LUTON PREP BOARDING SCHOOL MANHATTAN11 YEARS AGO, TWO WEEKS BEFORE SPRING BREAK AND THE BENOIT AND DALTON CAR CRASH.“You’re late Elsida,” Professor Muton raises his eyebrow as she steps into the classroom.Students snicker and mumble incoherent words as she stalks to the only empty seat situated in front of the classroom.Her leg skids to a stop when she notices the occupant of the seat next to hers. Julien’s head is bowed, oblivious to the murmurs around him. His gaze rooted to the phone in his hands.“Shit,” Elsida murmurs when she pulls the seat out. She gingerly takes her seat and keeps her eyes trained on the digital board.Julien flicks his head up and his gaze settles on her. Elsida shuts her palms tightly and her gaze remains firmly planted on the board. However, her skin heats up from the intensity of his stare.“Now where was I? You will work together with your peers in groups of two for this project. It's on Othello, you’ll have two weeks to create your rendition of the e
“How long has he been sick for?” Elsida mumbles as she wipes at her tears. Her gaze drifts from Nancy to Jasper. His blue eyes shine with curiosity and he waves at her. Elsida drifts back to Nancy as her heart beats frantically against her ribcage.Nancy’s eyes trail Elsida’s movement and a small frown blooms across her lips. “About a year and a half, the doctor says he has less than a year to live,” she whispers.Elsida sucks in a sharp breath. “Thank you for telling me,” she rasps, her gaze brimming with sincerity.Nancy sees it as an invitation and her warm hands cover Elsida’s that have gone cold.” I know I wasn't supposed to contact you but I couldn't bear the thought of you not knowing. He is your biological son Elsida, you deserved to know.”Elsida’s gaze moves to the teary gray clouds and she sighs heavily, “Yeah.”Nancy draws soothing circles on the back of Elsida’s palm and she sighs,” And so does Julien love.”“It's been eleven years,” Elsida murmurs, choking on a sob.“His
After managing to tug Julien towards the couch, Elsida meets his curious gaze and she lets out a heavy breath and clasps her hands in his.“Julien we.. we have a son,” she rasps.Julien’s hands go still in hers. His thumb pauses its caress against the back of her palm and his eyes narrow slightly.“I'm not following El,” he rasps.“We have a son, Julien,” Elsida croaks, her eyes brimming with unshed tears as she holds his confused gaze.Julien freed his hands from her grip and he pulled back slightly. His jaw ticked and his gaze flicked between Elsida’s as though he was searching for a lie.“I'm going to need more details Elsida because believe it or not this is very difficult for me to wrap my head around,” he drawled sharply.Elsida felt the sting of his words in her gut and her gaze wandered to the couch. “It happened the first time we had sex, eleven years ago.”Julien’s jaw hardens and his gaze becomes unreadable. His hands clutch her chin softly forcing her gaze to meet his azur
Elsida follows Natasha into the cafe with her heart in her mouth. The curious glances she gets and whispers don't help matters but as her eyes collide with the television perched on the wall, her blood runs dry.A scene of a head-on collision fills the screen, Julien’s Buggati is crushed against a truck and the front is completely damaged. Both windscreens of the vehicles are shattered and the door is hanging open.The scene progresses to another where paramedics are rolling two bodies into an ambulance, it's too blurry for her to make out distinguishing features but one of the bodies is covered.Elsida sucks in a breath and her knees give out on her, Natasha comes to the rescue as her hands steady her sister.“Nat,” Elsida whispers, her voice hoarse.“You need to go to the hospital El,” Natasha murmurs with her hand gripping Elsida’s lithe body firmly.“Is he…?” Elsida gasps as a tear slides down her cheek.“I don't know El, but let's think positive,” Natasha says softly.Elsida does
It’s been two weeks since Julien got into a coma. Two weeks since the dreadful accident and two weeks of Elsida staring at the beeping ECG monitor, the only tell-tale sign that Julien is alive.Today was no different. After Cressida begged her to take a break and get some fresh air. she resumed her position on the chair closest to his bed and engulfed his hands in hers, she let out a heavy breath.The doctor announced that his coma was progressing rapidly and he was in a lot of danger if they didn’t receive a physical reaction from him within a month.Elsida kissed his hands every day and chanted the same thing; “please come back to us Julien, you have a son that needs to know you.”“I miss hearing your voice, your chuckle and that glint you get in your eyes whenever you tease me, come back Julien.”She pushed stray locks of hair from his face and held onto his hands until she fell asleep with her head tucked away in the tangle of their arms.♡♡♡11 YEARS AGO, LILY DALTON’S BURIALEls
Elsida wakes up in a gasp with her skin humid from sweat, she heaves a sigh when she realizes it was just another nightmare.“Are you okay Elsida?” Landon rasps as he stands perched next to the room door. Elsida’s head rears back swiftly and her eyes widen when she sees him. She arches an eyebrow, “Landon, when did you get here?”“Not long ago,” his lips twisted into a slight grin before his eyes did a 360 of Elsida.“Are you good? You look tense.”Elsida rolled her eyes, “Ahh the unpopular question,” she rasped as her mind wandered back to the nerve-wracking dream she just had.Landon stalked towards her and placed a hand on her shoulder squeezing it gently,” Take a breather El, I’ll watch him.”Elsida sighed and her gaze flickered to Julien’s face, his pale skin still managed to glimmer slightly and that’s when she felt it. It was gentle at first, like a soft graze. The second time it was a tug and she let out a gasp. Julien’s hand was tugging her finger softly amidst their tangle
