***
Meanwhile, Daniel is spending time with Blanca at home. Speaking the truth, the man is not very happy with her visit, but he did not find the courage to kick the Spaniard out. They are now sitting in the man’s room on his bed and talking about the meeting with the girl’s parents. While the girl does not literally step away from him like she is a cat, and he is something that smells like catnip, the man silently lets her caress, kiss, and hug him, not wishing to hurt her. Even if she makes him feel sick, and the Spaniard’s jealousy of everything in the world gives him strong discomfort. “What you think of mi familia?” Blanca asks with a slight smile, running her fingers through Daniel’s hair and keeping a hand on his lap. “Huh, querida?” “Erm, are you asking me about your family?” Daniel asks hesitantly, locking his fingers tightly. “Si, si, amor, I want to say it. I want to know what you to feel!” “I liked spending time with your family,” Daniel cracks a smile at Blanca. “Your parents are gentle and good people, and I feel comfortable when talking to them. Of course, I felt embarrassed at first, but they calmed me down.” “I say you to like them.” Blanca kisses Daniel on the cheek with her dry, rough lips. “But you worry and fear.” “Yeah, you were right… I’m glad your family accepted me. Mr. and Mrs. Moreno… And your younger sister… What’s her name… Erm…” “Mia.” “Yes, Mia! She’s very sweet and amicable. I liked talking to her.” “Yeah, but…” Blanca steps back from Daniel a little and throws a gloomy look aside. “I want you to not talk to her and to not look at her.” “Why?” Daniel rounds his eyes. “She’s such a good girl!” “You must give all your attention only to me, mi amor.” Blanca caresses Daniel’s cheek. “I to be everything for you. You must tell me good words. I want to know you love and appreciate me.” “Please, Blanca, don’t be jealous of your own sister and me,” Daniel says quietly. “I was just talking to her, and I see nothing bad about it. You don’t mind me saying good things about your parents. So, why do you do it to Mia? She didn’t deserve it.” “Mia not to be your fiancée. I to be your fiancée. I want to hear you think I’m good and sweet.” “But I consider you the one.” “But I hear it so rarely.” “No, Blanca, don’t say it.” Daniel caresses Blanca’s cheek and head against his wish and makes himself smile shyly. “Maybe… Maybe, I’ve just always been greedy for compliments… I dunno… Maybe, my character stayed the same, even if I remember nothing.” “No, mi gatito, eso no es verdad. You always to be generosa con cumplido. I mean… I want to say… You to be generous for compliments… That not to be right.” “Anyway, I want you to remember that you’re the best to me,” Daniel adds without emotions. “And even if I speak to other girls, it doesn’t mean the end of our relationship. We’re gonna get married soon, and it means I have no right to look at other girls. And I’m not gonna do it. I think… I’ve always been loyal to the one I love.” “Right, you not to have a right to look at other girls,” Blanca nods. “You must look only at me. Other girls not to exist for you. You have only me.” “Yeah, yeah, I know… But you see, I can’t limit my communication with other people and give attention only to you.” “But I want it…” “I understand you wanna see me every second. But that’s impossible. You work at the hospital, and I should stay alone or walk somewhere…” “I want to fix it and do something for you to walk only with me. You must love to walk with me, make me have fun, and make me feel like a queen.” “When we’re married, we’ll meet every day.” “Yes, yes, I want it so much!” Blanca claps her hands happily. “If you not to decide to propose me to marry so soon, I get up down on my knee and do it. I want to be your wife… I not to want to separate with you for a minute.” “I know, Branca.” “Blanca.” “Oh… Sorry.” Silence settles in the air for two seconds, during which Blanca understands that Daniel does not feel too happy for someone to propose to a girl to marry at his own wish. To be clear, it makes her irritated. But the poniard tries to keep herself under control and stay patient. “Daniel, what to happen to you?” Blanca asks with sadness in her eyes, caressing Daniel’s cheek. “Why you not to be happy? Not to say nice things to me!” “Why do you think so?” Daniel frowns slightly. “You look like you not to be glad you decide to propose to marry.” Blanca sniffs quietly and tucks a strand of hair behind her ear. “¿Por que, mi amor? ¿Por que?” “No, no, I’m very happy,” Daniel replies hesitantly, showing something like a smile and moving his eyes to Blanca. “Just… I’m just still trying to recall everything I forgot. Remember who I am, who you are, and who those people I knew somehow are…” “I understand you remember nothing and not to believe me. But I swear, Daniel, it to be the truth.” Blanca takes Daniel’s hand. “I feel pain when I know you not to enjoy the relationship with me.” “I’m also very sorry that I can’t trust you because I can’t remember you. Yes, you told me much from what seems familiar to me, but I can remember nothing.” “Don’t worry, mi amor.” Blanca tightly puts her arms wrapped around Daniel’s neck and rubs her cheek against his one, while there is no hint of pleasure on his face, and he is struggling with a feeling of disgust. “You remember everything early or late. The doctor to say it not to last long. We not to have to delay our wedding again and again.” “I’m really trying to, but I can’t.” “I know,” Blanca nods with a slight smile. “But someday you and I get married and live happily after in this amazing house. I promise I give birth to your children as soon as possible and become the best mother for them.” “Yeah, sure…” Daniel hesitates for two seconds, then puts a hand on one cheek of Blanca hesitantly and kisses another, not feeling any pleasure or hint of something nice that he heard about from his real friends. But the Spaniard gets immediately blushed and smiles like a Cherish Cat, being literally ready to melt in the hands of the one she deceives so insolently. “Oh, querida, you kiss me so tenderly,” Blanca says with a slight blush on her face. “I get goosebumps on my skin.” “I’m glad you like it,” Daniel lies with a slight smile. “Though, I barely understand what I’m doing… I don’t mean I’m out of my mind… I mean, whether I do everything right if I want… To give you pleasure.” “More than right.” Blanca smiles much wider and looks into Daniel’s eyes confidently, biting her lip slightly. “I shake when you touch and kiss me… I to be ready to become your slave… Do anything you want…” “And… What should I do? To get pleasure…” “I can show it,” Blanca says with a mysterious smile, runs her fingers over Daniel’s chest confidently, and caresses his cheek with slow movements. “I can show you something very nice and exciting…” “Erm…” Daniel bites his lip slightly, not being impressed by what Blanca wants to do. “So… Right now?” “Why not?” Blanca, looking into Daniel’s eyes, slowly runs her fingers over her collarbones and breasts and starts to breathe heavily enough, as if she gets excited from caressing herself. “I want to have sex… I not to have it for so long… And you always to be incredible at it… You can bring me to a nice madness… I love it so much…” Daniel does not find the courage to push Blanca off him and lets her do what she wants, staying indifferent to her attempts to seduce him and even thinking that she does not do it very well. “You want to let me show you how it to be?” Blanca asks in a low voice with a mysterious smile, examining Daniel’s face for some time, biting her lip, and licking it with a wish to look sexual. “If you not to remember, I can remind you with pleasure.” “Erm…” Daniel pronounces hesitantly, while his scared, widely open eyes run from one side to another. “Listen, Branca, I…” “Soy Blanca, mi amor…” Blanca starts to confidently massage Daniel’s tense shoulders, slowly sliding to his back. “You to be too tense, querida. Relax and get pleasure.” “I… I’m not sure that I know how… How it’s happening…” “Leave it all to me, mi gatito. I help you relax… Show you everything you to teach me…” Blanca starts to massage Daniel’s shoulders, neck, and back more confidently, getting great pleasure from touching the man and feeling his natural smell that makes her go crazy. A little later, the Spaniard puts the tip of her nose in his cheek, runs it over the one very slowly, kisses it with her dry lips, and rubs it against it, hoping to drive the man crazy and relax him. Kissing and hugging him is not enough for her. She wants to go further and take the man to bed. And she would not mind getting pregnant with him… What about Daniel? Daniel does not care! A massage is supposed to relax him and give him pleasure, but he keeps being indifferent and is not very happy with what’s happening, even if he barely understands what he is getting into. Blanca does everything more tenderly than before. And that’s probably why he does not try to set himself free and resist. And at some moment, Perkins really relaxes a little and feels… Kind of better?! Something makes him let the situation go and let everything happen as it wants. Blanca is madly happy her goal is getting closer to a successful end slowly but confidently. Even little successes motivate her to keep moving on. She does not stop massaging Daniel’s body, which she finds perfect and tough, stroking his hair with slow movements, and kissing his face and neck. At heart, the girl rejoices that she almost got a victory over the man and turned off his brain. Yes, to some extent, it really deprives Daniel of vigilance and control over the situation. But it gets much weaker because he… Thinks of another girl… Not Blanca. Someone he barely remembers. Perkins does not know who she is, and why he thinks of her. But these thoughts about the strange girl help him relax. The man is imagining her kissing him tenderly and caressing his body, as if she knows what to do to give him pleasure. The girl, whom he is thinking about, seems very seductive, tender, and incredible to him. He cannot remember her face. But he clearly imagines the attractive curves of the lady’s body, which the man cannot wait to caress. Instincts do their job and make him think he wants to get closer to the girl from his fantasy. That unfamiliar girl, not Blanca. Everything that is happening in reality is happening in his imagination. But without the Spaniard. With the one that drives him crazy. The unfamiliar girl is standing behind him, speaking in a low, seductive voice, massaging tenderly his tough shoulders and back, and leaving kisses on his neck as well as Blanca is doing it. And because the Spaniard bites his earlobe tenderly at some moment, Daniel thinks that the girl from his imagination does the same. He moans quietly from pleasure, getting out of reality and wishing this show to go on. “Oh, damn, that’s cool,” Daniel says in a low voice with a slight smile, breathing heavily enough. “Yeah… Please, keep doing it, babe.” “Sure…” Blanca smiles slyly, applies much more charm, and uses her skill of seduction to get Daniel, not guessing that he is thinking of another girl. “Everything for you…” “Don’t stop it, please… I want to feel good… Please, please…” “That’s good, honey,” Blanca pronounces in a soft, calming voice and slowly runs her dry lips over the area behind Daniel’s ear, which she caresses with the tip of her tongue, and in which she starts to whisper something. “Good, Daniel… Good boy…” “You’re driving me crazy…” Daniel whispers. “Oh, yeah…” “I want you to think of something good and dream of me, your beloved girl.” “I already feel good, baby…” Daniel moans quietly, looking into the distance with a wide smile. “You’re so gorgeous…” “Thanks to you, honey…” Blanca leaves a couple of kisses on the nape of Daniel’s neck and runs her hands underneath his t-shirt, caressing his tough-to-touch torso. “You teach me everything…” “Oh, yeah, that’s good…” Daniel exhales slowly with closed eyes, not caring about Blanca running her dry, cold hands over his body thanks to his fantasies about the girl, who has very warm and soft ones. “Keep doing this, beauty, keep doing…” “I know what you want… And do it right now.” “Yeah, my princess… Do it… I want you… Madly… Please…” “M-m-m… Princess… How it to be sweet…” “My gorgeous princess… The most gorgeous girl in the world…” “Oh, it to get me so excited…” Blanca softly grabs Daniel’s chin and leans his head back slightly. “You literally undress me when you say it.” “I can’t be silent when I see such a beautiful girl…” “And I not to be indifferent when you to be with me,” Blanca says very slowly in a low voice, caressing Daniel’s neck tenderly and covering it with dry lips. “I literally burn… You drive me crazy…” Blanca gives Daniel a slow, short, and tender kiss on the lips, to which he answers with pleasure. The man does not care that the girl still kisses him terribly, cannot control her saliva that gets into his mouth, and gets her tongue very deeply, making him wish to cough or clean his stomach. A little later, she slowly goes around him, stands with her face turned to him, and caresses his cheek. Then the Spaniard confidently sits on the laps of Perkins, who lost the will and the mind, and puts her arms around his neck, running fingers through his hair. He immediately hugs her by the waist and starts to caress her thighs and buttocks, thinking that Blanca is a sexy, breathtaking girl from his fantasy, who drives him crazy with the curves of her body. Blanca strokes Daniel’s hair and covers the curves of his neck with tender kisses for a few seconds, while he slightly starts to squeeze the lady’s breasts and breathe in the smell of her skin, which, as his clouded mind thinks, belongs to the girl from his fantasy. He tries to keep the image that makes him too crazy. And he understands that he madly wants that beauty with a gorgeous body, even if he cannot remember her face. Only the thoughts of her touches and kisses make him feel a tickle somewhere in his abdomen. She is too tempting to him… She makes him feel what he forgot, but she drives him crazy. Daniel’s consciousness imagines him kissing the strange lady, hugging her tightly, caressing all parts of her body, covering every centimeter of it with kisses slowly but confidently, and biting her lips, ears, and the thin skin on her neck tenderly. Having this fantasy is enough for the man to feel the tension in his whole body. Because of her, his heart beats much faster, his breath stops, and he feels a tickle in his abdomen. Thanks to her, he sometimes makes a quiet moan of enjoyment, his body gets more relaxed, he feels strong in his pants, and a quiet moan of enjoyment gets out of his mouth at times. Later, Blanca decides to go further and continue her mission. The girl looks at the man’s face, being at a short distance from him and tenderly caressing his little rough cheek. Then she leaves a few kisses on his neck, runs the tip of her tongue slowly over the skin on it, and bites some places slightly, starting to run one hand over his chest and letting another get through his hair. Seeing that he begs her to give herself to him by looking at her, the Spaniard starts to show that she passionately wants this man, not being shy about moaning loudly and letting her body bend backward. A little later, Blanca kisses Daniel on the lips, grabbing his face confidently, while he answers this kiss greedily, running his hand through her air and starting to caress the curves of her waist, thighs, and buttocks. The girl from the man’s fantasy does all the same as the foreigner. It does not let him step away from the foreigner, who does not look like the one, who makes his heart tremble. He has already forgotten about the non-attractive, asexual Blanca, who just wants to seem like a fateful girl. His consciousness believes she is another girl. The one, who wakes up a fire inside him. The one, whose face he cannot remember. The one, who is much thinner and more attractive than the Spaniard. He kind of got his mind clouded… Daniel does not control the situation and just gives himself to his instincts and wide passion for the girl, who might not exist. Or he has just not recalled her, but the heart tells him that he passionately loves the beauty from his fantasies, who obviously knows how to drive him crazy. Blanca would be enraged if she knew Daniel wanted a non-existing girl, not her. She would hardly kiss him so passionately, bite tenderly and pull out his lips, and caress his face, hair, and ears, making him moan quietly and not thinking