A/N: Yay another update within a week! Exams are coming up and this chapter has at least several more chapters left so I'm going to try and get the rest of this story done before I won't have any time. Thank you to everyone who's been reviewing and to my beta Halley. Please don't forget to review!

Chapter 31: Misunderstanding

"Etienne, there's something about Dan I have to tell you. No," Stephanie shook her head and stared in the mirror.

Taking a deep breath, she tried again, "We need to talk Etienne about Dan. No that won't work…"

"Dan was never in my life when I came here…"

"I love you so much, much more than Dan. And guess what? He left me a year ago!"

She rubbed her temples in a circular motion, gazing down. Exhaling, she straightened her posture and said,

"Etienne, please hear me out when I tell you this. It might be unbearable to hear but it concerns Dan and me. Etienne we need to talk."

"Yes we do."

A little scream popped from her mouth as her eyes darted to his reflection and then relaxed.

"I didn't see you come in."

"I didn't want to interrupt," he replied, albeit coldly. It was then Stephanie took in assessment of his disposition, noticing the tightness of his lips pursed. Crossing his arms over his chest, he nodded to her. "Let's hear it then. Enlighten me about M. Shaw."

Stephanie cringed at how he spat the name. Now's not the time to back down. You owe him the truth after all.

You wouldn't be in this position if you were opened to began with, her inner self berated.

Ignoring it, she locked eyes with him. "Etienne, I should have told you from the beginning, but at the time I wasn't willing to accept the truth until now and—"

"And what truth, pray tell, are you referring to?" he interrupted. "Having second thoughts? Feel you're betraying him again!?"

"Stop it Etienne!" Stephanie barked, standing so she could at least be more in level with him. "Okay, he's no saint and neither am I but don't you dare question my loyalty. I know where I stand."

"Oh? Refresh my memory of where you exactly stand," he leered.

Her jaw dropped, but she suppressed the urge to slap some sense into him. "Don't you go there Etienne, I'm warning you. You're taking this the wrong way…"

His hands flew up in the air. "How else would you expect me to handle this? You go from me to him and him to me. I thought you made up your mind that evening at the Masquerade," he said softly.

"I have," she retorted. "But you're being too damn judgmental and jumping to conclusions without hearing what I have to say on this matter."

"What else could there be to say?" Etienne glowered.

"Plenty that I owe you from the start of our acquaintance," Stephanie told him, her anger simmering to a low heat. I have no right to be angry. Remember that, she reminded herself. Breathing deeply, she had him sit down and took his hand in hers.

"About a year ago," she started. "Things between me and Dan were not going well. He was becoming distant and I was completely oblivious to it until he left. I haven't seen him since, not even before I came here."

"He's gone? You two were never…?" Etienne asked.

She shook her head. "We were never engaged despite popular belief."

His hand went rigid in her grip and feeling suddenly fearful, Stephanie held him tighter. "I know it was wrong of me to lead you on like we were but you have to understand why I did that—"

"No." He pulled away and jumped to his feet, his back to her. Stephanie tried to move so she could look at him, but Etienne refused to meet her eyes. Those lovely, deadly mismatched eyes that he fell for…

Etienne was in disbelief what she revealed to him. This whole time… they were never engaged, never married, never even close to it. Memories of the almost kiss flashed in his head—her reluctance, her look of guilt, and the fight that came after. There was no true foundation to their argument. Only what was in her mind.

She lied to me, he thought. Everyday was a lie.

"I know you might be angry with me and you have every right to, but believe me when I say I'm over him. I think that was what I was afraid of the most. I didn't think no other man would love me or I would love them the way I did with Dan. I'm glad that I was proved wrong. Etienne, I—"

"Don't, please," he whispered, turning to look at her at last.

His countenance kept Stephanie frozen in her place. The feel of tears clung to her eyelashes by the stoic and impassive expression. I can't lose him! I can't! her mind screamed.

"Etienne…"

"Mlle Larson I heard what you wanted to say and I have nothing further to add. Excuse me."

And with a stiff nod of his head, Etienne was out of the room.

Stephanie stood there, distraught, the tears falling freely and quickly.

"No… Etienne…"

She slid to the floor, her sobs wracking her body as she huddled close together. In her heart, she knew it was over. In the end, she ruined her second chance.

TBC…

-dodges throwing objects- Have no fear dear readers! I'm not going to leave you hanging for long.