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Chapter 24
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One last dance Chapter 25
Belle's POVMicah continued to look from Christian to me with a smirk on his face. I didn't know what to say to him, he was the least person I had expected to meet."How have you been, ma petite?'' He asked, moving forward to place a kiss on my cheeks.I turned to look at the expression on Christian's face, but there was nothing. He just continued to stare at the both of us."What have you been up to Belle?" Micah asked me. "You no longer live around?"I cleared my throat and offered him a smile. We had dated briefly for seven months and decided to move on when our interests no longer alligned."Yeah, I don't." I replied. "I have not been seeing you too though.""I went out of town and just came back some days ago." He replied, still looking at me. Then his gaze shifted to Christian and his smile was replaced by a puzzled look."I know you." He said seconds later, using his index fingers to point at Christian. "I have seen you somewhere in the magazine or the television."Christian of
One last dance Chapter 26
Belle's POV"It's nothing Christian." I said immediately, sipping the wine to ease the burning sensation I felt in my throat. I wished I had seen him walk to us, it would have surely prevented this weird situation we were about to go into.Christian continued to look at us and I was aware Bernard hated the sight of him just standing there."What are the both of you planning behind my back?" He asked again, focusing his attention on Bernard this time around."It's nothing, really." I replied again. "Are you done with everything? Can we leave now?""Why do you want to leave now? I just got here, Belle." Bernard said to me and I sighed at my selfishness."I just don't feel up to the event anymore. I need to rest my head." I replied.''This is how you always are when you are hiding something." Christian said to me. "You always run away, Belle.""Don't talk to me that way." I replied calmly, turning to make sure we were completely alone in the corner where the three of us stood."What don'
One last dance Chapter 27
Christian's POVInside the bathroom, I looked at myself in the mirror while I ran the water from the tap so that Belle wouldn't hear me breathing hard. I couldn't explain what the hell had happened there but I sure knew it wasn't what I had wanted. For days I had been fighting the urge not to rip off her clothes and do with her what I had been dreaming of for quite a long time.Being with her in the same room had been too difficult especially when she was dressed like that. I didn't know if she did it in purpose.At the party, she had looked breathtaking that it was so hard to keep my eyes away from her. That was the sole reason I pretended to be busy, so as not to give in to the urge of touching her and somehow that had been so difficult.After washing my face and relaxing for a while, I walked out of the bathroom, promising myself not to touch her again.She sat on her bed, combing her hair when I walked into the room and I turned to my bed without speaking to her."Gabrielle called
One last dance Chapter 28
Christian's POVI didn't know what to say to clear her suspicions, so I interrogated her instead."Why are you here, mum?" I asked. "Are you sick? Hurt somewhere."She tilted her head to look at Gabrielle, who gave her a wave in return."I didn't know you were back, Brie." She said. "Your father said you would be back by the weekend.""He guessed wrong. I told him I was going to return yesterday, which I did." Gabrielle replied immediately. "Why are you here aunty?""I have a session with doctor Lopez, he promised to see me today. He didn't mention that to you?" She asked.I shook my head, giving her a little distance. "Are you sure you are fine mum?" She spared me a rough look and I realized we had not spoken ever since that incident at the office."You know I have your interest at heart.""I don't need your stupid heart, Christian. If you can't stand up for me in public then, what good is your heart to me? She replied and to my surprise, walked past us into the office.Gabrielle was
One last dance Chapter 29
Belle's POVThe look on Alexander's face made it difficult for me to keep staring at him. I had forgotten about that event at the party but of course, things always managed to come back to bite you when you led a life like the Martins."Was this the reason you decided to go with him?" I heard him ask me. "To see your lover and cause shame to my family?"Christian scoffed at him, still sitting in his position swirling his seat. Alexander turned to him, an angrier expression on his face. There was too much bad blood between them that was too clear even for the blind to see."What the hell was that for?" He asked his son."Why are you picking at her?" Christian asked him. "I'm sitting right here, father or is it difficult to take me on." He added.Alexander eyed him, his expression changing immediately."I see no reason why you decided to take her to that event, in fact there was no reason why you went on that event." He said.I already told you the reason why I went, so I won't repeat
One last dance Chapter 30
Belle's POVHer question had taken me aback so I stared at her her in disbelief. "Don't look so shocked, Belle.'' She said, smiling and relaxing back on her seat. "I've known for quite a long time."I shook my head to clear the haze in my eyes. "Who told you?" I asked, trying not to get angry. "Was it Anthonio?"Lucy looked at me, perplexed at the question."Anthonio isn't the only person in your house, Belle." She replied. "Why do you think he was the one?""I don't know." I said. "But nobody should be reporting my business to you or anyone else, I don't feel safe knowing that."She chuckled, her eyes not leaving mine for a second. I took my drink and gulped down the remaining content in the cup."You don't feel safe knowing someone is reporting you and Christian to me but you feel safe knowing he's bringing another woman into your home?" Then she shook her head and turned to make sure her friends were not close."He didn't sleep with her." I heard myself say, so that she wouldn't s
