5. A Broken Wings

“Why do you look frightened and half trembling like this? Did last night you are reacting exactly like this too?”

“Stop fooling around! Last night was a total flop because their meeting wasn’t going smooth again this time. He left me when I'm started itchy, and 'till now I can’t contact him at all.”

“Really?! Poor thing, no wonder you became this sensitive. Do you wanna finish it with me?”—Franz caught Phoebe’s hand when it's almost whacked his head—“I’ll let you use your hands on me when you’re about to come. If not, don't dare to dream, Mrs. Franz Hanssen to-be.”

“Dang, your perverted mind!” Phoebe’s cursing him, while Franz only grinned widely like a silly guy.

“Anyway, that’s not bad. Because soon you'll cut him out of your life. So, you don’t need to spend much time with him.” Franz stood up and held out his hand.

“What does this mean? Why are you suddenly acting like this?”

“Why are you looking upset? Do you want me to help you? Then let's continue what is delayed last night with me? I don’t mind it if you desperately want it,” Franz said that foolish words with his ridiculous expression.

"Naah, in your dreams! Stop fooling around with me, Franz Hanssen.”

“Gosh! those words really hurt my dignity, my Bee.”

"I don't care. Just swerve! I want to spend my time with mommy and Princess. You better make up with your girl. Maybe you could say I was your cousin who's pranked you two."

“Do you think she would believe that so easily? All women are the same. But I'm curious, how did you know I was already bored with her? I'm waiting for a perfect moment to get rid of her before she makes a hole in that card. Thanks to you for making all this easier. You are indeed the most potential wife-to-be to rely on, my Bee.”

"Stop saying weird things, Franz Hanssen! And don't blame those girls because you are the culprit here."

"What did I do? I'm the victim here. Hey! Don't run away, my bride." Franz laughing crazily when seeing Phoebe try to escape from him as fast as she could.

Phoebe came out of Franz’s room and walked towards where her mother and sister were. They’ve planned to spend their time enjoying the SPA at this resort. She wanted to pamper her mom and sister. When last night Franz gave her an idea of spending time in here, she immediately agreed. After all, this place is the best choice if she wants to shoot some additional footage for her next project.

They had just finished dinner after the ladies pampering themselves at the SPA. Phoebe is walking with her mom through the flowers garden that has beautiful and colorful lights on it. If her little sister were here, she would act as a model and will be busy making Phoebe take some pictures until Phoebe has to climb until sprawled. They don’t know what is her spoiled little sister was doing right now. 

She said that she and her best friend would return to their room first. Since Phoebe and her mom already knew that girl, they invited her to come over and spend some time together here. Besides, she and her mother thought it was much safer if they could always keep an eye on their Princess because that mischievous girl always had a way of sneaking and escaping. Perhaps this was a hidden talent within the Breslin family as all the girls in this family always love to escaping and sneaking around whenever the opportunity arose.

"So, when are you going to marry Franz?" Jane Breslin asked as they sat in front of the dancing fountain.

"Oh, come on. Why is Mommy always curious about this topic?" Phoebe looks uninterested when it comes to discussed any topics related to marriage with Franz. She also didn't think she would have a serious relationship with his childhood best friend.

"Because I want to see you happy, Sweatheart,"—Jane Breslin holding her eldest daughter's right hand—"don't you want to have a family of your own? There's a child who plays in your lap, a husband that pampering and love you completely, and I'm still strong enough to play with him or her when you and your lovely husband go on another honeymoon trips again to give me another grandchild." Jane Breslin smiled widely at one of her simple dream for her eldest daughter.

“Why did you come up with such a ridiculous plan? Wouldn’t one grandson from me would be enough, Mom?” Phoebe didn’t dare to look at her mother’s face. Her sight was elsewhere and busy holding back her tears so that tears weren’t running down on her cheeks or that’s will fall right on her Mom’s hands.

“Because somehow I feel that you haven’t dreamed in such a long time. So, I helped you find the basic idea. Isn’t it like that, Miss editor?”

“Mom, I’m a content editor at a media company now. Not an editor at a publishing house like Ayana or any other editor. I still use my imagination to work, but not daydreaming like a teenage girl. I’m almost thirty now. My time to dreaming like a naive girl is over.”

“This is what I’m afraid of. You gave up on your dreams for us. Have we become a burden to you now? Mommy doesn’t want to make you sacrifice or doing any things that are too hard for you to bear alone.”

“What do you means, Mom? I didn’t sacrifice or bearing anything. So, stop saying weirds things like this.”

“Do you know? What happened to my life now, I could have predicted before. When Mommy finally used the Breslin as my last name. I had prepared myself if one day I had to be in a situation like this. Mommy can handle all of my problems with my own might. So from now on, start to think about the future and your happiness. Because if you are happy, then you will also make me happy.” Jane Breslin cupped her eldest daughter’s face and gently wiped away the tears Phoebe had been trying to hide.

“Mommy must have known that my happiness depends on yours,” said Phoebe, shedding all the tears she couldn’t hold back anymore.

