A short time later after calming down, Clarisse headed back out into the suite to find Joseph missing, but the french doors leading to their balcony, slightly open. Walking over, she stood watching him through the gap for several moments before opening the door and stepping out into the cool night air.
"Philippe was my best friend," She started as she slowly made her way over to him as he turned his head first before turning to face her "When he went away, I felt like I had died inside." She said softly while folding her arms "Even though I was the annoying baby sister he never treated me that way, he never left me out of anything. Always stuck up for me in school, and he would rather play with me than football with his friends." She said while moving to stand next to the balustrade. Leaning on it with her arms as Joseph turned to watch her, she carried on "Even when he was a teenager he took me places, didn't care what his friends would say..." She said while looking out into the darkness "Whenever he wasn't around I felt invisible, I felt lost." She whispered trying not to cry again "I can understand why he wanted you to protect me, as that's what he had done my whole life..." Looking towards Joseph as he stood looking at her, his hip resting against the balustrade "Why didn't you tell me? Why have you been lying to me?"
"Because I keep my promises." He answered and looked down at his glass before downing the contents.
"Even from your wife?" She asked and watched him raise his head to look at her "We have been married two months Joseph, we're not meant to keep secrets from each other, not one like that..." She said softly while watching him "We have a new life together, a new home, a new start and look whats happening?" She said while shaking her head and looked back out into the darkness "It's like I don't even know you at all." She said while closing her eyes.
"I'm sorry Clarisse, I really am.." Joseph said softly and watched as she looked back at him.
"I know that he didn't think much off Rupert, and neither did you.. but you didn't have to come here and protect me, I could of looked after myself." She said looking out into the darkness.
"From that man who hit you a number of times whenever I wasn't around? From the man who would of killed you if I hadn't of got back in time?" He said putting his glass down on top of the balustrade and looked at her "I took care of you the best I could. I protected you from that monster who didn't deserve you or your sons!" He exclaimed and felt her hand slap him hard across his cheek.
"How dare you, I loved that man you just called a monster, yes he wasn't the best husband in the world but he adored his family!" She snapped.
"Yes, he adored you that much that he made you cut of your friends, he abused you Clarisse.." He answered "I wanted to kill him, the only person stopping me from doing it was you. I know Philippe would off had he been around." He answered as they stared into each others eyes "He didn't treat you like he should of Clarisse, he was evil and you did not deserve what he put you through... I lost count how many times I had to stop him from hurting you." He said, his tone softening as Clarisse looked away, tears filling her eyes "I hate to think about what would of happened had I not been there to protect you." He said and watched as she looked back at him "And whenever I did see you with a black eye, or a bruise on your arm I did feel like I had failed, and tried harder the next time.."
"Do you really love me?" She asked moments later while keeping her eyes fixed out into the darkness "Because I feel now you don't."
"Oh I do and have done for years." He said as Clarisse looked back at him "Yes, when I first came here it was duty to your brother...and he is in real fact the real reason why I came here, I will admit that. I promised him I would look after you and that's all I had planned to do, I never planned on any of this happening. I never planned to fall in love with you, the most beautiful woman in the whole world and if I'm honest, I fell in love with you from the first moment I saw you." He said softly and watched as Clarisse tipped her head forward, covering her face with her hands as she began to cry "I have loved you for years Clarisse, and that will never change." He said stepping closer to her, wrapping his arms around her.
"No you don't." She cried.
"Yes I do. Your brother never told me how beautiful his baby sister was..." He said as she raised her head and looked up into his eyes "Seeing you with a black eye, a bruise on your arm... or you without your smile, broke my heart. It made my blood boil and I wanted to kill him." He said putting his hand up to brush her hair back behind her ear "Compared to him, you were so tiny." He said quietly as Clarisse rested her head on his chest while closing her eyes "Your brother was a good man Clarisse, he hated that man for so many reasons... and so did I."
