Chapter 7
"Kenna, I don't know what to do!" Mary exclaimed over the phone. After two hours of failed attempt, she finally got a hold on one of her friends. What were they doing anyways? She sat up on the bed and groaned again in frustration. Why was her life so difficult? "I can't marry him."
"And why not?" Kenna asked as she sat at the back seat of their family car. Her driver focusing on the road, Kenna however could care less. As long as she got there.
"Because I don't love him," Mary answered. She didn't know how many times she had to tell people that. This was becoming tiring. She did not love Francis Valois!
"But you loved him once before?" She said, she loved Mary and this was the reason why she was against her going to France. "Why don't you love him anymore? Because he hurt you?"
Mary thought about it for a moment. Why didn't she love him anymore? He hurt her but he explained that he did it to protect her but was she really going to believe him?
"I don't want to get hurt again," She answered, it was the most reasonable answer, too bad for her that Kenna didn't listen to reason.
"And how can you be so sure that he'll hurt you again?" Kenna asked.
"I'm not!" Mary exclaimed. This was getting ridiculous. Oh how she wished she got Lola or Greer to answer, even Aylee would listen to reason, but Kenna was too passionate. She listened to her heart, not her mind but Mary wasn't like that. She needed to listen to her mind.
"Mary, I hate the guy because he hurt you but from what I can tell from your stories, I truly believe that he's sincere about marrying you." She stated.
"But he's not!" She said, "He's only marrying me for his father and for – "
"Mary, enough." Kenna interrupted sternly. "If you say another word I'll end this call now. I'm just going to ask you one last question."
"Okay," She nodded even though Kenna couldn't see it.
"Why don't you want to marry him?" She asked, "And you can't tell me that you don't love him anymore or that you don't want to get hurt again. Those answers aren't acceptable."
She considered it for a second. Why didn't she want to marry Francis?
"Because I want a fresh start." Mary closed her eyes and took a deep breath. She could feel Kenna smile from the other line.
"Now that's an acceptable reason," She said. "Mary, it's your choice to marry him or not. And if your father doesn't approve of that then give him a reason to."
"Okay," Mary whispered, it was the only thing she could say. It was no use talking to her father but she couldn't tell Kenna that.
"You're my friend and I refuse to see you kill yourself over a guy." Kenna said, it sounded so sincere that Mary really thanked God for having such wonderful friends. "Also, I'm here at St. Andrew Square, shopping for Lola's birthday present." She mentioned. Damn. Mary forgot about Lola's birthday next week. She was keen to go back to Scotland and to her friends. "I hope you'll be back here in time for the surprise party."
"Don't worry, I will." She lied. She wasn't sure when she was going back to Scotland. Things weren't going as planned.
"You better be," Kenna threatened but Mary could hear the falseness in her voice. "I need to go now. Good luck."
"Okay, thank you." Mary said before pressing the 'end call'.
She had no choice, if her father wasn't going to listen to her, she knew someone who will.
She dialed the number she knew by heart and when the line started ringing, her heart became eager with anticipation. When the person on the other line answered, her breath stopped. This was it.
"Hello, mother." Mary said, "We need to talk."
"There's nothing worse than loving someone you can never have." Francis looked up to find his brother enter his room. He's been in his room ever since his conversation with Mary. "Everything alright, brother?"
"No." He answered. He sat at his work table that was in front of his grand bedroom window.
"I heard from father that you were getting married," Bash mentioned as he walked closer to him. "I'm assuming it to be with Mary."
"Not if she can stop it," He commented. Mary was so keen on stopping this.
Bash laughed lightly, "What's Catherine's reaction about all this?"
"Oh, she doesn't approve." He answered. She didn't want them married – more than Mary herself – she hated Mary. That was no secret. "But it's father's decision that matters. She can't do anything. Mary on the other hand, doesn't want to marry me. I think she despise me."
