’t be upset.” “I think a breakup wouldn’t be a pain for us. She would be happy to death, and I would exhale with relief.” “Erm, excuse me, why do you say she did something you would not forgive her for?” Benjamin frowns slightly. “Or am I stupid because of alcohol, and do you mean the way she treated you?” “Nope, I say about something else. Raquelle didn’t pay attention to me and did something unforgivable.” “Hey, buddy, aren’t you out of your mind? Did you get drunk after a little bit of alcohol you drunk?” “Sorry, I can’t tell you about it now,” Terrence replies quietly, without emotions. “But I can say I will never forgive someone, who says one thing to me but does absolutely different.” “What do you mean?” “I hate two-faced scumbags. That’s what I mean!” Then Benjamin understands that the reason for the fight between Terrence and Raquelle is not the fact that she tried to begin talking about his mother and father but something else. That is as serious as the girl’s indifference toward her boyfriend. “So, it means the reason is really not about his parents,” Benjamin concludes confidently. “And I don’t exclude that Raquelle really could do something… But on the other hand, I’m not sure if she can do a dirty trick… What if Terry is just lying, and he fought with her because of her indifference to him? Hm… Maybe, I can manage to drag all the truth he’s hiding from everyone out of this guy? I think there’s something about this story that he’s silent about…” Benjamin thinks for two more seconds before he asks: “Did she do something serious?” However, Terrence refuses to tell what he is definitely hiding from everybody, even if he does not deny the fact that Raquelle did something that made his relationship with her much worse. “Yes, she made a great mistake that I'll never forgive,” Terrence replies confidently. “And the case is not about the fact that she didn’t notice me. There is something else…” “What?” Benjamin asks. “I will tell you somehow later. But I see no meaning in saying something. Nothing can be changed. Raquelle and I broke up. From now, we are both single.” “Oh, okay…” Benjamin exhales sharply. “Since you don’t wanna talk about it, I won’t insist. But remember, you can tell me everything at any time.” “Thanks, Ben,” Terrence cracks a slight smile. “I’m glad you’re supporting me.” “Of course, I judge you for slapping Raquelle, but that girl is not holy, as well. But after everything you told me, I prefer standing by your side. By the side of my best friend.” “I don’t know what I would do to you if you stood by the side of that thankless egoist.” “We’re friends! We’ve known each other since childhood. As well as five fingers. But I’ve known Raquelle for just a few months and barely communicated with her.” “Don’t better do this,” Terrence throws gloomily. “May that girl stay all alone.” “That’s good you didn’t get married, or you would have to wait for a few months to get divorced.” “It’s okay, I would wait, I would sign all the papers and wait. The waiting would be worth it. I would finally become free and live my life. But luckily, everything’s much easier in my case, and we broke up by saying it.” Terrence drinks some whiskey. “She’s gonna be obsessed with her career and wish to hear compliments from her fans, and I will be looking for a way to get into the music business and someday meet another girl.” “Yeah…” Benjamin sighs quietly. “I didn’t think that girl would be like this…” “I didn’t also think. And I’ve regretted deciding to date her many times.” “Oh, that’s good you didn’t make children while being in a relationship. If you had at least one child, you would have to fight for the right to live with him or her. And be happy you’ve got no joint property. Or you would have to share it.” “I will give nothing to that girl,” Terrence says gloomily. “She will get no cent from me! She may not even wait.” “Don’t worry, MacClife, you have to give her nothing because you aren’t married to that girl. It means you will have everything.” “That’s right! I already let her know that she would get nothing. As well as my house that Cameron tried to kick me out of.” “Come on?” “Aha! Imagine, she told me to take my stuff and get out of the house.” Terrence smirks evilly. “And I reminded her that she would not be able to take it away from me because it had been bought with my money before Cameron moved in. Raquelle has no rights to it and lived there just because she was my girlfriend. In the opposite case, she would get out of my house and go to the fuck. And she will immediately leave it when I kick her out of it with her stuff.” “Don’t worry, Terrence, you will keep everything,” Benjamin says confidently. “Raquelle moved in with her stuff and will leave it with what belongs to her.” “By the way, you said the right thing about children. Thank God, we don’t have them, and Cameron was never just pregnant.” “Yeah, she didn’t need condoms in this case…” Benjamin replies funnily. “You know how happy I am that I don’t have children from that egoist. And I am glad she refused to have sex. Because it could’ve led to her pregnancy at least once.” “That’s right! If you broke up when being parents, you had to explain to your child where their dad would go, and why their mom would decide to leave home…” “I agree…” Terrence drinks a little bit of whiskey. “It would be very hard to explain everything to a child.” “I got through it when my parents were divorcing…” Benjamin also takes a couple of sips from his glass. “I still remember Mother didn’t wanna tell me she would get a divorce from Father. She tried to make me sure that he just went for his business. But when she confessed it, I took it quietly enough. No hysterics, no depression…” “Did she tell you your father just decided to live with another woman?” “She did. She tried to do it in a soft way. Dad got a different family. It happens… Mother tried to pick up words, but later, I asked her to stop doing this and tell me everything. I… I got sick of hearing her excuse that man. I wanted to know the truth and had a right to do it. I said I was adult enough to understand some things.” “Did you really quietly take their divorce?” “Really. And I think it was easier for me to do it because I got used to the fact that Dad wasn’t always home. He could be busy with work for hours. And when Father wasn’t home for one week, I didn’t even notice it.” “By the way, haven’t you met your father after his divorce from your mother?” “No, I haven’t done it. He doesn’t really aim to do it.” “Are you mad at him?” “I’m not mad at Father and treat him neutrally, but I can’t say I love him. Besides, I don’t have a wish to meet him.” “I wonder, is he still living with the woman he met?” “Who knows… Maybe, he got married and made children with her… Or maybe, they broke up a long time ago… Or that man is now sitting in a small apartment and watching TV with a pack of cheeps and a bottle of beer in his hands.” “It’s been many years. Many things could be changed.” “Maybe. But I don’t care about it much. May my father live his life if he decided to leave my mother and me. Yes, it was hard for us, but we did it and are living well enough.” “Your father definitely understands that he’s guilty, while mine does not. My father can’t leave us alone. He can’t understand that I don’t want to see and hear him.” “It’s okay, someday he will realize you don’t want it. And your mother will take your wish early or late.” “I will never understand her…” Terrence sighs tiredly. “I won’t understand why she makes me communicate with him. Communicate with the one to betray us.” “Mrs. MacClife is too kind. I can’t remember her being mad at someone. She either treats someone neutrally or treats someone well.” “I always tell her that. I say she must have a little bit of pride. But she doesn’t listen to me. If only you knew how many times we’ve argued about it.” “Yeah… Hard case…” Silence settles in the talk for two seconds, during which Benjamin drinks a little bit from his glass. “I swear, if someday I become a father, I will never do such a disgusting thing to my child,” Terrence promises confidently. “I will become a wonderful father to my child and never leave them.” “I see you can’t wait to take your baby in your arms,” Benjamin smiles shyly. “You know well that I've always dreamed about it. And no matter who I’d have: a girl or a boy… I’d be happy to have a son and a daughter in the same way.” “I know. And I'd like to have a son… A boy…” “Save dreaming of children for later!” Terrence laughs shyly and drinks some whiskey. “First, you should meet a girl. And date her for at least one month. I see you lost in your daydreams about children while having no wife by your side.” “Do I have to marry to become a father?” Benjamin wonders truly. “Would be good. Actually, any decent man gets married before having children.” “If I want, I will get married.” “Oh, yeah!” Terrence chuckles quietly. “But the question is, when would you get married? Girls don’t stay near you for more than one week.” “They just don’t understand they lost a real treasure,” Benjamin says with his head proudly raised. “Silly girls don’t know that I can be just an excellent partner.” “Well, at least, you’ve become an excellent womanizer,” Terrence