Chapter 35
"Christine? Is she alright?" Erik asks with concern

"Yes, she's fine," she replied.

"Oh, good. I almost thought that something had happened to her. So, what is it?"

"She wanted me to tell you that she's ending her engagement with Raoul. Tomorrow at lunch."

"Are you serious?"

"Yes, sir."

Erik turns away slightly and covers his face as he is relieved that his and Christine's dream of being together can finally become a reality. "I can't believe it!" he sighed. "After all this time! We can finally be together."

"I honestly want Christine to be with you than with Raoul," Eliza implied. Erik turns and raises his eyebrow at her. Curious at her remark. "He doesn't deserve her, and I know that you can make her happy."

Erik smiles and compliments, "You're a nice and honest girl."

"Thank you, Erik," she replied. They smile at each other briefly then Eliza glances to the side; knowing that it is late and how dangerous it is for her to be outside the mansion. Especially since Raoul could have sent someone to watch her. "Well, I should go. I have to get back to the mansion before Raoul suspects something."

"What do you mean?"

"Well…After he arrived, he started acting strange."

"Strange as in, how?"

"As if he feels like he knows that there might be something that Christine isn't telling him," Eliza replies as she leans against the wall. "Because he is constantly staring at her and all of us. Feeling that he is anxious and not himself, and I feel like he knows that Christine is having an affair. He hasn't asked her, but I feel like he knows that he knows that she is having the affair with you. I don't think he knows about you being alive. But I know that after she ends the engagement, …it is going to get ugly." Erik sighs walk towards her and says, "I agree. But before you go back, I want you to promise me something."

"Anything," she replied.

"As soon as you get to the mansion, and if someone asks you where you were. Tell them that you had to get something for Raoul's stepmother. Make sure she knows as well. And tell Christine that I love her. Can you do that not just for me, but for Christine?"

"Yes, sir." Eliza turns around and leaves. A few minutes later Eliza left, Erik lies down on his bed and thinks about everything that he and Christine had endured, but more importantly, he felt about Raoul and wonders if and how he should protect Christine from him. Wonders if Raoul knows about their love. "Oh, God! In a way this is great but now with Raoul's suspicions," he thought. "What am I going to do? I want to protect Christine. But I can't let the boy know that I am alive." Erik shuts his head and sighs as he knows that only God can help them. So closes his eyes and prays, "God! Please be with Christine. Be with her.

That morning, Emily quietly enters Christine's bedroom. She whispers, "Christine? Christine?"

"I'm over here. Are you ok?" Christine asks.

"Yes, but I was wanting to know if Eliza talked to you about -"

"Yes, she came to me early this morning before Raoul came "to spend time with his fiancé," Christine implied. They stare at each other, then Emily walks towards and sits down next to Christine as she is getting ready for the day. "Emily, I'm scared. What if Raoul does know? What if he found out about Erik?"

"I'm not sure," Emily suggested.

"Emily, I'm serious! I'm scared, and I don't know if I can do this."

Outside the door, Raoul hears Christine but can't make out what she is saying. He wonders what she and Emily are talking about and hopes that what the two gentlemen from the Moulin Rouge told him about her having an affair terrifies him. He quickly leaves before he decides to enter the room and ask some questions.

"I don't know what to tell you, Christine," Emily answered. "I really don't. I wish I did."

"So, what do I do?" Christine asks as she turns to face Emily. "I can't just look at Raoul in the eyes and say "I'm in love with the Phantom!" or "Raoul, my mentor is alive, and I can't be with you anymore!" Emily, I freeze up when Raoul comes up to talk to me. I don't know if I can do this. Because what if he hurts me again, but worse. I can't go through that again."

Emily kneels to Christine and replies, "Look, Christine, you love Erik, and he loves you. But Raoul hasn't been there for you like Erik has and Raoul has treated you cruel. His father and I know that. Besides, even if Raoul thinks about hurting you, his father will protect you because of he as well as I practically see you as family. Christine, just tell him. It will only make things from worse if you hide it from him."

