The characters from the game belong to Capcom. The OC's and story background belong to me.
A/N: I'm not english native speaker, so you might find some typos or grammar mistakes, I do apologize for that.
Castle of Bohma
Christopher, Clairy, Pierce, Elizabeth with her baby and Maddy prepared themselves for the trip early the morning. Maddy was still a bit sad because would stay away from Oliver for a long time. The two young children shared a strong bond and a close friendship.
They were waiting outside the castle as their luggage being kept in the carriages. The adults talked their goodbyes, while Maddy was sitting on a bench.
"Maddy?" said a blond man, taking seat next to her
"Doctor Vladimir. Good morning" the blonde girl replied politely
"Good morning sunshine"
She laughed
"Excited to go to Arthena?"
"No"
"Why not?"
"Because I will miss Olly"
"The ginger boy?"
She nodded in confirmation
"You can always visit each other"
"Daddy told me that too"
Vladimir inhaled discreetly. He felt a pinch in his heart when the little girl said that. his little girl. His only girl. It hurt him to hear her calling Christopher "Daddy". He was her daddy, not the grand duke.
"I'm glad I came to bring you this before you left" he spoke delivering her a package
"What is it?"
"Open it"
A blond doll. Blue eyed. Just like her. Maddy loved dolls.
"Thank you" she spoke happily
"You're welcome"
"She looks like me"
He laughed, "Yes, she does"
(*)
Christopher's attention was taken to the man sitting beside his daughter. He recognized he was the doctor of town. A weird thought crossed his mind as he watched them interacting. Taking a better glimpse he noticed Vladimir seemly emotional talking to the little girl.
From afar, he also couldn't help the apparent similar features the man and the girl shared. The skin color, the icy-blue eyes, the light tone of blond, the straight hair.
"Could he be…" he thought analyzing them, "He and Kat used to be close back in the days…"
He stepped closer to them, "Good morning Vladimir"
"Good morning your highness"
"Look daddy. I got a doll!" the girl spoke happily
Christopher smiled, "It's a pretty doll. Like you, darling"
"Mr. Vladimir said the same"
"Thank you for the gift, but it wasn't necessary you have such expense…"
"No expense at all. I heard Maddy loves dolls and there's a toy store next to my clinic. It's not so fancy like the ones she has, but I bought it with love"
"You only have sons with your wife, isn't it?"
"Yes… in the court being the only girl around… She's like the daughter I never had…"
Christopher remained in silence for a while – for Maddy. She was happy beling he's her actual father and Vladimir just a friend.
"I'm sorry for that… And Maddy is a lovely daughter and I'm lucky to be her father!"
Vladimir forced a smile in agreement, "I'm sure she is…in fact, your highness have beautiful children"
"I do! Maddy, Phillip, Adelina but we call her Lilly and Beau"
"I remember Lilly and Phillip. Lilly is the brunette like Kat, right?"
"Yes. Lilly is a little copy of Kat"
"Yes, I remember that"
Christopher looked to the side, Maddy playing with the doll. "I can see that being her next favorite doll" Christopher commented changing the subject avoiding where that topic could lead them
For Maddy he didn't confront Vladimir. Maybe if he had done would be a waste of time. The man had kept his lips sealed all that long, why would he break his silence now?
However, another truth should be pointed out. Christopher had a strong attachment for Maddy. He loved being her father. He didn't want it to end. He gave her his name and he wanted that to ling on. He didn't want Vladimir evoking his legal rights if he confirmed his suspicion.
Baveen, Unknown Location
"I was expecting your visit. But it took longer than I expected. I have a long trip to make." the Grand Duchess commented
"I wanted to let things calm down," the man replied
The Grand Duchess delivered him a pouch of coins, "The other fifty percent. It is a lot of money"
"Not so much, researches are demanding and expensive…"
"Just make sure that there is no any evidence against me, a woman like me cannot risk having my name stained, especially by a scientist, unscrupulous, like you and your brother."
"I know. We know. We could even be tortured; obviously all this is between us. As the person in charge of supervising the mines, I am discreet about this type of service." the man replied before saying goodbye
Reed Palace, Arthena
"I'm so anxious Chris…"
"Don't worry Clair, Katarina will not oppose to this decision of mine"
"What if she does?"
"Then we find another place to ourselves"
"What about the other children?"