laughs shyly, taking a little sip from his glass. “Any man would be jealous of your list of exes.” “I am just choosing. Having fun. When I get sick of one girl, I find another.” “I got it.” “Oh, c'mon, MacClife, you better shut up! I bet you’re gonna have a lot of fun after the breakup with Raquelle. You wouldn’t have time to change your girls! You’d remember the old time when you looked at everything in a skirt.” “Now I definitely need it.” Terrence glances aside with a mysterious smile. “Honestly, I’ve lately really lacked feminine attention. I stopped feeling wanted. But I do wanna believe girls still have a crush on me and are ready for anything for me.” “Wait for a while, buddy,” Benjamin smiles slightly. “Soon, you’re gonna have much fun and get much attention from beautiful girls…” Benjamin looks aside for a second. “And you’ll start talking about how irresistible and perfect you are,” Benjamin adds. “I can’t wait…” Terrence pronounces thoughtfully. “Hey, Terry, I must confess that I’m missing the times when you annoyed everybody with saying these words…” “Really?” “You stopped praising yourself, man! What’s wrong? I don’t recognize you! Where’s my old mate, Terry?” “I just stopped feeling like this. Nobody has praised me in such a long time that I forgot that I called myself freaking attractive some time ago.” “I noticed it… I got kind of sad ‘cause you haven’t lately started talking about your awesomeness and attraction.” “This affair made me stop feeling the one I was before.” Terrence drinks a little bit of his drink with a tired sigh. “Many girls surrounded me before. They told me nice things and literally fought for a chance to take a photo with me. But now everything has changed… Nobody tells me compliments… Nobody says I’m attractive… Even my fans almost stopped coming to me and asking for an autograph or a picture.” “Really?” “Yup…” Terrence shakes his head. “It seems like Raquelle was absolutely right when she said people began to forget me. That nobody needs me anymore.” “Stop, friend! C’mon!” “That’s the truth, Ben. There is no movement in my career. I’m kind of stuck in the same place. I almost stopped getting offers to play even a minor role in a movie. And trying to get into the music business doesn’t give me anything good. I’ve talked to many producers and sent tons of records to musical labels in the past few months. But nobody has paid attention to me. They just promise me something. But nothing goes further.” “You know, it’s hard to do something when your close person doesn’t support you.” “You’re right… Cameron has never supported me. When I was gonna share my little happiness with her, she said she had no time to listen to me. And it made my motivation gone.” “It’s okay, buddy, after you got rid of the chains, you will get better. And you’ll get energy and a wish to do something.” “Since that girl came into my life, everything went wrong. I’ve regretted standing in her way hundreds of times.” “It’s okay, Terry, we’ll bring the former you back at the nearest time.” “What?” “First, I will take you to a couple of cool places where there are many beauties that would be ready to caress you from head to feet.” “Do ya wanna take me to a stripe club?” “Why not? They would help you become yourself! You’d pick up a cutie, spend a night with her, and feel like a God of beauty and awesomeness again. You’d get sex that you want so badly and hear words that mean so much to you.” “Well…” Terrence smiles mysteriously. “Maybe, you’re right. Why would I hold myself down?” “I bet my arm that you’re gonna feel wanted and attractive very soon,” Benjamin says confidently, clapping Terrence on the shoulder. “I don’t promise to find a new girlfriend for you, but I can easily find the one to become an obedient cat and not to dare to reject you.” “Thanks a lot, Parker,” Terrence thanks with a slight smile. “You always know how to comfort me. And you know what I need more than anything now.” “That’s right! I know what you need and can give it to you.” “I trust you. I trust you to take care of me.” “Excellent! Be sure, I shall make you recall that nice taste of freedom and prove that life doesn’t stop after a breakup.” “That’s right!” Terrence smiles widely. “We’d go to some places where there are lots of beautiful girls, pick up some of them, and spend a wonderful time. You’d get pleasure, and I’d come to myself after being used so cruelly.” “It’s gonna be cool, man!” Benjamin shows a thumb up. “You and I will surely find perfect girls for us.” “So, I’ll be hoping and waiting,” Terrence replies with a sly smile. “And if you know some beautiful girls, let me know. At the nearest time, I’m gonna have great fun and satisfy all my needs. Which weren’t satisfied by my almost-to-be ex-girlfriend.” “I'll surely think about it and…” Benjamin sharply falls into silence and looks at Terrence questioningly. “Hey, stop! Now even forget to think about it!” “Why?” Terrence rounds his eyes. “You can’t cheat on your girlfriend until you break up with her once and forever.” “Actually, we’ve already broken up.” “Did you say it to each other?” “A long time ago.” “Okay, then wait for a while. Don’t seek another girl that would please you right now.” “I’m begging you, Benjamin!” Terrence exclaims. “If not for my loyalty, I would’ve started to cheat on her a long time ago. When she started rejecting me.” Terrence crosses his arms over his chest. “And I don’t think I would’ve felt ashamed of that,” Terrence assumes. “Because I started to get cold to her quite quickly. And Raquelle would’ve hardly gotten upset after finding out about me cheating on her. Well, maybe, she would’ve shouted a little and then calmed down.” “Well, if she didn’t really love you, anything is possible,” Benjamin says thoughtfully. “But I don’t think your mother would like it.” “She would understand. Mother knows that not everything is fine with Raquelle and me. And I’d have to tell her that I broke up with that girl.” “She’s gonna definitely be upset. She liked that girl.” “But she’s gonna be happy when I tell her all the truth about that egoist. My mother would hardly wish me this sort of happiness.” “Nevertheless, I’m even afraid to imagine her reaction after finding out that you raised a hand on Raquelle.” “I’m also afraid she’d get mad at me. But I’d have to tell her everything… Of course, Mother will judge me for raising a hand. But I think she’d understand the reason for my breakup with Raquelle.” “Sorry, Terrence, but everyone’s gonna judge you for raising a hand on the girl. No matter what, you did an unforgivable thing.” “I know…” “Besides, Raquelle might be so mad at you that she’d easily tell the whole world about your slap and charge you for domestic violence. And your career would absolutely be ruined.” “If Cameron does it, I will not be silent. I will tell the whole world many interesting things. About her and her hysterics that I had to run into during our relationship.” Terrence proudly raises his head. “And I will not be silent about her being mentally sick and needing therapy.” “What?” Benjamin gets horrified. “Are you gonna slander Raquelle and make her ashamed of the whole world? Just like Simon Ringer did it somehow!” “This time, everything will be much worse, I promise. If people stopped believing Ringer, they will believe me until the very end. All of them.” “Sorry for being rude, buddy, but I doubt people would believe you.” “Why do you think so?” “If Raquelle tells everyone that you literally put her to domestic violence, and you answer by saying she allegedly has mental issues, you will make it worse for you. People will think you’re just revenging her and trying to slander her.” “I have a stronger influence in the show business!” “If Raquelle charges you for violence, all your friends will turn their backs on you. If it happens, everyone will stop admiring you, and your career will be ruined to the fuck. People will be ignoring you and telling you bad things. And Raquelle will get everyone’s love and protection. They will believe the girl much more.” “We will see,” Terrence throws coldly. “But that bitch will regret it if she dares to slander me. I will make her life so bad that she will creep to me at her knees and beg for forgiveness. Before the eyes of the whole world.” “Why do you wanna behave like a shameless scumbag and take revenge on the girl for leaving you? No matter how bad she is, you must not go too far! Behave worthy! Don’t act like a girl and make a scandal out of it! If you broke up with her, forget her!” “I’m not gonna humiliate her,” Terrence excuses himself, throwing his hands up. “I just want to tell everyone there’s a part of the truth about what Simon said. And Raquelle already proved to me and her friends that she is not quite healthy by having hysterics that normal people wouldn’t take.” “My gosh, Terrence, leave her alone… Alright, you’ve broken up! She has already stopped being yours and will start living her life. Would you get better if she got showered with mud and became a psycho idiot to everyone again?” “If you talked to her a little more and lived with that egoist for a few months, you would understand she really got nuts.” “Sorry, MacClife, but you’re behaving very badly now,” Benjamin says