Thank you all for your responses. There will be more details on Estella's visit in the next chapter.

Ch. 22

On the fifteenth day since Estella's departure, Erik was feeling beside himself. The past two weeks had proven to be taxing on his nerves, and he found that he could hardly concentrate on his work.

He sat, beside his window, with the intention of drawing up the addition of the library in the building that he was to create-a task that he had previously looked forward to with anticipation, for the client was wealthy and both the budget and imagination were seemingly-limitless-but instead of doing so, he could not refrain from watching the snow fall outside with a troubled heart.

He hated himself for how easy it was to be transported back to his time at the Opera Populaire, when he felt so helpless, frightened of forever being alone, and most of all, desperate. How powerless he had been to prevent Christine from leaving him, and now it had happened again, with Estella!

He knew that it could not have been coincidence, and he blamed himself and the impossibility of being wanted for causing it to happen. Though being abandoned was the worst feeling in the world, he thought that he should have been accustomed to it, by now.

His mind was filled with these thoughts of despair as he gazed sadly outside of his window and watched the snow collect on the ledge, wishing to disappear.

Suddenly, he was alerted by the sight of a carriage drawing ever closer to his estate, and he felt himself grow protective of his property as he attempted to determine the identity of his visitor.

Who could possibly be calling upon him, and how did he or she know where he lived? He could only hope that it was John, and not an unexpected intruder.

But he could not shake the ill feeling that he had at the realization that night was soon approaching and he still did not know who it was, even as the carriage came to a stop in front of his door.

Estella sat patiently inside of the carriage as it led her to return home. The small window was hidden behind the crimson velvet drapes, but she did not care to look outside. Her mind was focused elsewhere.

Thirteen days had not been long enough to be with her aunt, and the depression could easily be seen on her features. Her eyes were both saddened and exhausted, but she could not move herself to tears.

Ever since she had met her husband, she found that her emotions had endured various moods that had changed too quickly, and she was too fatigued to mourn for the loss of her aunt. Though depressed, she wished that she could have simply one day of peace and rest, but she felt that fate would not allow it.

She had missed out on the opportunity to become acquainted with the only living relative who displayed the very same tenderness as her dear parents, and when the time had finally arrived and the two had found each other again, it had come to an end shortly by Rosalie's death.

Estella regretted the way in which she was forced to leave her husband in such haste, as she knew that she must have inflicted great suffering upon him. She was aware of how little he thought of himself and she knew better than to leave while he was struggling with feeling rejected, but she had had no choice. Her aunt had become aware that her life was slowly ending only few months ago, but it wasn't until her health had steadily declined when she had finally discovered the location of her niece, and Estella was required to leave immediately.

Shortly after the death of her younger brother and his wife, Rosalie Abraham had not known what had happened to her brother's daughter, and though she had searched for her for quite some time, she had eventually given up hope of taking the young girl as her ward. Especially after the death of her own husband, she had mourned the loss of her dear niece, and while she had had suspicions that her elder brother, John, knew of her whereabouts, she had not been able to prove it, for he had always been manipulative and hid it well.

It wasn't until she had ignored the conflicts that would arise from her visit and she had called upon John to tell him of her incurable disease that would soon take her life from her, when she had finally stumbled upon information that had been most valuable to her.

While she had waited for him to receive her, she happened to overhear Hattie gossiping about Estella's new marriage, and though she had frightened her spoiled niece, she had been able to demand more until she was satisfied with the answer.

If it was even possible, Estella now despised her uncle even more than she ever had. Rosalie told her that she knew how much her parents had loved her, and that she was certain her father had left a will for her, but that John must have had a part in hiding it from her. Not only that, but he had prevented her from having a relationship with the only person who would have loved her, and she felt her blood boil at the thought of it.

Still, she was grateful that she had at least been allowed a short time to discover that she was not unloved, after all. She would always treasure her last moments with her aunt, even if they were few.

When she had arrived, Estella stepped outside and dreaded what was to follow after her return. Would Erik still be infuriated? Probably, she suspected, but she hoped that it wasn't enough for him to hate her.

As she walked to the door, she knew that she had new battles to fight, even though her head ached and she simply wished to return to her bed for a bit of sleep.

She was relieved to be greeted by her familiar surroundings, and after instructing where the few traveling bags that she had brought should go, she could not help but to glance at the flight of stairs that she knew would lead her to her husband. Perhaps she should rest a bit before initiating another argument with him that she was sure to happen, she thought.

She turned away and crossed the hall to ascend the stairs that would lead her to her room when she was startled by a deep voice that reverberated off of the vaulted ceilings and decorative beams.

"Why have you returned?"

Estella slowly turned around to see him leaning against the wall in the shadows. Dressed in all black, he was hardly noticeable, but when he stepped forward she could see the burning anger in his eyes as he stared at her. Had she not already been aware of his capability to be a good man, then she would have been utterly terrified by the sight of him.

"Did you wish for me not to?" she asked in response.

Though he had made himself visible, he still kept his distance from her. The past few weeks had only forced him to allow his sadness, humiliation, and rage to fester, and even he did not know what he was capable of if he did not keep his temper under control.

