Chapter 64: Chapter 64

A cold calm invaded the now suffocating atmosphere of the room. Livid, I dared not express the slightest word.

“How did it happen?” Johnny asked, dazed.

“A guest saw someone on the roof of the castle, it was Ethan,” Salomon said, his voice low and shaken. “He hooked a rope to the top, put it on his neck and threw himself off. Eve…I’m sorry.”

Carmichael approached me, and his presence made Eric recoil. An exchange of hostile glances ends up consuming their clearly displayed hostility. The rest of the room remained silent, the atmosphere there was strange.

“He’s not dead,” Carmichael whispered.

I stepped back, ready to explode with joy, but he stopped me by grabbing my forearms.

“He left a letter to explain this.”

“What?”

Carmichael handed me the letter, which I snatched from him, and immediately read the few lines, shaking from head to foot. Tears streamed down my face, and I barely managed to stifle sobbing gasps.

“Can he stay asleep? I mean, can we keep him like this? Is it possible?” I asked, almost in despair.

“It’s possible,” replied Connor, who obviously had a disturbing habit of this kind of experience.

“What exactly are you thinking?” Carmichael asked me.

“Why didn’t he die at the end of that rope?”

“It was Caleb who was alerted by one of the guests. He and Eric arrived on time. The rope didn’t break his neck, but he’s been lifeless ever since.”

“He hasn’t woken up since you saved him?” I confirmed with Caleb.

“He has remained as you see him here.”

“Thank you so much,” I said as sobs still clouded my voice and tears still flooded my face.

“We brought him back here and warned everyone you see in this room.”

“Except me?”

“We wanted to spare you this spectacle,” said Carmichael, putting his hand on my shoulder, “and were waiting for the end of the festivities to tell you about it.”

“I understand,” I finally said after a heavy silence.

I almost had the impression of relief in the expression of the witnesses of this scene. Nobody wanted to see an angry bride, and I didn’t have enough moral strength to get upset anyway. Earlier, I was celebrating my wedding, but Ethan had taken everything from me, except for the thin crown that I wore on my head and which weighed so heavily now.

My brother’s body lay before my eyes. What madness had crossed his mind?! I caught my breath and stiffened, the tears were no longer flowing. Eventually, anger, disappointment and guilt drove me to my limits. I was angry with my brother. Oh yes, I resented him a lot, despite his condition.

“I want him locked up in one of the chambers of the Pomona room,” I ordered coldly, “where he’ll be kept asleep. Under no circumstances shall my brother wake up before I order it.”

“Do you think he’ll understand the day when he will have to be woken up?” Johnny asked.

“Would you like to go out for some air?” I ignored his question.

“I’ll go with you,” Carmichael said, taking my hand.

“No, thank you,” I said. “I’m going to stay with Johnny. See you later, okay?”

“Okay,” Carmichael replied, his eyes barely masking the disappointment.

To the others, he hadn’t shown the slightest sign of disquiet, but as I left his office, I felt in my gut all the pain that my refusal had caused him. Witnesses were present and had therefore been able to see that it wasn’t in my husband’s arms that I had gone to take my pain, but in those of my best friend, a human being. It suddenly occurred to me that the ties that had been woven with Carmichael weren’t at the stage where I could abandon myself without restraint in his arms. We weren’t there yet. I didn’t need him desperately, and the thought saddened me.

As I left the terrible atmosphere of Carmichael’s office, I asked Johnny to follow me to my room to help me change. I was impatient to be rid of this wedding dress, which wasn’t easy to remove.

“So do you think he’ll understand?”

“Carmichael will get over it,” I said with some difficulty as I pulled my tights off. “I don’t want to be with him now. Earlier, we were celebrating an event that changed my life forever – and in my case, the word ever applies perfectly, you agree – and the next minute everything turns into a nightmare. I need to breathe.”

“I’m not talking about Carmichael! I’m talking about Ethan when he wakes up.”

“I don’t know,” I replied, more tired than ever, thinking back to his terrifying letter. “It seems to me the best thing to do, he leaves me no choice.”