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Chapter 52
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One last dance Chapter 53
Belle's POVHow the hell did she find out? Was the only question I asked myself as I parked my things and even while on the plane back to Arizona.Gabrielle didn't tell her I was sure of that. There was no way in hell that Gabrielle told her about the marriage, so how did she manage to know about it?Gosh, what the hell was I going to do? Gabrielle knowing about this was dangerous and humiliating enough, adding Lucy to it will be heart wrenching. She would remind me everyday of my life that I was nothing and only married her son for gain and not love.This was really bad. Really really bad.The flight home was shorter this time around and I began to wonder if Arizona had been this close to St Louis all this while or if it was because I didn't want to get home.After taking care of my bags and retrieving them, I walked out to find a black range rover waiting for me and Anthonio holding a 'Mrs Martin' placard.I waved at him and he walked over immediately he saw me, looking official and
One last dance Chapter 54
Christian's POVI stared at Belle's door on my way to work, genuinely worried about her. Today was the third day since she locked herself inside the room without coming out to see me or anything else for that matter. The only indication I got that she was still alive was the light in her room which went on during the day and off at night.She wasn't speaking to me. According to the maids, she only asked for a laptop and accepted food and drinks from them when she needed to eat.They said sometimes, she spent time on her room veranda to receive air and that was the only time they were able to see her.Christian, what the hell have you done?The Belle I knew, wouldn't throw a glass at me, she was too composed to do that. Inside the car, I dialled Gabrielle's number and she answered on the third ring."Christian?""Have you tried calling her?" I asked immediately.''Her phone is switched off, Christian. What the hell did you do?" Gabrielle asked."Why do you even think I did something
One last dance Chapter 55
Christian's POV"It was your fault though, that was a really stupid thing to do." Gabrielle said to me.I turned to look at her as we sat in the garden of my house, enjoying the sun and the nice cool air. Weekends were not really my favorite days and it was worse that Belle was still not on speaking terms with me. There was no one to annoy and going to my parent's house was a terrible idea. I was not in the mood to speak to my father or see his face.But Gabrielle was here, thank God. I wouldn't be bored to my senses for the next two hours."Well, you think I don't know that?" I asked as she shrugged her shoulders, trying to gather her flying hair behind her ears. "Maybe you don't." She replied. "Because I don't know how you managed to make things worse after the party problem."I shook my head at her, trying to clear the picture of Belle's angry face when she had thrown that cup at me, but it seemed the thought was going to be engraved in my head for a long period of time."I didn't
One last dance Chapter 56
Christian's POVI strolled out of the house ignoring my mother's plea for me to relax and have dinner. But dinner was the least of my worries right now. I wanted to get to Belle and have my hand around her neck for the betrayal she just committed. Of course she was the one, she had to be. The silence, the anger she felt would make her do something this wicked to me. A part of me desperately needed to be wrong but one part needed to have something against her so bad. To keep her for some more time."Will you slow down?" It was Gabrielle's voice that I heard and her footsteps as she tried to get to me. "Slow down, Christian.""God damn it." I said when I got to the front of the house. Where were the valet and the car when you desperately needed them?"What is wrong with you?'' Gabrielle asked, stopping beside me to catch her breath. "Where are you going to?""To Belle. She's the only one who would do this to me.""Really?" She asked and I could sense anger in her voice. "You really bel
One last dance Chapter 57
Belle's POV"Before you start talking." Alexander said to Christian as the both of them stood face to face with eachother. "Is it true?""Is what true?" Christian asked him, confused, and so was I."The sickness." Alexander said, clearing the both of us."It is not a sickness, father.""Is it back, Christian?" He asked again.Christian didn't reply with his speech but his eyes gave Alexander the truth and answer he desperately wanted to know."My God!" He exclaimed, placing his hand against his forehead and taking few steps back."Wait, I thought you knew." Christian said."Well, I wasn't sure it was true. When I confronted you, you gave no reply so I shut it down." He replied. "Why the hell didn't you tell me that it was back?""Because it wasn't something you needed to know. It's not a disease that would kill me." Christian retorted, turning his back against his father."And you allowed me name you next chairman to the company when you knew you were sick?" He asked, in disbelief."W
One last dance Chapter 58
Belle's POV The words coming out of his mouth made it hard for me to stand and walk out like I wanted to. One part of me believed him and the other part was still in denial. He couldn't possibly need me after what he had put me through. The lack of trust, the spying, the humiliation. It was all too hard to forget. But he was Christian, the love of my life. The only man I had ever loved even after dating two others after him. Here he was, in his vulnerable state, saying he needed me. "I know I'm close to getting the company and I promised to let you go after that, but don't leave me yet." It was hard to look into his eyes when he said that, making me forget that I was angry with him and wasn't supposed to be touching him. "I'm not leaving yet, remember? I still have some days on the contract even after the takeover." I reminded him, blinking my eyes and trying not to give his words too many thoughts. "The deal was that you take over and show them that you can lead the company and
One last dance Chapter 59
Belle's POVThe horror of seeing Bernard on the chair chilled my spine and I could only stare. I searched the screen watching for any attempt of manhandling but there was none. He had no bruises, signalling that he had not been beaten neither was he tied to the chair."What do you think you are doing?" I asked Alexander as I walked closer to inspect the screen. "Why are you doing that to him?"Alexander shrugged his shoulders carelessly. "I just wanted to be sure that he wasn't the one talking."I couldn't believe my ears. Why was it hard for them to believe me?"I told you Bernard knows nothing about Christian's problem." I said. "I didn't mention anything to him."He scoffed at me, relaxing in the chair again."Well, I don't believe you." He said. "You are a chatty one Belle and it may have slipped your tongue but hell, I don't blame you for that. All I want to know is if your friend shut up about it.""I swear, I said nothing to him, believe me." I said again and when he wasn't bul
One last dance Chapter 60
Christian's POVThis is not happening. It was really not happening. Everything was crumbling and it was doing so very fast. We were still trying to figure out who had leaked my secret to the media and now my mum's face was also splashed in the news. Not everyone knew about her drinking habits excluding close family members. She was always one to behave herself in public, so how did it manage to get to the news?I turned my head to look at Belle and surprisingly she had no look of shock on her face. She just stared at the screen holding a glass of water in her hand."What the hell is going on?" She asked me.Don't go there Christian. I said to myself. I had already accused her enough and showing any hint of doubt that I still didn't trust her was going to get her more angry and maybe this time around, she wouldn't speak to me ever again.But my mother was more important. I could handle being talked about, but I didn't think having her face the same fate would sit right with me."How di
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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