"I don't get concerned about them… she treats them right, but if she doesn't, I'll take them as well!"
The Reed cousins' carriage stopped by the palace's entrance. The palace had a recent reformation so they could move. There was over a decade since they had been to that location. Somehow, it was Christopher's little kingdom. The land was large, he had put on rent some fractions away from the main land where the palace located, and other families still lived there.
At the entrance, there were two guards and a lady-in-waiting waiting for them.
"You take them to the chambers in the end of the hallways upstairs" he ordered the lady-in-waiting
"Yes milord!" the woman replied politely
"And one of you could please tell my wife to meet me at the library?"
"I'm afraid we can't…"
"Why not?"
"Your wife is not here"
"Where did she go?"
The guards looked at each other, hesitant.
"Where's Katarina?"
"Your wife didn't come to the palace yet"
"Nor to Arthena" the other guard completed
Christopher inhaled deeply. Thoughtful. Wondering what had happened to Katarina. At that time of the day, he knew Katarina wouldn't take the risk to go on a trip to there, so his only option was to wait for the next day. Maybe Katarina preferred to go later than him and not stay alone in the palace.
He knew very well her fear of staying alone, a fear that initiated after the death of the Duke.
A Few Days Later
Katarina crossed the main gate. Looking around the vast land, memories invaded her mind.
"This place… Again…" she thought exhaling
She headed to the main palace and found Clairy and Maddy playing in the front yard.
"What are you doing here?" asked the Grand Duchess
"Your highness… I'm Maddy's nanny."
"A nanny? Is that what cousins are called now?"
"No. Orders from Christopher…his highness"
"Humpf… are you sleeping with him too?"
Clairy gasped, "What? No! How could you ever think that?!"
"Cousins…You are a widow…"
"No, we are not that type of cousins! I'm not that type of woman!" Clairy replied offended
Katarina smiled cynically, "Probably not. I never smelt your scent on him"
"You're offending me, your highness. You don't need to do that"
"With an unfaithful husband, I can expect anything from the intentions behind his strange orders!"
"What about my 'faithful' wife? Is she finished with her poison?" Christopher broke his silence
Katarina turned around in scare. She laughed in distress; "I said no lie, did I?" she spoke not losing her composure
"Where have you been all this long? Alone…"
"I was in Baveen solving some pendencies"
"Did you solve it?"
"Of course!"
"Good. Ah and before I leave, it's an order that Clairy will stay permanently with Maddy. They both share the same chambers and I hope you mind about that"
"Do as you wish, milord…"
"I also separated your largest chambers. You need more space than me" he spoke almost in a cynic tone
"Are we going to sleep in separate chambers here too?"
"That depends on you. I just said that you may keep your belongings in a separate chamber. If you will sleep there or not…not my call"
Katarina inhaled deeply, "Anything else I should know Christopher?"
"No, that's all"
She smirked, "That is all…" she spoke cynically, "I hope not to find any mistress of yours when I cross those doors"
"You'll find lots of them" he replied in irony
"No doubt! Maybe you keep them at barn"
"Enough Katarina!"
"Not enough. I still remember the girl from the barn!"
Christopher inhaled closing his eyes, letting out a heavy sigh. He had no time to waste with that discussion. Without saying anything else, he left the land. As Katarina didn't even bother to greet Maddy and entered the place heading to her chambers.
Katarina's Chambers
"I do not want to sound indiscreet, but I just realized that you and his highness are sleeping in separate chambers since you came to Arthena."
"We discussed... as the usual…"
"May I ask you why?"
"Madeline" the brunette replied rolling the eyes, "She has a permanent nanny now… not that I care. One less work for me. I still have Phillip, Adelina and my baby Beau to watch out!"
"Yes, two small children and a toddler demand a lot of attention"
"I could not help but notice that his highness has spent a lot of time in the gallery and he keeps the pictures of Angelique"
"Humpf, have you ever seen her self-portrait? The supposed self-portrait? I do not know how Christopher married a woman like that. Maybe I even understand that she has a rustic beauty, but nothing elegant. Without any strain…feminine appeal…"
"Yet his highness still admires her..."
"I have to be careful. Men are very weak. They can be seduced easily and pour their mourning on the whores out there"
"I suspect that your husband is somewhat annoyed by your 'distance'"
"Besides being a counselor, you are a great observer, the problem is that I do not want him to be so bothered by this, and so I want you to separate my best dress for dinner"
"Will there be any dinner with guests tonight?" The lady-in-waiting asked
"No, but I intend to impress him, and lately I have been so busy with my social causes that I have paid little attention to my beloved husband"
"And you want to make up for the lost time today?" The counselor will insist.
