While Brooke was still in the room with Sawyer, she heard the crash of the door closing violently. Lucas had just left... Even if she didn't know it yet. Intrigued, she went downstairs to see what was happening. As she pretended to look for something in the fridge, she heard voices in the entrance hall. First it was Peyton's voice, piercing and too loud that reached her ears...She moved closer to the door. Brooke realized it was Lucas who had run away when she heard the second voice, also a woman's... Victoria. They were just talking about why Lucas had just slammed the door, literally.

PEYTON : If he thinks that by leaving like that, it will solve the problems he put us in!

VICTORIA : Excuse me Peyton but until proven otherwise, he has done absolutely nothing ... And with what you told him, either he left or he would have surely hit you! You were frankly unfair ...

PEYTON : I may have been harsh, it's true! But that's what men are like ... Courage, let's run away! Pfff, it's pathetic!

VICTORIA : In any case, I advise you to try to calm things down, and quickly, Peyton!

Peyton just looked at Victoria as if she still didn't understand what she was getting at.

VICTORIA : Because you know very well that you have more to lose than him in the event of a separation... And even more in the event of a divorce!

Brooke clearly heard the words "separation" and "divorce"... Her heart raced, intrigued but also cautious. Peyton's eyes narrowed and suddenly became even meaner than usual. Then, just as quickly, she softened and her honeyed tone resurfaced, her assurance as well.

PEYTON : We're not getting a divorce... His words just went beyond his thoughts... I know him! And he knows me too... We're used to having ups and downs, even very downs, but that's how we function!

Brooke swallowed hard as she heard his words that she said with such aplomb.

VICTORIA : I hope so! What are you going to do then?

PEYTON : Right now, I'm mainly going to let him calm down and down a few beers...

VICTORIA : And then?

PEYTON : And then, I'll apologize for my words and tell him what he wants to hear...

Victoria said nothing but didn't think any less... She liked Lucas a lot. But Peyton... She had always wondered why a man as kind and as interesting as him, and also so handsome, had decided to marry a woman so full of herself, selfish and cold, despite her indisputable beauty.

PEYTON : But let's not forget that I'm the victim in this story... He's the one accused of cheating on me. Because even if he didn't do anything... The repercussions are there and they're staining us! And I'm seen as a cuckold!

VICTORIA : Peyton, I'm sorry to tell you this but I don't see things the same way as you at all! Lucas is a victim... The first victim in this story! Because you and I both know, one, that he didn't do that... And two, even if he had slept with someone else, he would have had every reason to do it...

PEYTON : Which ones!?

VICTORIA : I'll just give you a few: loneliness, the need for comfort, the loneliness due to your celebrity lives. The lack of communication and complicity... The lack of attention too perhaps... You know it as well as I do, especially since contrary to what you told her... You're not all white, either!

Peyton jumped, shrugging her shoulders because she felt the danger threatening her in Victoria's words.

PEYTON : You promised me you wouldn't tell... Never!

VICTORIA : And I'll keep my promise on the condition that you treat him with the respect and presumption of innocence that he deserves. Because what bothers you the most is not having been betrayed by your little husband that you love so much... It's that people might think that what this girl is saying is true... She, a simple little babysitter! She managed to seduce one of the most sought-after men in Paris, and it's your ego that takes a big hit!

Peyton stared at her agent with an increasingly severe and arrogant look, even though deep down, she knew she was right.

VICTORIA : So it's up to you to put that aside to get your man back because that's my part... He seems pretty upset with you. Your first goal is to convince him to attend Thursday's Gala with you... Like a solid couple.

PEYTON : We'll be there! Together! And even hand in hand, Victoria...

VICTORIA : I'm glad to hear it!

Brooke was still listening to the two women finish their conversation but everything was jostling in her little head.

BROOKE'S THOUGHT : Fortunately Victoria seems to see clearly in the situation ... She supports Lucas in a way. Peyton who can't stand the idea of being cheated on, even less if it's with a little babysitter ... If she knew. But Victoria seems to know one of his well-kept secrets ... Maybe his infidelities, surely even! But to save face, she's going to have to convince Lucas to show himself at a Gala on Thursday night ... Lucas wants a divorce, he told me. He'll never agree to play this hypocritical game ...

Later that night, Brooke had gone back to her room after eating and putting Sawyer to bed. She hadn't seen Lucas again all evening, she had gone down to her workshop without speaking to anyone. For the fifth time, she tried to reach Lucas by phone... But this time, it didn't even ring anymore.

BROOKE'S THOUGHT : He turned off his cell phone... Or maybe it's out of battery... Either way, he didn't answer me or send me a message... Again.

Worried but also disappointed, Brooke couldn't fall asleep, she tossed and turned in her bed. She realized that she had no idea where he could have gone. This realization made her realize that she didn't know him that well. But more than anything, she worried about him... Imagining the state he had gotten himself into... Or had he gone straight to his lawyer to speed up the procedure...?


