While he'd been able to power through his Carlotta induced chest pain, he found that they were becoming more and more difficult to get through. They were also more easily triggered, something that he hated with all of his being. What made matters even worse was that Christine seemed to be getting suspicious. That was the very thing that he'd hoped to avoid. He'd been hiding it for a long while at this point and he didn't want all of his hard work to be in vain. Especially not when his hard work unraveling meant that Christine's tender heart would be broken.
He was already stressed when he arrived home, a dull ache that he was wary of already in his chest. He was hoping that it would go away completely before Christine came home. He loved her dearly, but he knew she was probably going to do her damndest to try and corner him soon enough. It was quiet obvious thanks to the way she had been watching him recently.
He collapsed down on to the couch and breathed out a heavy sigh, knuckles rubbing into the hollow spot just underneath his chest as if he could rub the ache away. He dropped his hand and jumped slightly when the front door slammed open. He opened his mouth to greet Christine despite not expecting her to be back yet. However, he didn't have the chance to do so.
"Don't. Don't act as if you haven't been purposely hiding something from me." Christine snapped, kicking her boots off towards the opposite wall. She whirled on him and stomped over to stand on the opposite side of the table.
"Christine.. Please. Not now." Erik uttered imploringly. He couldn't do this right now, for reasons only obvious to him. He knew it was just making him look worse in her eyes but he found it utterly shameful to admit.
"Then when Erik?! When are we going to talk about what you're so clearly hiding from me?" Christine wasn't backing down for once. She was standing her ground against someone and while he was proud of her, he wished that she hadn't chose this minute to do it.
"Mon ange.. I can't.. it's not something I want to talk about." Erik murmured, his tone would've been soothing if it wasn't for the strain to it. He could feel his chest becoming tighter already and he knew what would be coming if he couldn't escape this situation and escape it quickly.
There was a brief pause in which he almost felt relieved. He'd gotten through to her and that was all that mattered to him. She'd understand if she was in his shoes. He doubted she'd want to worry him with something like this if the situations were reversed, so she couldn't judge him. However that relief faded within a millisecond when he realized just how teary her eyes had gotten.
"Then it's worse than I thought! You've never been so firm on not talking about something with me. It has to be something that you don't want me to know!" Christine accused, her voice becoming shrill near the end of her rant.
He tried to keep his face completely blank. It was for her own good after all. Even if the guilt ate him alive in the long run, he was doing her a favor. However, she must've seen something in his expression that he hadn't been quick enough to hide because a choked sobbing noise escaped her.
"I'm right... You're having an affair aren't you? You've gotten tired of me because I'm younger and not as mature as you!" Christine accused, the tears now running freely down her face.
The pain was steadily building, as was the pressure but he couldn't walk away now. If he did, she'd believe she was correct and she'd never believe another damn word that he said to her. Erik couldn't have that. He loved her too damn much to lose her now.
He stood and walked around the table, resting his hands on her hips, looking for the words to say. He had just managed to murmur her name when she shoved him back with a surprising amount of strength. He stumbled and groaned quietly, hand coming up to rest against his chest, opting to ignore the way the pain had spread and started shooting down his left arm.
"Don't touch me. I hate you!" Christine shouted, wanting to cause him the pain that she was feeling at the moment. She spun on heel and opted to ignore his dramatics, including his little groan. She wouldn't be swayed by any kicked puppy expressions or acting- no matter how convincing he sounded. The asshole was just talented. She knew that long before they'd ever actually got together.
It was almost ironic that the searing pain seemed to reach a crescendo moments before she shouted those words at him. Words that would cut more deeply if he wasn't already in some of the worst pain of his life. He couldn't even breathe, let alone form the words that he needed to say as he hit his knees. He opened and closed his mouth in vain, before giving up entirely. He was pretty sure speaking was beyond him for once, even when he was trying to force it through sheer will.
He didn't fight the encroaching darkness either. He let it take over as his consciousness faded into nothing.
It was the dull thump that grabbed Christine's attention. She muffled a small scream, bending down to give him a little shake. She was in denial. She wanted to believe that he was simply messing with her, trying to get her back for her 'cruel' words. However, when he didn't respond outside of a groan, she was forced to admit that he wasn't faking.
She rushed to the phone, cursing herself. She'd been right, she knew that much. This had confirmed that. But now she was doubting just how much she had actually been right about.