"Yes. Christopher is jealous of my popularity with the people, especially with the handsome Duke, and I do not want him to think I am having adventures out there… I need to keep him in love, at least for a little while longer... He shall remember how crazy he is for me!"
"Yes ma'am"
"Ah, and also separate my most daring lingerie"
"The red one?"
"Yes. And that costume with veils."
"Hmmm, are you going to dance for him?"
Katarina smiled with mischief and nodded in confirmation, "And a lot more!"
Upon arriving in the dining hall, however, Katarina was surprised by the absence of the Grand Duke.
"His highness preferred to go to bed earlier, he recommended that you do the same, because you must be full of commitments to your causes tomorrow," the servant said
Katarina dismantled her pose and, irritated by Christopher's contempt, returned to her bedchamber without having dinner.
Reed Palace, Arthena, Christopher's Chambers
Flashback
"As more important than the future, is the present. People should be more concerned in seeing the present than the future and in the right time, you will also need to see the present. You shall need to see the truth in each person around you and your biggest disbelief will be on yourself"
"What do you mean?"
"A woman…a woman in your life."
"What about her?"
"She will swear love to you, but will bring the hate. She will talk about peace, but will bring the discord. She will celebrate the life, but will bring the death."
"Who is that woman?"
"Only you will be capable to answer"
End of Flashback
Christopher Reed was lying on his bed lost in his thoughts. Since he came to Arthena, at random moments, the words of the seer crossed his mind. Words spoken many years ago. Words that now took his attention. Could she be right? Who could possibly be that woman? Suddenly, he heard a loud noise coming from the door.
"What manners are that entering here? I did not expect you here, this time of the night" he said standing from the bed
"Fuck the manners! I do not care about the time of the night. I want to talk to you!"
"I have already seen that it is a serious matter," predicted the grand duke
"It is about us. Your distance! Your coldness towards me"
"Coldness. Distance… the same talk again…"
"Not the same talk!"
"Definitely not. I don't think I have to keep you warm anymore"
"What?"
"I've come to realize I want to separate from you, so I'll return to Bohma with Maddy and Clairy and you can stay here with your causes" he spoke straight to the point
"What? Is that because of your jealous of that stupid duke? I love you Christopher!"
"I know very well who you love, Katarina. Don't play a saint!"
"This aggression is no longer necessary with me, as I have forgiven you for everything: for all your failings, which were not few... moments of weakness with other women... the dozens of times you have not fulfilled your matrimonial obligations... I also forgave your dubious character, your cowardice, your weakness of spirit… and I never, ever cheated on you!"
"Enough! Don't play me a fool about cheating!" Christopher raised his voice, losing his temper.
"I will not shut up this time!"
"You never shut your mouth Katarina!"
"I really do not!" she shouted
"You want to argue? Apparently that's the only thing you know how to do"
"Apparently that is the only way you seem to understand things or listen to anyone!"
"So spill out all your venom Katarina! I'm listening!"
"My venom? Why cannot you understand?! I cannot abandon this cause! I have done it once. And it was for you! Why is it so hard now for you to stay here for me? "
He smirked, "Deep down, I always knew that this day would come. You play in my face you missed the opportunity to ascend the throne because of me. It was obvious that I would be charged for this"
"I'm not charging you of anything! But I cannot deny that I expected more support this time. You did not want to live in the castle. I respected your decision. But now you act as the most pampered of the princes!"
Christopher felt the blow and remained silent.
"More than once you accused me of not knowing what it was to be simpler and be selfish. And you were right, since I was raised in a castle. But, it seems, I care much more about the People than you, who have lived among them since birth"
"You're being extremely unfair!"
"Stop and think about what you are asking me… to turn away from them! Leaving the people of Arthena and even the people of Bohma to the mercy of the insanity of the king of Edonia! For you I broke up an engagement, facing my own father! For you I faced the enraged royalty with your disappearance from court, to get you free of the gallows for treason! Do you think I was thinking only of myself when I came to Arthena?"