confidently. “I understand that you’re hurt and humiliated, but you should keep your face even in this situation. You fought, broke up, and should leave each other alone.” “It’s your opinion…” Terrence throws without emotions. “I’m not going to change it.” “You’d get much more respect if you were behaving worthily.” “Behaving worthily with that girl is impossible. She does her best to provoke me.” “And you, idiot, succumb to her!” “Anyway, I’ve said if she dares to slander me, she will pay a high cost. Everything is mutual! If she wants to humiliate me, I will humiliate her.” Benjamin says nothing more and just looks at Terrence disapprovingly, shaking his head slightly and believing his friend is doing a very bad thing towards Raquelle. Although he does not hide that he is resentful of MacClife’s statement, the man decides not to start arguing and thinks the two would be better solve everything on their own, hoping none of them would wish to start a war and shower each other with mud. And two seconds later, Benjamin moves his eyes to the watch he is wearing on his left hand and understands that he should say goodbye to Terrence and go somewhere for his business. “Erm, listen, friend, I’m sorry, but I have to say goodbye to you,” Benjamin says thoughtfully. “I need to go to one place and do something before it’s too late…” “Okay, I won’t hold you,” Terrence shrugs slightly. “But we can call each other tomorrow and make an appointment.” “Sure. We’d meet somehow later.” “Deal!” “Anyway, thank you for inviting me to come here.” “I was happy to talk.” Terrence and Benjamin share the handshake, hug each other amicably, and clap each other on the back. “Bye, Terrence!” Benjamin says goodbye with a slight smile. “See you soon, Benjamin,” Terrence pronounces amicably. “Don’t worry, it’s gonna be okay! And always think of what you’re doing not to regret it later.” “I will try to do it.” Benjamin takes his phone from the bar table, leaves a couple of banknotes, and quietly goes somewhere to do his business. And after his friend hides somewhere, Terrence drinks the wineglass of whiskey that he did not drink when talking with his friend and exhales sharply with a feeling that the drink is burning his throat nicely. “He's right,” Terrence frowns slightly. “About everything… I should really think about everything before doing something. I didn’t think about anything when deciding to start a relationship with Cameron and eventually got unhappy. I’m suffering because I was cruelly betrayed.” Terrence shakes his head and runs his hand through his hair. “We decided to date and live together, not knowing each other at all…” Terrence thinks with sadness in his eyes. “As if we were obsessed with a great passion… Nothing else connected us. There is nothing to talk about. There are no common interests. We’re absolutely different! I personally decided to date Cameron just because I got attracted to her. Because she drove me crazy. I lost my mind… Nobody else had made me feel what I felt with that girl. That was the reason… I understand it now… And I realized it some time after we started our affair. I was ready to work and fix everything. But I didn’t get the reaction from Cameron.” Terrence exhales slowly. “Anyway, it doesn’t make sense now,” Terrence thinks. “We’ve broken up. I’ve finally done away with that girl and become single again. When I tell that bitch to get out of my house, my life will get much better. There’s no meaning in trying to fix what only one needs. When one tries to drown a boat, and another tries to save, it’s gonna go down anyway.” Terrence keeps thinking about something with sadness in his eyes, looking into the distance with his dead eyes, and knocking quietly at the surface of the bar table with his fingers. Some time later, while the man is somewhere far from here, a very sympathetic middle-height blonde with wavy loose hair and blue eyes, who is wearing a short golden dress with sequins, comes and sits down next to him. She, frowning slightly, starts looking at Terrence’s face as if he seems familiar to her. “Erm, excuse me, man…” the girl pronounces carefully. Terrence looks at the girl sitting next to him without emotions on his face. “Yeah?” Terrence pronounces. “Does it seem to me, or do we know each other?” the girl asks. “Come on?” “Your face is very familiar to me.” “Yeah?” Terrence looks closely at the girl. “No… I don’t know you.” “Come on… I am more than sure you and I know each other.” “Excuse me, girl, but I do not know you.” Terrence turns his back on the girl and thinks of something again, looking at his hands. “No, no,” the girl pronounces quietly and tucks a strand of hair behind her ear. “We really know each other.” “You probably confused me with someone,” Terrence assumes. “Think better.” “Wait…” The girl falls into silence for two seconds and looks at Terrence much closer. “Are you Terrence?” the girl specifies. “Is your name Terrence MacClife?” “Yeah, it’s me,” Terrence replies with dead eyes. “And what?” “Right!” the girl exclaims happily, clicking her fingers. “Right, right! I got it!” “It’s strange…” Terrence chuckles quietly. “I thought everyone knew me… I act in movies and something like that… Or did my star fade away a long time ago, and didn’t I even notice it? Since people began to ask me what my name is…” “Don’t you remember me at all?” the blonde wonders. “Just a little?” “Do I have to?” “I’m Rachel…” the girl introduces herself with a slight smile. “Rachel Sanderson. You and I were studying at the same school, and I was your good friends.” “Rachel?” “All the girls from school were in love with you and dreaming of being with you. Boys called you their competitor but couldn’t find the courage to start a conflict with you because you were always so confident and used only your look to let everyone know that you knew who you were and would not take humiliations silently.” “Hm… Rachel Sanderson…” Terrence, frowning slightly, thinks about something for a few seconds, then he moves his eyes to the girl named Rachel and looks at her better. “Listen…” Terrence pronounces thoughtfully. “Listen, listen…” The girl named Rachel says nothing and just looks at Terrence with a slight smile on her face. “Damn, Rachel, is that really you?” Terrence recognizes the girl with a slight smile. “Yes, it’s me!” Rachel exclaims happily. “Oh, my gosh, what a meeting!” Terrence takes Rachel in a hug and shares an amicable kiss on the cheek with her. When they step away from each other, the man looks at the girl from head to foot. “Wow…” Terrence shakes his head. “Hey, I’m sorry… I didn’t recognize you. It’s been so many years.” “Yeah…” Rachel smiles shyly. “But you haven’t changed since that time. Well… Maybe, you’ve become more masculine. And more confident.” “Really?” Terrence wonders with a slight smile. “You still know who you are.” “Right, I do.” “And I think you’ve even become taller,” Rachel notices thoughtfully. “Even if you’ve always been a head taller than guys.” “Yeah, I’m almost six-foot-tall,” Terrence replies funnily. “6'3" to be clear.” “Wow! Cool!” “Listen, friend, you’re a really cutie!” “Really?” “You’ve always been a very sympathetic girl, but now you’ve become a much more gorgeous adult girl. I can see that you spend a lot of time on you.” “Thanks a lot,” Rachel thanks with a shy smile. “It’s very nice to hear it.” “You know, your voice seemed familiar to me,” Terrence confesses. “But then I thought a little and suddenly called the memories! That’s Rachel Sanderson, who I was studying with at the same school.” “Do you remember how often you let me copy your homework? And how you helped me when we had tests! And then you got kicked by teachers!” “You were also in love with me, and I said I considered you just a friend. That’s why you were always upset.” “I did…” Rachel pronounces shyly. “You didn’t pay attention to me, whatever I did. I made myself pretty, dressed up, and did everything for you. But you never cared.” “I’m really sorry…” “C’mon, MacClife, it’s okay!” Rachel puts her hand on Terrence’s shoulder. “I forgot everything a long time ago. And I’m not mad at you at all.” “Listen, what are you doing in this place?” Terrence asks. “Wearing such a beautiful dress!” “I came here with my friend! We wanted to drink a cocktail. And then she picked up a boy and left me alone to hang out with him.” “So, did you stay alone?” “Sort of. I wanted to go home, and then I saw you and realized you were familiar to me. I decided to come and check it.” “Hey, as far as I remember, you said you’d move to another city after graduating from school,” Terrence notices. “It seems like Miami or Los Angeles. How did you end up in New York?” “Me?” Rachel rounds her eyes and laughs shyly. “Easy! I just got into an airplane and arrived here.” “No, Rachel, I'm serious,” Terrence laughs amicably. “What made you come here?” “Okay, I’m kidding,” Rachel pronounces quietly. “Actually, I’m here thanks to my dad.” “Your dad?” “He came here for his work for some time.” “Work?” “Yup, he’s promoting some new musical artists.” “That’s how?” Terrence expresses interest. “Now my father is working with one of his new bands. But they have no guitarist. So, he’s trying to find him. He’s traveling in the cities of America to find