“You ridiculous girl. Do you think Mommy won’t know if you hide your tears? This is what I hate the most. Mommy has to make sure your husband doesn’t let you cry all alone like this. So, I hope that Franz will be the one who can take care of you. Maybe he’s the only one who will know you inside and out.” Her mom mentioned the same name as her favorite future son-in-law again and again.

“Is Franz the only man in this world who can take care of me and not let me crying alone anymore? How about if one day he’s the one who makes me cry? Does Mommy think my prince charming from the Dragon’s Valley and riding a unicorn was not real? Is that just an illusion to you? Are you sure, Mrs. Breslin?” As always, Phoebe's silly words made both of them suddenly burst into laughter, with the remaining tears still running down their cheeks.

“There you go again, but you are indeed an expert. I think I will be a regular visitor at your secret fortress. It's so fun there and makes me have tons of ideas for painting again. I feel like I always want to paint without having a break after visiting your forbidden territory.”

“Aren’t your words is too much, Madame? Isn’t it's just a trick? Because you want to observe something suspicious, or maybe something that can give you a sensation that you never imagined before? But I don’t know what kinds of sensations it is.” Phoebe is trying to get some clues about how far her mom has explored her secret fortress. Because if her mother could answer this question easily, that means she should consider moving certain items from that forbidden territory to another safer place, or maybe she should add a safety system so it won't easily open by an intruder. Because there’s no way she’ll ever stop her mom from going there again, she knew her mom needed comfort things to survive in that big house. 

—✧✧✧—

It's four days left until Phoebe's day off is over. Franz has a schedule in Germany, and he asked the ladies if they wanted to spend their Momster's date there. Of course, they love that idea because this means Phoebe will get more extra footage, Jane can get an idea for her next exhibition, and the youngest with their latest social media feeds. The most important thing, Franz can keep his promise to always be near the Breslin ladies, like what he secretly promised to those who believed in him.

Berlin, Germany,

“Woohoo! Lebkuchen smells. Mom, let’s eat Lebkuchen and Bienenstich first. I’m already drooling and hypnotized.” Aretha and Hera became very excited when their car rolled down midtown. Franz giggled when he looked at those two girls who can’t avert their gaze from the window, but then he realized Phoebe and her mom suddenly became too calm. It’s like they are lost in their own thoughts.

After their belongings reached their room, Franz asked Phoebe to accompany him to dinner with his colleagues tomorrow night. Now he will go to a meeting with his assistant to sign the agreement. Of course, the ladies suddenly turned into fairy Godmothers to help Phoebe decide on all the stuff she would wear for dinner tomorrow. But first, the ladies will enjoy some sweet tooth because they will need extra energy to get the best style for their lovely Phoebe Amaya Breslin.

✧✧✧

"It's been a while we haven't played this kind of role. Am I right, Franz?" Phoebe was holding Franz's arm and walked down to the crowd. It's not just a dinner, but it's more like a charity dinner. 

"Just to keep you remember where are you belong." Franz gave her a genuine smile and warm gaze. "Welcome to our world, my Bee."

The two of them were busy chit-chatting about what has been happening in the business world lately for a whole night with their colleagues, or let's say, Franz's colleagues. Phoebe also mingled with the ladies and talked about women’s empowerment and other things related to the women’s world, including the auction that will be held soon. It’s not just the gentleman who is here, but several successful women who have led their companies and become part of the world economy who are also in the same room as Phoebe. Phoebe always loves when she is in a place like this because she can get the latest information about the business and fashion's world. So, she can learn a lot from the people who are here also. She always gets information about the latest things and of course, new relations too.

An email notification popped up on her phone screen. Phoebe is whispering to Franz that she wants to go to the bathroom. Phoebe knew there’s something wrong with Key because he was too weird lately, and she has been telling her trusted people to keep monitoring him. It is felt they were waiting for her to come back home, and that means it is more serious and could disturb her time with the most precious person in her life. She felt a big thing was about to come.

When she walked back to the main hall, her eyes caught a familiar figure walking passing her and stopped near to where she’s standing. She’s wondering what’s that man was doing here. When she wants to approach him, another familiar figure walks and then talks with him. Phoebe wanted to eavesdrop, but a man’s voice suddenly said in a deep icy tone, “If I were you, I wouldn’t be watching them from under the spotlight like you are doing now, but looking for a place that can hide your shadow.”

Phoebe wants to talk back to the intruder behind her. When she is about to turn back, shocking words hit her ears, “Dad, what are you doing here? Let’s talk inside." They smiled widely. "Okay, let's get back inside, Mr. Levanchois?”

Phoebe become stiff in her place, "Dad? Mr. Levanchois? What's going on here?" She murmured

"I have become curious too right now, just like you." A man behind her was whispering in her ear, sending a tickling sensation weirdly. Phoebe gasped, then shut her mouth with both of her hands before her sexy lips will be squealed or maybe made her hissed because of that sensation. Oh dang!