"If it were not for you, I would never put my feet back here! By the way, you have a lot to throw me in my face too"
"You were not the only one to give in or make concessions. And finally, you should know that it takes a lot of courage to start over again in another city, abandoning not only everything that we have already achieved, but also leaving my old parents and my sister behind. If I am willing to do this, it is not out of selfishness. But for love. For you! But only a coward would make the decision to leave now."
Disgusted, Christopher countered, "Was I a coward to leave my sick woman because you wanted me at all costs and orchestrated a trap to have me? Have I been a coward living on your side all these years without love? Am I the coward in abusing of an innocent child, leaving her frightened and abandoned? Was I a coward to assume the creation of a child who was not even mine and defend this little being of her own mother? You don't love me Katarina, you have me as your property, and I'm not! If I have been able to live this network of illusions and fantasies of government, it is neither for me nor for you, but for Maddy!" He paused, "Vladimir's daughter!" he shouted
Katarina swallowed heavily. Her mouth went dry.
"Who is the coward now? Are you going to continue denying the truth that I've always known that Maddy is not my blood daughter? You want to start over? So let's start over with clean cloths!"
They remained in a long silence. Katarina's body trembled. Did Vladimir open his mouth about their affair? Or anything else? She simply couldn't think.
He made a face demanding an explanation from her.
Instead, Katarina looked to the sides. At Christopher. Let out a long sigh and turned her back, heading to the door.
Christopher frowned and reached her, and pulled her by the wrist, "Walking away from the truth, Katarina O'Gregon?" he spoke looking deeply into her eyes
Demonstrating an exceptional control of her emotional, Katarina looked back at him with an intriguing calmness, "You want to go? Just go. You never really loved me. You loved Madeline. You love your ghosts. So stay with them. I will not force you to do what you do not want. I have done it for the past nine years and all I have got was…lies and haunts" she spoke managing to release herself from him and turned away without waiting for his response
"Kat…" he whispered watching the imposing brunette walking away in the corridor without looking back, "Dammit!" he murmured beating the door
Angry. Confused. Tortured. Christopher Reed headed to the balcony. Too dark to see beyond the illuminated parts of the land. Not that he cared.
That land seemed cursed. Reason why he never liked that place and preferred to stay at the court. The problem was the land, right? And not Katarina's delay and the next day upon her arrival, the duke of Arthena happily at her side, right? Leornad Keane. He knew that duke so well and his flirty side. In the past, they had their divergences on several matters. In the past there was a woman four teenager boys disputed the attention. Along the years, all those four boys had that woman, a piece of her. Some, had all of her. Maybe, all of them had her. But now, Christopher Reed wasn't willing to share his woman. His wife, much less with Leonard Keane, the flirt of the group. Women was his specialty and what would stop him to have Katarina? Again…or further…
No, he wasn't going to share her. No way!
In one thing, she was right: his love for a ghost. Angely.
For a decade, his soul was married to Angelique and those recent signed paintings in the art gallery of the castle of Bohma had disrupted his reasoning and his feelings. For a decade, it was like she was always there, with him. With them. Between them. For nine years, his soul lived under the torment of the betrayal. Bigamy. Bigamy was a crime and he felt like a criminal. Criminal of hearts. In nine years, he never really allowed himself to give his all to Katarina, his then wife. She had his passion, his shadow, but not his love.
Could it be possible loving two people at the same time?
Now Leonard Keane was back in their lives and he was leaving Katarina to go back to his ghost. The wonder that the new painter could possibly be his Angely. The art had improved. The calligraphy was similar. And the Reed. His surname he had given to her the day they married in secret. His soul was still married to her all this long.
And he wanted to go back to Bohma to investigate the new painter. There was so much coincidence. Coincidences that tortured him. The torture of being sharing his sweet Angely with that average man. That average Marquess. Future Lady Talbot. He hated that thought. His Angely being touched by another man. They even had a son, Oliver. The little ginger boy who stole his heart and best friend of his little angel Maddy.
Too much was going on. In one side, there was Leonard Keane. In the other side, there was George Talbot. And then there was his obligations as a grand duke. As a father of four. He never really had time for him own. Nor a break. He was suffocated for nine years. He was about to explode. He wished he could just disappear. He couldn't. Everybody depended on him.
It was never enough.
What should be his priority? He had so much to think.
If he launched in the search of Angely Reed and find out she was his Angelique. Both would be considered criminals. He as a bigamist. She for misrepresentation. His marriage would be invalidated. She was going to be condemned. Maddy needed him. Olly needed her.
