Hello readers!

I am sooooo sorry I'm late for today's chapter! Today was crazy and no fun and I kind of forgot! It's 11pm...we're not yet tomorrow. lol So, here's your chapter, hope you'll forgive me for being late. :s

Kaya

Chapter 36

Catherine came back to the manor later than she planned. Though it did not really surprise her, she was completely lost between great joy and deep despair. She carried the Phantom of the Opera's child in her womb, he who now obviously hated her for some obscure reason… It had been so long since their last encounter and she was beginning to forget how good it felt to sleep in his arms, now getting used to her cold bed… Yet, the blood rose's image was still burning in her mind. Why did he hate her so…?

Her musing was interrupted when she entered the main hall by Christine, who was smiling from ear to ear at her. Catherine looked at her questioningly and then noticed just how much the vicomtesse truly changed in the past few weeks and only then was she truly realizing it. In a matter of weeks, Christine and Raoul would be parents… Tears burnt Catherine's eyes, but she managed to hide them from the other mother-to-be. It was just so hard to think she would not be so lucky as to have her own husband by her side when she felt the baby move for the first time inside of her, or even for the birth…

-"Come, Catherine." Christine giggled, clapping her hands together like a little girl overexcited. "The duke is here and waiting for you with Raoul in the study."

Catherine had forgotten Friedrich would visit later that day. She was so taken with the news she was pregnant that everything else seemed of little importance.

-"I don't feel like seeing them at the moment. I'm very tired." Catherine whimpered, trying not to be offended when Christine rolled her eyes

-"Nonsense, you can rest later!"

On that, the viscountess grabbed her friend's hand, dragging her to where the gentlemen were waiting, almost pushing her inside the room once they arrived. The duke and the viscount were laughing heartily like two old friends, each holding a cigar in one hand, a glass of brandy in the other. When he saw Catherine though, Reinhardt let the two items aside and went to her, placing a brief kiss to her cheek as he always did, looking down at her. In his pale blue eyes, she could see something strangely close to pride and she did not find it particularly reassuring. Something had changed…

-"It seems you are feeling better than this morning." He said kindly. "I did not know you were out."

-"Neither did we." Raoul declared, looking at Catherine suspiciously, probably thinking she went to see his old enemy

-"I needed some fresh air, so I went for a walk." She said, thinking it was not entirely a lie. "Why did you two want to see me?"

Raoul went behind his desk and asked the duke and Catherine to take a seat. She found he was acting like a businessman and, somehow, she was worried about it. Reinhardt took place beside her on the couch, taking her hand without her permission.

-"Monsieur le Duc came to ask me for your hand, Catherine, and I granted it to him."

The young woman's heart skipped a beat, feeling faint and nauseous all of a sudden. She managed not to show much of what she felt or the duke might be mistaking her reactions for happiness, while she felt quite angry in truth.

-"You have no right over me, Raoul." Catherine said, Friedrich's hand beginning to shake in hers

-"Your aunt placed you under my protection and so it is my duty to see to your well being. Madame Giry gave me carte blanche for any decisions that I deem just and essential for you."

Catherine felt betrayed beyond reason. Her aunt just compromised her freedom and shattered the little hope she had left to one day be with Erik. Tears of anger filled her dark brown eyes, but none seemed to notice…or care.

-"A young lady of your quality should marry a good man." Raoul continued

Staring coldly at him, Catherine understood that no matter what, even after the promise he made her, he would have never let her marry her Erik. She knew it! he broke his word and her heart.

-"We will announce your engagement to Monsieur le Duc de Reinhardt at the Winter Ball at La Rose Bleue, in two weeks from now." Raoul declared. "Now, you may leave. Your fiancé and I must talk about a few details such as your dowry."

The Duke stood up, smiling proudly at her, barely noticing the way she was looking at his business partner. Before he had time to give her his usual kiss on the cheek, Catherine tuned on her heels and stormed out of the study. He could only guess it was because she was overwhelmed.

The young woman ran to her bedroom at a complete loss as to what would happen to her now. What would come next? Collapsing on her bed, she permitted herself to let out all the pent up emotions and cried for the longest time. What was she to do now? Trying to calm down so she could at least try to think more clearly, Catherine sat up, leaning against one of the bedpost, devastated.

On the other end of the large bedroom, she saw her sitting reflection in the full length mirror. Her hand reached for her belly, her thoughts drifting to her dear Phantom. He was not going to come back… She could not live in her fairytale anymore. There was another life to think about than her own. She would always love Erik but now her child would prevailed her vain hopes.

Sighing, Catherine took the gravest and most important decision in her entire life. If Erik did not give her any sign of life by the Winter Ball, she would marry the duke of Reinhardt. The thought disgusted her, but she did not have much of a choice. Her child needed safety and a father figure. Also, she did not want to dishonor her family's name. If she had a child out of marriage, her name would be tarnish and her baby would never have a normal life and she could not let that happen.

A plan was slowly forming in her tired mind. She must have been only a few weeks along in her pregnancy. A baby could be born before its time was due… Catherine took another hard decision then. As soon as possible, she would have to give herself to Friedrich, in order to make everyone believe, including him, that this child was his.

That plan, though a good one, was painful and would certainly be the hardest thing she ever did in her life. But Catherine had to go through every stage of it. It was not important she would hate herself for the rest of her existence. It was not important that she might never be happy with the duke. What was important was her child to come and she would do anything for him or her.

AN: Stay tuned for the Winter Ball chapter next week! XD