of resisting. Blanca does not doubt her skills at seducing and feels that nothing can stop her from taking Daniel to bed. At some moment, she stands up from Daniel’s laps, stands between his legs, and bends to him, caressing his hair, face, and neck with both hands. He looks at her from bottom to up with dead, widely open eyes, which say he does not understand what’s happening. Then the girl grabs his head, presses it to her breast for a few seconds, kisses him on the temple, slides to his cheek, and bites his ear, the area behind which she caresses tenderly with the tip of her tongue. “Ah, Daniel…” Blanca pronounces slowly in a low, seductive voice. “You drive me crazy… I want you… Want you right now…” Blanca bends, puts her arms around Daniel’s neck, and slowly slides to his neck, in the curve of which she snuggles her face, starting to cover it with kisses with a special pleasure. And she does not hide her happiness when she hears his quiet moans. She starts to moan loudly with her head leaned back when he confidently starts to squeeze her breasts and stimulate her nipples. The girl from his fantasies does all the same, but her caresses are much nicer to him. And although the man cannot remember that beauty, – and the image of that girl is very unclear and blurry – these fantasies deprive him of his mind, control, and a wish to resist. Only her curves, her amazing caresses, and her tender kisses make him obey that girl. Some time later, Blanca decides to take Daniel’s clothes off with loud, sensual moans. And she starts with his black waistcoat, which she throws aside. The man does not resist it and starts to cover the girl’s neck with tender kisses, driving her much crazier, making her literally scream from pleasure, and still caressing her breasts. Later, he stays without his t-shirt, which the Spaniard takes off for one second and throws it aside, wearing only dark blue jeans. The girl smiles widely and confidently runs her hands over his naked chest, looking at which makes her take a breath away. “Oh, Daniel, mi amor, tu eres incredible,” Blanca says confidently and shamelessly moves her hands to Daniel’s abdomen and crotch, which she caresses so that he cannot hold down his quiet moan. “Te quiero mucho…” Daniel also madly wants to take off the clothes of Blanca – or the girl from his mind. At some moment, the man reaches his hand to the hair slide that keeps her hair up, takes it off, and throws it aside. But when he wants to take off her outdoor clothes, the girl does not let him do it and coquettishly claps him on the hand that starts to raise her blouse so shamelessly. Blanca sharply steps back from Daniel, not moving her eyes off him and not stopping smiling slyly and saucily. And two seconds later, the Spaniard slowly takes off the blouse as sexually as possible and throws it aside. The foreigner proudly lets the man look at her thick body, which she is not ashamed of at all. She does not care that she has fat on her belly, does not have good abs, and has flabby arms. And she does adore her big breasts, which are expressed thanks to the bra with a push-up effect, and lets Perkins look at them better with pleasure. “Like it?” Blanca asks with a mysterious smile and runs her fingers and fingertips over her breasts, collarbones, and belly. “This body to belong to only you. I want only you to caress it.” Blanca takes the hands of Daniel looking at her with like charmed and lets him touch her thick body and caress it, getting great pleasure from the way the warm hands of the man slide on her stomach. The two moan quietly from pleasure, but the girl does it from what her “fiancé” is doing, and the man does it from what the one he imagines is making him feel. And later, the Spaniard feels his tender kiss on her belly somewhere upper than her belly button and breasts, and moans quietly at how tenderly he squeezes her buttocks. “Yes, yes, Daniel, yes!” Blanca moans loudly. “Keep doing this! Do! Ah!” “You’re so gorgeous, my princess,” Daniel pronounces in a hoarse voice with enjoyment, holding Blanca by the curves of her waist and covering her belly with kisses. “I love you… Love…” “Oh, my God! Yes! Yes!” At some moment, the heated Blanca kisses Daniel greedily on the lips and softly pushes him, so he lies on the bed. The man does it obediently and hugs the girl tightly by the waist when she raises herself above him, not caring that the Spaniard seems heavy enough. Blanca kisses Daniel on the lips again with stronger pressure, moaning quietly at times, running her fingers through his disheveled hair, letting her hands slide over his naked chest, and sometimes putting his hands on the parts of her body that she wants to be caressed. The man has lost control of himself and the situation and does not pay attention to the foreigner, even when she does something he would not like if he were sober. But the situation gets heated, and the case is getting closer to what the assertive Spaniard wants. Not breaking the kiss either with Blanca or the girl from his fantasy, Daniel takes off her jeans with passion, takes them off, and throws them aside, making the girl wear only her underwear. And she is not confused, even if her body is not perfect, and it’s possible to see strong enough cellulite. The man softly rolls her onto the back and raises himself above her, not stopping to kiss her greedily and moan quietly from pleasure. He caresses all the parts of her face with great pleasure, bites tender parts of her neck, and runs the tip of his tongue over them. “Oh, yeah!” Blanca moans loudly with closed eyes, bending her legs to her knees and getting her thighs tense. “Yes, yes, yes, yes! You to be so imitable, Daniel… Ah…” “I want you…” Daniel pronounces in a low and hoarse enough voice and squeezes Blanca’s breasts tightly but tenderly, which he caresses with open lips. “I want… Right now…” “Yes, Daniel… Yeah… Take me… I to be yours… Do anything you want to me… Drive me crazy… Ah… Daniel… Daniel…” Daniel leaves a few kisses on Blanca’s neck and goes to her abdomen, while she bends backward with loud moans, scratches his back slightly, and runs her hands over his naked torso. The foreigner is reaching her hands to the man’s jeans and wants to take them off, and he is about to take off her knickers and bra. But at some moment, a phone call sounds, and the phone lying on the bedside table near the bed starts vibrating and hurting the ear. Blanca sharply steps back from Daniel in surprise and looks at her phone. The half-naked girl growls irritably, moans, and runs her hands over her face, while the man immediately goes back to reality, feeling like he woke up from hypnosis and understanding that the image of the fearful cutie that drove him crazy has suddenly gone. “What the fuck?” Daniel thinks with a heavy breath, scarily looking at himself and Blanca and getting badly surprised when he sees himself in only unbuttoned jeans without a shirt and the foreigner wearing only underwear. “What happened? When did we get almost naked? Did I go crazy? Or did this girl want to do something to me?” While Daniel looks around the whole room with scared eyes, Blanca reaches her hand to the phone and answers the call, not hiding her anger caused by the fact that someone ruined her plans of seducing the man and taking him to bed. “Hello,” Blanca moans irritably. A few seconds later, Blanca sharply takes her hair off her face. “Mia!” Blanca yells with recentness. “What the hell? How you dare to bother me at such a perfect moment? You know I to spend time with Daniel! And I say NOT TO BOTHER ME! I EXPLAIN IT UNCLEARLY, YOU, STUPID CHICKEN?” Blanca listens to what Mia tells her on the phone and clenches her hand into a fist. “What?” Blanca throws irritably. “Again? He to call again? I explain everything to him and say I cannot come today! What he the hell to need?” Blanca says nothing for a few seconds and moans tiredly with rolled eyes. “Alright, I go there and find it out,” Blanca throws rudely. “I SAY I COME NOW! STOP SAYING THE SAME THING, YOU, FUCKING PARROT! TELL HIM I COME THERE SOON!” Blanca turns off the call sharply, puts her phone on the bed, and runs her hands through her hair, pulling it out slightly and being angry that her plan of seducing Daniel did not come true. The shocked man raises himself slowly and looks at the girl hesitantly, not wishing her as passionately as he did a few seconds ago and still wondering how it happened that they ended up almost naked. “What’s up, Blanca?” Daniel asks hesitantly with a little hoarse voice. “Something happened?” “Sorry, sweetie, but…” Blanca pulls the words strongly and bites her lip slightly when moving her eyes to Daniel. “I must leave you… Mia to call me and to say I should come to the hospital… I should solve something.” “Called to work?” “I don’t know, querida. My sister to speak so fast that I understand nothing.” “Oh… Well… Okay… If you need it, go.” “Don’t be upset, Daniel.” Blanca caresses Daniel’s face and fixes his hair slightly, while he looks at her with widely open eyes, being happy that she is leaving. “I promise we surely continue to make love next time. Sorry…” Blanca gets up from the bed sharply, takes her clothes and hair slide that are thrown in the whole room, and puts them up quickly. While Daniel watches her surprisingly and wonders how such an asexual girl, who looks so clumsy and does not look like a fateful cutie, could get him attracted. The foreigner with excess weight, who cannot give him soulful pleasure and makes him feel terribly uncomfortable. “See you soon, mi amor,” Blanca says goodbye with a slight smile, kissing Daniel on the cheek tenderly. “You may not lead me away. I close the door. Bye, bye!” Blanca quickly takes her bag lying in the chair placed in front of the writing table and leaves the room. Daniel exhales sharply and puts his hand on his mouth, feeling not a very nice taste and getting surprised that some parts of his body are slightly blush after the girl’s bites. “Damn, what just happened?” Daniel wonders, looking around with dumbfounded eyes. “I didn’t control myself and went kinda out of my mind at some moment! Oh, shit… I’m getting more afraid to be next to that girl… What did she do to me that I kinda passed out? And… Kissed her? BY MYSELF? At my wish?” Daniel doubles over and runs his hands through his hair, looking into the distance. “I barely hold myself down when she kisses me… But we ended up in bed… Half-naked…” Daniel runs his hands over his stomach, breathing heavily enough. “Hey, who was the girl that I was thinking about?” Daniel thinks, biting his lip. “I thought that girl was kissing me instead of Blanca! And I really liked it! I liked everything she was doing. Maybe, Blanca didn't have to do with it? Was the case with my fantasies about that beauty? Her body, her caresses, her kisses… I thought about it so hard that I started to think… My fiancée… Was it someone else? But who’s she, then? Do I know that girl?” After sitting on the bed for some time and trying to come to himself more or less, Daniel stands on his feet lazily, takes his t-shirt and waistcoat that Blanca took off him, puts them on quickly, zippers his jeans, fixes his hair, and claps his face with both hands. “Oh, this situation struck me down…” Daniel thinks, massaging his neck and turning his head to different sides. “And I must confess that I’m madly happy Blanca has gone… I didn’t kinda wanna end up naked in bed with her… That girl presses on me strongly, and I feel bad… I do wanna say I’m irritated by this total control and the fact that she wants my attention to be only hers. She doesn’t let me find a way to remember everything…” Daniel looks around his room again and glances at the gray, expensive laptop placed on the writing table. The man looks at it for some time, frowns slightly, comes to it slowly, takes it, sits on the bed, and turns it on, placing this thing on his laps. “Maybe, I find the information about the band that the girls and the men talked about? What’s its name? I can’t remember… They said it… Okay, okay… What’s the name… Hm… Maybe, I try to search for the name of one of the men?” After the laptop turns on, Daniel types a password for his user that he clearly remembers, to his surprise, opens the Internet browser, types something in a search bar, and browses the results, which quickly let him know that he needs to find the information about the band “Against The System.” “'Against The System…’” Daniel pronounces thoughtfully. “Yes! That’s it! Yes! Okay… Let’s try to search for something about them, photos or videos.” Daniel types something else on the keyboard and views the result, still having the skills of working on a computer, even despite amnesia. And some time later, he finds the site, on which there is a page dedicated to the band “Against The System.” But the information is very short, and one of the first paragraphs says: “‘Against The System’ is an American rock band that consists of Terrence MacClife (vocals and rhythm guitar), Edward MacClife (vocals and solo guitar), Daniel Perkins (vocals and bass guitar), and Peter Rose (vocals and drums). Their debut single ‘The Story About Us’ and the music video for it were released on April, 28th 2017. The song will be included in an upcoming debut self-titled album ‘Against The System’ that is scheduled to be released in winter 2017 or at the beginning of 2019.” “Here’s my name…” Daniel frowns slightly. “Vocals and bass guitar… Wow… As it turned out, I sing in this band… Unless it’s not another Daniel Perkins. There might be many people with the same name as mine…” Daniel keeps viewing sites on the Internet and searches for information about his own band. But since it is not so famous around the world, there is little information about it. And later, he opens a site, on which people post some videos, and finds not only “Against The System”‘s music video but also a few more records. One of them is a live chat that the men had some time ago at Terrence’s home to talk to fans and answer their questions. Daniel understands it after reading the video title and decides to watch the videos because he sees a small thumbnail of him and the people he knows. The man does not watch the full video because it’s very long and skips some parts, only paying attention to what lets him know his friends are actually very funny and seem true to each other. “They’re funny…” Daniel thinks with a slight smile and laughs shyly, as he is watching moments when the men and he play the fool with each other and thrill with a loud laugh. “Oh… It seems like the MacClife brothers do love playing the fool together. And the blond doesn’t mind having fun…” Daniel finds out many new things about the people, who are trying to help him, and relaxes a little after the shock that he felt when Blanca almost took him to bed. And he finds out something about himself. For example, the man answered the question of a fan, who asked him to reveal a fact about him. Perkins playfully confessed that he loved walking absolutely naked at his home before he met his girlfriend. This confession made his friends start to laugh at him kindly and warn him that children might have been watching them. Daniel laughs shyly, watching himself trying to excuse himself. In this video, the lads actually talk a lot about their beloved girls and reveal some sexual preferences openly. They are happy to laugh at many answers from each other and even sing a couple of songs along with the guitar, making people admire the amazing vocals of this incredible quartet. Later, Daniel decides to check out other records that he finds in search of his band title. The man watches a few short interviews with the men and a few performances of their debut single, “The Story About Us,” before he decides to open the music video for the song. The man starts shaking his head slightly and smiles slightly immediately, understanding that he really likes the lyrics and music and noticing that the video is positive but dynamic enough. Daniel sees that the men’s beloved girls acted in the video, too. Although they appear in it many times, the man stops it sometimes to look at every single lady better. And he pays special attention to the sweet, red-haired beauty Anna, his real girlfriend, to whom he is so nice in the music video. At whom he looks tenderly with admiration and love in his eyes. And the look at who makes his heart tremble nicely again. “She’s pretty…” Daniel thinks with a slight smile. “Very sweet girl… I’d definitely kiss her with pleasure… I guess that’s Anna, who the girls talked about… This girl