Maybe it was about time to let go of his sweet ghost… but why didn't she go to the court as he had asked? Did she stop loving him? Why did she fake her death? To stay with George? Maybe they were together all the long… they were together behind his back! Oliver's age proved that! Dammit, she cheated on him! She made him a fool!
Women made him a fool!
Enraged, Christopher Reed left his chambers and hurriedly walked to the art chambers where he had kept Angelique's paintings and diaries. Her treasures.
Fury took over him. Enraged he took his knife and risked the portrait that was facing him. His portrait. The one Angelique had painted especially for him for his birthday as a present. He screamed. Remorse. He was going insane. He couldn't destroy that. Not her work. Not the diaries.
But he could destroy their memories. The sweetest memories.
"Guards!" he yelled and immediately three of his guards entered the chamber, "Take all that to the mausoleum. Now!" he ordered
Jealous. He helped the man carry them all.
Betrayed. Both women had other men's children.
Resignation. He should keep the past and its ghosts buried.
Marriage. Angely had chosen that average Marquees and he had his marriage to save. He wasn't going to share Katarina with anyone! Much less with the stupid duke Keane!
This time, it wasn't for Maddy. Nor any children.
Now…It was for him…
Katarina's Chambers
"Lucy!" Katarina yelled
"Yes, Milady"
"Take my luggage and arrange my belongings in it. I have ordered the other maidens to take my three children tomorrow morning in the carriages. We will leave this place tomorrow morning!"
"Yes ma'am, may I ask where will us be going?"
"To the castle of Arthena, where I belong."
"But…"
"This place has always belonged to Christopher and we are separating"
"What?"
"No further questions, I do not owe you any explanation"
"Yes ma'am"
Katarina took a bottle of whisky and walked to the balcony, drinking from the bottle.
"Nine years… nine years playing the perfect wife. Pretending to be what I am not. Who I am not!
I am no one's shadow. Much less Angelique's shadow!
I am Katarina O'Gregon, the finest noblewoman and most important woman of Bohma. Even more important than the queen!
I am the brain behind the king!
I am the brain behind Christopher's brilliant conquers!
I am the one in front line of diplomacy.
I am the one facing the monarchs in equality.
I am the one using my intelligence, my influence, my beauty to make this colony work and free our chains from that stupid king of Edonia and I will not bow to him like a coward that Charles is!
I will not bow to any other man, not even to Christopher!
It is enough!
I have bowed for nine years for that knight. I am the one who made him great.
It is over!
I will be Great on my own. Alone!
My name is Katarina O'Gregon. The true governor of Baveen and Arthena. The true sovereign of this colony and future empress of Bohma!
Nothing else is in my way. No one else is in my way.
Everyone will remember my name.
Iron brain. I am iron made!
I am no man's slave. I am no man's maid. I am no man's carpet. I am no man's play. I am no man's trash!
I am tired of making men great!
Think or talk bad about me. But talk about me!
Remember the name: Katarina O'Gregon. Katarina the Great!"
(*)
The hours passed. The sun rose. The birds chipped. The brunette was lying in the bed at the side of the empty whisky bottle. Uncovered.
Katarina woke up still wearing the same red robe from the previous night. No sign of her luggage. No sign of her lady-in-waiting. She left the bed to do her morning ritual of beauty and hygiene.
She forgot to separate her gown and called for Lucy. No answer.
"Lucy!" she yelled again
The door opened
"Lu…" she paused when she realized it wasn't her lady-in-waiting, "What do you want? I thought you would be in Bohma already" she spoke with a dry tone
"I'm not going anywhere. Not even you" the grand duke wearing a red gown replied calmly
"Dressed like this probably not… unless you force me" she spoke with sarcasm
"I love when you dress that…for me"
"What do you want Christopher? A goodbye sex?"
He shook his head in denial, "I don't want sex. Much less goodbye"
"Beat me? Spank me? Rape me?"
He laughed, "None of the options"
"So?"
"I want the option you're not giving"
"Which is?"
"I want to make love to you"
"Too late, is not it?"
