"Stop being spoiled! We will be late!" Yelled Carl."Carl, don't be harsh," said Claude calmly "Let me talk to Lottie privately. Maybe she has something to tell me" "Yes, brother Claude " replied Carl head down.Martha and Carl went out. When they did, Claude turned to Lottie. She was lying on the bed, covering her head. Claude took the coverage gently of her face. Lottie saw the fact that he was smiling so she relaxed a bit and said: "Brother Claude, you believe I have a reason, don't you?" "I do sweetheart. And I trust you. You can tell me what kind of problem you are facing.""It's complicated. I don't even know how should I say it""Is someone bothering you? Is someone bullying you?!""No brother! No one would dare! I have brother Carl by my side. And I got you on my back.""Yes, you do. So what's the problem? Where the discomfort is coming from?""I... It's..."Lottie hid her face with her hands and kept silent. Claude understood that the situation is beyond his power. So he ca
The hug between Claude and his child was cut when his phone started ringing: "Is it work?" Asked Carl. Claude took his phone out of his pocket and his smile disappeared once he saw the caller's name: "It's Flora" He answered his call: "Hello, Darling. Is everything alright?... Yes... Hmmm... Wait a moment" Claude excused himself out of the car so Carl don't get to hear the conversation: "Flora are you crying?!... How?... What?!... Gosh! My heart almost stopped biting!"Claude ended the call and came back to the car. Carl looked at him waiting for some news but Claude kept silent: "Is it okay?!" Carl asked worriedly. "Well, it's not something bad." "What do you mean? What's happening with Charlotte?!" "It's... Mmmm... How can I say it... I do not have an idea if you know something about it, but trust me I will explain everything when you get back home from school." Claude didn't add a lot of explanation. He got Carl to school and went back home in a hurry. Driving with an i
Flora was kneeling in front of Lottie's bed. She was holding her hand and crying silently. Claude was sitting behind her, holding her to calm her cries: "Yesterday I didn't even think of her when taking that knife. She sees me as a mother when I don't even think about her before trying to suicide. I am the worst woman ever!" "Shhh, Flora you're telling yourself horrible things. Charlotte sees you as a mother figure because of how gentle and good you are. What happened yesterday was not something that identifies you. You were having a serious anxiety attack. You were not sane to be judged." "Still!... If I died yesterday this little angel would be here today fighting her pains alone! I am the worst! I... I... I don't deserve the goodness you are all offering me!" Flora planted her face in the sheets to conceal the noise she was making. Claude was so shocked by her words. He held her too tight from behind and showered her naked neck with soft kisses: "The fact that you are feeli
"Please Martha, ask the cook to prepare a gluten and lactose-free meal for Charlotte. A banana and some chocolate will be good too. Also some red meat, she's losing too much blood for a normal period. Or wait! Instead of red meat, let it be lamp liver.""Alright... Alright, ma'am. I noted them all.""Thank you, my dear. I apologize again for disturbing you all.""Gosh! My lady! What are you saying?! We are employed to serve you! Plus, the young lady deserves all the goodness in the world. It tears my heart to see that little angel in such agony.""I share the same feeling, my dear. I do..."Flora was speaking to Martha at the door of Lottie's room. Claude was still sitting by Lottie's bed waiting for her to wake up. After Martha left, Flora turned to Claude closing the door:"Sir, don't you have to go to the hospital to check your hand?""I believe the three of us should go to the hospital.""Huh?""I should check on my hand""Yes""And as responsible parents, we should take Charlotte
"Of course, I know about menstruation. Do you think me a kid or something?" Carl said that to Flora and Claude, who were talking to him in the study. "I am fourteen. I have the bare minimum of sexual education" "I am stunned" murmured Claude "Apparently, I was worried for nothing" "Gosh, what were you thinking about me?" "You are lucky. I didn't know about menstruation till I get one" replied Flora "Your childhood is a tragedy!" said Claude "My dear I am sorry I was so late." "Please don't say such a thing, sir!" Flora patted Claude's shoulder in gratitude "You are here now. That's the important" Flora turned back to Carl and added: "Long story short: Charlotte had her first period, this morning" Carl opened his mouth, surprised, and asked: "Isn't she too young for this?" "No, she is not" "She is a... woman, now?" "Yep" "Oh...How... How should I deal with this?" "Normally. But be very kind. She may get overwhelmed easily. Plus, her period is painful. The doctor said noth
Flora woke up in the dead of the night, shivering. She saw a nightmare of Claude killing the kids and then taking her by force to an old tower. There, he raped her and impregnated her by force. The nightmare was so horrible that Flora cried silently as she heard the big watch of the house ringing, announcing midnight. In the middle of the night, it was silent and terrifying. The cold big manor looked as dark as never. Yet, the fear the nightmare caused Flora was too much, that she went to the kids' rooms to check on them. First, she visited Carl's room. And she didn't find him. Flora lost her head and hurried to Charlotte's room. There, she sighed in relief seeing the two kids sleeping soundly. Apparently, Carl preferred staying close to Charlotte that night. He slept kneeling by her bed. Flora smiled and covered the sleeping Carl. Then, she got out of the room and locked the door with a key. Even if Claude got crazy as in the nightmare. He won't be able to reach the kids. Flora was
Flora stood in the big room still and astonished. No one was there, yet the crying sound was clear. Someone was crying for sure. She couldn't deny it! Flora walked into the room, trying to find the source of the sound, till her ear led her to the praying corner. Flora knelt by the books shelf and listened carefully to what came from it. The hypersensitive ear Flora never betrayed her. The crying sound was coming from behind the bookshelf. Flora opened the secret passage that she discovered days ago, then her blood ran cold. The crying sound has become so clear. And it was not crying but growling and moaning. And it was too high to deny and too familiar to ignore: "That's the voice of Claude !" Without thinking twice, Flora came into the dark passage. She was afraid as much as disturbed but she felt responsible for Claude's well-being. She has to find him and help him if he needs help. If she can't help him, she can at least hold him tight till the pain passes so he won't feel alon
"The monster tried to protect you. Yet, here you are digging your own grave" A strong smell of Vodka and alcohol came from Claude's clothes. His eyes had no hint of sanity or reason. It was clear: Flora was dying with death. "Not yet." whispered to herself "Not without a fight." Flora shut the door close as fast as she could and locked it with the key. While the monster Claude tried to break in, she was looking for a way out. The only window was this of the sailing. And it was five meters high or more: "F*ck it must be an escape door or something!" Claude was hitting the door as a beast to break it open. He made horrible sounds in the process that Flora didn't care about. She had to find an escape! It was a matter of life or death! Finally, she found a ventilation duct. She took the scissors she found on the table and started unscrewing the air passage. But Claude was way stronger. He broke the door open in two minutes or less. And Flora's heart stopped beating. She recalled