One last dance Chapter 31
Christian's POVHer words had hit like a rock. It was already bad that the woman I was trying to protect thought terrible of me, the fact that she could have someone in my household report on our every move was devastating."Are you saying my mother is spying on us?" I asked Belle, who took a step back."Now I know where your spying game came from." She replied. "You guys sure are quite a lot."I turned away from her."Is that all?" I asked. "Is that all she said to you?""I am not an informant Christian. I'm only telling you what happened at our outing." She said. We sat down at the table without saying much words to each other. I pondered on how to speak to my mother and also find out who among my staff was reporting the events at home to her."How could she be that calm?" Belle asked quietly. I looked at her and realized her eyes were fixated on me. "How could she know her husband cheats and still be calm, still live with him under the same room and wait anxiously for him to come
One last dance Chapter 32
Belle's POVThe situation was quite ridiculous but I stood there with a slashed cheeks, too stunned to speak while I looked at Lucy as she destroyed every wine in the celar. So much for a woman whom I thought was always calm. Christian gritted his teeth at me as he struggled to walk through the mess to get to his mother. The breaking and swinging continued and she did so with so much tenacity, without any care in the world."I asked you to stay the hell back, didn't I?" Christian asked but I didn't reply, the slight pain on my cheeks was beginning to set in. He turned back to her, trying everything within his power to get to where she stood but the broken bottles and continuous destruction was too much for him to concentrate."Hey mum," he called. "it's me, stop that right now." He said."He called for a stupid dinner and he's nowhere to be found?" Lucy screamed. "He was supposed to be here two hours ago like he said.""You're drunk ma, I'm sure he's on his way." Christian said usi
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One last dance Chapter 70
Belle's POVI woke up to find Christian staring at me with a smile on his face. After the intense love making last night, he sure did look intent. And so was I. There was no happiness in the world compared to what I was feeling right now. In few weeks time, I will be walking down the aisle as Christian's wife. Official wife this time around. We were going to have a real wedding. The thought of having a wedding alone made me fulfilled."Good morning Sleepy head." He said, kissing my forehead and I snuggled closer to him, to get a scent of his fresh morning breath."Were you even able to sleep Mr Martin?" I asked him, wishing the day would just halt for a while and that we didn't have to go on with our daily responsibilities. I wouldn't mind being in bed with him all day, in fact that was what I desperately wanted.He smiled. "Who sleeps when there is a beautiful woman lying in his arm. There's no sleep for such men." He replied, the beautiful smile still playing on the corner of his li
One last dance Chapter 69
Christian's POV"Mr Martin?"I turned my chair away from the window to find Louisa standing by my office, her bag hung on her arm. She had a worried look on her face that was too hard to miss, even with my thoughts and feelings all over the place.She felt sorry for me, I almost laughed at the situation. She had seen me at my best, worse and worst throughout these few days and I knew I had a lot to apologize to her for."Is it time to leave already?" I asked her and she nodded, pointing at the clock hanging on the wall. "It's been time to leave an hour ago, sir." She replied.I nodded my head and offered her a weak smile. She must have waited to make sure I left before she did, but it's an hour past her closing time. I had to let her get back to her life outside the walls of the company. "Time travels faster these days." I said and she smiled at me. "Go on then, I want to see David before I leave. He said he is around the building now.""Do you want me to wait...''"No, Louisa. I hav
One last dance Chapter 68
Belle's POVThe days got tougher after the separation. It's been a week and some days since Christian and I decided to call it quits. I sat with Bernard in his flower shop, arranging and trying to make myself useful. His wary eyes were always on me, wanting to make sure that I was fine and wasn't thinking too much about the situation.I was glad to be back, especially back to my parent's house where I didn't need to worry about it being taken away anymore. It was all thanks to Christian and the contract marriage which was supposed to last for six months and more, but was later cut to three because of all the craziness. Getting married to a wealthy man for just three months and getting a house out of it would be considered a success I should think.But why wasn't I feeling successful? Why did it feel like someone had a hold on my heart and any mistake or move from me would require it being crushed to pieces."You know after the settlement, you won't need to do all these." Bernard said
One last dance Chapter 67