at least someone and audition all those, who wish.” “Wow! Is your father the manager of someone?” “Not quite. My dad owns his own recording label.” “Wow!” Terrence gets excited. “His own label…’ “Many artists are collaborating with his studio. And a bigger part of them got famous around the whole world. Father has an excellent instinct for talents and makes an effort for nobody to stay unnoticed and underrated. If someone has a talent, he is ready to spend his money to make that person famous.” “M-m-m, it sounds very interesting…” Then Terrence thinks a little and decides that it could be the chance that he has been waiting for such a long time. “Erm, listen, Rachel, could you please…” Terrence starts to speak hesitantly. But Rachel stops Terrence with a slight smile on her face: “Talk to Father so he starts working on your career as a musician?” “How did you guess?” Terrence rounds his eyes. “Yes, I can do it! If you want it, of course.” “Listen, it would be really awesome!” “As far as I remember, you’ve always loved music. And you can sing and play guitar very well.” “Right, I still sing and play. But I do this for my close people and myself.” “You know, I’m really surprised you didn’t choose a career as a musician but chose a career as an actor. Of course, you can play someone very well, but I think you would be much more successful in music.” “I really like to be an actor and play various roles,” Terrence confesses with a slight smile. “But I’ve lately been getting attracted to music. I’m starting to understand that I want to try to work with it.” “So, you need my dad!” Rachel exclaims. “He would make you a star for a few months! And knowing that you’re already famous, you won’t have to do anything.” “It would be great…” Terrence falls into silence for two seconds and smiles slightly. “Could you talk to your father, so I can show myself in the musical business?” “Do you really want it?” Rachel specifies with a slight smile, acting quite flirtatiously and trying to show the best sides of her body and her perfect hairstyle, incredible nail art, and definitely expensive bracelets and rings on her hands. “Yes, I want! Please, Rachel…” Terrence takes Rachel’s hands. “Talk to him. I want at least to try.” “Okay, pretty boy,” Rachel nods confidently. “I will talk to him today.” “Oh, thank you so much. I would owe you until the last day of my life if you helped me make my dream come true.” “But give me your phone number for me to tell you about his decision.” “Erm, yeah, sure, I will write it down.” Terrence checks all the pockets of his black leather jacket to find a pen and a piece of paper. “Listen, Rachel, do you have a pen and a piece of paper?” Terrence frowns slightly. “Unfortunately, I have nothing like that to leave my number.” “I do,” Rachel smiles shyly, taking a paper and a pen from her purse and pointing them to Terrence with a slight smile. “Here is it.” “Thanks. I will write it down.” Terrence takes the paper and the pen and writes down his mobile phone number quickly. After checking every single number that is written with beautiful, careful handwriting, the man gives these things to Rachel. “M-m-m, you’ve still got beautiful handwriting,” Rachel notices thoughtfully, looking at what Terrence wrote. “As irresistible as you are.” “Yes, I am,” Terrence pronounces with his head proudly raised, feeling something nice that warms him up after hearing such wanted praise. “Don’t worry, I will surely call you after my dad makes a decision.” With these words, Rachel puts the piece of paper and the pen in her purse. “I will be waiting.” Rachel says nothing and just smiles at Terrence for two seconds. “Okay, I will better go,” Rachel says thoughtfully. “I will go home. If my friend decided to leave me alone.” “Don’t you wanna spend time with me?” Terrence suggests confidently. “I also stayed alone after my friend left to do his business.” “Oh, were you here with your friend?” “Yup, we sat down and talked a little.” “That’s how…” “So what? Are you accepting my suggestion of spending time together?” “Sorry, Terrence, but I can’t do it. It’s too late, and Dad is gonna be worried about me.” “Okay…” Terrence shrugs slightly with sadness in his eyes. “As you wish.” “Anyway, I was very glad to meet you here.” “I also had the pleasure to meet you,” Terrence replies with a slight smile. “That’s good it happened.” “Listen, you can call me not only to tell me about your father’s decision. Call me just to talk. Call me to discuss something or decide when we can have a meeting. We’d go somewhere, recall our school years, talk about the other guys, and everything that happened to us after graduation from school.” “I’d be very happy if you and I went somewhere or walked. I could tell you very much that happened to the guys from our school.” “Are you communicating with someone?” “I attended a couple of reunions, at which everybody told very much about themselves.” “Really?” “Yeah, sorry that you weren’t there.” “Honestly, I didn't even know about them.” “Were you busy acting in movies?” “Yeah… And honestly, I haven’t communicated with anyone from school since the day I celebrated the graduation.” “Sorry… I sometimes communicate with some guys and can tell you a couple of fresh rumors.” “I would be happy to hear them.” “When are you going to be free?” “I am always free for you,” Terrence replies confidently. “Call me at any time. I would be happy to meet you wherever you want.” “So, I’m gonna take a note about it.” Rachel thinks for two seconds. “And you can call me when you want and invite me somewhere. I’ve got much free time.” “It would be great,” Terrence smiles shyly. “But I hope your boyfriend wouldn’t be jealous of you.” “Oh, what boyfriend! I’m absolutely single!” “Are you single?” “Yup. I’ve been for about two years.” “That’s how…” Terrence pronounces thoughtfully. “Don’t worry, buddy, you can call me and even go my home.” “Okay, but could you give me your number? Just in case…” “Sure. I will write it down.” Rachel quickly takes one more piece of paper and the pen from her purse, writes down her phone number, and gives it to Terrence, who runs his eyes over the symbols written with a little sprawling handwriting. “Thanks, Rachel,” Terrence thanks with a slight smile. “I’ll surely call you tomorrow or after tomorrow and invite you somewhere.” “I will be waiting for your call,” Rachel smiles widely, putting the pen in her purse and locking it with a zipper. “Okay, since you’re gonna somewhere, I will not hold you anymore.” “I will call you to tell you the decision of my dad.” With these words, Rachel takes Terrence in a hug, and he amicably kisses her on the cheek, making her blush immediately. “Bye, pretty boy!” Rachel waves her hand with a wide smile. “See you soon.” “Bye, Rachel…” Terrence pronounces amicably. “See you soon…” Rachel places her purse above her shoulder, gets up from the bar table, and leaves the bar, graciously walking on her high heels and carefully fixing her beautiful blonde hair. While Terrence watches her with a slight smile on his face. The man has always treated her very well and is aware of her feelings for him. But, unfortunately, he has never loved Rachel like a girl and considered her just a good school friend. However, it’s impossible to exclude that now, when the girl became much more beautiful, she could get attention from him somehow. Unlike the selfish Raquelle, who never showered him with compliments and never wanted to listen to anything about her former boyfriend, Rachel is literally ready to look into Terrence’s mouth and give him everything he needs so badly. “Ah, Rachel,” Terrence sighs quietly with sadness in his eyes. “I’m so sorry I didn’t pay attention to you before… Unlike Cameron, you’re just a gem. If I had known I would meet the one, who would give a fuck about me, I would’ve chosen you. I’ve known you since childhood. I know you very well. You and I have always gotten on well. You helped me, and I helped you. Something tells me you would be a wonderful partner of mine.” Terrence shakes his head. “It would be great if I managed to forget that thankless bitch and opened my heart to you,” Terrence thinks with sadness in his eyes. “Who knows, maybe, there would be something between us. Nothing would happen if we at least tried… And something tells me you’re still indifferent to me. You made just a couple of compliments for me, but I already got much better. Much better… If you kept doing this, I would get the confidence that I had before back.” Terrence cracks a slight smile. “Wow…” Terrence thinks. “What if that girl is the one to save me? What if she is the one to prove to me that I’m still an attractive and wanted man? Not a man, who got exhausted by the relationship and forgotten by his own girlfriend. What if Rachel makes me feel like Apollo again?” Terrence quickly looks around, folding his hands on the bar table while a few people are in this place and drinking some drinks, and the members of the staff are doing their business. “Maybe, Rachel was sent to me by fate to help me get through the breakup and get ready for a new relationship as soon as possible,” Terrence assumes. “Someone in heaven saw I suffered enough in the relationship with Cameron and decided to