"It's never too late if there's love"
"My quote of love has expired, thanks to your indifference"
"I know you're hurt and I sucked as a husband most of the times, but… you still remained there…with me"
"I shared you with other women, Christopher! I still remember their scent on you! But I always reconsidered, not for me, but for you… but then you repeated it, again, and again…I tried to act like the other wives do…managing a successful marriage under submission and acceptance of their husband's infidelities. Chained to failed marriage because they could not afford with divorce. Chained in the disgrace to be a woman in a society of men… always playing by their rules… I cannot do this anymore!"
"I know and I don't want you to"
"So why talk about love when… the others are in your heart" her eyes filled with water, "Cathlyn, the unnamed ones… Angelique…" she covered her eyes at the mention of the latest
The man walked over to her and kindly touched her fists in attempt to uncover her crying face. She fought it, stepping away. Still, he could see the tears on her delicate face.
"If you give me just one more chance… I promise I will give you my heart"
"I cannot believe you… you are not good with promises!"
"But I'm good with actions"
She laughed in incredulity, "I already had your actions, and three times they planted in me your seeds"
His eyes widened, his lips parted in surprise. Was she finally admitting? He could not believe his ears, but he couldn't also ruin that single moment.
"My passion, you always had my passion, Kat. I want to give you my love"
"You love…"
"I buried them. And I'm not going anywhere if not with you by my side"
"How can I be sure?"
"I don't lie!"
She knew him. For almost two decades, she knew him. And since the first time her eyes laid on him when they were still young teens, she wanted him to be her first. Her first everything and the only. She wanted to be his first everything, but she wasn't.
That time she still had an innocence that she lost over the years with his constant rejections.
Leonard Keane was her first kiss. Charles her first fiancé. Then there were other men in her attempt to forget… until she had to choose between Pierce and Christopher. How could she ever be capable to make such choice? Pierce was devotion. Christopher passion. Pierce always chose her. Christopher always declined her.
One day she had caught Christopher with an average girl at the barn in this same land. She watched them. She heard them when she was hidden for some reason she didn't recall.
She so hated that girl. She thought of breaking their pleasant moment, but she remained in silence. God only knows how she managed that.
But she saw everything. His everything. The ugly girl couldn't have all of him. She was boring. She only did in one position. So boring that he came quick, off of her.
Yet, she so wanted to hit that girl with the woods near her.
But no, she remained in silence and in a moment of fury, she went after Charles and as his wedding gift, she gave him her virginity, one day before his wedding. His father forced him to marry a true princess, his current boring wife.
Charles was average, small…to her "pattern".
She had seen better. Bigger. Not only literally speaking. All extent of the word.
Until the day at the tavern. She danced with other men, to overcome the thoughts of her losing her virginity to Charles and her father arranging her to late Fleming.
She was the best candidate for a great marriage due to her position, her class. She only lost to royal members. She wasn't a virgin anymore. Even at a public location, she danced with other men. At that time, she didn't really care anymore if other men were going to touch her anyhow. Handsome men, of course! Average and below that had no chance with her. Not only sexually speaking, after all, she couldn't know until she saw them naked.
Then Christopher entered the tavern, he had been promoted to a knight. He was in the mood for celebration.
The loud music, the animation, the alcohol, the haunted memories possibly contributed to their proximity that evening. They talked outside the lounge. Admired the stars. Alone. Together. In a time they had no worries, or little worries and obligations. They could enjoy themselves for who they were. Their beauty flourishing. His muscles enhancing due to his training. He smelt so good. He always had some vanity and so opposite to most men. She liked that.
They talked about their past, good memories. They laughed. They drank more. They shared a whisky bottle.
One thing led to another when his hand touched hers. They exchanged gazes, then he kissed her. So warm, so kind. So gentle. Nothing boring. She was in heaven and without even care if they could be seen, she kissed him back. They could not stop it. He tried, but he couldn't. He was in flames. They were in pure desire.
That tavern served as an inn too. As if in synch, they exchanged gazes, sharing the same thoughts and so it happened. Their first time. So fluffy yet wild. She didn't want to be boring like the other girl. She wanted to be remarkable and having some experience helped her in that, although it was more of her delivering herself to the intensity of her dormant feelings for him. Their only time until his birthday party a couple of years later, when she seduced him to stage a lie, but didn't have it all because he slept due to the alcohol.
In nine years of marriage they never had such experience again, at least, not the fluffy.
She knew he desired her body and really loved possessing it. However, he hadn't demonstrated to care about her feelings. Her heart. Not even after their first time when he spent most of the time struggling with his feelings or whatever remorse.