Christian's POVThe doorbell of the house rang and I walked out of the house to open the door to see my mother and Gabrielle standing with a basket of fruits in their hands. It's been a week since Belle left and I have hardly done anything for myself apart from going to work. I lived like a work maniac and who else but my mother and cousin to take notice of it.They stood there, staring puppy eyed at me and the last thing I wanted was for anyone to pity me. My wife didn't die. Yes, she left me but she's alive, hale, happy and hearty."Finally decided to be part of the family again?" I said to Gabrielle as I led them into the dinning room where my home laptop and some papers were placed on the table."I won't pick a fight with you." Gabrielle replied, opening the cabinet and exclaiming at the uneaten fruits inside."Do you eat, Christian?" She asked, turning to look at me."I eat?" I replied and shrugged my shoulders. "Why do you ask that?""I don't know, it's obvious you don't eat. No
One last dance Chapter 66
Belle's POVI sat looking at the mirror while preparing for Christian's celebratory dinner. Two weeks ago, we had discovered his uncle had been the architect of the news and Alexander had stripped him off his position, sending him to head the lower branch in South Arizona. Today, Christian was named chairman and we were to celebrate. But I didn't feel that celebratory urge in me as I realized it was all going to be over soon. The fake marriage, the lies, they will all be over soon. I heard a light tap on my door and rose to see Christian leaning in, dressed in his suit and looking ravishing. We've not really spoken much to eachother for the last two weeks but the environment seemed tense. Something was definitely bothering him that he didn't want to share with me or anybody for that matter. He was not in good terms with his parents for whatever the reason and Gabrielle had refused to come back to the city because of shame. Hopefully, she attends the dinner tonight."Are you ready?" C
One last dance Chapter 65
Christian's POVI just couldn't describe my thoughts process when I looked at his face. He stood there, looking surprised at all of us and probably wondering why we were all staring at him. I couldn't believe he could do that to us which was the major reason I couldn't take a step towards him, or even talk to him. I had vowed to punch the offender on the cheeks but couldn't bring myself to.He was the most supportive person in the world and I desperately needed to know why he did that. Why he went all the way to even throw his own sister under the bus. My mother was dumbfounded as she stared at him and so was my father. None of us said anything, none of us moved an inch and the situation became more ridiculous and suffocating.Gabrielle walked to him immediately without any cue and looked straight into his eyes."It was you?" She asked him and he sighed. He knew what she was talking about and didn't even try to hide his shame."You found out." He said. It wasn't a question because the
One last dance Chapter 64
Christian's POVShe was quiet for a moment as if she wanted to change her mind. But I knew her. Since she was on the phone already, she wasn't going to just leave me hanging. And I knew she wouldn't also keep something that important from me."Tell me, Brie." I said to her, holding my breath and wishing she wasn't going to say something ridiculous, something that would make me begin to hate Belle again when my heart was falling madly in love with her. It would only complicate my feelings and right now, I couldn't deal with anymore complicated feelings. She of all people should know that."It was your parents." She said calmly. "Uncle Alexander and Aunt Lucy threatened her to." Then she stopped, giving me a moment to take it all in, before continuing. "With the life of her parents."The ache I felt in my chest was nothing compared to having my arm cut off from me. No, they wouldn't do that to me. They were aware of how much I loved Belle then and even mourned with me while I looked for
One last dance Chapter 63
Christian's POVI took three breaths in front of the company, before stepping out of my car. Belle had advised to me to stop hiding and with more than three days gone, it was indeed time to stop hiding. There were reporters, all right and they all crowded me on my way into the office. My bodyguards tried their best to keep them off but I waved them."Mr Martin, there has been a whole lot of rumors about you for a while now, can you say something quick about that?" One of the female reporters asked."Mr Martin, is the sleep disorder real?" Still a female."Your mother has also had her share of the rumour, what can you say about that?"I halted at their questions and adjusted my suit."The disorder is true." I replied, wishing that this was the best thing to do. The shot sounds increased and I knew I was in deep trouble. "But that was five years ago. It happened and I was cured of it, now I don't have it anymore. Everyother thing you've heard, is false."I concluded and made my way into
One last dance Chapter 62
Christian's POV"What in the world!" My father exclaimed, shocked to the bones. If we were not in a pretty deep situation, I would have laughed at him, but we were and nothing was damn funny.Angry at what my mother had just done, he tried to take few steps towards, her but my uncle stopped him immediately."I wouldn't do that if I were you." He said and my father turned to look at him. I didn't know whatever he saw in my uncle's eyes, but he stopped and waited.My mother was still wrecking havoc when the maid brought her drugs. Quickly, I put it into a syringe and gave my uncle while I distracted my mother."He's here now, mum." I said to her. "Drop it and come with me."She shook her head vigorously, not in the slightest mood of stopping her actions. Thankfully, her attention was purely focused on us and wasn't aware when my uncle took the bottle from behind and injected the syringe on her arm. She stopped immediately and collapsed into his arms. I was surprised at how quickly the d