After saying a hasty goodbye to Jasper and Nancy, Elsida wastes no time in ordering a cab. She arrived at the hospital within twenty minutes and raced to the elevator with her heart in her mouth.Julien survived and he’s awake! The thought of it made her eyes well up as joy surged through her bones. She clenched her fists tightly to keep her emotions at bay.She needed to be strong for him, it wouldn't be a good look if she burst into the room in tears, Julien had already been through hell.The elevator pinged and she stepped out of it with her resolve intact. She walked towards his private room and rasped her knuckles against the door twice before letting herself in.As Elsida stepped into the room, instant relief washed over her body as she heard his aggravating velvety voice again. She couldn't see his face clearly as his family members surrounded him but she spotted his dark wild curls.“Julien,” she croaked and stepped an inch closer to his bed.“My dear look who’s here to see yo
“Ugh,” Elsida groaned as she stared at what was supposed to be a painting of Broadway Street. Her thoughts had been so muddled ever since she left the hospital, that visiting her mother’s grave only gave her the reprieve of bawling her eyes out.It seemed like all she ever did was cry lately and she was sick of it. It only made her feel helpless.A knock rasped against her door before her Father pulled it open, he stepped in and shut the door hastily as though he was being pursued. A grim line settled across his lips.“Elsida, care to explain what Armand Benoit is doing in front of our Porch?”Elsida eyed her Father curiously and her brows furrowed,” Dad I have no clue I swear.”William Dalton’s jaw clenched as his hands balled into fists at his side, “Well he’s here to see you, and if I'm to guess it concerns Julien.”Elsida’s head was a whirlwind of thoughts, what could Armand Benoit possibly want from her? She assumed he would be elated with the recent turn of events.“I’ll go see
ELSIDA “Tell me El, did you run from the peony garden to get to me?” My cheeks flush impossibly redder as I try and fail to glare at him. The moment I stepped into Julien’s limo his eyes started to twinkle and his lips drew into a large grin before he took in my disheveled expression. “Fine,” I huffed. “I won’t tell you.” His gaze grew serious as he closed the gap between us with one arm reaching for the curve of my neck. “I’m never letting you out of my sight El. Never, nothing is going to stop us from being together. Morals be damned.” I let out a bated breath as his lips hovered over mine. I try to speak but my mouth opens and closes like a fish. My head swarms with so many thoughts all at once but one stands out the most. I have him now and I don't plan on ever letting go. He robs me of breath with a light peck on the mouth that starts first as light, almost tender before it picks up. All at once, he’s everywhere. I’m clutching onto his shirt like a lifeline
ELSIDACORONATION MORNING 5:45 AMThe last thing I remember is Adrian joining me on the bed in the earlier hours of the morning, pulling me softly to him, his grip almost fervent as he whispered sweet nothings to me.“I love you El, I hope you know that,” I recall him whispering and now at about 5 AM I feel nothing but guilt stretching me into four equilateral pieces.I stifle a yawn and stretch to his side of the bed. Noticing the emptiness, I sit up and my eyes quickly adjust to the brightness of the day.Where could he be so early?Adrian never got up until at least 6:10 so this was a tad bit too early for him to be up.I wrap my silk night robe around my body, place my feet in my slippers, and make my way through the castle in search of him.I needed to see him this morning before it was too late.I needed to tell him how I felt about everything and what I wanted to do even if he’d hate me for it.I search almost every living space of the bustling castle where servants and maids
ELSIDA My little surprise meet cute with Beatrice turns into a sob session I had no clue I needed.Scratch that, it’s exactly what I needed, it was like the universe positioned us in the same place when I needed her the most cause what were the odds that I would find the only female friend I ever made in high school in Spain?“I know I shouldn’t love him but I just-“ I croak, trailing off as I wipe my tears hastily.“Oh please Elsida, don’t say that. We cannot control who we love. If we were able to do that, I don’t think love would have had such value.”“Not helping,” I murmur. “You’re supposed to be telling me that it’s entirely wrong and I shouldn’t be thinking about Julien in such a way when we share a sibling.”Beatrice blows a raspberry and moves closer to me, she rubs my arm softly. Luckily, the peony garden shields us from my guards and over-curious maids.“You know I can’t do that, this isn’t the first time something like this is happening in the universe. Shit happens, our