Now there he is proposing her a love deal. A love chance. Something she urged for so long, but in a moment, her ambitions had changed.
Still, she loved him. She did love him, right? She wouldn't have accepted all that if there wasn't love, right?
"So what do you say? Will you give us a chance?"
She could sense the hope in his tone. In his gaze.
Crossroads. Between love and ambition. Could she have both? There was only one answer for that question.
She smiled lightly with a single nod, "Yes, I will" she spoke sweetly
He leaned closer his face to hers, gently wiping the tears from her face, "Thank you for never giving up on me"
"I almost did…several times…"
"There's no one else between us, Kat… no one else…"
Their lips finally sealed into a love kiss. A balm. They kissed. And kissed more. Kindly. Warmly. Caringly.
They didn't try to remove each other's clothes. That could wait. They preferred to spend time together. They had breakfast. Full family.
Clairy kept an eye on Katarina who looked blissful and even treated Madeline kindly and even apologized to the little girl for had been a bad mother. But from that day on, things would be different.
21st Century, Bohma
"Call me a bitch. Call me a witch. Just call my name. Just call Katarina. Katarina O'Gregon. The Great!
I write my own path!"
An old man spoke as he read some letters that were on his desk in the Lake House. Now a patrimony of Bohma.
He started coughing and opened a drawer to get a bottle of meds. He took one black pill and swallowed it without any liquid. He looked inside the bottle and counted how many pills remained. Concern was visible on his face.
"Mr. Lionel" his personal guard entered the library, "There you are!" the man spoke in relief
"I'm always around, son! My legs can't win races anymore" the old man spoke jokingly
"I called you and you didn't answer"
"Look at me"
"I'm looking"
"Are you looking attentively?"
"Yes, I am, but what am I supposed to see?"
The old man laughed, "Deafness is part of this old figure, son!"
The other man laughed, "Sounds more you were distant" he said taking notice on the papers on the desk, "How are you feeling today?"
"The same as always…older!"
"You don't seem just older Mr. Lionel"
"And you are correct son. You are a great observer of this old and dying old man who is failing with his mission!"
"Dying? You still have the pills… I can order for more"
"No son…I have prolonged my departure for too long. My body needs to rest, so I will only finish this bottle and pray that the ones I have found and told their stories, manage to do things differently this time"
"But you still haven't found her…"
"The key of the puzzle" the old man looked at a painting hanging on the wall of a stunning brunette with a luxurious red gown and fancy jewelry and a crown
"Katarina…"
"Katarina O'Gregon!" Mr. Lionel corrected the man
"Those are her letters?"
"Some of them… I just finishing reading her diary about Christopher when I stumbled into a letter"
"Which one?"
"The 10th Anniversary"
"Did you find any clue?"
"No, but I did get one doubt"
"About?"
"Did they ever really loved each other? If there was true love, I wonder if this could make a change when they meet again"
"There's love when Angelique is not around, isn't it what you have said before?"
"I did say that before son, but I'm saying if there could still have hope for a not so dramatic encounter between them"
"With all the respect sir… There will always have drama between them. Two women disputing the love of the same man? One has to give in… Katarina doesn't seem to be that type"
"But she will have to! It's the law of the universe. She did have her chance and look what happened… Today I got in doubt if it would be the best if they met first, or if he and Angelique met first"
"Angelique is taken, isn't she?"
The old man laughed, "Oh yes, right! Old brain!" he joked, "However, Angelique being taken is not a problem. She has a process to live with George. It's the law! But Christopher…he is still so hurt. So damaged… I could see in his eyes…the gaze he kept since Katarina…" he started coughing
"Mr. Lionel. You'd better take a rest. It's enough past journey for today" the man spoke rushing to his aid and carried him to his bedroom
"I have to find Katarina… I'm running out of time!" the old man spoke before falling asleep
The servant left the room leaving the door half-open and returned to the library. He stood before Angelique and Katarina's large paintings, "Maybe Christopher Reed opened his heart to the wrong woman…" he thought staring the painting that were side by side
Thank you Pin for the review! :D
Thank you LeehPeron for favoring the story :D
And so we had some revelations unveiled huh! This had been a long journey for Christopher and Katarina...and for Maddy.
For how long can these two enjoy their moment of peace and happiness? And Maddy? And who is Mr. Lionel in fact?
Stay Tuned!