A/N: Muhahaha! I had to throw in at least another cliffhanger and what perfect way? The other night I watched Hard Candy with Patrick Wilson and let me say, for Raoul haters you will love this movie. Let's say you're wishing that Erik was around to see what happens. Okay, back to the story—thank you Halley for a amazing job and please don't forget to review!

Chapter 33: Familiar Faces and Surprises

Paris, 1899

The wedding was set in May at Jeanette's insistence and Etienne was willing to do it for his bride. The Destler estate was chosen to be the backdrop in the rose garden with the buds all in bloom. It was a romantic setting and the perfect place to hold a wedding.

However… not everyone was full of smiles.

Etienne wanted everything to be over and done with. Instead of being happy for the engagement, like he thought, he felt more depressed than ever. His parents weren't at all thrilled about the news when he told them. If anything, they were severely disappointed but had no choice to bless the union. It was an excellent match, even though they changed their mind about the bride.

Sitting in the room, looking out as the guests were pouring from the carriages, Etienne felt the lump in his throat rise. The clock read twenty minutes left and soon it would be M. and Mme. Etienne Destler.

Sweat gathered at his temples, his mouth turning dry at the prospect of what later that night would be. Jeanette was a beautiful woman, but Etienne feared he would ruin the evening in some way. Not a good start in a marriage…

"I can't believe you."

Etienne wearily turned to find Maddy, blocking the doorway, her eyes narrowing in a glare. Sighing, Etienne let his shoulders sagged as he breathed hard. "Pray, what have I done?"

"Plenty!" she scoffed, running to him. "Jeanette? Etienne far too long I kept quiet and now I cannot hold it in much longer. She's a lovely girl but she's not right for you. Can't you see? What about Stephanie?"

"I know!" he barked. "But is she here now? She hasn't returned in eight months and she won't in eight months to come. Jeanette will make a good wife and in time I will come to appreciate her the way she deserves."

"But for now? You don't need this and neither does Jeanette. She thinks you've gotten over Stephanie. No woman wants to be a replacement."

"Well, then I have no choice do I?" Etienne glowered. "She's gone Maddy. She's never coming back, not to me."

"What?" Maddy asked.

He gripped his seat and then pushed off. "Look it's over between us. Stephanie had found a way to return and she hasn't made an effort to come back. I think that says it all, don't you agree?"

"Etienne, what happened? What did you do?" she demanded.

He laughed strangely. "I? I! She was the one lying the whole time while I was honest."

"You didn't… Etienne you arrogant bastard," his sister said, giving him a good whack on his arm. "Do you even know why she did that? I bet you don't, not giving her the chance to explain. It was wrong, I understand, but you're no saint either. She loves you Etienne. She loves you so much and it was difficult for her to believe that anyone but Dan could ever love her the way he did. She's just like Papa. And… that's why she left."

Looking at Etienne, Maddy's eyes widened. "She was heartbroken. You confirmed her worst nightmare. That was what sent her back. Ah! If you weren't my brother I would strangle you with the Punjab!"

Astonishment washed over his countenance. "No… it can't be. M-Maddy…"

She shook her head. "No Etienne. I'm not helping you of this mess this time. You have to solve it yourself."

Maddy exited the room, leaving her brother to contemplate the matter.

Five minutes left. Four minutes…

"She loves me," he breathed, tears coming to his stormy irises. "She loves me and I… I love her. I want to marry her."

Three minutes… two minutes…

Etienne's eyes were drooping as his chest felt suddenly light and his body was filled with a floating sensation.

One minute…

xxXXxx

Life was lonely than ever.

Stephanie couldn't believe it when she woke up after her fight with Etienne that she was home. Home… seemed so foreign as she looked around in her old room. Once the shock and the anguish of never seeing the Destlers again settled in, she spent her first day weeping.

Nothing was out of place when she found the strength to get up and move. Harper looked like he hadn't aged a day and he did what any dog would do to cheer his master up. But it was useless. Her second chance was blown all because of her own stupidity and she wasn't sure if there would ever be another chance.

He doesn't love me anymore. He made that pretty clear.

It was the thought that continued to plague her. No doubt Jeanette was making her move that very moment once she learns Stephanie was no longer a threat to her position.

Even though on the inside she was a wreck, Stephanie did her best to hide it all in to continue on with her life. She went to work like always, chatting with Veronica, and giving her a swift reprimand not to set her up on anymore blind dates. She slid into routine, while her heart bled, but she refused to succumb to the tempting melancholy that was just around the corner. She already wasted too much time crying over Dan, a loss she was too late to realize, and now she wasn't going to repeat the same mistake with Etienne.

As much as it pained her, Stephanie put on a smile and tried to push away any memories of Etienne. Easier said than done.

Somehow, somehow a little moment would pop into her head and she would wonder what he would say or react. She continued to sing, not wanting to lose the voice that he help created, but it wasn't the same without him guiding her. Inspiring her.

The first month was difficult and the others that followed were slow and agonizing. But she refused to fall into despair. Etienne wouldn't have wanted it and neither did she. She was better than this and she would overcome it. But the question was: for how long? How long will the ache subside?

Stephanie managed getting a couple dates and the men were very nice and pleasing to the eye, but they weren't Etienne. They weren't sophisticated like him or musically talented or half as intelligent as he. She was ruined for other men and she wanted to rage at him, but she couldn't find it within herself to do so. He had every right to be angry and to loathe her. She didn't blame him if he were to run back to Jeanette.

One night, she and Harper were curled up on the couch, watching Dracula 2000. Bad choice on her part. Seeing Gerard Butler reminded her of Erik who then reminded her of Etienne.

I must be the only person in the world to cry watching this out of sadness and not fear, she thought begrudgingly.

As Dracula was relaying his pitiful tale to Mary, Harper's ears pricked up. Baring his tiny teeth, he leapt off of Stephanie and ran to the door while yapping his head off.

"Who could that be, boy?" she said aloud, trying to think if she was expecting anyone. Well… whoever it was could come back again. She wasn't in the mood to be entertaining.

Harper's barks grew louder as the person began knocking. Stephanie tried ignoring the sound, but whoever it was wasn't giving up.

Annoyed, she paused the movie and dragged her feet to the door, while grumbling to herself. Pulling Harper away by his collar, she stuck out her leg to hold him back as she unlocked and opened the door.

"I'm sorry. Can I help—"

Her mismatched eyes widened, the color draining from her face.

TBC…