ELSIDA PRESENTWith Adrian in Cartagena carrying out the coronation tradition and the bustle of the castle, I needed a freaking reprieve from everything.A reprieve from work, a reprieve from work, Fae’s incessant disturbance due to boredom of not having her brother around to pester, Natasha’s nagging over what she was going to wear on the coronation, and my father’s constant “Are you okay?” I didn’t think twice before I slipped past the castle doors, packing a picnic basket alongside my laptop and other drawing essentials.It was just 9 am. Two hours after the sun had risen but it seemed as though the sun had been up for over eight hours.It was all too stimulating.I let out a sigh as I chew on a strawberry and my free hand doodles nonentities on my sketchbook.“Hi El.”Julien’s voice slides into my ear and my hand flies to my chest as I stare at him with wide eyes, my heart thuds at a rapid pace as I take in casual yet classy attire.“What the hell Julien, you’re not supposed to b
CONTINUATION OF FLASHBACKELSIDA“Can I turn around now Beatrice?” I huff as I cross my arms around my chest and feel the shimmery fabric of the red Dior dress my mother dearest purchased for me.“One more minute, patience is a virtue dear!” I snort. If I were allowed to have my eyes opened, they would have rolled to the back of my skull by now at her overzealousness for high school events.“Okay, you can open them now. Tada!” Beatrice Bellows just as I blink at the 2.0 version of me in the mirror.A smile tugs at my lips and for a split second, I let it slip through. “I look…”“Magnificent!” Beatrice completes.“Don’t you think it’s too much though?” I ask uncertainty clawing my thoughts. I looked like I was going to draw a lot of attention, attention that I could certainly do without.“Oh please Elsida, who cares? There’s no going back now. Give me a minute, let me slip into my dress and we can get going!” She bellows as she scurries across the room with her perfect-as-ever makeup
ELSIDATWO MONTHS LATER “Are you ready?” I peer up at Adrian from my position on the bed. He sent all his assistants away who tried to pamper him with traditional powders and help him complete tasks he considered too menial to not get done by himself.He gave me a small smile through the mirror but I could see the slight frown forming on his forehead.“I’m okay Elsida,” he mutters and I have my answer confirmed.Adrian was far from okay I was one hundred percent certain that beads of sweat were lining his forehead even before I rose to my feet and clasped my hands around his shoulders.“You’re going to be a great King Adrian,” I whispered into his ear and drew soothing circles on his shoulders, the exact thing he did whenever I was nervous.I don’t blame him. If I were him, at this very moment I’d be shitting my panties.It’s not every day one got to partake in a reversal coronation.His shoulders visibly unclench. “Thank you Princessa,” he murmurs and places a soft kiss on the back
JULIEN Two months later.It’s been exactly two months, three weeks, and four days since I last had a meaningful conversation with Elsida. She’d done her best to make sure our interactions were curt and cordial at best but whenever the opportunity came for us to be alone or have a casual conversation, she would immediately dismiss me and not spare me a further glance.However, I could tell from the longing in her eyes, that it wasn’t what she wanted, we both knew what she wanted but it wasn’t the right thing hence, at least one of us had to be mature and leave it to Elsida to be the bigger person.“Mr Benoit,” are you listening?” A business associate’s voice filters into my mind putting a pause on my mental spiral.“Of course, yes go on,” I rasp, zooming in on a recent photo of Elsida attending a ball with none other than her lovely husband.I turn my laptop off and fight the urge to throw my phone on the floor, I don’t think I can stand another minute of listening to any talk of bus
ELSIDA“Are you ready?” Julien asks while I readjust my lipstick in my compact mirror.“Just a second, Mr Benoit.”Julien’s glare is scathing when his gaze flicks away from his phone to mine. “I told you to stop calling me that.”I ignore him and return my compact in my Chanel purse, I place my hand on the door to make my exit when his warm palm snakes around my ankle.“Are you good El?” He calls me by the nickname even though I’ve warned him several times not to use that title on me and I roll my eyes at him.“You know, this is a very important meeting for this project, we cannot let our emotions get the best of us.”As if I wasn’t aware?I knew how important this meeting was, this company was my baby and Mr Gonzalo’s investment wasn’t something I planned to play around with.He was a very successful business tycoon in Spain who liked to give nouvelle companies and empires of the sort a chance with his hefty investments and today might just be my lucky day. So, to answer his questio
ELSIDA I swallow. “Yes your majesty, that’s the name, Julien Benoit.”“Hmm,” she mumbles before taking a sip of her tea. “And your company for J, tell me, what inspired the name?” She asks in an all too curious voice.Holy shit, I muse.The Queen knows, there’s no way she’d be asking this question if she didn’t.My heart thuds faster against my rib cage and I do my best not to fidget.“Could you rephrase your question, I’m not quite sure what you mean Your Majesty,” I add the last part with a bow.The clang of her tea cup against the plate is resounding and her eyes narrow to stilts in my direction.I’m so fucked.“Let’s not pretend Elsida, I tried sugarcoating this to see if you would come clean but since you insist on me being blunt, I have no choice but to cut to the chase then.”“Your majesty I-““I know about your past with Julien dear. I know everything,” she says, her voice soft.How her tone switches gives me a whiplash and I’m left staring at this formidable woman with my