make such a gorgeous gift for me. Which I must use…” Terrence smiles slyly with his head proudly raised. “I got an excellent chance to feel happy again,” Terrence thinks. “If that girl lied and still has a crush on me, she will definitely do her best to please me. It means I’d be able to have fun with her for some time and distract from what’s happening in my life.” Terrence glances aside. “Who would ban me from walking with my school friend and spending a cool time with her?” Terrence asks himself and chuckles quietly. “Of course, not my former girlfriend… She is gonna give a fuck about it. She is going to get out of the shit she got into. So, may she deal with Ringer! I will be having fun, getting pleasure, and doing my best to feel like a wanted, irresistible and handsome guy again. May that bastard go to the fuck! May that sick egoist go to the fuck, whom I will kick out of my house shortly after I’m back there.” Terrence stays at the bar for some time and orders a couple of glasses of whiskey, feeling that he is relaxing a little and forgetting what’s happening in his life. He would be happy to drink much more, but the man does not have a mission “To drink to the hell and pass out” on the list of his plans. So, Terrence drank only three glasses during the whole evening. However, it’s already enough to get easiness in his head, start to feel sleepy, too relaxed and drunk.***
Meanwhile, Raquelle is at home and sitting in the room of Terrence and her. She calmed down a little after a furious fight with him that could have led to her being beaten by the man and destroying the whole room and everything in it. Nevertheless, the girl cannot still forget the slap she got from this man and shakes every time she calls the memories of the loud, deaf sound, a feeling of burn on her cheek, and the hit against the bar of the bed that is the reason why everything went black for a moment. Raquelle still cannot believe Terrence dared to do it and kill the rest of her good feelings and respect for him. At first, Raquelle was truly sorry for the man, who had to watch his mother getting beaten by his father. She was even ready to forgive him if he had wanted to apologize to her. But thinking of the slap, trying to strangle her and the moments when he was dragging her by the hair, throwing her on the bed, insulting and humiliating her as if he was a tyrant, the girl forgets about any pity, love, and a wish to reconcile with this man. After everything that happened today, Raquelle decides that she does not want to stay in this house not for a second. She wants to leave this place with her stuff as soon as possible. Actually, the girl has wanted to do this for a long time because it’s unbearable for her to be in a house that has never been good for her. One of the reasons is the fact that the man always repeated he bought this house, it belonged to him, and she, speaking rudely, lived here on his account. Today’s fight became the last drop. Raquelle is going to go anywhere not to see such a terrible man as Terrence. “That's all, I can’t stay here anymore!” Raquelle pronounces confidently and shortly sits up in the bed, on which she was lying before. “I can’t!” Raquelle glances at the half-open window. “I won't stay here even for a second,” Raquelle adds. “I’ve always felt bad at this place. I’m choking here. I feel bad. And I don’t wanna see that crazy bastard and live with him in the same place.” Raquelle sniffs quietly. “Alright, I am done!” Raquelle pronounces determinedly. “I am breaking up with him and getting out of this house!” Raquelle slowly gets up from the bed and comes to the window, which she looks through with sadness in her eyes. “I will leave tonight,” Raquelle decides. “Right now. I don’t care that it’s too late now. I don’t care that I don’t know where I could go.” The first thing Raquelle comes up with is trying to go home to her grandfather, Frederick, and asking him to let her live with him. “What if I try to ask Grandfather Frederick to let me live with him?” Raquelle asks. “We lived together before! So, I wouldn’t have to get used to the new place. Of course, I’ll have to explain everything to him, but I am ready for that. Because I can’t stay in the house that belongs to the one I am going to hate and despise for the rest of my life.” Raquelle sighs heavily. “If Simon manages to turn him against me somehow, I will go to a hotel and live there,” Raquelle says confidently. “Or actually buy a ticket to London for the first ever flight and go to my aunt. Ringer could hardly reach her. But… Who knows… In the worst case, I will rent an apartment from an advertisement on the Internet. I had been thinking about it before I started the affair with that idiot.” Raquelle exhales sharply. “Okay…” Raquelle pronounces. “First, I will try to go to Grandfather and explain everything to him.” Two seconds later, Raquelle glances at the table placed on her side of the bed and calls the memory about something. “Wait…” Raquelle pronounces thoughtfully. “I’ve got the keys from his apartment. Okay…” Raquelle quickly comes to the small table, opens a drawer, and tries to look for something she just called the memories about. “They’re somewhere here…” Raquelle blunts under her breath. “Somewhere here…” A few seconds later, Raquelle finds the keys she needs, takes them, and looks at them from all sides. “That’s them!” Raquelle exclaims with a slight smile. “Grandpa made a duplicate of the keys specially for me and gave them to me in case I want to come to visit him or need something there.” Looking at the keys in her hands, Raquelle starts to understand that she has really forgotten about her relatives and has not communicated with them for a few months because she was too busy with her business. She has not talked to Frederick and Alicia for ages and has not visited her grandfather, even if she somehow promised to visit him as often as possible. “My gosh, I’m so ashamed of Grandfather and Aunt for not calling them and not thinking of visiting one of them at least once,” Raquelle says with sadness in her eyes. “How could I let it happen? I shouldn't have treated them like this… I shouldn’t have…” Raquelle sighs heavily. “It seems like I’ve really overworked…” Raquelle confesses. “I got so busy with my work that I forgot about all my friends and relatives… My gosh… I’ve gotta call Aunt and find out how she’s doing. She’s worried about me, but I ain’t gonna call her.” Raquelle closes her eyes for two seconds. “Okay, I will think about it later,” Raquelle decides. “Now I’ve gotta take my stuff and leave.” After hesitating a little, Raquelle looks around the whole room, quickly finds her bag for her stuff, and starts getting everything from the drawers and the dressing room and putting in her clothes, cosmetics, accessories, and everything she is not going to leave here. It takes not less than thirty minutes to find and put her stuff. Maybe, Raquelle delayed leaving this place because it seemed wonderful to her for the first few weeks after moving in, and she got used to it and even got a love for it. She loved spending time in a small room while reading a book or lying on a deckchair in front of the pool at the back of the house. She never refused to swim and had fun in the water in hot weather. And she has to refuse all of it. Sadly, Raquelle has no other choice. When she makes sure she took everything and left nothing that belongs to her, Raquelle takes her mobile phone, the keys from her car, and her little purse and gets her bag with stuff downstairs silently, not without effort. She decides not to say to anyone that she is leaving the house, even if Blair, Violetta, and Christiana are sitting in their rooms and doing their business, not knowing it’s about to get sad without the one all of them got a true love for. After she gets her bag down to the first floor, Raquelle grabs the handle of it, quickly goes to the hall door, goes outside, closes it, and goes to her car. The girl unlocks it with the key and makes an effort to place her bag in the backseat. And then she moves her sad eyes to the big residence, in which she lived for eight months, and sighs quietly, silently saying goodbye to this place. “Goodbye, everybody…” Raquelle pronounces in a quiet, little shaking voice. “I’m leaving… Leaving forever. I will no longer come back here.” Raquelle sniffs quietly. “Live happy, MacClife,” Raquelle adds. “Look for another woman. But I doubt someone would take such a nasty bastard that would easily raise a hand on a girl.” Barely holding down a wish to cry and feeling sorry that the broken hearts story will not have a happy ending, Raquelle gets in the driver’s seat slowly, closes the door, starts the motor, moves off, and goes as far as possible, leaving the territory of it, passing by the security post and saying nothing to the guards, who ask her something, and finally going on the road, on which there are not so many automobiles. Driving her automobile and watching the road, Raquelle barely holds her wish to cry. She has to blink often because her vision gets a little blurred from tears. The bad memories that have to do with the past few days literally kill the girl and make her feel stronger despair. And she asks herself why fate gives her such terrible surprises, why life is not unfair to her, and when she will finally live a quiet life and not have to suffer for something and lose her close people for one or another reason.***