"Why do you think she doesn't want to marry you?" It was a simple question but Francis couldn't think of a simple answer. "Do you think she has someone else, that's why she doesn't want to?"
"No," It was the first thing out of his mouth. He was surprised of his answer. "I mean, no. I don't know."
"Francis, when you left Mary, you gave her the right to love someone else." Bash stated.
Francis wasn't sure if his brother was mocking him or actually trying to help.
"I never left, Mary." He defended, "I was just trying to protect her."
"By making her hate you," Bash commented, "What a brilliant idea."
"Enough with the sarcasm, Bash," Francis said, "What do you want, anyway?"
Bash smiled, "Let's go out and have a drink later tonight."
"Why?" Francis asked cautiously.
"Father's making me study articles about the directors of the board committees." Bash complained in agony. "I need to forget about it."
"Bash, I know you don't want to work for the company," Francis mentioned, "but don't you think you should take it a bit more seriously?"
"No." Bash answered simply with a remiss smile.
Francis shook his head in disapproval but what could he do? He did need something to relax him and maybe a night in town with his brother was the answer.
"Alright, then." He agreed. "But you have to have dinner here, with Catherine."
"I hate you, brother." Bash joked. If Catherine hated Mary, she also disliked Bash. And the feeling was mutual. "Why must you torture me?
"Whatever, bastard." Francis said with a smile and Bash returned it. They were brothers.
Henry Valois was a very ambitious man and he got commonly got what he wanted and what he wanted was the Stuart enterprise. James Stuart was a well man but there have been rumors of his health deteriorating. He hoped to find out some clues with his children but Mary and her brother didn't look a little bit concern about their father. Maybe they didn't know anything about it.
Either way, Henry wanted Mary and his son, Francis married in the soonest. It was the only way for him to get what he wants.
"Henry, I hope you know I don't approve of this," Catherine said as she entered his office, drawing him out from his thoughts.
"What are you doing here?" Henry was surprised to see his wife. The look evidently obvious to her.
"You look surprise," Catherine commented, and then a shot of realization hit her. "Why? Do you have another one of your mistress under your desk?"
"Catherine," Henry stood and walked over to his wife, ignoring her comment. "What are you doing here?"
Catherine's though exterior suddenly changed into a pleading one –a look that Henry hasn't seen on her face in ages.
"Don't make Francis marry Mary," Catherine said, and Henry groaned. Not this again. "The Stuart enterprise isn't worth it."
"You don't know what you're saying." Henry said, "Your relatives in Florence are pressuring me into paying my debt."
"Then I'll talk to them!" Catherine said, and cringed at how desperate she sounded.
"It's not that easy!"
"Henry, you've already sold our daughter to your Spanish business partners," Catherine mentioned. It wasn't easy to see her nineteen year old daughter get married to a man just for a business deal.
"I didn't sale Elisabeth," He defended, "She is very fond of Philip. You've received her letters from Spain."
"Henry, all I'm saying is give Francis time. What if he finds someone wealthier than the Stuarts and loves that girl instead?" Catherine proposed. Francis could marry anyone he wanted, but not Mary. Never Mary.
Henry laughed at the idea. "Like who? The D'Amencourt's daughter? God knows how you liked her."
"Sarcasm isn't needed in this situation," She said seriously. Her husband was impossible.
"Why do you hate Mary Stuart so much?" He asked, sincerely curious. "You were kind to her once, even though she annoyed you to no end."
"That doesn't matter," She dismissed his question, "All I want is what's best for my – our son."
"So do I." Henry said, even though it was difficult to believe.
"Oh come now, we all know that you only care for the good of your company!" Catherine yelled.
Henry had enough of this, of his wife. It was stressful and tiring. "I will do what I think is best for my son and my company! And he will marry Mary Stuart, whether you like it or not! End of discussion."
By the end of his sentence, he was already seeing red from anger and all Catherine could do was nod. She hated when he got like this. It was another reason why their relationship didn't work out. Both had different views on the world. He cared for his company, she cared for her children and both couldn't give equal care to one another.