With jaw tightened, he muttered, "You left in such haste, and I was certain that you would have no desire to set foot in here, again."

Estella was reminded of her guilt in causing this terrible misunderstanding that she imagined had greatly damaged what little pride he had had, and she wished to make matters clear.

"Despite what it appeared to be, I did not leave because of you."

"Oh?" he questioned, and she could hear the sarcasm that had saturated his voice.

"I received a letter from my father's sister. I left quickly because she wrote to me that she was dying," she explained sadly.

"How wonderful!" Erik spat, not allowing her to continue. "Now that you have nowhere else to go, you have come crawling back to me!"

"That is not true!" Estella shouted back. Then, she inhaled slowly in order to recollect her composure. "I expected that it would be difficult for you to believe me, but I did not think that you would continue to find fault in me that does not exist!"

"Perhaps it is because I am not naive!" he retorted.

"How long will you twist my words and contort my actions into something they are not?" she asked, hurt.

"I have heard enough of your lies!" he yelled. "Do you think that I know no better? Do you believe that you have me wrapped around your little finger and that you can manipulate me into believing that I have a chance, only to tear it away from me when your true feelings are revealed? You are no better than..."

He did not finish his remark, instead; he turned on his heel and began to leave.

"You are a coward!" Estella shouted with tears in her eyes.

Erik stopped suddenly, balling his fists and feeling the heat rise to his cheeks from her words. He was livid.

He began to slowly draw closer with a look in his eyes that she was certain would set her ablaze, "What...did you say?"

Estella refused to be intimidated and she did not shy away from him, even as he towered above her, and she could feel his hot breath on her face as he glared at her.

"It is you who is running from me," she said. "You say that I lead you to believe that you have a chance, when that is the very same in which you do to me! You give me a glimpse of a kind-hearted gentleman, only to find reasons to be upset with me the next minute! Despite my requests and pleas to be a part of your life, you avoid me! I thought that you were the only person who could understand me...who knew what it was like to endure the sufferings of not belonging in the world..."

"The taunting for the color of your skin pale in comparison to the hardships I have endured because of my face!" he responded bitterly.

Estella was pained by his comment, and she did not know how to respond. Erik found this as an opportunity to continue, though he couldn't prevent himself even if he had wanted to.

"You have known what it is like to have your parents' love-I was clothed with a mask to hide the repulsiveness known as my face; I did not know the sensation of my mother's lips upon my skin! A warm smile did not greet me every day in which I had awakened-in which I was still alive, for she cursed my very existence!"

He felt himself begin to shake and he turned his back to her. Estella watched him and attempted to hide the horror and sadness that had consumed her from his confession.

He could feel what little dignity that he had left crumble, but then he was reminded of his anger and he felt his heart harden once more. He closed his eyes and focused on the animosity that he had felt for most of his life, letting it course through his veins, and he decided that he would not show anymore weakness in front of her.

He turned around to face her, finding that the flames could not be calmed, and continued, "My first kiss was from a woman who was terrified of me. I once thought that fear could turn to love, but how mistaken I was! And now, you have served as a reminder of this-of how ignorant I am to believe that we could coexist!"

"I do not fear you," she retorted. "If I did, then I most certainly would not be standing here as you unleash your misguided fury upon me!"

"You are hiding nothing from me!" he shouted. "I saw the horror and regret that you felt after kissing me!"

"You saw the horror and regret that I felt from humiliating myself with my drunkenness!" she exclaimed. "It was not the kiss itself that brought me to such realization; it was my most unladylike behavior!"

Erik brought his face closer to hers, only inches away, hoping to scare her away with his piercing stare. He now wished that she would leave and never return.

Estella watched the fire burning in his eyes but she did not disrupt eye contact. Instead, she matched his anger with hers, found the courage to remain in place, and stood her ground.

She noticed how close his lips were to hers, and though he only stared at her with all of the pain and outrage that he felt, the thought of kissing him had crossed her mind, anyway. She knew the kindness and gentleness that he was capable of, and she would not allow herself to be frightened away by his temper. She had not known the extent of his pain, but remembering what he had confessed to her, she was certain that she could forgive him.

"I do not believe you," he hissed. "You would be a fool not to regret it!"

"Then I am a fool," she whispered.

When she closed her eyes and pressed her lips to his, she felt him stiffen from the contact. She ignored the fact that he did not respond at first, instead; she deepened the kiss.

After a few moments of shock, Erik felt himself consumed by the moment and he moved his lips with hers. He was surprised, and even delighted, when he felt her hand rest gently on his chest and he marveled at how such a simple gesture had spread a warmth through himself and quickened his pulse.

After allowing herself to savor their kiss for a few more seconds, Estella pulled away to see that any trace of anger had melted off of Erik's face, leaving him out of breath, surprised, and even a bit confused. She could not help but to smile with pride at the reaction that she had caused.

"I must rest from my journey," she said softly. "But I expect you to join me for tea in the morning."

And with that, she walked away from him, leaving him to stare after her in shock.