It’s about seven or eight o'clock. Almost at the same time, Raquelle took her stuff and left Terrence’s house after their great fight, which put an end to the story of the two broken hearts. And while the girl is just on the way to her grandfather’s home and wants to ask him to let her live with him, this man named Frederick Cameron, who is sitting at home, in his spacious, gorgeous apartment, and doing his business. Raquelle could always count on this man and never doubted he would come to help her at any time and do his best to solve her problem, or just let her cry on his shoulder. Sadly, due to the business and the problems she suddenly got, she does not communicate with Frederick and does not even visit him at home. It makes the man very upset as he is missing his granddaughter and wants to know how she is living. But he completely understands that his little girl grew up and is now in a relationship with Terrence and is living with him. Yes, the man minded that his granddaughter lived with a man without marriage, but he decided not to insist and to let her do what she wanted. But he does not know and does not even suspect what happened to their couple, and why they literally ended their relationship once and forever. Knowing nothing, Frederick believes Raquelle is very lucky and absolutely happy. And he is happy as well as she is because the girl finally met the man and is now living with him, hoping he would attend their wedding and call the man a husband of the girl, not a boyfriend. By the way, the man has not also talked to Alicia for a very long time, but he is always glad to talk to the woman, with whom he has always had a wonderful relationship. They are united not only by Raquelle, whom they care about so much, but also by the fact that they just like to call each other and talk about everything at times. And when Alicia arrives in New York, they spend time together with a cup of strong coffee with pleasure or go somewhere to walk in warm, sunny weather. Frederick is a very careful and active man, who hates staying in the same place, always keeps his home clean, and never lets any chaos go on. It’s not hard for him to make a regular clean-off regularly and sort out some things that he has at home. Such things as trinkets, photos, or something that should be thrown off, used for something, or left as a memory to look at them at any time. So, he is now sorting out some things in his room and putting them on shelves, drawers, or somewhere else. The man has been doing this for a long time and has almost finished sorting these things out. But when he needs to sort out literally a few trinkets, someone calls on the wired phone. Frederick distracts from his business and goes to the living room where the phone is placed, takes it, and answers the call. “Hello, I’m listening to you,” Frederick says quietly. “Hello, Mr. Cameron, Alicia is bothering you,” a feminine voice on the phone says. “Hope, didn’t I bother you?” “Alicia?” Frederick gets excited when he hears Alicia’s voice and sits on the sofa when starting to speak at the same time: “No, no, you didn’t bother me at all. I have lately thought of calling you. You and I haven’t talked for ages.” “I also wanted to call you, but I’ve always got very little time. I’ve got so much to do at work or have to do something about adopting a girl.” “Adopting a girl? Did you decide to take a girl from an orphan house?” “Yes, I did. I thought about whether I should have done that much. But later, I realized I wanted to have my own child so badly. Since I’m not young to give birth and have no husband, adopting a child would be the best decision for me.” “That’s great!” Frederick smiles widely. “I’m sure you will be an excellent mother!” “I will give my daughter everything I can and surround her with love and care.” “Yeah, but why do you want to adopt a girl?” “I think it’s harder to raise boys because they are very restless. But girls are more obedient and much quieter.” “Yeah… Right. It’s hard to educate boys. But sometimes girls may be hard to educate, too.” “But when I went to the orphan house to watch children, I liked a newborn boy. But he had been taken before I decided to become an adoptive mother.” “Maybe, that’s good. A newborn child requires attention, but you cannot watch that baby for a whole day. You’ve got a job…” “I thought it was God’s wish. And I realized that the best decision would be adopting a girl, who would take care of her while I’m at work.” “Maybe.” “Besides, I have experience in educating girls because you and I educated Raquelle.” “So, do you know who you want to adopt?” “I know,” Alicia pronounces confidently. “I didn’t want anyone else but that boy that was adopted by another family and that girl. Other children seemed restless and stubborn. But that girl is very shy, educated, quiet, and friendly. We got on well quickly when we were allowed to talk.” “Got it… If you need it, you can ask me for help or advice. I shall help you with everything I can.” “Thank you so much, Mr. Cameron. I shall remember that.” Silence settles in the air for two seconds, during which Frederick glances at the window, through which he looks at something. “Yeah, but I would like to talk to you not about adopting a girl but about Raquelle,” Alicia says thoughtfully and hesitantly. “About Raquelle?” Frederick wonders. “My God, I haven’t talked to her for a long time…” “What?” “It’s the truth, Alicia! Raquelle and I haven’t met for ages.” “So, hasn’t she called you for a long time?” “Alas, since she moved into her boyfriend’s house, I haven’t heard anything from her.” “Hasn’t she even visited you?” “Alas… Not even once.” “My gosh… Did you go to visit her or call her somehow?” “Erm, no, honestly…” Frederick confesses. “But I’ve been thinking about it and want to go to her home. Because I don’t want Raquelle to forget that I exist. Of course, I completely understand it: love, work, homework… But I wonder to know what’s happening to her.” “Yeah, our dear Raquelle worked too much and forgot about you and me,” Alicia sighs quietly. “Haven’t you also talked to her all the time?” “No, I haven’t also talked to my niece… But to be honest, my heart hurts a little.” “Your heart hurts? But why?” “I’ve been obsessed with a feeling that something is happening to her for a few days.” “But what?” “I don’t know. And the words of my friend made me much more worried and anxious.” “Words? What kind of words?” “Ashe believes something terrible is going to happen in the life of my niece.” “Terrible? But why is your friend so sure about it?” “She said she couldn’t get thoughts of Raquelle for a few days, and she thought of the lines on her palms.” “Lines?” “Yes, she loves palmistry and reads someone’s date on the lines of a palm.” “So, what did your friend say?” “Your granddaughter would have to get through much before getting peace.” “That’s how…” “And Amelia, my friend, thinks something should’ve already happened to Raquelle.” “Well, do you think you should believe her? What do your feelings tell you?” “My feelings say it may really be the truth. I’m not quiet and worried about my Raquelle for the reason.” “You know, I’ve lately also had a feeling that something’s happening,” Frederick confesses. “As if Raquelle is not as happy as I think.” “I’m starting to doubt it, too.” “I believe I need to go to the home of Terrence and Raquelle at the nearest time and talk to them to find out what’s happening in their lives.” “Yes, yes, visit them, please,” Alicia begs with pity in her eyes. “I’m absolutely sure my friend doesn’t lie. My feelings can’t betray me.” “Did your friend say something else about Raquelle?” Frederick frowns slightly. “Oh, I don’t even know…” Alicia replies hesitantly. “But Amelia has one assumption.” “What?” “She thinks her problems could have to do with…” But Alicia does not say what she wants because someone suddenly rings the doorbell in Frederick’s apartment. “Oh, are you waiting for someone?” Alicia asks thoughtfully. “I heard the ring.” “No, nobody…” Frederick shakes his head and says nothing for two seconds. “Erm… You know, Alicia… Let’s do something… Call me tomorrow and tell me everything your friend told you. And I will now go to see who was brought here at such a late time.” “Alright, I shall call you tomorrow then,” Alicia agrees. “Or you shall call me when you can do this. Even if I am going to work tomorrow. I will see your call and contact you by myself.” “Agreed. See you tomorrow.” “See you tomorrow.” Frederick finishes the call and puts the phone in its place. After this, he confidently goes to the hall door, while someone rings for the second time. The man gets really surprised when he sees the unhappy and tear-stained Raquelle with a bag that she is holding with a handle. “Raquelle?” Frederick sets his surprised gaze on Raquelle. “Grandpa Frederick…” Raquelle pronounces very quietly. “My God… My girl…” Frederick lets Raquelle cross the doorstep of the apartment and takes her in his tight hug that she enjoys, getting the love she needs so badly. And