Hello to all :)

Yes, I am a good girl and here I bring you chapters 28-29 ;)

Pertie: Thank you, again, for reading and writing your thoughts! But I am afraid the plot will get even more complicated...

Now, enjoy! ;)

Lovephantom 83

Doctor Flagg had just finished her checkup and looked into her eyes, as if that would help him find the tiniest sign that might have escaped his clinic eye.

'Fortunately, mademoiselle, you do not seem to have any serious problem with your health', she sighed audibly in relief. 'However…I've noticed an important lack of vitamins and your sunken eyes reveal that you've gone through many sleepless nights. Apart from that, everything is in order'. The physician moved away from the bed where she had been lying and put on his top hat. 'Do me a favour and have some rest. And do not use any kind of drug for that. It can be quite dangerous in the long run, okay?'.

Christine nodded, turning her gaze to the window. She now knew with perfectly clear certainty that she would not be able to have any sleep after seeing that…after reading that letter, its words still lingering in her retinas.

She watched as Édmond made his way to the doctor as soon as the physician had left the room and closed the door behind them.

'Then, is everything okay with the lady? You see…she's got me worried sick with her poor health and I'd thought, only for a moment, that she might be expecting. She did feel very ill…'.

The doctor shook his head. 'Everything's all right, except for the little observations I've told her regarding her lack of vitamins and sleep. As for the possibility of her being pregnant… she's lucky that she isn't with child. Her health is too delicate right now to successfully carry on with something so huge', he smiled. 'But I'm gladly surprised to see there are still honest, caring people around who may offer the poor girl some help'.

'I understand', Édmond just stared, perhaps a bit too thoughtfully after the medical report. 'Well', he looked courteously. 'I won't take anymore of your precious time. Thank you very much for coming, doctor'.

The possibility of a pregnancy seemed discarded for now. Anyway, that revelation did not entirely ruin his plans. What was more, that even made everything much, much easier.

Christine got out of bed. Perhaps a bit frightful of what she was about to do, even though she knew it was the only way and the thing she had to do. Definitely, the moment had come when she would hear the open truth directly from the lips of the person that had housed her through all that time…

She came out of her bedroom, closing the door behind her. Édmond noticed her presence and turned to her, smiling.

'You are a case, mademoiselle! You know what the doctor told you as well as I. You should be in bed, resting'.

Once more, business matters required his immediate attention. He did not know how but his designs had got quite far in the architectural world, and in Paris. Before leaving, he entered his small room to take his coat and he saw her. It seemed that tiredness had finally taken over her in the middle of her working activities. He glanced at her without repressing the slight smile that came out of his lips. They had barely seen each other lately, in an obvious attempt on her part of avoiding him… but she looked incredibly relaxed in her peaceful slumber. She was sitting in a chair, with a cloth between her hands and the jug she had been cleaning on her lap. Her hair was more dishevelled than usual and her head was tilting to one side but an expression of calmness and tranquillity was reflected on her face.

He came closer as quietly as he could and, with extreme gentleness, he barely brushed her cheek with his long fingers, putting in his caress only enough pressure to awaken her. Angie smiled when she felt his touch and opened her eyes reluctantly… Shame made her cheeks blush in a matter of seconds when she find him right in front of her.

'Oh gosh! I'm sorry, really sorry…', she sat up, quite uncomfortable of being caught in such an awkward situation.

'Don't worry… Have you had little sleep? If you want I can let you…'.

She interrupted, returning to her icy cold indifference of the last few days. 'I'm all right, Erik, thank you for your offer but when I need to leave work earlier than usual, believe me, I'll let you know'.

She stood, cloth in hand, and retreated to the corner furthest from him, continuing with the task she had been completing when sleep had claimed her at last.

He had missed the chance of speaking to her once more. Ah, why was everything so difficult? Why could he not work out a proper and simple explanation and state it aloud so that she understood his behaviour? Perhaps it was due to the fact that, in spite of everything, he was afraid that the truth might hurt her even more. Perhaps he was getting used to her presence and it was quite possible that he might be developing a kind of affection towards her.

'You shouldn't be so worried', Christine looked at him amicably. 'At least I can walk about, even if I trip over the furniture as I did only an hour ago'.

He stared in alarm. 'Did you fall down? Christine, you must have told me. I suppose you did not hurt yourself too badly if you have decided to pass over it while the doctor was here…'.

'No, it was not anything. Thanks for asking…but I nearly brought with me that small table and the papers that were lying on top', she locked eyes with him, unblinking. 'What's your exact purpose for keeping me with you, Édmond?'.

Her voice sounded restrained but, at the same time, it revealed what he had been suspecting for so long and tried to prevent from happening.

She had read the damned letter.