Chapter 34
"What?… are you sure?" asked Joseph puzzled.
"Yes, I decided. I want to go home." she was confident and very determined on her own way. "We have lots of things to discuss with Rupert."
"Of course, I understand that…" he nodded guiltily. "Look, I really didn't mean to…"
"I know… I know, Joseph." she said quickly, holding his face with both hands. "That's not your fault, okay? It's already happened… it doesn't change anything wether it has come to light or not."
"But I still feel bad about it," he sighed deeply.
"Please don't… It's more than enough for me to fight with it, believe me."
"Then we should discuss it," he tried, "I could help somehow, just…"
"No, please." she protested immediately. "You're sweet, but I cannot talk about it. Not yet…"
"Then… then what should I do?" he was at a loss.
"It's simple. Just be here for me…" she stepped closer, "Hold me… love me." she whispered the last bit and finally relaxed as he wrapped his arms around her, holding her tightly…
"These things," he answered softly. "I can promise you for sure."
"Then don't worry… I'll be fine."
OOOOOOOOOOOO
Next day at the Palace after a long drive…
Their car slowly rolled through the front gate and sent a ripple of excitement through the waiting crowd.
"Sir!…Sir! Her Majesty is back!" a secretary ran in breathlessly to the King's office.
"Clarisse! Where the hell have you been?!" he asked vehemently seeing his wife at the door, but she just looked around in the room with glassy eyes saying,
"Everybody get out!…" and that was the moment when the King took a step back. He never ever seen her like this before, she was like a volcano close to eruption. He didn't even notice Joseph behind her, who just stood there just in case if Clarisse would need him, "Is it true?…" she threw the file on his desk with an angry movement.
"What?… what is it?" asked Rupert on a careful voice, guessing he is in serious trouble now. As he reached for the file, she just kept the eye contact and what he saw in them was more than frightening. She was confident like who has nothing to lose and who will go through any wall to get her answer.
"It's just…" stuttered the King as he read it, did not dare to look at her.
"Is it true… or not?" her voice was even harder.
"I was just…"
"Answer the question!"
"It's… true." he finally said it out loud. His answer was hanging in the air for a few moments, the only sound was the clock's ticking on the wall.
"How dare you?" she hissed with disbelief.
"I… I was just a man in love."
"…" she could not say anything for a few moments only tears gathered in her eyes from frustration.
"Clarisse…"
"My father nearly died from that fake bankruptcy… You nearly killed him with your manipulation." she stepped closer, "Do you understand that?"
"…"
"Answer me!" she cried with shaking hands. "Answer you fucking bastard!"
"I do…" he murmured. "I just didn't know how to get you… I was so in love." he added, but she just slapped him in the face as hard as she could… he closed his eyes for a moment, she usually was not too strong, but anger made her strength tenfold as before.
"I will never forgive you this!" she hissed, her eyes still killing. "…Never!"
"I see." he said, slowly turning back to her. "But at least you had a good life with me, right?"
"A good life?!" she could not even decide to laugh or cry. "I was a dependent wife, who had to serve her husband in her whole life…"
"Really? Then what is Joseph doing in your life, hm?"
"The only thing I know," she inhaled deeply. "That my husband left me alone in the darkness when I would needed him the most, but Joseph was there for me… stood beside me… took care of me… and loved me." she was honest and strong, finally stood up for herself, but there remained one last question for her to ask him, "Honestly… have you ever loved me?" she asked, and silence filled the air again. The King was thinking for a brief moment, then took a deep sigh, finally being honest,
"I don't know…"
"…" she just nodded, her eyes immediately filled up with tears. They both knew it's over. Their marriage had come to an end…They just stood there for a while, looking at each other, finally finishing the fight…
"Divorce?"
"Divorce." she answered simply.
"Will you make that file public?" he had to know, there wasn't any offense in it.
"… Just sign the papers," she answered softly and their deal has been made…
OOOOOOOOO
A few months later...
It was still summertime and the sun shone brightly down to the lake, where she was standing with Joseph on the pier exactly the same way as she imagined before… Holding hands, looking at each other lovingly, while the old wood slats warmed up their bare feet. It was their wedding… she was wearing a light flower printed summer dress, the wind gently blew her hair and she was finally totally carefree and happy. She felt happiness as intensely as never before, she could not even describe it, it completely overwhelmed her… and as she looked down, her belly was already visible… Hearing the priest's last words, they sighed with relief and inhaling the sweet warm summer air, they both knew in their bones that a magical life awaits them…
And he was right… summer was long enough for everything.
The End