After persuading Bash to read those articles some more, Francis was left in his room, on his computer doing some research of his own. His father's plan for opening a resort in Santorini wasn't completely a bad idea. It seemed logical enough but he still felt betrayed from how his father attained the deed of his friend's property. He wanted to keep most of the staff there, and if he could still run it, then there wouldn't be much of a change. Sure, his father had plans of his own but Francis was willing to fight for his own plans. He was so focused on his thoughts that he didn't even Mary enter his room.
"I've talked to my mother," She began, ignoring the look of surprise on his face. "And she is just as eager for me to marry you, as my father and it seems like I have no choice. I will marry you, but not because of love, but because of debt. However before anything, answer me one question."
"Anything." It was the only word Francis could say. Was she serious? His eyes couldn't contain his anticipation.
"Do you love me?" She looked so earnest with her inquiry that it took Francis a moment to process her words but before he could answer, she already began speaking once more. "I see. Well, I hope this will be the start of a very… friendly relationship."
It was obvious that she took his pause as a hesitation and a 'no'. Only if she knew how he really felt.
Silence hanged in the air, and all Francis could do was just look at her. Jailed by the memory of how they were when they were young, he could remember how she would knock on his door at night just to watch the stars with him. It irritated him but he secretly loved it.
As he looked at her, she felt uncomfortable but she didn't do anything. It was strangely reminiscent how he used to look at her from across the table during meals when they she twelve.
She didn't know that that was when he started falling for her.
"I was willing to wait, you know." Francis said suddenly and the look of questioning on Mary's face didn't go unnoticed.
"Excuse me?" She asked.
"I was willing to wait for you," He answered, "For you to mature and be ready for marriage."
"Are you saying I'm immature?" She arched an eyebrow at him, offended.
"No," He laughed, "I'm trying to say is that the actual marriage ceremony won't take place until our father agrees on the right time."
"I know," She said, it was hard to accept that this was happening, but it was and she just needed to be mature and accept it.
"Good," He said. Both nodded and Mary turned to leave. It was a strange being back in his room, but before she could reach the door, he called her name. "Mary, I'm sorry."
She looked at him and the look in his eyes drew every thought out of her mind. "What?"
"I'm sorry if I hurt you and I still do," He said, standing up and walking closer to her. "I'm sorry if I didn't fulfill all my promises. I'm sorry I hurt you. I can't change the past seven years and take away all the pain I've cost you, but if you will let me – if you really are willing to marry me – I will spend the rest of my life making it up to you."
Word by word he spoke, he got closer and closer to her, she didn't move even though everything in her rational mind screamed for her to get out of the door, but her feet felt glued to the ground. Her breath hitched when he touched her cheek and she could remember how he kissed her for the first time, so many years ago.
"I loved you so much," She said, her throat dry from the anticipation of what might happen next. "And that's why it hurt me so much when you left me. I was devastated. I remember crying myself to sleep at night too, so I could forget you. But I would still wake with the thought of you. "
"And I'm sorry for that," He said as he slowly closed the gap between them. "Let me make it up to you, please."
And with that, their lips touched. His arms were around her before she could feel them; she could feel the same rush of adrenaline she felt during their first kiss but this was different. This was more passionate. Her pulse was beating rapidly, her heart throbbed, it was as if they were both about to suffocate and yet, nevertheless, she wanted more. And he did too.
AN/ Hello.
Sorry for not updating yesterday.
Anyways, I'm thinking of adding a little bit of a sneak peek for all of you for the next chapter.
"I don't love you and I don't think I can ever will again, not after what you did to me but I am willing to give this – give us a chance. Because, you are correct. I owe it to my family." Mary said, avoiding his stare.
"But what about last night?" Francis asked, hurt obvious in his voice.
"Last night meant nothing," She answered. Lie. It meant everything.
Welp, hope you liked that.
Review!