when the man steps back from her, he looks at her from head to foot, silently noticing that she does not look very good. “Where have you been all this time?” Frederick wonders. “Why didn’t you call me and visit me? I was really worried about you! I wanted to go your home.” “I’m really sorry…” Raquelle apologizes with sadness in her eyes. “It’s my fault…” “Listen, what are you doing here at such a late time? And why do you have such tear-stained eyes?” “Grandpa… I want to ask you for something.” “Sure, my sunshine! Of course!” “Let me move here and live with you again.” “Erm, what?” Not understanding what Raquelle says in a quiet, shaking voice, Frederick shakes his head and looks at her surprisingly. “Please, Grandfather!” Raquelle begs with pity in her eyes. “Let me live with you! I have no place to go! I have nobody to ask for help!” “Jesus Christ, Raquelle… What’s happening to you?” At this moment, Frederick notices the bag with everything that belongs to Raquelle that is placed next to her. “My gosh, you have a bag?” Frederick rounds his eyes. “Don’t kick me out…” Raquelle begs with pity in her eyes. “If you kick me out, I will have no place to go.” “Raquelle…” “Please, Grandpa…” Raquelle makes a couple of loud sobs, while tears slowly roll down her cheeks. “You’re the only one I can count on.” “Okay, okay, sweetie, don’t cry…” Frederick pronounces quietly. “Don’t cry… First, you should drink water and calm down, and then you and I will talk about everything quietly. Frederick locks the door, while Raquelle decides to leave her bag with her stuff in the hall. Then the man takes her to the living room, hugging her around the shoulders, seats the tear-stained girl on the sofa, and quickly gives her a glass of water, from which she takes a few sips. However, even slightly cold water and tender hugs from her grandfather, who carefully wipes tears off her face and slightly fixes her little disheveled hair. “Raquelle, my girl, what happened?” Frederick expresses anxiety with sadness in his eyes. “Why did you come to me with the bag? Why are you asking me to let you live here?” “Please, Grandfather, let me live here,” Raquelle begs with pity in her eyes. “I do wanna live you! But… If you mind it… It’s okay… I will rent an apartment… It’s not a big deal…” “But why? You’re dating Terrence! And you should live with him in his house.” “I’m breaking up with him.” “What?” Frederick rounds his eyes. “Breaking up?” “I do not want to see that scumbag anymore. He is a betrayal. The betrayer, who I hate to death.” “My God, honey, don’t say that. Come on! That’s your boyfriend!” “I have regretted agreeing to date that scoundrel many times!” Raquelle says with tears in her eyes. “Wait, sweetie, let’s figure everything out. Maybe, you fought because of a stupid thing, but you already want to end your relationship with him.” “We should figure out nothing.” “Did Terrence hurt you somehow?” “Hurt?” Raquelle pronounces loudly. “It’s too soft to say!” “Did you fight?” “Yes, we did! We fought so hard that I no longer want to be with that man at the same place!” “Granddaughter, you can’t run away from home and break up after the first serious fight! That’s wrong!” “You don’t understand.” “Let’s talk about everything. If I have to do this, I will also talk to Terrence.” “Don’t get busy with it.” “But we should solve your problem somehow. Help you reconcile.” “I am not going to reconcile with him,” Raquelle says in a much lower voice. “From now on, that man died for me. My relationship with him is over now.” “No, honey, don’t say that…” “Our affair was the greatest mistake I have ever made in my life.” “Raquelle…” “I am regretting listening to you and Aunt Alicia and agreeing to date that stinker,” Raquelle confesses with tears in her eyes. “I am regretting doing that to make you happy and make you exhale with relief.” “What?” Frederick rounds his eyes. “Make us happy?” “I did not need that affair at all! I was not going to date anyone! But you and Aunt annoyed me, always saying I should have had a man.” “Raquelle…” Frederick pronounces hesitantly. “You tortured me with it literally since I was eighteen and always made me look for a man. And when MacClife stood in my way, the pressure got much stronger. You literally made me pay attention to him, even if I could not stand him since the first meeting. You could not wait for the day I’d tell you about my affair.” “Jesus Christ, what are you talking about?” “And you got what you wanted! I met a man! I got a boyfriend,” Raquelle sniffs quietly. “But it didn’t give me any happiness. I was not happy. And I never loved that man. These few months were very hard for me because I lived with someone, who I did not want to see at all. And my life became literally hell in the past few weeks.” “What got obsessed with you?” “I lived a quiet life before that fucking affair. I worked, met friends, talked to my fans, and had fun at celebrities’ parties… I felt so good when I was single. When I was a single girl, who could do anything she wanted. And I would have lived like this! If you and Aunt Alicia had not forced me to look for a man and move into his house. Which, to your information, was never close to me. Where I always felt like I was a guest. Every time I left it, I felt much better. But I got much worse when I had to come back there again.” “My God, Raquelle… Granddaughter…” Frederick shakes his head. “Are you blaming me and your aunt? Are you charging us for wishing you happiness?” “If you wished me this type of happiness, I can congratulate you – I am happy!” Raquelle says confidently with tears in her eyes. “Very happy! Happy that I wasted so much time on the man, who I never loved, and who made me more irritated every day.” “Did you use Terrence?” “Yes, I used him!” Raquelle proudly raises her head up. “I used him you and Aunt to finally calm down and get off me!” “You don’t know what you’re talking about…” “No, Grandfather, I understand everything very well. Very well.” “Listen, Raquelle, first, you should calm down a little and…” “But now I am done,” Raquelle pronounces confidently. “Now I will not listen to you and Aunt Alicia. From now on, I will decide who to date and when I want to get married. I will no longer do something to make you feel good.” “Raquelle…” “You can tell me how it’s important to get married and give birth to children, but I swear… I will give a damn about your words if I hear at least a hint at the fact that I should have a wedding and give birth to at least to one child.” “Listen…” “Now I am single. I broke up with that stinker. Who I do not love and do hate to death.” “But…” “And I don’t care what you think! I became a single girl again and will live as I want. Even if I don’t want to get married and refuse to have children, it is going to be my decision. That nobody will be able to change. Nobody, Grandfather Frederick.” “Oh, Jesus Christ…” Frederick gets shocked after everything he hears from Raquelle, who openly blamed him and Alicia for dooming her to an unhappy life and forcing her to find a boyfriend. “Raquelle, how could you say that?” Frederick wonders, taking Raquelle’s hands. “Do you understand what you’re doing?” “I do,” Raquelle nods confidently. “And this time, I am choosing calm and freedom. Freedom from the affair that I did not need.” “How could you have no love for such a wonderful man as Terrence? He is wonderful! He is always so nice and sweet! And he treats you like a queen.” “Nice and sweet? You just didn’t see the real him! If you saw, you would be horrified by who you gave your granddaughter to!” “Sorry, Raquelle, but I don’t understand you! Can you explain what happened between you and Terrence if you’re talking about a wish to break up with him and openly slandering your own boyfriend?” “He treated me like a doormat,” Raquelle says in a shaking voice with tears in her eyes. “Or even worse!” “What did he actually do?” “Much!” Raquelle sniffs quietly, being excited enough. “Much! And I was ready to close my eyes to that. But I will never forgive him for what he did today. After it happened, I will not even cross the doorstep of his fucking house.” “Did you fight so hard that you left his house?” Frederick wonders. “Yes. And after what happened, I will not even think of being with him. I just tolerated him and tried not to notice him, but that man did his best to make me think of a wish to break up with him.” “But what did he actually do? What’s Terrence’s fault with you? Tell me to understand you! Maybe, I help you and save your relationship!” “What can you do? What can you do to the one, who did not even try to do anything to protect me from Simon Ringer.” “What? Simon Ringer?” “He showed up some time ago,” Raquelle confesses quietly. “That’s the one, who slandered you one and a half years ago?” “Yup…” “But… I thought he was gone and would never come back to your life.” “I thought so. But everything he wrote in his latest letter was the truth. Some time ago, he caught me in one place where I was walking, scared me, and claimed he would turn my life into hell. And from that moment, Ringer began to threaten my close people and me…” Raquelle sighs heavily, starting to shake slightly from excitement. “The girls got so scared that they stopped