is also short and red-haired, with a baby face…” However, Daniel does not aim to review the scenes with Anna. He is just listening to his own song, which he truly admires, and watches the dynamic music video that has such a nice atmosphere. Some time later, it ends, and Daniel looks at the black screen of the laptop for two seconds, reflecting on what he saw. Then the man scrolls the page to the comments and reads them. At first, he sees nice comments from people that praise their work, song, and music video and say the girls are very beautiful, and the men are proud and confident. Moreover, some of them make him laugh shyly because they contain some jokes. But some time later, Daniel sees the one that makes him frown. It says the men need to read one article and kick “this liar and hypocrite” out of the band. The man, not being able to struggle with curiosity, opens the site by clicking on the link in the comment and sees a popular site about celebrities’ lives with a nice design and good interface. After scrolling down, Daniel sees the article called “You’re guilty: is ‘Against The System’ losing one member due to the charges for bullying?”, in which there are photos of him and Peter Rose, as the signature says, and a common photo of the band, on which there are also the brothers, Terrence and Edward MacClife. After viewing them quickly, Daniel starts to read the text written in this article: “The bassist of ‘Against The System,’ Daniel Perkins, 26, might leave the band due to the serious charges. As it turned out, the bassist had one hundred percent to do with the suicide attempt of the drummer, Peter Rose, 26, that happened a few months ago. As the source says, Perkins was mocking Rose for a long time, insulting him, saying he was talentless and ugly, and regularly putting him in psychological torture. All these things became the reason why the band’s drummer committed a suicide attempt and got the fans excited and scared. The source says ‘Against The System’s bassist was beating the drummer cruelly, giving him serious trauma several times, and regularly threatening to deal with him psychically. One of the fans says that two months ago, Daniel gave a reason to think there had been a conflict in the band for a long time. The bassist posted a photo from one of the past shows on his Instagram account (Dan_Chris_Perkins). You can see everybody from ‘Against The System’, including him and Peter. There was a signature that hinted that Perkins kept putting Rose to moral and psychical violence even after the drummer’s suicide attempt. One of the fans of the band had taken a screenshot before Daniel deleted this photo and posted it again on his Instagram with a different signature, in which there was nothing about hate for Peter. The source says that the situation in the band is very tense, and their managers are discussing it and thinking about kicking Perkins out. Daniel and Peter themselves categorically deny these rumors and try to prove to everybody that they have a long and strong friendship. As the source says, they do it on the order of their managers. Their colleagues, the vocalist, Terrence MacClife, 28, and the lead guitarist, Edward MacClife, 26, and ‘Against The System’s representatives keep silent or deny this information.” Daniel’s eyes immediately pop out of his head after reading it. The shocked man getting sharply white from horror closes his mouth with a hand and reads the full text again, shaking his head slowly and getting more and more excited. “No, I don’t believe it…” Daniel pronounces with horror in his eyes. “It can’t be the truth… No… Peter… He… He… So, was I the one to blame for that? Did I put that guy to psychological and psychical violence? I terrified him… I threatened to kill him… Oh, shit…” Daniel unconsciously recalls the scene that he saw when he went to the bathroom at Peter’s home, starting to breathe heavily enough. “Did I bring him to the self-murder?” Daniel asks himself with horror in widely open eyes. “Am I the one to blame? Fuck… That’s why that blond wanted to die… I was guilty…” Daniel puts his laptop aside, doubles over, and runs his fingers through his hair, which he pulls out slightly. He feels that his body starts to shake slightly from the great tension, and it’s getting harder for him to breathe because something presses on his chest strongly. “I don’t get it…” Daniel shakes his head. “If I really brought Peter to the wish to die and literally threatened to kill him, why is he speaking to me so quietly? Shouldn’t he have ignored me? Why did that guy let me into his apartment so easily and was so nice? And… He was worried about me… I don’t get it… He was so true… Could I bully such a good man? I do really like that blond! Why did I hate him so hard and bring him to that condition?” Daniel exhales sharply and grabs his throat, setting his shocking eyes into the distance. “Yeah, why did Edward and Terrence say nothing about that? Why did the girls say nothing? They all knew about that but said nothing! What do those people want to hide from me? Why do they act as if nothing happened? Or is that not the truth? What if I didn’t do that? There must be a reason why I don’t feel disgust for Peter!” Daniel thinks of the comment of someone to ask to kick “the liar and hypocrite” out of the band. “Maybe, I search for similar articles about it?” Daniel asks under his nose and takes the laptop he places on his laps. “What if that’s not the truth? What if that person got everyone confused…” Daniel starts to type something on a keyboard with his shaking hands and finds many similar articles about Daniel’s attempt to bring Peter to self-murder and regular bullying of him. Then the man decides to go to Twitter, opens the page of his account, which he is already logged in, and sees the feed with many negative tweets about him. Daniel even checks out tweets through the hashtag #DanielGetOutOfATS and sees many offensive things, understanding more and more that it might be the truth because he thinks of Peter’s words about them having a serious conflict somehow. “So, that’s true…” Daniel whispers with horror in widely open eyes. “Peter almost died because of me, because of my insults… Because of psychological and psychical violence… He said we really fought one day. And if it’s so, these words are confirmed. I brought him to the wish to die… I… The band broke up because of me…” Daniel shakes his head and glances at his phone, which he looks at for a few seconds. Then he takes it and opens his Instagram account, @Dan_Chris_Perkins, views the photo that the article talks about, and starts to believe that he really removed it and re-uploaded it again with a different comment. And after opening the page of comments to this photo, the man gets much more shocked and gets white from horror. “We could’ve lost Peter ‘cause of you, motherfucker!” “Piece of shit… Are you jealous of Peter?” Leave poor Pete alone! Scumbag! Because of you, Peter almost died!” “Jealous bastard…” “What he did do for you?” “Why do you hate him?” “Pete is more talented than you, asshole!” “Get outta the band!” “Die and stop bullying our beloved blond. He’s way better than you, jackass. You’re not worth his nail!” “Why are the MacClife brothers silent and doing nothing? Why are their managers silent? How could they let that talentless bastard stay in the band? Kick that scumbag out of the band! May he feel what the poor Peter had to experience.” “You can’t even sing! Everybody knows about your shame on the last show, on which the boys covered your ass!” “We wanna listen to talented people, not anyone, who uses the autotune!” “May you die, bastard!” “Stop poisoning the life of the poor guy!” “If you stay in the band, I’ll no longer listen to your band's songs!” Daniel reads many other insulting comments about him and understands that it’s hard for him to breathe, and his heart squeezes at the thought that he is guilty of the fact that Peter almost killed himself. He gets obsessed with remorse and a great sense of fault for the blond, the people that love him, the men, and the girls, and his wish to turn his back on them is getting stronger. “So, are the girls and the men helping me after what I did?” Daniel asks himself, putting the laptop aside. “After they almost lost Peter! And why’s he so quiet? Did he forgive me so easily? I guess, those people thought I’d know nothing… But they’re wrong… I know all the truth… The truth about why the blond almost killed himself and fought with me. And now I feel terrible…” Daniel, leaning on his laps with his elbows, runs his hands over his face. “No, no, I can’t…” Daniel pronounces in a quiet, shaking voice. “I can’t accept their help… I can’t look into their eyes… I think it would be much better if I rejected their help and got out of the band. I’m grateful to them for everything, but I’m ashamed to accept it after what I read. Yes… I shall reject their help… And even if I have to fight with them, I’ll do it. I can’t speak to them… I can’t look into the eyes of the girls… The eyes of the blond’s girlfriend. What does she think of me? I almost brought her boyfriend to another world! Why does she act as if nothing happened?” Daniel thinks about something, putting a finger on his lip. “I think that red-haired girl is angry at me because of Peter. She hasn’t spoken to me for a long time and doesn’t care about my life. The last time I saw her was when I was in the hospital… And if that’s true, I’m starting to understand why she doesn’t wanna talk to me… If it’s so, those people will confess everything early or late and turn their backs on me.” Daniel swallows up nervously. “No… It won’t happen. I’ll break all the contacts. I’ll do it first. I ain’t gonna wait. I don’t wanna keep being wrapped around a finger. I don’t want.” Daniel doubles over and runs his hands through his hair, pulling it out slightly and hating himself for daring to bring Peter to such a desperate thing. The man starts to be afraid to look into his friends’ eyes after what he suddenly found out and thinks of asking them to leave him alone, thinking it would be better for them and him. Even if all those people treat him very amicably, and Peter does not blame him for anything during their latest talk, Perkins starts to think that they are hiding the truth because of their wish not to get him excited or some of their goals and benefits.***
Some time later, Edward and Natalia went to the home of the girl to talk to her parents about their meeting with Eugene Wainwright. The girl got much better and expressed a wish to attend to the wound that the man got during the fight with her offender. And while she was doing everything carefully, and he was taking tingling and wincing slightly sometimes, they told Anthony and Letitia about what happened. “I can’t believe he has run away from prison,” Letitia says quietly, looking into the distance with wet eyes, locking her fingers, and sitting with the others in the living room. “We still can’t come to ourselves after we heard it on TV.” “I’m angry that the people, who were supposed to watch him, were not up to their task,” Anthony replies confidently, barely keeping his anger inside. “That’s a psycho! Just a sick psycho! Someone like him must take drugs, so they sleep constantly!” “And they were hiding his escape from people for three weeks.” “I guess that asshole found a good place if nobody can catch him.” “It’s alright, that deadbeat will be put in prison early or late,” Edward replies confidently, locking his fingers tightly, while Natalia carefully applies a piece of cotton soaked with something to the wound on his forehead. “I hope the police will be looking for him too hard. Everyone knows how dangerous that man is.” “They must,” Anthony says confidently. “If they let that bastard run away, may they find him immediately.” “Oh…” Edward sighs tiredly. “If only my uncle Michael didn’t run away from prison… If he and his accomplices run away, we will have one more big problem… Or a few ones that wouldn’t be solved in the nearest time.” “That would be too much!” Letitia nods. “If only we didn’t have to deal with Michael…” “God shall save us!” Anthony exclaims. “It would be too much if Michael and his greatest friend ran away from prison, as well. The one to be sentenced for the murder of the friend of Mr. MacClife!” “No, no, I don’t want even to think about it!” Edward raises his hands up. “My family suffered a lot because of that old man. And his escape would bring us to the edge in this situation.” “Oh, the escape of Wainwright is like the escape of Michael and Eric Brown,” Letitia sighs heavily. “He gave us too many problems…” “I swear, if I meet that bastard somewhere, I will beat his face,” Anthony says coldly, clenching his hand into a fist. “I didn’t do that in the courtroom when he was running and screaming at everybody, but I will do it now.” “I did manage to beat that bastard strongly,” Edward confesses confidently. “But he is an impregnable boar that is very hard to catch and defeat… Someone might lose unconsciousness after one strong slap in the face, but he does not pass out even after strong hits on the head. I beat him many times, but he could fall just for a few seconds. And then he got up and started to beat me again.” “Still, we’re truly grateful to you for protecting our daughter and doing everything you could,” Letitia says with thankfulness, caressing Edward’s shoulder softly. “If you hadn’t been there, Wainwright could’ve done anything to Natalia. We could’ve never seen her again.” “No, no, Mrs. Rochester, don’t say that,” Edward shakes his head sharply. “I do shake strongly from just the thought that Natalia could’ve been near that sick bastard.” Two moments later, Natalia puts aside everything, with which she treated Edward’s wound, and presses herself closer to him, putting her head on his shoulder. “I also have hysteria when I think about it,” Natalia says quietly, while Edward takes her hand with one hand and tenderly caresses her head with another. “If Edward hadn’t been next to me, I don’t know what would’ve happened to me. That man would’ve killed me…” “Don’t think about it, sunshine,” Letitia replies softly. “Thank God, everything ended well.” “I don’t even know what I was afraid of more: the fact that Wainwright would’ve mocked me or killed me, or the fact that he could’ve killed Edward. In the first case, I didn’t wanna suffer and struggle with the disgust that he made me feel. And in the second one, I was afraid to lose the protection and support of my beloved man.” “We understand, daughter.” “I was so scared…” Natalia runs her hand over her neck and sighs heavily. “And he took off my necklace and stole it… The one Edward gifted me. Wainwrights also wanted to steal my ring and earrings, but didn’t do it.” “Honey, forget about necklaces, rings, and earrings,” Anthony says confidently. “Now the only thing you should care about is how to save yourself from that bastard. What to do for him to be found as soon as possible and put in prison. How not to let anyone else suffer.” “I know, Dad… I also care about it a lot. Though, I don’t know what we can do.” “By the way, Mr. Rochester, you said you knew about Wainwright’s escape…” Edward says thoughtfully. “Yes, Letitia and I were at your parents’ home,” Anthony replies confidently. “Mr. Cameron, Mr. Johnson, and his wife were with us, as well. We talked and drank coffee, and then heard about Wainwright’s escape on TV.” “Yes, the news said they’d give a generous reward for any information about him,” Letitia adds confidently. “So, do my parents also know about that stinker?” Edward frowns slightly. “Yes, Mr. and Mrs. MacClife are aware.” “And what did Mr. Johnson say?” “He said he didn’t know about the escape because he was on vacation. But when we heard it on TV, Mr. Johnson went to the police to find out everything.” “But if Wainwright ran away three weeks ago, why did we just find out it?” Natalia asks. “We think the police could hide it not to scare people,” Anthony replies. “But since he hasn’t been found, they had to announce it. Before someone met him. But I personally think they must tell everyone about the escape of this criminal immediately.” “I’m afraid it will be very hard to catch that sick freak,” Edward shows anxiety. “Wainwright said the police wouldn’t find him because he found a very good place where he would be hiding.” “It’s alright, that scumbag will be caught early or late. The police are aware of Wainwright’s mental health issues and obsession with young girls, and they will do everything to find that bastard soon.” “The