Chapter 38: Chapter 38

"Sometimes you have to love people from a distance and give them the space and time to get their minds right before you let them back into your life."

-Robert Tew-

***

Phoebe's P.O.V

"I don't know..." I say as I look at the two men, my mind is on the verge of explosion right now.

"Phoebe, listen to me, let's go home, okay? You belong with me." Henri says as he holds out his hand to me, Edgar is standing there like a stone statue, completely still. This must have given quite a shock to him, because a really big thing just happened today l, and now this.

"Edgar, I..."

"Go!" He suddenly shouts. His expression is as cold as ice, it's kind of terrifying.

"What?" I look at him with confusion.

"Don't you hear me, Phoebe? I say go! You already have a fiancée, and yet... you..."

"It's a misunderstanding, Edgar, I..." I stutter as I hold back the unshed tears, my eyes are glassy right now, I can't see clearly.

"Phoebe, let's go." Henri grabs my hand and quickly take me outside, I turn back to look at Edgar, he still stands still where he is, and now his back is facing me, he doesn't says anything else, and I am brought outside, without even saying goodbye.

I can see the stare of Edgar's men, they must have been confused as well why I am brought like this, some of them are about to stop me but then their friends who understand the situation tell them not to.

There is a black car right outside the gate and he quickly gets me on the front seat and put the seatbelt on, which I believe is his way of preventing me from getting out again before getting in and take his seat in the driver's seat.

"Don't pout now, Phoebe dear, we are about to go home, you should be happy to the least." He speaks as we starts to drive on a good distance from the mansion.

Yeah, he is right, I should be happy, but something is wrong, it doesn't feel quite right, I feel like something is done incorrectly, but I can't quite figure out what it is. Instead of happiness, I feel sadness, instead of relief, I feel slight burden inside my chest.

I should be glad that I am now free from the hand of a mafia boss, free from the dangerous world he almost dragged me into, I should be happy, but somehow, it doesn't feel quite right.

During our drive to the airport, he keeps on talking about his plan on the future, he kept on talking how he paid ten-thousands euros on an ex FBI agent to locate me and he thinks it is enough proof to show me his feelings, but somehow, I am not impressed.

I remain quiet, I don't really want to talk, I keep on thinking about what happened earlier, and it still bothers me somehow, until now.

How can he be so cruel? How can he just tell me to go away? I thought he loved me, and I sort of wish he would just listen to me and my explanation instead of just pushing me away like this, I don't understand his state of mind.

The look on his eyes were cold, it was like the first time I met him, and he looked like a stranger to me.

"Why did you lie? Why did you pretend we are engaged, Henri? You know we are not."

"But we will be, you should know by now I have been aiming to marry you, ever since you came to my house with your sister that day, I already wanted you to be mine."

"I am not yours, don't treat me like an object."

"What are you talking about? You are not an object, I genuinely like you, no, I love you, and I want to marry you."

"Connard." (Bastard) I whisper slowly.

"Don't call me that, love, you will upset me, we'll get married, and that's final."

"Oh, so you are forcing me now?"

"No, that is not my intention, dammit, just please, let's go back first."

We arrive at the airport, and we quickly book two tickets to Paris, France. We wait for a few hours before getting inside the plane, and as soon as the plane moves, I close my eyes, trying to force myself into sleep.

I want to sleep and forget everything.

***

We arrive at Paris and one of his employee comes to pick us with another black car. What is it with these men and black cars ? Both Edgar and Henri always use and own black cars from different companies, not that I really care.

"Aren't you happy to be home, Phoebe? Look, this is the place where you were born and grew up, your homeland, you should be happy to be here."

"I know, I get it already, Henri, please, I'm just tired."

"Is that so? My poor woman." He wraps his arms around my shoulder, and I shrug it, trying to get away from him. But he just gets closer to me to the point of me being trapped on the edge between the car door and him.

I look outside the window and find my apartment, but somehow, the car doesn't stop in front of it as it keeps on driving away.

"Henri, what are you doing? We just passed my apartment."

"You wouldn't need it anymore, we will be living together again in my house, I've been quite lonely ever since you left a few years ago, but now we will finally live under the same roof again." He says in a cheerful tone, he seems to really be enjoying this situation, but not me.

"Are you crazy? I saved money for years to buy that apartment."

"Yes, but from now on I will provide everything you need. You can still work in the hotel if you want to, but just know, I am not forcing you"

"Are you kidding me!? No! Take me back to my apartment, Henri, I am being serious right now."

"Don't be so difficult, Phoebe, you will live a nice, convenient life if you just decide to be an obedient woman, and marry me, I promise I will make you happy for the rest of your life."

I don't get this man, how can he be so ridiculous, I know Henri isn't the best when it comes to personality and emotional management, Edgar is worse than him, and I know he is always up to something, but still, his decision to make me marry him is just crazy.

"My parents will be glad, I know they have approved of you, they will be excited to hear our marriage announcement."

Okay, this is getting out of hand.

"No, let me go!" I say as I am about to open the car door, but Henri catches me, he wraps me wrists around his hand, and it hurts, he quickly puts some alcohol infused cloth over my mouth, and I can see him with an evil grin on.

And I can't believe I'm thinking this, but I think I rather be with Edgar right now, at least he never forces me, yes, that's right, no matter how much of a bastard he is, he never forces me like this, and to my surprise, he has never hit me either, or hurt me physically. God, help me.