communicating with me. They believe I’m guilty of that.” “What do the girls have to do with it?” Frederick wonders. “He managed to turn them against me.” “But how? They don’t know him!” “I don’t know. But Simon knows their numbers and home addresses and scared them somehow.” “Oh, my gosh…” “That man made them believe I was guilty of everything,” Raquelle sniffs quietly. “And he dared to claim I had mental issues.” “Stinker… How did he dare to claim that?” “The worst thing is that everybody believed it. Nobody wanna talk to me because they all think I’ve got mental issues.” “Stinker…” “I believe he also said something about my mother. Her hysterics made Dad wish to get divorced from her.” “Does he dare to insult the late Elizabeth?” Frederick gets wild. “I don’t know how he knows everything, but everybody believes him.” “I will not believe it! May that bastard say anything, but I do know my granddaughter. I know she is absolutely healthy and guilty of nothing.” “Ringer has been torturing me in all the ways for a few weeks,” Raquelle confesses with despair. “He is swearing to revenge on me for everything he got through. I am kind of guilty of everything. Even if I did nothing bad to make him turn my life to hell.” “He must get therapy!” Frederick exclaims. “Why can't he leave you alone? He’s trying to ruin your life for the second time!” “I stayed all alone, Grandpa…” Raquelle makes a quiet sob. “I’ve got nobody to ask for help… Simon got what he wanted. He did it!” “No, sweetheart, don’t say that.” “And Natalia turned out to be an accomplice of Simon and helped him do his tricks because of jealousy of me and my success…” “What?” Frederick rounds his eyes. “Natalia?” “She was pretending to be my friend and dreaming of my boyfriend being with her. But she went wild when I began to date him and started to revenge on me… When Simon stood in her way, she helped him with pleasure. She gave him all the numbers and addresses. Because of her, Ringer threatened everybody. Including Terrence’s mother, who he almost brought to a heart attack.” “Mrs. MacClife? He threatened her, too?” “Her sonny charged me for the fact that she almost died.” “Oh, my gosh…” Frederick runs his hands over his face. “What that man is doing… What he is doing…” “That stinker Terrence also left me and began to insult and humiliate me. But when he just found out Simon showed up, he swore to stay by my side, protect me, and help me solve this problem. But later, he took his words back. And he also spent a lot of time with my former friend, who was happy to get him! She was fucking happy our relationship got much worse and did her best to ruin it at all.” Frederick barely understands the meaning of everything Raquelle said, but he slowly puts everything in the right places and starts to understand more and more that his granddaughter definitely has serious problems. It means Alicia’s presentiment and his anxiety had the explanation. “My gosh…” Frederick pronounces with horror in his eyes. “It’s very hard for me,” Raquelle makes a quiet sob. “I stayed all alone, Grandpa… Everybody left me and believes Simon threatens them because of me. They’re sure that I’m mentally ill.” “How could they do it? Why did they the hell believe that false stinker?” “Did I really deserve it? Why did those people swear they wouldn’t leave me, but then put their tails between their legs and break any contact with me?” “I don’t know, sweetie…” Frederick sighs tiredly. “I don’t know…” “Why did they believe him? Why? I don’t understand…” “Don’t cry, sunshine, don’t cry.” Frederick hugs Raquelle tightly and presses her to himself, starting to caress her head. “It’s all Simon’s fault.” “Why was it me?” Raquelle wonders in a little shaking voice. “Why? Is Simon such an evil and vindictive man that he’s revenging me for the scandal that happened one and a half years ago?” “You must immediately go to the police and report him. That man must not stay free and poison your life.” “Would it make sense?” “Of course, it would! Or he would keep making your life worse…” “No, Grandpa…” “You pitied him somehow and refused to sue him. And that’s what it led to!” “I know, but…” “He’s using your kindness insolently! And if you don’t forget about pity, that man will kill you someday. Simon definitely wants it.” “He’s threatening to kill me if someone from my close people or if I go to the police or leave the city.” “My God, honey, do you want to let that man stay unpunished? Yes, he’s threatening you and giving you a ban from going to the police. I understand it. But if you keep doing nothing, it will lead to terrible consequences.” “I wanna get off him alone,” Raquelle confesses quietly. “What?” “Since everything started because of me, I need to get this problem solved.” “No, Raquelle, you will not solve it alone.” “If I stayed alone, I will think about what to do. It’s okay. I will get over the betrayal of those, who believed him, not me. I already realized that they talked to the wind and would easily run away if danger threatened their close person.” “No, darling, you are not alone!” Frederick hugs Raquelle much tighter, caresses her head softly, and carefully wipes tears off her face. “While I’m alive and well, you’ll never be alone. And while you have your aunt Alicia, don’t even dare to think you have nobody.” “What if Simon turns you against me?” Raquelle asks quietly. “He will not do! I’ve got enough brain not to believe that stinker. If Ringer dares to call me or send me something, I shall tell him everything I think of him.” “Would you really not leave me?” Raquelle moves her red, tear-strained eyes to Frederick. “Really!” Frederick exclaims. “Please, Grandpa Frederick… Promise that you and Aunt won’t leave me now or ever.” “I promise you, sunshine,” Frederick promises more confidently. “I’ve got nobody else.” “Remember, Granddaughter, despite what other people or newspapers say about you, your aunt and I will never turn our backs on you. We will always be by your side.” “Don’t do what my friends and former boyfriend did to me.” “We will not do, we promise. And as for the fact that the others believed that stinker… Well… Erm… Let them think about it… I think they’d understand they made a mistake by believing Ringer very soon.” “Even if they believe and want to apologize, I would hardly love to forgive them and let them come to me again.” “Anyway, let them think a little. Early or late, they will realize that they were deceived enough.” “C’mon, it doesn’t make sense now.” Raquelle takes Frederick’s hands. “The most important thing is that I have you and Auntie, the people, who’ll always be my closest and most beloved ones in this world. I love you, despite nothing. Even if you forced me to date the one I don’t love.” “Aw, Raquelle, my little girl…” Frederick pronounces with a slight smile. “Come to me…” Frederick takes Raquelle in his tight hug, which she accepts with pleasure, enjoying the way her grandfather is tenderly caressing her head and trying to comfort his beloved granddaughter as if she is a little child. Not to make the man too worried, the girl kept silent about the real reason for her conflict with Terrence, which made her leave his house. And she would hardly find the courage to admit her former boyfriend dared to raise a hand on her because it’s very hard and madly unpleasant to talk about it. A few seconds later, Frederick steps back from Raquelle and caresses her cheeks tenderly while tears keep rolling out of the red eyes of the girl, who stops shaking so strongly. “Okay, my sweetheart, calm down,” Frederick pronounces softly and slightly fixes Raquelle’s hair. “Your grandfather, Frederick, is with you. He will not leave you.” “Don’t leave me…” Raquelle begs with pity in her eyes. “Don’t leave…” “I will not leave, my sweetheart, I will not.” “Please…” “Listen, granddaughter, you better go to wash your face, brush your hair, and put on something different. And then you and I will eat something and try to relax a little.” “Can I stay here?” Raquelle asks hesitantly. “Can I live with you?” “Of course, you can! Of course, my sunshine! Stay here as much as you want. If it happened, you and I will live together again, just like we did in the old times.” “Is my room free?” “Absolutely free! Nothing has changed since you left this apartment.” “Thank you so much, Grandpa, you’re the best!” Raquelle kisses Frederick on the cheek with an exhausting but true smile to thank him for letting her stay here. “You will have a rest and sleep, and we will talk about everything tomorrow,” Frederick suggests softly. “You will tell me everything in order because I understood not everything from what you told me.” “Okay, Grandpa, I will do,” Raquelle nods. “Wonderful then!” Raquelle says nothing and just smiles shyly at Frederick, being happy she is going to live with him again. Before the beginning of the affair with Terrence, the girl had already lived here for some time and gotten used to this place. She calls the memories of the times when she lived with her close person and was probably one hundred times happier than she was when she started the affair, which gave her nothing but disappointment, an ocean of tears, and reluctance to get in touch with any other man at the nearest time.