most important thing is not to walk there where he might be,” Letitia adds. “I think he’ll hardly show up in public, but he may be where there is usually nobody.” “We know, Mom,” Natalia nods with sadness in her eyes. “And yeah, you two!” Anthony says strictly, pointing at Edward and Natalia. “Do not dare to set your foot in the place where you met him! And all the places where there is nobody! You can only walk in popular places of the city where that scumbag wouldn’t show up. I’m sure he is not an idiot and completely understands what a walk in that place might lead to.” “Don’t worry, Mr. Rochester,” Edward nods confidently. “I’ve already warned Natalia about it.” “And you, Natalia, you’re actually banned from being in those places alone. At least, while that man walks free. If you meet him when you are alone or with one of your friends, you will have great trouble. And Edward, Terrence, or anyone else won’t help you. If you meet that bastard, he will take you away and do anything he wants. Rape you or kill you.” “No, no, I won’t show up there,” Natalia shakes her head. “I promise. I don’t want that man to do something terrifying to me.” “I hope you got it, young lady. And you will turn on your brains this time. Will not walk God knows where.” “Yes, you must also warn the girls and the men,” Letitia says confidently. “That striker might find them, too. Remember the wide looks that he was sending to Raquelle, Helene, and Anna during the whole trial. And what he was doing after the announcement of the sentence! How that man was accosting those girls, and so many men couldn’t help him.” “Don’t worry, we’ll tell them,” Natalia nods with sadness in her eyes. “When I meet the girls, I’ll warn them that they must be careful.” “But we might have a problem with Anna,” Edward adds hesitantly. “She has disappeared, and we don’t know where to find her. So, we can’t warn her that Wainwright has run away from prison.” “Right…” Anthony frowns slightly and thinks for two seconds. “Does one of you have the phones of her parents? Father or mother?” “Nope, sadly,” Natalia says quietly, moving her eyes to her hands, coughs quickly, takes the glass from the coffee table, and drinks some water. “And we don’t even know where they’re living.” “There’s hope that Anna might watch TV and hear about that bastard,” Edward adds quietly. “I think they would be talking about him many times. So, she might see a reportage at least once.” “Alright, let’s hope she will know it…” Anthony says thoughtfully. “But you should remember that you must not be in desert places. Don’t even think about going there. That stinker does know that you love being there, but it’s very good to commit crimes in those places. He will not go to popular places because someone will recognize him and call the police. But even if you are there, you must be careful. Especially, when you are alone.” “You are absolutely right, Mr. Rochester.” “Though, we can expect anything from Wainwright,” Letitia adds. “I wouldn’t be surprised if that man went to a store, took people hostage, and shot everybody down.” “Anyway, I promise I will do my best to protect Natalia. I can’t be sure if I can be with her all day long, but I will be accompanying your daughter until her offender is free. And if Wainwright dares to hurt her again, he will regret it.” “Thank you so much, Edward, we know you will not betray us.” “Yes, Edward…” Anthony pronounces with a slight smile and claps Edward on the shoulder. “Thank you so much for protecting Natalia and not letting that stinker mock her again.” “But I’m really sorry that that bastard mocked her and scared her to death,” Edward expresses regret. “Anyway, Natalia is okay,” Letitia smiles slightly. “If not for you, Anthony and I would’ve lost our daughter. We could’ve never met her again.” “That’s my duty, Mrs. Rochester.” Edward hugs Natalia around the shoulders and presses her to himself, while she takes his hand and squeezes it tightly. “I swore to you that I would love and protect her while I’m alive and can fight. Alas, I’m not a superhero and can’t defeat enemies immediately… But I’m doing my best.” “We know, honey.” “You’re doing everything you can,” Anthony adds amicably. “I shake from the thought that everything would’ve been otherwise if I hadn’t been with her.” Edward looks at Natalia for a second, while she presses herself to him nicely. “And how much she was scared… That bastard brought her to a real hysteria…” “I thought I’d die from fear,” Natalia confesses very quietly. “And I’m sorry about deciding to run… Maybe, everything would’ve been otherwise, and that man wouldn’t have reached me.” “Don’t think about it, daughter,” Anthony says softly. “Thank God, you’re fine and at home with me and your mother.” “Yeah… Thank God…” “Listen, Edward, you should immediately tell your parents about what happened,” Letitia says confidently. “And you also must talk to Mr. Johnson. He should know that you and Natalia met Wainwright.” “Don’t worry, I will talk to Father and Mother about it when I’m back home,” Edward promises confidently. “And I’ll ask Father to contact Mr. Johnson.” “You can go to his work if you want to,” Anthony suggests. “At ‘The MacClife Shipping’?” “Yes. He went there with your mother to do something.” “Anthony is right, Edward,” Letitia agrees. “Go to the company and tell Mr. MacClife everything.” “Oh…” Edward bites his lip. “Yeah, sure… I will go to the company, then. This talk cannot be delayed.” “Go, Edward, go.” “But I’m afraid to leave Natalia alone and wanted to stay with her for a while. To make sure she’s fine.” “Don’t worry, darling, we will stay with her,” Letitia promises confidently. “Today, Letitia and I will go nowhere and stay with Natalia,” Anthony says softly. “Make sure that she rests well. May she come to herself after the shock and the faint.” “It’s okay, Dad,” Natalia smiles slightly. “I feel much better now. I managed to take a nap in the car while Edward and I were on the way here, and he found a bottle of water.” “Anyway, you better have much more rest,” Edward says confidently. “Eat, take a shower, change clothes, and sleep… And tomorrow, you’ll be fine.” “Yeah, how do you feel?” Anthony expresses anxiety. “You don’t look too good, either! It seems like Wainwright beat you strongly.” “I’m fine, don’t worry. I only experienced fear and got a couple of bruises and a nosebleed.” “You better go to a doctor,” Letitia says thoughtfully. “That’s all very serious.” “Don’t need. I’ve been beaten and gotten hits on my head so many times in my life, but I’m still alive and healthy.” “I hope. But if something is wrong, go to a doctor!” “Thanks for your care, Mrs. Rochester. But I care about Natalia’s condition much more than mine.” “I’m fine, too, don’t worry,” Natalia smiles slightly. “I’ll rest ‘till tomorrow and come to myself.” “Don’t worry, Edward, we will take care of her,” Anthony promises confidently. “Go to the work of your father and tell him what happened.” “Are you sure you don’t need my help?” Edward shows anxiety. “No, Edward, we will do it,” Letitia smiles slightly. “If you want, you can call us after you talk to your father.” “Well…” Edward says nothing for two seconds and nods, exhaling slowly. “Alright… Then, I count on you.” “And don’t forget to tell your brother and friends about Wainwright,” Anthony says confidently. “Sure.” The four people stand up from the sofa. Letitia hugs Edward amicably with a slight smile on her face, and Anthony shakes him by the hand, hugs him, and claps him on the back. And while the Rochester spouses take all the medicines and pieces of cotton covered with blood and say they want to carry them to the kitchen, MacClife, Jr., comes to Natalia, fixes her hair with a tender smile, and caresses her cheek. “Have a good rest, sweetie,” Edward asks softly. “I will call your parents a little later to find out how you’re doing.” “Be sure they’ll tell you I’m absolutely fine,” Natalia replies with a slight smile. “And don’t worry. Think of nothing bad. We will find a way to solve this situation.” “I’ll try.” Natalia fixes Edward’s hair and caresses carefully his wound that is bandaged on the forehead. “Do you really feel good?” “Yup, I’m fine,” Edward nods with a slight smile. “Don’t worry, my sunshine.” “You’re sure?” “Sure!” Edward kisses Natalia on the cheek with a slight smile and takes her in his strong hug, caressing her back tenderly and burying his nose in her shoulder, while she puts her arms around his neck and runs her hands over his hair. “Take care of yourself, sweetheart,” Natalia whispers. “Be very careful. Or I will be very excited.” “It’s gonna be okay,” Edward replies confidently. “I’m strong.” Natalia smiles shyly and runs her hand over Edward’s hair on the back of his head, smiling shyly at the feeling of warmth that the man gives her. “I love you,” Natalia recalls with a shy smile. “Me too, sweetheart,” Edward whispers with a shy smile. Two seconds later, Edward and Natalia step away, and the girl tenderly caresses the man’s cheeks with both hands. And when Letitia and Anthony return to the living room, MacClife, Jr., takes his phone and the keys from his car, and the spouses walk him away with warm words. When he leaves the apartment, and the woman closes the door, she and her husband come to Natalia embracing herself with sadness in her eyes, hug her by one, and kiss her on the cheek or a temple, still being horrified by what happened today.***
Anna is still worried about the breakup with Daniel and feels great discomfort from the pastime with Julian. The girl is sitting in her room, which she does not almost leave, recalling the best moments that she spent with Daniel, struggling with pity for him and hate for him. And some time later, someone knocks at the door quietly. It makes the girl shake slightly at the thought that Julian would come and tell her to go somewhere with him. But fortunately, that’s Maximilian. “Are you still sad because of the breakup with Daniel?” Maximilian asks with sadness in his eyes. “What do you think?” Anna asks without emotions, lying on her stomach in the bed and looking at something behind the window. “How can I forget the one, for who I was ready for anything! Who swore his love but then left me so insolently…” “Honey, you can’t suffer because of that man forever. You were sad for a while, and that’s enough! You should accept it and keep moving on. You’re young and beautiful, and your life lies in front of you. But you spend it worrying about the one, who left you.” “You understand nothing. And you will never do.” “Listen, daughter…” Maximilian comes into the room, sits on the bed, and caresses Anna’s head. “I completely understand that it’s very hard to forget a betrayal. But you must not bury yourself because of that. You shouldn’t deprive yourself of happiness because of being left. Many people experience not one or two breakups, but they find the courage to keep moving on.” “And what kind of happiness do you want for me?” Anna makes a quiet sob. “Do you think I’d be happy if you made me spend time with Julian?” “You don’t want it. If you wanted, Julian would be happy to help you forget Daniel.” “Anyone but Julian.” “Why, daughter?” “Julian hates me, Dad,” Anna says in a shaking voice and wipes tears under her eyes. “He is pretending to be good for you. But actually, that man keeps insulting and humiliating me.” “No, don’t say it, sweetie.” Maximilian takes Anna’s hand and caresses it softly. “You’re insulting Julian by saying these things about him.” “But that’s the truth! Julian keeps mocking me even after apologizing to me with your pretense.” “I’ve known this man and his father for ages. They’re very good and decent people, with whom I worked and have had a good relationship. Your mother knows them, too. As well as your grandparents did.” “Please, Daddy, protect me from that man!” Anna begs with despair. “I do suffer because of him! I suffer much more than I suffer from Daniel’s betrayal. I have nobody else to ask for help. Only you.” “Anna, stop slandering Julian,” Maximilian says harshly. “He did nothing bad to you to hear these things from you.” “Wake up, Father! Stop looking at him like a boy blinded by love! You don’t wanna see how terrible he is. But I do feel his disgusting attitude toward me. Julian will never appreciate me the way any decent man should do.” “You show disrespect for him. Not only him, but also his family. Julian, Norman, Ryan, the late Genevieve… You are insulting them.” “Gosh, why don’t you wanna believe me?” Anna sits up slowly, looking at Maximilian with pity in her wet, red eyes. “That man is not as good as he seems. Julian hates me. He hates! For him, I’m a brainless and worthless chicken!” “Honey, if someone isn’t used to being sentimental and prefers staying cold, it doesn’t mean you’re wanted to be humiliated and insulted.” “His apologies weren’t true… When you left my room, and we stayed alone, Julian insulted me again and said he didn’t feel guilty at all. He said the show that he started was a strong humiliation to him. He thinks he has no right to get down on his knees for a girl and apologize to her. A man is always right, but a girl is always guilty. Even if it’s not the truth.” “Julian has never hidden that he might be enraged at times,” Maximilian says quietly. “He isn’t used to showing his feelings openly. But it doesn’t make him a bad man.” “He is not just enraged, he’s horrible and aggressive. Julian hates me and constantly says girls are nothing to him.” “You just got used to the fact that Daniel was tender and nice to you. You wanted to find someone else to treat you in the same way. But trust me, not all men are the same. And don’t be mad at Julian for that. Norman and Genevieve just made him a man and told him that a man must be strong and hold his emotions down. Nobody loves weak men, honey. And nobody will stand them.” “You’re just trying to excuse him,” Anna shakes her head with wet eyes. “You don’t want to believe he’s bad. I completely get it. But I swear, I’m not lying to you! You think I’d grieve so hard if I didn’t suffer because of him!” “You suffer not because of him, but because of Daniel’s betrayal.” “Julian makes my condition much worse. I don’t wanna be with him.” “Anna, daughter…” “Please, Daddy, protect me… I’m begging you… Do something! I won’t bear it all! I won’t bear it…” “Ah, honey…” Maximilian sighs heavily, hugs Anna tightly, presses her to himself, and caresses her head, kissing her on the top of her head later. “What a sensitive girl you are… When Julian screamed at you accidentally one time, you literally made him a violator. That’s wrong! You must stop being a weak girl and taking everything so seriously.” “He’s really a violator. The one to violate me morally.” Anna makes a quiet sob. “Psychologically. I can’t be happy spending time with him. I can’t forget about my grief. I can’t find the courage to accept it and keep moving on. Julian makes me feel worse. I want nothing because of him. Nothing!” “Don’t hide from people, daughter,” Maximilian says with sadness in his eyes. “Open yourself to Julian and let him make you happy. You know how hurt he is that you don’t let him get closer to you and say these terrible things about him.” “The one to be hurt is me,” Anna replies in a shaking voice. “I’m hurt that I’m treated like a doormat. I’m always told I’m a nobody! That I must be silent and silently do what a man says. That I’m a brainless and talentless idiot, who doesn’t have a right to her opinion.” “No, Anna, don’t say it. Julian would never dare to say so.” “But he does!” “Stop, daughter!” Maximilian says quietly. “You’ve got a too rich imagination.” “Please, Dad…” “And stop suffering because of Daniel. Maybe, he will never remember you. What if that guy wanted to leave you! And if it’s so, he’ll meet another girl. While you’re suffering, he will be happy in a new relationship.” “I won’t be able to live quietly if I know another girl is next to him,” Anna confesses in a shaking voice with tears in her eyes. “Despite nothing, I still love him. Daniel is the only man in my life that I loved and love so much. I love Perkins so much that I still think he is perfect. I always think I’m sleeping and about to wake up next to him. That he’d hug me, kiss me, and say he loves me. That I’d feel like a beloved woman again.” “You say you will not forgive him for that kiss.” “I will not do.” Anna steps back from Maximilian slowly. “But I understand I won’t be able to live without him. I need him… Like never ever. But the fact that he doesn’t need me gives me a strong pain.” “Even if that girl knew about amnesia and used his helplessness, it should mean nothing to you. If you left him, you should accept it.” “I know…” Anna pronounces in a low voice. “But I can’t… I can’t… One side of mine loves him so much that I’m ready to forget that kiss and help him remember everything. But another side hates Daniel to death for that hit in my back. I saw him kissing her. Even if he had a choice. He could’ve pushed her away and said, ‘No.’ But Perkins didn’t do it.” “Sweetie, if you stay in your room all day and think of him, you’ll suffer from this love forever. You should go somewhere and have fun… But you’re only crying all day! And pushing off Julian, who is ready to help you come to yourself.” “He can help me… Help me bring myself to the wish to die. Die from despair.” “No, Anna, for God’s sake!” Maximilian gets horrified. “Don’t even dare to think about it!” “You’ll see it will happen if you don’t save me from Julian.” “Why do I save you from the one to wish you the best? To wish to make you happy! To worry about you so much!” “If I could, I would hide where Julian wouldn’t find me. But sadly, I’ve got no place to go. I can’t hide!” “You should just forget Daniel. Go in public and open yourself to people. Instead of staying here and acting like a martyr.” “I do want to forget him…” Anna says loudly with despair and tears rolling down her cheeks. “I wanna forget that I madly loved that man, who turned out to be a thankless pig.” “And Julian has come into your life at such a good time. Just open yourself to him and trust him, so he does his best to make you feel better and make you forget Daniel.” “No, Dad… I don’t want…” “Who knows…” Maximilian thinks for two seconds. “Maybe, you’ll fall in love with him someday.” “What?” Anna wonders loudly, rounding her eyes. “Me? Love Julian?” “I’ve always suspected that Julian is not indifferent to you, but you’ve never noticed it. You were looking for men not where you should’ve been.” “Bloody hell… Dad… You… Do you understand what you’re saying?” “Now you two have such a great chance to end up together. And for you, it’s a chance to forget Daniel and stop torturing yourself with your love for him and your thoughts about him.” Anna gets sharply white, rounds her eyes, and opens her mouth, being overwhelmed by what Maximilian just said. “My God, Dad, I can’t believe it…” Anna shakes her head. “I can’t believe you’re saying it seriously. You… You… You went insane!” “I think fate gave you a good lesson,” Maximilian replies confidently. “Parents better know what their children need. You minded becoming a member of the Potters’ family and the wedding with one of Norman’s sons and ran away from your home. But you’ve finally woken up and realized that you made a mistake.” “What? You’re playing the same old song again?” Anna sniffs quietly, breathing heavily enough. “Do you still wanna make do what I don’t want to? You wanna decide how I should live, what to do, who to live with, etc.?” “No, no, honey, no…” Maximilian takes Anna’s shoulders softly and caresses them. “I don’t want to tell you how to live and will not do. My main care will always be your happiness. This is the only thing I truly wish for you. And I feel hurt when I see you feeling sad, sitting in your room and thinking of Daniel, who can’t remember you. Why don’t you understand nothing will change if you’re crying?” “How can I be happy when I love the man, who betrayed me, to the death?” Anna asks loudly, making a couple of sobs. “How? There would not be anyone better! Nobody can give me the love I got from Daniel. Yes, he cheated on me, and I hate him. But I still adore the emotions and feelings that he gave me.” “There would always be someone to be better than another,” Maximilian notices confidently. “No, Father, nobody can give me a more wonderful and amazing love than Daniel’s. Nobody. My friends also thought they’d meet someone to be better than those they wanted to leave. But they eventually came back to them and couldn’t forget about their feelings.” “Everyone has different situations. They have one, but you have another.” “Why is love such a hard thing?” Anna glances aside and sighs heavily, looking at Maximilian hesitantly with sadness in her eyes. “Will I suffer from my love for only one man for the rest of my life? Will I never be happy?” “I already said you don’t want it. To forget someone, you should distract yourself and think of something good. At first, stop sitting at home all day and thinking of your love for Daniel constantly. Go outside, spend time with Julian, and have fun… Yes, it will be hard for you at first, but later you’ll feel much better. Maybe, you’ll fall in love with Julian and get married to him, as Lilian, your grandparents, and I wanted. We had a dream – to become a family of the Potters, and it might come true now.” “I’d spend time with anyone but him,” Anna shakes her head without emotions in her eyes. “I will never love such a false and terrible man like Julian. He doesn’t know this feeling and thinks he can bribe a woman with money. Jewelry, clothes, cars, houses, expensive phones and computers…” “Honey, not all men show their feelings openly. While Daniel or the men of your friends show their love loudly, Julian is different. He loves, but doesn’t say it. He doesn’t aim to let the whole world know about his love. There are two or three people, who know it, and that’s good!” “No, Dad… Julian can’t love. He can only use force and blackmail. Get a benefit from any situation. Love is a strange thing to him.” “Oh, Anna…” Maximilian sighs and runs his hands over his face. “I don’t know how to talk to you… You don’t wanna listen to your father, who knows what’s better for you. I’m trying to make you feel better, but you don’t want to listen to what you’re told.” “If you wanted to make me feel better, you’d save me from Julian and ban him from speaking to me.” “And yeah, stop living your fantasies. They’ve always disrupted you. You’re an adult freaking girl, not a little baby. It’s time to remember that not everything in your life is as colorful as your fantasies and the books you’ve read.” “That’s bad people forget how to dream and start to believe that dreams are a waste of time. Because sometimes fantasies come true, and a tale may become real.” “You’re not a princess, queen, duchess, or countess. And princes and kings don’t exist. You will not be taken to a magical kingdom on a gorgeous horse carriage. And you’ll never live happily after. The tale that you dream up has never started. And it will never start, even if you meet a man and get married to him.” “No, Dad, my life with Daniel was the fairytale that I was dreaming about,” Anna replies confidently. “All those months, I lived like a princess and was loved by that man. His house wasn’t a big, gorgeous castle, but I felt that everything was otherwise. I was very happy. Yes, there were hard moments, but they didn’t make me regret deciding to do that.” “You decided to leave him. If it’s so, you have to accept it.” “Trust me, I’d give many things to overcome everything that happened again. And if not for my offense, I’d be happy to come back to him. Daniel was the best thing that I’ve ever had in my life. Not saying about his betrayal and kiss with another girl, I will not regret anything from what we experienced together. Never. And even if I find the courage to keep moving on, I will be looking for the one to give me what he gave me.” Anna looks at Maximilian with sadness in her eyes for two seconds, gets up from the bed slowly, and leaves the room. After staying alone, the man exhales slowly and runs his hand over his face. “Oh, how it’s all complicated…” Maximilian thinks with sadness in his eyes. “And the situation of Daniel… On the one hand, I think my daughter did the right thing by leaving him. But on the other hand, she suffers because of him… She is distanced from everyone and doesn’t want to talk to anyone. Neither Julian nor her friends… And it’s amazing that she’s never spoken to them. They didn’t kinda fight with them, but Anna ignores them…” Maximilian glances aside and carefully gets dust from his eye. “Because of her love for that guy, she doesn’t let Julian get closer to her and says bad things about him. Anna is unfair to such a good man from a decent family. He’s well-educated, he’s smart, he’s got a job, he earns a lot of money… He’s a perfect partner for my daughter! She is so silly… Rejected such a perspective man! With him, she would live like a queen and need nothing. And their children would be provided. I could hardly be so sure about the success of Daniel’s band. If they get less famous and are invited nowhere someday, he will quickly become poor. But I don’t want my daughter to live with a pauper. She must be with the one, with whom she wouldn’t have to need something.” Maximilian puts his finger on his lip. “Yeah, maybe, I talk to Anna’s mother about trying to marry Anna and Julian again?” Maximilian frowns slightly. “I think Lillian would be happy to become a part of the Potters. We wanted Anna to get married to Norman’s son. If we agree on everything, our family will become related. And I will be quiet for the future of my daughter and her children.” Maximilian smiles shyly, stroking his chin. “Maybe, fate really sent Daniel to her to make her understand that she’ll make a mistake by refusing to become a provided woman? No matter how much Anna wanted to avoid the wedding with one of Norman’s sons, she has come to where she ran away from. And my daughter will accept her fate, early or late. Her family has always wished the best for my girl. We do everything for her quiet life. And we know what would be better for her. I hope Anna will understand it, early or late.” Maximilian keeps thinking about his idea of trying to get Anna and Julian married, not wishing to see the signs that the girl sends him with the hope that he will protect her from the man, who makes her feel coldness, fear, and anxiety, and would not let her stay alone with the trouble that she got into against her wish.***
Some time later, Edward comes to “The MacClife Shipping”, the shipbuilding company of his father, Jamie. The big building with high ceiling, glossy windows has a few floors and looks very modern. There are many green plants around and enough places in the parking lot placed on the ground and underground. Spacious roads covered with bricks lead to different locations, and there is kind of an endless ocean at some distance from here. And being not far from the building and looking around, it’s possible to see many high buildings and automobile roads. Maybe, when the company just started its work, everything was different, but now the owner of the firm has decided to make the territory better and make it much nicer to look at. But Edward came here not to look at these beautiful places. After coming to the building, the man leaves his car in one of the parking places, gets out of it quickly, locks it with a key, and comes to the entry confidently. Since he has been here several times, he knows where to go to find Jamie. Almost all the staff members know him as the son of the company’s owner, greet him when he goes by, and answers them back. After welcoming young, tough at-first-sight guards standing near the entry and closely watching those, who are coming and leaving, Edward enters the building, which is also glassy inside. Some people in suits quickly go by MacClife, Jr., being very busy, talking on the phone, checking out some papers, talking to their colleagues, and going to the entry to smoke with someone, who is standing there or further. And as everything is glassy inside, it’s easy to see what every single staff member is doing in an office that might be chic and spacious or much tighter and less gorgeous. After taking some distance in the glassy, well-lighted hall, Edward comes to the reception. He sees an overweight old woman with small earrings in a dark blue jacket and pants and a dark gray shirt, who is answering calls, looking at some papers, and sometimes drinking something from a cup standing near her iMac of the last generation. She looks too focused and busy, doing her job and explaining something to someone, who comes to her two or three times. Edward watches her from afar for a few seconds, while she speaks to a young man. And when they leave, the man slowly comes to the reception, and the kind at first sight woman gives him attention immediately. “Oh, hello, Edward,” the woman says amicably. “You haven’t been here for ages.” “Good afternoon, Shelley,” Edward replies gently. “I see you aren’t bored without a job.” “Yes, as you see, I always have a lot of work,” Shelley takes some paper and runs her eyes over it quickly. “Many calls and papers… And the staff members come and ask something often.” “Wow…” “But it’s alright, I’m used! If you want to stay in the company, you must keep the rhythm that everybody works with. Slowpokes are not welcomed here.” “I see…” “Yeah, what’s wrong with your face?” Shelley closely looks at the bruises on Edward’s forehead and the wound covered with a bandage. “Did you hit something?” “Well, nothing serious…” Edward finds an excuse, slightly rubbing the area covered with a bandage. “A couple of weeks before it’s gone.” “Are you really fine?” “Yes, it’s alright. Don’t worry.” Shelley puts the paper that she was examining aside and quickly checks out something on the computer when she asks: “By the way, did you come to see your father?” “Yes, I need to talk to him,” Edward replies thoughtfully, leaning on the reception bar. “Is he here?” “Sure, your father is in his office.” “He’s busy?” “No, he’s talking to your mother.” “My mother? She is here?” “Yes, Mr. and Mrs. MacClife came here together.” “Really? So, that’s much better…” Edward cracks a smile. “Thanks a lot, Shelley.” “Yeah, don’t you want to drink something? Tea? Coffee? Water?” “Oh, no, no, thanks, I came here for a couple of minutes. I should tell Father and Mother something. I was near here and decided to go to the company.” “So, alright. Then, let’s go together. I need to give your father some papers to sign.” “Alright.” Shelley takes some papers and goes to where Jamie’s office is along with Edward. They quickly go down the hall and come to the truly luxurious, well-lighted, and spacious office. Jamie is proudly sitting in a comfortable leather office chair and talking to Rebecca sitting in front of him and pressing her purse to herself. When Shelley and Edward come to the office, the woman knocks at the door quietly and opens it, looking inside the cabinet. “Mr. MacClife…” Shelley pronounces correctly. “Yes, yes, Shelley,” Jamie says quietly, making a gesture with a hand. “What’s wrong?” “Sorry for bothering you, but someone has come to you.” “Someone? Who?” Shelley goes aside from the door and lets Edward show up on the doorstep. “Edward?” Jamie pronounces surprisingly. “What a surprise!” “I didn’t know you’d come here,” Rebecca smiles shyly. “Hey, Dad, hey, Mom,” Edward waves a hand. Silence settles in the air for two seconds, which Shelley breaks, glancing at her papers. “Ah, yeah, Mr. MacClife,” Shelley says thoughtfully. “I also came to say you should take a look at these documents and sign them as soon as possible.” “Alright, I will do it,” Jamie replies correctly. “Leave the papers on the table, please.” “Alright.” Shelley comes to the writing table and leaves the folder with some papers. “And yeah, I was told that the young interns needed your help again. They asked me to tell you to come to them.” “I got it. Tell them I will come later. And now give me a cup of coffee, please.” “As you want,” Shelley smiles shyly. “Sorry for bothering you.” Shelley closes the door of the office quickly and goes to do her work, while Edward glances at her and comes closer to Jamie and Rebecca. “I guess I came at the wrong time,” Edward says thoughtfully, biting his lip slightly. “No, no, it’s okay,” Jamie waves a hand, gets up from the chair, and comes to Edward. “The business can wait.” Edward greets Jamie with a slight smile, hugging and clapping him on the back, hugs Rebecca, who stands up from the chair, and shares an amicable kiss on the cheek with her. “Oh, honey, what is that?” Rebecca pays attention to Edward’s face, moves aside some of the strands of his hair, and looks at the bandage on his forehead, caressing his cheeks tenderly. “What’s wrong with your face? How did you get the bruises?” “So, sonny, you got attracted to problems again?” Jamie laughs quietly, seeing the small spots of dirt on Edward’s white t-shirt. “You lived quietly for a few