"Ok, I'll do it," said Christine. "For Erik and me."

Later that afternoon at lunch, Christine, Raoul, Emily, and Ralph sit down and eat. Raoul wipes his lips and asks Christine, "So Christine, what do you think about having our wedding at St. James?" Christine raises his eyebrow at him. Ralph and Emily look at Raoul with curiosity and concern. "Father, wasn't that the same church you and mother got married?"

"Yes, it is," Ralph replied as he puts his napkin down on his lap. "But why? Wouldn't you and Christine both want to get married somewhere special?"

Ralph takes a sip of his wine and replies, "Yes, but I want us to get married at St. James like you and mother did. I thought it would be a great and a perfect memory for Christine and I to share. Besides, it has a great view of the garden that she and I would play hide and seek in after church."

"Oh, how I would like to hide and get away from you," Christine says under her breath in a hushed tone of voice. Ralph and Emily see the tension and look in Christine's eyes are very dangerous as she feels agitated by Raoul's plans for their wedding. Raoul is confused and upset by her statement.

Emily looks at Christine and tilts her head slightly; gesturing to her to tell her husband her secret. Despite Raoul being there. Emily smiles and agrees. "Ralph darling, there's something I want to tell you," said Emily. "That I would like to tell everyone."

"What is it? Ralph asks. Emily looks to Christine; Christine smiles and tilts her head as she knows that she is giving her support. Emily turns back to Ralph and says, "I'm pregnant."

Raoul coughs for a moment as food is in his throat. Ralph puts his napkin down, walks to Emily and kneels down to her and hugs her as he says, "Emily darling! That's wonderful!"

"Wait a minute! I'm sorry? You're saying that I'm going to have a brother or a sister?" Raoul questions her. Everyone looks at Raoul and realizes that he isn't happy. Christine leans over to him and says, "Raoul, isn't this exciting? This is great news

"No, it's not Christine," Raoul replies. Emily and Christine look at each other; both knew that he wasn't going to approve. Ralph sighs and looks at his son with confusion and anger. "First you tell me that you see a girl who at a time got on your nerves. Then you decide to marry her. Now you're going to be a father again. I'm sorry, but what happened to my father who swore he would never get married again after mother died?"

"Raoul, please," Christine whispered as she grabs Raoul's arm as a gesture to stop.

"I'm sorry you feel that way, son, but things change," Ralph apologized. However, he stands behind his wife and expresses how frustrated he is at his son for thinking about "You can't tell me that I can't fall in love again when I know that's what your mother would want. I love her, and she loves me."

"I can't believe you have completely forgotten about my mother! YOUR WIFE!"

YOU DON'T THINK I DON'T MISS HER! I do Raoul! But she is gone, and she would want me to be happy and not live in the past. I loved your mother and when she died –"

"Enough!" Christine shouts as she stands up and stares at Raoul. "I can't take it anymore!" Everyone turns to Christine as she stands up with anger and hatred towards Raoul. Christine turns to him and says, "Raoul, I have been patient with you. With your arrogance and stubbornness, but I can't take it anymore. You're never here for me, and I honestly think you leave the mansion just to get away from me! Raoul, I don't love you anymore, and I want to end our engagement!"

Raoul blinks several times as he is speechless and shocked at what came out of Christine's mouth. "What did you say? What did you say to me?!" He stuttered.

"I said I don't love you, and the wedding is off! We're threw! It's over!" Christine and Raoul look at each other with anger. She then pushes her chair away and leaves the room. As she goes, Raoul looks down and clutches his fist as he is angry that Christine would betray him and that his fear became a reality. Then Raoul gets up and follows her. As he follows her, he yells out, "Christine! Come back here!"

Ralph walks a few feet away and yells out, "Raoul! RAOUL!"