Brooke only managed to sleep for a few hours and the anxiety and incomprehension were the same the next morning. She looked at her phone... Still nothing, absolutely nothing. Besides, it was only six in the morning... But she already knew that going back to sleep would be impossible. She put a bathrobe on over her nightie and went downstairs to make herself a coffee... Lots of coffee. Half awake, she jumped when she hit a powerful but sweaty torso...

BROOKE : You again! It's annoying!

FELIX : Sorry Brooke, I didn't see you... Why you're already up?

BROOKE : Same thing as you I guess... I couldn't sleep anymore.

FELIX : Personally I always get up before sunrise... A good jog, a shower and the day starts well.

In a slightly detached tone and while Brooke was barely listening to her, she answered him:

BROOKE : I guess you must be keeping in shape... At least the coffee is already made, thanks!

Felix watched her pour herself, he noticed quite quickly that her face expressed the same feverishness as her voice.

FELIX : Is something wrong?

And as she brought her large mug closer to her mouth, Brooke took a very hot sip before answering him.

BROOKE : Let's just say that this week is going to be difficult... With the events of this weekend...

FELIX : That's for sure... But you'll see, it will calm down in a few days...

BROOKE : You seem almost used to this kind of thing, am I wrong!?

FELIX : Let's just say that this isn't the first time that there are journalists to deal with and tensions in this couple, yes! But this time... This time, I have the impression that... No, forget it...

He stopped himself as if his reflection was not appropriate or if he didn't want to share it with her.

BROOKE : This time what!? Tell me, Felix!

Felix frowned but saw Brooke's eyes imploring him not to leave her in the ignorance.

FELIX : I just think that Lucas is really not well... Usually he's relatively insensitive to all this... But last night, he really seemed beside himself... And at the same time, completely devastated!

BROOKE : Devastated and beside himself? Because of Peyton? Lindsay? Both at the same time?

FELIX : He didn't tell me anything... He just told me he needed a change of scenery and he...

Brooke felt like he was about to give her some important information... But he hesitated.

BROOKE : You know where he is, don't you?

FELIX : Yes. Because he's at my house... He asked me if he could stay there last night...

From his expression, Brooke had understood that Felix had understood... That she was too worried about her boss. That she would have insisted until he told her what he knew... That that was why she was worried this morning. And while she was already thinking about how she was going to go about asking him the sequel...

FELIX : Do you want the address?

Brooke couldn't believe her ears at first... Of course she wanted it! And strangely enough, she also wanted to hug Felix to thank him and apologize for mistreating him so badly.

After writing down the address in her cell phone, Brooke asked him to tell Julie that she had to slip away. She rushed to her room to get dressed and immediately set off for Felix's apartment. She needed answers, she needed to see him and talk to him, and she needed to make sure he was okay.


Brooke had finally arrived at the address given... A nice apartment building. She first looked at the last names posted next to the intercom... She saw Felix's. She was in the right place and she climbed the remaining steps. She took a deep breath and rang the doorbell. She looked at the intercom, nodding her head from side to side as if that would make him come faster.

BROOKE'S THOUGHT : Come on Lucas...

Since she didn't get any response after several seconds, she rang and rang again... She showed that she would insist until he deigned to come and answer... Until finally...

LUCAS : Yes yes, what's that for?

Visibly annoyed by the insistent disturbance, it was indeed his voice that Brooke heard.

BROOKE : It's me, Lucas... It's Brooke.

LUCAS : Brooke?

A few seconds passed as Brooke waited for him to process the information and react to it, and most importantly, for him to open the door. Lucas, for his part, hesitated, but at the same time, she was perhaps the one and only person he wanted to see. The only one who managed to warm his heart despite his current state of anger and disgust...

LUCAS : It's on the second floor...

Relieved, Brooke exhaled loudly as she opened the door which unlocked from the inside. She went up... She first saw the door to the apartment half-open and then Lucas's bare-chested body leaning against the frame. That body... Still so magnificent and so masculine... That body that stood out with its almost frightening expression. Brooke's heart contracted, hers too... His complexion was paler and his eyes were red and very dark circles. In a smile too light for Brooke's taste, he looked her over then stopped to look her in the eye.

LUCAS : What are you doing here? You shouldn't be here...

BROOKE : I'm here because I was worried about you.

LUCAS : As you can see, I'm fine...

BROOKE : Standing doesn't mean you're fine, Lucas.

Brooke had stopped inches away from him. She would only have to reach out to touch him. As he moved, she hoped it was to come to her. But he simply cleared the way for her to come in. His eyes on hers as the only link between them.

LUCAS : Come in. We're going to talk, but first I'm going to take a shower...