months and decided to have fun again?” “Actually, I’d like to talk to you about it,” Edward replies a little hesitantly, looking at Jamie and Rebecca. “Something happened?” Rebecca rounds her eyes. “Yup… The case is quite serious.” “Okay, my dears, let’s sit down,” Jamie says quietly, pointing at the chairs placed in front of the writing table, and sits in his comfortable office chair. “I wanted to tell you about it at home, but I decided not to wait and to go to the company,” Edward confesses, while he and Rebecca sit on the chairs in front of Jamie. “Oh, God, I’m already kind of scared…” Rebecca puts her hand on her heart. “Yes, Edward, you look a little scared,” Jamie frowns slightly and folds his hands in front of himself on the table. “You have problems?” “Yes, something terrible happened,” Edward replies with sadness in his eyes, locking his fingers tightly. “Speak, sweetie,” Rebecca says softly, putting her hand on Edward’s knee. “We’re listening.” “As it turned out…” Edward falls into silence for two seconds, glances aside, and exhales sharply. “Eugene Wainwright has run away from prison.” “What?” Rebecca and Jamie do not understand it immediately and look at each other questioningly. “Eugene Wainwright?” Rebecca frowns slightly. “The stinker, who mocked Natalia and helped Uncle Michael do his dirty tricks,” Edward specifies, looking at his hands. “Who wounded me at the courtroom. That deadbeat is walking free now.” “Wait, Edward, wait,” Jamie says quietly, getting straight sharply. “But how did you know it?” “Natalia and I met him when we were spending time together,” Edward folds his hands in front of himself on the table. “First, we didn’t notice anything, but later someone pushed Natalia in the back. She said so, but I saw no one at first. We decided that Natalia just stepped over and kept moving on. And then Wainwright showed up behind us.” “He pushed her?” Rebecca specifies. “Yes. That man said he ran away from prison after he shot at someone, who should’ve watched him. He stole a pistol from a guard of the prison, shot at someone, and ran.” “And where’s he hiding?” Jamie frowns slightly. “I dunno…” Edward falls into silence for a second and shakes his head. “We don’t know from where he appeared and where he decided to hide… But Wainwright is sure the police will never find him. He said he found a place that nobody would reach.” “Did he do something to Natalia?” Rebecca asks with horror in her eyes. “The poor girl probably got terribly scared when she saw him.” “Very much… If I hadn’t been with her, that bastard would’ve tried to do something to Natalia. I mean… Wainwright tried to rape her right in front of me. He just felt her up every time he got a moment.” “What a sick deadbeat!” Jamie resents. “I did everything I could to protect her. But I had to be very nervous… At some moment, Natalia ran away when Wainwright and I were fighting. He ran after her, and I couldn’t find them for a long time ‘cause that bastard closed her mouth and didn’t let her say a word. But I was lucky Natalia managed to scream.” “Poor girl…” Rebecca pronounces with horror in her eyes. “My heart squeezes when I think about what he could do to her.” “Remembering what he did the last time, I imagine what could happen today,” Jamie exhales sharply. “That bastard told her about all his sick fantasies, felt her up from head to foot insolently, and almost undressed her,” Edward says in a lower voice. “It eventually led to the hysteria that Natalia got obsessed with. And he was also slapping her in the face strongly and dragging by the hair… And he almost strangled her…” “God, how awful!” Rebecca exclaims. “Yeah…” Jamie pronounces with horror in his eyes. “That bastard is kind of obsessed with her!” “And since that stinker tried to get into her underwear, she got terribly scared,” Edward says with sadness in his eyes and looks down for a second. “I almost killed that bastard with my hands when seeing what he was doing to Natalia. I did wanna take something heavy and hit him on the head strongly. Revenge him for all her sufferings…” “You risked a lot by fighting with such a dangerous man,” Jamie says with anxiety. “For that girl, I’d fight with five people! Wainwright is a strong bull, but I beat him strongly before I made him go and leave Natalia alone.” “Thank God,” Rebecca exhales with relief. “He just understood I wouldn’t go anywhere without Natalia and wasn’t gonna give up easily. He had no choice, but he understood it too late. When he made my fiancée suffer. Again.” “Is Natalia okay?” Jamie expresses anxiety. “How is she feeling?” “Better now. But that man scared her strongly. At first, she had hysteria… Ran away again and beat me on my arms… Screamed… As if she was resisting Wainwright, who she thought about… And at some moment, she lost her energy… And the poor girl eventually fainted…” “Poor girl…” Rebecca pronounces with horror in widely open eyes, closing her mouth with a hand. “I got madly scared. It was horrible to watch Natalia like that. At first, that girl was screaming loudly and resisting, but then she lost consciousness in my arms, saying, ‘I’m dying’…” “She’s really fine now?” “Yes, yes, thank God… But she was unconscious for a long time… And then I had to explain what happened, ‘cause Natalia remembered nothing. And calm her down when she got obsessed with hysteria again… Not such a strong one, but she cried a lot…” Rebecca and Jamie shake their heads with dumbfounded eyes, getting horrified by realizing that Eugene really ran away from prison and already met Edward and Natalia. “What a twist, my dears…” Jamie exhales sharply, running his hands over his hair. “Hard case…” “Yeah, one person brought the girl to that condition…” Rebecca says with pity in her eyes, shaking her head and closing her mouth with a hand. “He could’ve scared her so much that her heart wouldn’t have taken it!” “No, no, Mom, I don’t even wanna think about it,” Edward shakes his head sharply. “If something happens to Natalia, I won’t bear it. I thought I’d die myself while having to watch her in such a terrible condition.” “We know, sonny,” Rebecca caresses softly Edward’s knee and hand placed on it. “Hey, did you know about his escape?” “Yes, Edward, we’re aware of Wainwright’s escape,” Jamie says, swallowing up nervously and starting to wrap the pen in his hands. “The Rochesters, the Johnsons, and Mr. Cameron went to our home. We decided to talk with a cup of tea. And at some moment, we heard about Wainwright’s escape on TV. They said he ran away three weeks ago, but everybody just found it out… The police were hiding it until the very end.” “I know,” Edward nods with sadness in his eyes. “Mr. and Mrs. Rochester told me about your talk.” “So, have you talked to them?” Rebecca frowns slightly. “Yes, I drove Natalia home, and we told her parents what happened. Then they advised me to talk to you. They said you went to ‘The MacClife Shipping’. So, I thought it was a good idea… I left Natalia with the Rochesters and went here.” “We wanted to warn you,” Rebecca confesses. “But it’s late.” “Yeah, if only my brother didn’t run away from prison,” Jamie says tiredly, running his hand over his face. “It would be the greatest catastrophe. We barely put Michael in prison, but if he runs away, that scum will kill all of us. He will not forget what we did.” “I’m praying that it doesn’t happen,” Edward exhales sharply. “The fact that Wainwright walks nobody the hell knows where and plans to rape my fiancée and her friends. And murdering my brother, our friends, and me.” “He will not leave you alone,” Jamie assumes thoughtfully. “These bruises on your face are nothing. Wainwright might beat you too strongly. And if he gets a gun or a knife, your wound will probably be lethal this time.” “It’s alright, I’ll deal with it. I’ll do my best to hold on ‘till the end. Because I know I must protect Natalia. Wainwright is a hard opponent, but I’ll deal with him.” “You’re lucky that you got off so easily, and that sick one was alone. Or everything could’ve been much worse.” “It will be much worse if that bastard hurts Natalia, I’m afraid of it much more. Once, I almost went insane, pulled my hair out, and was afraid that I could’ve lost her when Uncle Michael was holding her at his home. One more time would be too much for me.” “We were all worried about her,” Rebecca sighs heavily. “That’s bad Michael decided to make her a victim, even when she didn’t have to do with our family.” “I think Natalia and you understand well that you shouldn’t go to desert places and any places where you may meet him,” Jamie says quietly. “And she must actually be banned from walking in those places alone or with her friends.” “I won’t let her walk in these places,” Edward replies confidently. “And I banned her from being there alone. But I think she understands everything well and knows what it would lead to in the worst case. Natalia is a smart girl and understands everything. And she wouldn’t survive another torture by Wainwright.” “The most important thing is that she isn’t as stubborn as Raquelle is at times,” Rebecca expresses hope. “Even if Terrence asks her not to do something, she might not listen to him and do what she wants.” “No, Mom. Somehow, Natalia found out what might happen and wouldn’t do it again. Of course, I will accompany her and am ready to protect her at any moment… But I can’t always be next to her. I’ve got many things to do, and we might get sick of each other.” “The most important thing is not to walk in desert places,” Jamie says confidently. “He wouldn’t one hundred percent go to popular places because he’d be caught by the police. And this type of crime is committed where there are no witnesses.” “No, no, until that bastard is found, we won’t go there. I will be closely watching it.” “I’d like to believe that stinker will be found soon,” Rebecca expresses hope, locking her fingers. “Me too. And we must do it before he commits another crime.” “And he might do very much…” “Listen, Father…” Edward thinks for two seconds and folds his hands on the glassy table, moving his eyes to Jamie. “You’ve got the number of Mr. Johnson! Please, call him and tell him about Wainwright! He should know it. I’m not sure if it would help them find that freak, but since he’s a policeman, he must be aware.” “You’re right, Edward,” Jamie nods confidently. “I shall call him right now. Moreover, he was supposed to go to the police station and find out everything.” Jamie takes the wired phone, types a number, and puts it to his ear, knocking on the surface of the table with his fingers and looking at Edward or Rebecca, who look at each other sometimes. And a few seconds later, the man pronounces confidently: “Hello! Mr. Johnson? Hello again! Jamie MacClife is on the line. “Good afternoon, Mr. MacClife,” Victor greets. “Sorry for bothering you, but I need to talk to you. You should know something about Wainwright.” “Yes, speak, I’m listening to you closely. I’m now at the police station and talking to the people, who know about this case.” “The reportage on TV was true – Wainwright really ran away from prison. Edward and Natalia met him literally some time ago.” “Oh, God…” Victor exhales sharply. “So, didn’t you manage to warn the others?” “Sadly, no. That man showed up suddenly and started to threaten my son and his fiancée. Wainwright tried to rape her and brought her to a strong hysteria.” “And where did it happen?” “At a desert place. I don’t know how he ended up, but it’s hard to say where that bastard is hiding. But he confessed that he really shoot the prison staff member with a pistol stolen from the guard.” “Oh, gosh…” Victor thinks for two seconds. “And yeah, how do you know it? Did Edward and Natalia tell you about it?” “Edward. He is with me now.” Jamie looks at Edward, who nods. “He went to my company and explained what happened.” “Can I question him?” Victor asks thoughtfully. “Give him the phone, please.” “I will better turn on the speakerphone, so we can hear you.” Jamie turns on the speakerphone with one button. “Alright, I did! Speak!” “Edward! Edward, can you hear me? It’s Victor Johnson.” “Yes, Mr. Johnson, I hear you,” Edward replies confidently. “Good afternoon.” “Hello. Tell me, please, where you met Wainwright, and how it happened. I need details!” “Natalia and I were quietly walking in a desert place, and then Wainwright pushed Natalia in the back and showed up from somewhere, letting us know that it was him. That man told us how he ran away from prison and wanted to deal with me and mock Natalia.” “I hope you both are okay?” “Yes, we are fine, thank God. I only got a couple of bruises, and Natalia got a strong shock because Wainwright tried to rape her. I will not tell you everything, but it all brought my fiancée to a strong hysteria, after which I barely calmed her down.” “So, did Wainwright threaten you?” “Many times. He reminded us of everything that happened to me, Mother, Father, Uncle Michael, and Terrence… He stole Natalia’s necklace that I gifted her… I clearly let him know she wouldn’t go with him and did everything to protect her. And he eventually understood it and left. But he said it wasn’t the last meeting of us… And he added that Natalia’s friends might also suffer if he met them without the men.” “Those, who were on the trial?” “Yes. Raquelle, Helene, Anna… He meant them.” “Oh, God…” Rebecca pronounces with horror in widely open eyes. “Oh, the situation is complicated…” Victor says thoughtfully. “Very complicated…” “Did you find out something?” Jamie asks. “Nothing special, Jamie. I just got the confirmation and examined the interrogation report of the prison staff.” “But would you help us?” Edward asks with hope. “I’m afraid I can’t help you yet…” Victor says with regret. “The police are looking for him too hard, but don’t expect that everything will be so easy. Yes, the photo of Wainwright was sent to all possible places and would be shown in crime news, but it may lead to nothing.” “And what do we do?” “The only thing you can do is to be very careful, not to walk in desert places, and not to leave the girls alone. Eugene can do anything with them if nobody stops him. He is obsessed with young girls and is a threat to them. There are documents that confirm his mental health.” “But how long will we have to be afraid of him?” Edward wonders with horror in his eyes. “We have too many problems! And the escape of that sick scumbag!” “I’m very sorry, Edward. But there are no chances to catch him now because nobody knows where he is hiding. The police are patrolling the streets very closely and examining all places in the city, but it might take a lot of time. And people’s calls might not help the police find the right location.” “Oh, how awful…” Rebecca shakes her head. “But is there hope that he will be caught?” Jamie asks. “There is always hope, Mr. MacClife,” Victor replies confidently. “Eugene wouldn’t go far. We will use any moment to find him. We will wait for him to get caught on something.” “Poor Natalia…” Edward exhales sharply, running his hand over his hair and putting it on his forehead. “She won’t sleep quietly, knowing that her offender is free and might harm her.” “Don’t worry, Edward. That man would be caught early or late.” “It would be good if the prison staff got stronger control of Michael and his hang, so those scumbags don’t run,” Jamie says thoughtfully. “They got the order and are now keeping them under special control. All the prisons where they are now are under close view.” “Let’s hope it will help…” Rebecca expresses hope and tucks a strand of hair behind her ear. “By the way, have you already warned Terrence, Raquelle, and their friends? Especially, the ones, who were on Michael’s trial!” “No yet,” Jamie shakes his head. “Rebecca and I tried to call him, but he turned off the phone, and nobody answers the home one. He is probably spending time with Raquelle.” “Warn both of them!” Victor says confidently. “Immediately! Eugene has a grudge against Terrence and would deal with him as well as with Edward. He is also not indifferent to Raquelle. Knowing how he looked at her and her friends.” “Don’t worry, Mr. Johnson,” Edward says confidently. “I will talk to Terrence and Raquelle when I meet them. And I’ll tell our friends to be careful.” “And yeah, if you, your brother, your parents, or someone else recalls something else, let me know immediately. Any information might be important.” “We will keep you aware, Mr. Johnson,” Rebecca says confidently. “Thanks for telling me about that.” “Thank you for not refusing to help,” Edward thanks truly. “I will do everything I can.” At this moment, Jamie looks at Edward and Rebecca with anxiety in his soul and fear in his eyes. All three are horrified by what might happen and cannot even imagine how to solve the current problems and start to live the quiet life that they had before.***
The next day, Terrence went to the café to eat something. While he is standing in line with his arms crossed over his chest and waiting for the moment to buy something, he is thinking about one situation that has been happening lately. And it’s about Raquelle’s behavior. “Raquelle has been very weird lately…” Terrence thinks, looking around. “It’s been happening for a long time. One day she may be happy, cheerful, and laughing, but the next day she gets gloomy, sad, and weak. That girl laughs and smiles, but has sadness in her eyes.” Terrence glances at someone, who goes by him. “No, I understand that girls may be too sensitive sometimes, and our problems might also be the reason,” Terrence frowns slightly. “But if nobody makes Raquelle distract herself and think about good things, she always withdraws into herself and reflects on something bad.” Terrence scratches the back of his head and fixes the expensive watch that he is wearing on his left hand. “But she didn’t start to behave so weirdly one or two weeks ago. It’s been happening for a long time! I’d say it sometimes happened during the trial of Uncle Michael. Yeah… At that time, she was kinda weird… But I thought she was worried about how everything would’ve been over. Just like all of us… But even after the trial ended, Raquelle didn’t look more cheerful. I do feel that something ain’t right with her, but I can’t understand why… Maybe, the problem is me? Maybe, I do something bad and make her upset? But what? Maybe, she doesn't wanna get married to me?” Terrence looks around again, sees that he is going to come to the cash soon, and takes his wallet from his pocket. “Damn, so many problems have rained thick upon us again!” Terrence thinks, takes his bank card, and puts his wallet in his pocket. “Perkins decided to go nobody the fuck knows where! And he eventually got beaten and hit by the car, so that it slapped his mind. And he always screwed up our performances… But our fans began to bully too hard because he allegedly brought Peter to the self-murder and threatened to kill him.” Terrence sighs quietly with closed eyes. “So, we’ve gotta think about how to solve it…” Terrence thinks with sadness in his eyes. “And getting one more problem would be too much… Knowing that Edward got into something… So, we have to save his ass and solve his problems… No, no, if that kid wanna find trouble, I’ll kill him. Seriously! I won’t bear two more kinda heroic things of his.” It’s finally time for Terrence to buy everything he wants. He quickly says what he wants, gives his bank card to the seller, leaves his signature on a check that he is given, and takes a plastic glass and a small pack some time later. And while MacClife, Sr., looks around and finds a table where he could sit and eat quietly, a certain man recognizes him, comes to him, and calls him: “Terrence?” Terrence puts everything he has in his hands on the table, turns on the voice, and quickly recognizes the man, who called him. “Steven?” Terrence pronounces amazingly, arching his eyebrows. “I didn’t expect it!” “Hey, man,” Steven greets amicably and puts his plate with his order on the table. “Glad to see you.” “Same!” Terrence greets Steven amicably, shaking him by the hand tightly and clapping him on the shoulder. The man knows this person named Steven Appleby because he is Raquelle’s long-time friend and a photographer, with whom she often works as a model. And as Terrence has worked with him several times, they have a good relationship but speak rarely enough. “What brought you here?” Steven asks with a slight smile. “Well, I was just driving in the city, got hungry, and decided to come here,” Terrence replies amicably. “Okay… I also came here to eat something.” “Listen, sit down with me. We’d talk a little. I came here alone. But you could make a company for me.” “Sure.” Steven and Terrence sit on the table in front of each other and start to examine their packs with food, and the latter takes the wallet and puts his bank card in it. “By the way, I haven’t seen you for ages,” Terrence notices confidently. “I agree,” Steven replies. “But Raquelle and I often talk about you when we get a chance to work together.” “Yeah, she said.” “We’ve tried to agree to go to a café so many times, but I don’t almost have free time and get really exhausted.” “Are you so busy?” “Yeah, I have a lot of work,” Steven replies thoughtfully. “Every day, I have a few shoots and then many meetings… But today is a more or less quiet day…” “Don’t you probably have time for your girlfriend due to these shootings?” “You mean Delancey? Oh, I broke up with her a long time ago!” “Broke up?” “Yup.” “Oh, I’m sorry…” Terrence says with sadness in his eyes. “A breakup is always hard.” “I don’t deny that it was hard at first, and Raquelle saw it. I had such a lousy mood that everything fell apart, and I barely made myself work. But later I got kind of better and no longer worry about it so much.” “Did you break up with a scandal?” “I wouldn’t say so… But to be honest, I still can’t understand why we actually thought we loved each other. Why we decided to date and get married…” “Fleeting passion?” “There wasn’t passion… Just… A close distance just did its business… We kissed… And… We liked it… We thought it was love.” “I get it.” “Hey, didn’t Raquelle tell you that we got problems a few months after we began dating?” “Nope, she didn’t…” Terrence shakes his head, eating something from a small pack. “But she mentioned that your work wasn’t very good because of your lousy mood.” “I had broken up with Delancey before that moment. Of course, Cameron supported me somehow, but I didn’t get better. And those I worked with also tried to help…” Steven drinks something from his plastic glass. “But later, Delancey and I talked, and I got much better. And then we talked again and decided it would be better to break up and remain friends.” “Sorry. Delancey is a good girl. I’ve known her for ages, and she’s always been very nice to me.” “I know,” Steven replies thoughtfully, eating something from a small box and drinking a drink from his plastic glass. “But we better be friends. We agreed not to think about that failed affair and to pretend that nothing happened. I’d be very glad if she met a good guy, and she wants me to find a decent girl.” “I see…” Terrence drinks some coffee from his glass. “And did you meet someone after her?” “Nope, I decided to focus on my work fully,” Steven shakes his head. “That’s what helped me come to myself. Time and work are the best cure.” “And you don’t think about some rest?” “Not now.” Steven eats something from the small box. “And why? I’m doing what I like! I have a lot of work, but I don’t get sick. And talking with people helps me distract myself from problems.” “Well, you could go to the sea or to the mountains. Take a couple of friends and have fun to the fullest.” “Maybe, I will go somewhere later. But now work, work, and work again.” “Okay, then I wish you not to overwork,” Terrence laughs amicably. “Thanks, buddy, I will try.” Silence settles in the air, during which Terrence and Steven eat and drink something they bought, being happy with the food, the drinks, and the quiet atmosphere at the café. “Well, say something about yourself,” Steven says amicably. “How are you doing?” “Fine,” Terrence replies. “I’m doing my business.” “I heard your band is getting more popular, and you’re gonna release an album.” “That’s true. We’ve already released our first single and music video.” “By the way, it’s fantastic. And I really liked the music video. The girls were really incredible.” “Thanks, Steve,” Terrence thanks with a slight smile. “I’m glad you liked it.” “I’m gonna listen to your album when it’s out. I’m sure that’s gonna be a real bomb.” “It will be, dude. Don’t doubt it.” “Okay…” Steven drinks something from his plastic glass. “What about you and Raquelle?” “Everything’s good,” Terrence replies with a slight smile. “When will you finally get married?” “We’re getting ready yet. Though, we have so much to do that we don’t have time to talk about it.” “Didn’t your younger brother change his mind about the wedding?” “No, buddy, he will never do. Edward fell in love with Natalia so deeply that he wouldn’t look at any other girl. He only wants Raquelle’s stunning friend.” “That guy has good taste. Raquelle’s friend is really fabulous. You two have incredible ladies.” “Oh, yeah!” Terrence pronounces with his head proudly raised. “Is Raquelle still getting tons of offers for work?” “She is! While I’m working with my band, she often gets invited to shootings and fashion shows.” “Don’t you think of breaking up?” “No, c’mon! We don’t even think about it!” “Yeah, why isn’t she with you?” “Today, she’s having a shoot for a magazine. A very famous one. The chief editor personally invited her to shoot for the cover and give an interview.” “Cameron still shines just as bright as a star.” “What’s right is right!” Silence settles into the talk again, during which Steven and Terrence smile shyly. But then the photographer clears his throat quietly and folds his hands, looking at Raquelle’s fiancée a little hesitantly. “Oh, listen, Terrence…” Steven pronounces thoughtfully. “Can I ask you something?” “Yes,” Terrence shrugs. “Ask.” “Sorry for meddling in your business… But say… Is everything really okay with Raquelle? Or is something happening to her?” “Erm…” Terrence stretches the back of his head. “Well…” “So, something is not right…” “Erm…” Terrence frowns slightly and looks at Steven questioningly. “Why did you ask me about it?” “You see, when I was working with her on the shootings two months ago, she was sad enough,” Steven confesses thoughtfully, holding a plastic glass. “I asked her if she was okay, and she said she was fine, but she looked saddened anyway.” “Really?” “Yes.” Steven glances aside for a second. “I wanted to sit down with her and ask her about everything, but then I thought it could be her personal business. I was afraid it would’ve made our work worse. But to my surprise, Raquelle did everything she should’ve done well.” “That’s how…” “Listen, is everything really okay between you two?” Steven frowns slightly. “Maybe, you have problems in your relationship, but you don’t wanna spread any rumors?” “No, we have an excellent relationship…” Terrence shakes his head. “Raquelle says she’s very happy with me, and I think I’m lucky to have her.” “But haven’t you seen that she’s sad?” “I must confess that I’ve also been noticing something like that.” “And how long has it been happening?” “For a few months…” “And you can’t imagine what could happen?” “I don’t know. But sometimes I blame myself. For something wrong.” “It seems like something serious happened if Raquelle is not just sad but also crying.” “Crying?” Terrence rounds his eyes. “Yes. Do you know her assistant, Deirdre?” “Yeah, I’ve met her several times.” “So, Deirdre told me she saw Raquelle crying in a locked restroom cabin somehow. She didn’t wanna talk to anyone when we had a break.” “Really?” Terrence gets horrified. “Ask Deirdre if you don’t believe! She tried to talk to Raquelle, but she wanted to say nothing. And when it was time for the shooting, your fiancée came to the set and acted as if nothing had happened. She’s a professional. But that’s weird, you know.” “My gosh… I… I didn’t know it…” “I don’t exclude that Raquelle could act like this at other shootings, and her helper could not see that. But it’s hard for me to imagine what could make her cry if you say everything is fine about your relationship.” “Listen, I don’t really know what’s happening to her…” Terrence says with sadness in his eyes, shaking his head. “It’s not a secret for us that girls may get sad and cry for nothing. But it happens to Raquelle too often.” “Haven’t you tried to talk to her?” “Of course, I have, but she says she is fine.” “Hey, didn’t she fight with anyone? Or is she worried about one of her close people? Maybe someone has problems? Her grandfather has problems? Or her aunt?” “No, everything’s great about it. Her grandfather and aunt are both fine.” “Oh, I don’t know, then…” Steven leans back in the chair and glances aside. “But it’s all so weird…” “I know, but I can do nothing,” Terrence shrugs with sadness in his eyes. “I’ve been reflecting on this situation for a long time, but I have no idea. And I can’t talk to her and find out what’s happening. At first, I blamed the girls’ problems and the trial of my uncle, which she was worried about, but the case is probably not about it.” “Maybe, her friends know something? Haven’t you tried to talk to the girls? Raquelle could be more talkative with them!” “Not yet, but I want to.” “The girls may share secrets with each other. Who knows, maybe, someone will say something, and you’ll know what happened.” “I think so. So, I’ll try to find a moment and talk to the girls. Or maybe, I will even try to talk to her assistant. Would you help me contact her if I asked?” “Sure, no problem!” Steven shrugs. “Thanks a lot, Steven,” Terrence thanks with a slight smile. Silence settles in the air, during which Steven and Terrence silently eat what they have. And some time later, Appleby looks at his watch that is put on the left hand and starts to fuss, understanding that he should go. “Oh, listen, Terrence, I'm sorry, but I have to go,” Steven says thoughtfully. “I wanted to come here for a few minutes to eat and didn’t think I’d meet someone.” “Many things to do?” Terrence asks. “Yup, but it’s personal. I wanna do everything ‘till tomorrow because I will have a lot of work.” “Okay, I got it. I ain’t gonna hold you.” “But thanks for keeping me a company.” “Thank you for the talk,” Terrence smiles slightly. “I talked at least to someone. Today, all my friends and younger brother decided to leave me because they’re spending time with their girls.” “You leave them next time.” “It will happen, buddy,” Terrence smiles slyly. Steven and Terrence shake each other by the hand, get up from the table to hug each other amicably, and share a slight clap on the back. “Bye, Terrence!” Steven says goodbye. “Bye,” Terrence nods. Steven takes his plastic glass and the sandwich that he has not eaten yet and leaves the café quickly, while Terrence watches him and chuckles quietly. “He’s eating literally on the go…” Terrence thinks with a slight smile. “So busy that he can barely find time to eat well.” Terrence drinks some coffee from his plastic glass and thinks about the talk with Steven. “Hm, Steven said Raquelle’s assistant saw her crying…” Terrence frowns slightly. “Damn… I forgot that she was crying some time ago and couldn’t explain why. It happened to her not for the first time… She cried before… But why? What could happen? What makes her fall into depression? Why does Raquelle act like this and say nothing? She does know I'll always support her and help her somehow! Why doesn’t she trust me? I feel hurt that Cameron doesn’t wanna say anything to me!” Terrence shakes his head slightly and runs his fingers through his hair. “I’ve gotta do something. If I don’t do anything now, it will be too late later. At first, I must talk to Natalia, Helene, and Anna. Maybe, they know something and would tell me why Raquelle is acting like this… And I shouldn’t forget about Mr. Cameron. He surely may know something… And I must find it out as soon as possible. Maybe, she’s got such serious problems that they must be solved immediately…” Terrence exhales quietly and drinks some drink from his plastic glass. And a few seconds later, two girls, a blonde and a brunette, come to his table after seeing the man from afar and recognizing him quickly. “Terrence?” the blonde asks, putting her hand on Terrence’s shoulders. Terrence moves his eyes to the girls and sees Natalia and Helene. The girls smile at him amicably and behave as if nothing happened to them, even if the brunette looks sad enough, and the blonde is quite anxious. “Oh, Natalia!” Terrence wonders. “Helene! Hey, girls!” “Hi!” Helene and Natalia greet amicably. Terrence stands up to greet Natalia and Helene by hugging them and sharing an amicable kiss on the cheek. “Sit on the table,” Terrence invites, pointing at the table. With these words, Terrence sits at the table, and Helene and Natalia get down comfortably in front of him. “We saw you shortly after we came here,” Natalia confesses, putting her purse on the back of the chair. “How long have you been here?” Terrence asks. “Well, for ten or fifteen minutes.” “And why didn't you come earlier?” “You were just talking to a certain man, and we decided to wait,” Helene confesses. “We thought you had an important talk.” “Nope, nothing serious,” Terrence replies quietly, running his hand over his hair. “That’s Steven. Steven Appleby. The photographer, who befriends Raquelle. Who works with her often.” “Is that the photographer, who Raquelle has befriended from the beginning of her career?” Natalia frowns slightly. “Yay, that’s him.” “Yeah, I remember. As far as I remember, he had a girlfriend.” “Steve said they broke up a long time ago. They decided to remain friends. They kinda made a mistake by deciding to become a couple.” “That’s how… Sorry…” Silence settles in the air for two seconds, during which Terrence looks at Natalia and Helene closer. “Hey, I thought you’d spend time with Edward and Peter,” Terrence says thoughtfully. “Why aren’t you with them?” “I can’t meet Edward today,” Natalia replies quietly. “First, he’s meeting someone, with whom he works on songs for artists, and then he wanna go to his house and work on repairs.” “Wow, is he preparing a loving place?” Terrence laughs shyly. “Sort of.” “And Peter?” Terrence moves his eyes to Helene. “He also has some business?” “Peter…” Helene pronounces thoughtfully, falls into silence for two seconds, and bites her lip. “Erm… Peter is watching Sammy.” “Sammy?” Terrence frowns slightly. “But what about you?” “Erm… I recently brought my dog to his home… I need to go to my workplace in two hours. And now I decided to go to a café, and Natalia agreed to keep me company.” “Well, okay…” Terrence believes that Helene answered his question kind of hesitantly and pulled the words too strongly, as if she thought about what to say and did not actually know what Peter was doing. But despite being anxious and curious, he decides not to ask Natalia about Edward or Helene about Peter. Even if he notices that the girls do not look very good. “I’m sorry that Raquelle couldn’t join us,” Natalia says with sadness in her eyes. “She said she’d be busy with shootings all day long.” “Yeah, she’s having a shoot for a magazine…” Terrence nods. “Yes, yes… She said.” Terrence glances aside, locking his fingers, and Natalia frowns slightly, as she looks at him. “Hey, Terrence, are you okay?” Natalia asks anxiously. “Why are you so sad? You have problems?” “I could say so…” Terrence replies thoughtfully. “Any problems with Raquelle?” Helene rounds her eyes. “Yeah… And you know… That’s good I met you.” Terrence drinks some coffee from his glass. “Helene, Natalia, I’d like to talk to you about Raquelle.” “Raquelle? But what’s wrong with her?” “Say, have you lately noticed something weird about her?” “Weird?” “Maybe, you saw her being sad because of something? Thinking about something a lot! Crying because of something? If something like that happened, tell me. I should know everything!” “Listen…” Natalia pronounces thoughtfully and thinks about it, putting her finger on her lips. “Raquelle has really been weird lately. Her mood is too changing… She smiles and laughs or withdraws into herself, doesn’t almost speak, and looks very sad.” “That’s true,” Helene nods. “The girls and I have asked her if she is fine two times, but she says she is. Though, her eyes are full of sadness.” “I think everybody saw it! Remember how Peter said it when we were at the home of you and Raquelle the last time! And Cameron rarely spoke and was much busier with her thoughts.” “Didn’t she tell you, Helene, and Anna something?” Terrence frowns slightly. “Maybe, Raquelle said something that made you suspicious?” “Nope, nothing like that,” Helene shrugs. “Hey, why are you asking?” Natalia asks anxiously. “Steven and I were talking about Raquelle,” Terrence confesses with sadness in his eyes. “He told me her assistant somehow saw your friend crying in a restroom.” “Crying?” Helene and Natalia get horrified. “Yeah, but she acted as if nothing happened when she came on the set.” “And you didn’t know it?” Helene wonders. “No, I just found it out! And it scares me. It’s not the first time Raquelle cries for nothing… It often happens to her… I’ve gotten your friend caught crying many times, but I still haven't found out why she was upset.” “Oh, gosh…” Natalia pronounces quietly, rounding her eyes and closing her mouth with a hand. “I’m worried about her, girls. I’m afraid that something the same thing that happened to Peter might happen to her.” “Do you wanna say she might try to kill herself?” “I’m afraid of it to death. Remember, Pete also seemed happy, but he broke down at some moment. His real emotions went out of him, got obsessed with him, and made him cut himself so that the doctors barely saved him.” “Do you think Raquelle has depression because of something we don't know about?” Helene asks with fear in her eyes. “If it’s so, we must find it out as soon as possible and help her. It’s all getting too serious! Raquelle is destroying herself, but I don’t know why!” “Excuse me, Terrence, but is everything really okay between you and Raquelle?” Natalia frowns slightly. “No, no, Raquelle and I have a good relationship,” Terrence replies confidently. “Yesterday, we spent a fantastic time together. We swam in the pool, laughed, and played the fool… She felt good…” “Well… Maybe, something is happening to Alicia or Mr. Cameron?” “Mr. Cameron is fine, Alicia is okay, too… Though, I haven’t spoken to them for ages… Anyway, I’m afraid I’d have to visit Raquelle’s grandfather if I don’t find out what’s happening to her in the nearest time.” “You know, Terrence, your suspicions make me worry about her, too…” Helene says with anxiety, grabbing her throat. “What could happen if Cameron is crying?” “I don’t know, Helene… But it all makes me nervous.” “She’s hardly worried about what’s happening now so much,” Natalia frowns slightly. “Yes, Raquelle does worry about Daniel and Anna. But I don’t think she’s worried so much. She just wants everything to be back to the right place, and everybody to be happy.” “No, she’s hardly worried about Anna and Daniel…” Terrence shakes his head. “It’s been happening for a long time, since the trial of Uncle Michael.” “But it’s been a few months!” “And she’s been acting like this since that time! I didn’t find anything suspicious about it ‘cause we were all worried. But even after the trial was over, she didn’t get better and kept being sad, crying, and withdrawing into herself.” “So, something happened during the trial of Michael?” “Most likely. I have no other guess.” “And what could it be?” “I don’t know. I’ve been reflecting on it for a few months, but I can find out nothing.” “But what can we do if Raquelle is really too close to doing the same thing that Peter did?” Helene asks with anxiety. “Until we find a reason, it will keep happening,” Terrence throws his hands up. “Then we must save her! But from what and how?” “I don’t know, Helene, but I’m madly worried about her…” Terrence replies anxiously and squeezes the bridge of his nose for a second. “And the fact that Raquelle says nothing to me makes me upset. I’m her fiancé, but she doesn’t trust me. She fears something. She doesn’t want me to help her. Cameron lies that everything is fine, but I know that’s not true. Everything is kind of fine, but there is a wall between us.” “Sorry, MacClife, but we can’t help you,” Natalia shrugs with sadness in her eyes. “Raquelle says nothing to us. She doesn’t trust only you. She trusts nobody. You, the girls, the men, and me.” “That’s why I'm starting to make sure that the visit to Mr. Cameron would give me nothing.” “But he can advise something. Mr. Cameron is a very wise and smart man, who knows Raquelle much better than we do. Maybe, he’d tell you how to make Cameron confess everything.” “Oh, shit…” Terrence, exhaling sharply, runs his hands over his hair. “What do I do? What?” “Don’t worry, Terrence, Raquelle will tell us the truth early or late,” Helene expresses hope with sadness in her eyes. “Whatever she hides, it can’t happen forever. Any secret will be revealed, no matter how hard you hide it.” “I know… But when will she stop being silent? When I give a damn about everything and let her solve her problems alone?” “Helene’s right, buddy,” Natalia agrees. “Raquelle will have to explain her behavior anyway. Or she will betray herself when she’s sick of being silent.” “Girls, I have a plea for you.” Terrence bends toward Helene and Natalia slightly, looking at them confidently. “Please, watch her closely. Watch her actions and words. Or you better try to find out what she feels and what she’s worried about. I need to know where to go to push Raquelle to an open talk.” “Don’t worry, Terrence, we’ll be watching her closely,” Natalia promises with a slight smile. “If we notice something that makes us suspicious, we will let you know.” “Thanks a lot,” Terence smiles shyly. “I knew I could count on you.” Helene and Natalia also smile shyly and say nothing for a few seconds. And then Marshall hears the ring of her phone, which she takes. “Oh, excuse me, it’s from my work,” Helene says a little hesitantly. “That’s very important.” Helene stands up quickly, takes her purse, and leaves the café, putting the phone to her ear and starting to talk to someone. Terrence watches her with a suspicious look, frowns slightly, and moves his eyes to Natalia, who is watching her friend with sadness. “Hey, Natalia, don’t you think Helene is kinda weird, too?” Terrence shows suspicion. “She rarely speaks, seems very quiet, and looks sad…” “Yeah, I think so,” Natalia nods. “I tried to find out what happened to her, but I couldn’t get anything outta her. Marshall refused to talk about it and changed the subject.” “I’m ready to bet that something happened between Peter and her.” “Peter?” “She kinda lied when she spoke about him and Sammy. I mean, I’m sure your friend lied.” “You talked to him?” “Nope, Pete turned his phone off, and I can’t call him. But something is not right in this case.” “You think they fought?” “I don’t know, friend… She talked about the blond with reluctance…” “Right…” Natalia frowns slightly. “Helene answers questions kind of distantly…” “But I don’t exclude that she could really bring Sammy to Peter’s home. And not to talk to him.” “Maybe, Helene is really gonna go to work in two hours. And you know that she almost always leaves Sammy at Pete’s home on these days.” “But she has a grandmother. Doesn’t she take care of Sammy?” “Helene says it’s hard for Mrs. Marshall to watch him. She can only feed that doggy, but playing actively and washing him is not for her ‘cause she has hurt legs. Pete does it well… And Sammy is attracted to him and spends time with him with pleasure.” “I know. But agree, there’s something suspicious about it.” “I can’t disagree. But it’s okay… Maybe, she’ll want to tell us everything later. And won't be silent as well as Raquelle does.” “And I’ll ask Peter about everything. I think he’s gonna be much opener than before.” Terrence drinks the rest of the coffee and looks at Natalia with a slight smile. “Okay, let’s not talk about bad things and make our mood worse,” Terrence suggests cheerfully. “Let’s better talk about the wedding of you, Edward, Raquelle, and me.” “Is there something to talk about?” Natalia wonders, wrapping a couple of strands of her hair gathered in a ponytail. “Now, the thoughts about the wedding are in second place. We stopped making our plans for the wedding after Edward gifted a ring to me, and you proposed to Raquelle.” “Right.” Terrence smiles much wider. “But the parents of Edward and me are getting ready actively. They say they’re super excited about the wedding and happy they’re gonna become a family.” “Cameron and I are literally relatives of all of you! We only need to register everything officially, so my school friend becomes my sister-in-law, and the actor loved by all girls becomes my brother-in-law.” “You’re lucky with relatives, my darling,” Terrence says confidently, clapping Natalia on the hand. “Not everyone gets the honor to become a relative of Terrence MacClife himself.” “If you didn’t have such a good bro, I wouldn’t become a member of your family.” “Yeah, you drove the boy crazy.” “He’s guilty! He shouldn’t have seduced me!” “I’d bet who seduced. My bro has never hidden that he lost his jaw when he saw you for the first time.” “He thought only about how to find you. And the feelings were born by themselves.” “You didn’t pay attention to him immediately. But he quickly realized he liked you.” “Yeah, love at first sight didn’t happen. But even if I didn’t pay attention to Edward as a man, I thought he was a handsome guy with an angelic voice anyway.” “Yeah, he has a cute face. But he’s far from me. Because I’m not just sympathetic, I’m incredibly handsome. Just like Apollo!” “Oh, MacClife, here you go again…” Natalia laughs shyly. “A man like me is more expensive than any brilliants.” “You give a bad example to your brother. Edward has lately loved praising himself and doesn’t doubt that he’s gorgeous.” “Not a bad one! Vice versa – I help him! The kid has changed a lot in a few months! Thanks to my efforts!” “Let’s see what you’d teach your children.” “I’ll teach them everything,” Terrence replies with pride. “My children will get all the best from me and Raquelle.” “I guess, your parents often ask you about when you’ll become a father?” “Oh, yeah! Mother can’t wait to babysit her grandchildren, and she always says it to Edward and me. Father also wants it, but he says when we’re ready, we’ll have children.” “Edward said,” Natalia laughs shyly. “But the most important thing for us is the wedding. Raquelle and me and Edward and you.” “My parents are also terribly excited and getting ready actively. Besides, they talk very much about it with your father and mother.” “They often say your parents are thrilled that Edward will become your husband.” “Oh, they do adore him!” Natalia smiles shyly. “They say Edward is the best man of those I met before. And I can’t deny it, ‘cause all my exes can’t be compared with your bro.” “I know. And I think he’s lucky with the mother-in-law and the father-in-law. Your parents are wonderful people.” “Raquelle and I are gonna have a great father-in-law and mother-in-law. I love Mrs. MacClife with all my heart and got along well with Mr. MacClife. So, we won’t face the problem of your spouse’s parents.” “And we won’t have problems with other relatives,” Terrence notices with a slight smile. “I’ve said many times that I’m thrilled you’re gonna be a part of my family. And Raquelle is nicely excited, too.” “I know,” Natalia smiles widely. “I’m so happy that Raquelle and you are gonna become my relatives.” “Although I’ve said it many times, I’ll repeat that Edward is really lucky to have you. You take care of him very well. I say it ‘cause I see how much he has changed lately. Not only did the work with the band liberate him and teach him to be more confident. Love does magical things, too.” “I think I’ve also changed to some extent since I met your bro.” “Even if you have, it’s only for the best. You’ve become very happy and smiling.” “Aw, Terrence, you’ve always known how to make someone smile,” Natalia replies with a slight smile. “I’m just telling the truth.” “Ah, why does Raquelle get sad and cry when she has such an amazing man? What does my friend want? How could Cameron do it to you? I don’t understand it!” “Oh, Natalia, I’d like to know why your friend is so changing…” Terrence says tiredly, running his hand through his hair. “I really wanna help her, but I don’t know why she suffers. Maybe, I’m doing something wrong. Maybe, she needs something, but Raquelle is afraid to say it… Though, everybody knows I do everything for her and would sacrifice a lot for her to be happy.” “At least Cameron has never complained about you. She’s never said she’s suffering next to you.” “Sometimes I think Raquelle doesn’t trust me. Maybe, she’s afraid… Who knows…” “Don’t be upset, buddy,” Natalia claps Terrence on the hand with an encouraging smile. “Raquelle can’t be silent forever and will tell you everything, early or late.” “Will she tell us everything when she’s brought to the edge?” “Let’s believe it will happen much earlier.” Terrence says nothing and glances aside with a quiet sigh, while Natalia looks at him with sadness in her eyes. Both of them think about something not very nice, suffering that they are getting more and more problems, which cannot be solved at the moment.