Chapter 52

Euniel
I watch helplessly as Muse leaves. I would so much like to run after her, hold her back and reassure her of how much I love her and that all of this is not what I want. Seeing her eyes filled with tears, her beautiful face filled with sadness, it's like having my heart ripped out. I'm so sad this is happening. But I can't do such a thing. I feel like I'm tied up and thrown into the sea. I'm a stone's throw from the woman I love, but I can't do anything to hold her back. How unhappy I am!
After Muse left, I was frozen in place. My eyes never leave the road. Sandra comes finds me and throws me
"Come on honey, let's go inside."
Hearing her voice makes me angry. I wanted to give her a good smack to get that smirk off her face. Already I am making enormous efforts to support her because of this child she is carrying. If it weren't for him, I don't know what I would be able to do. And as if that weren't enough, she allows herself to taunt Muse, the one I love, just to hurt her. Playing the perfect one in front of Muse is really mean. I saw how Muse was deeply touched by it. I know she was holding herself back so as not to shed tears. And I was planted there upright, helpless vis-a-vis the spades of Sandra. I did not at all, but then there not at all appreciated that. I'm quick to blame him for that.
"What game are you playing Sandra?" I ask questioned, looking up at her with a look full of anger.
"Who talked about a game? Did you see me play a game?" She answered pretending not to know what I'm talking about.
"Stop taking me for a crazy Sandra! What was it with Muse earlier? Why make her feel like a perfect couple, when you know full well that's not true!"
"Oh yes? I didn't know that was wrong. Even if our couple is not perfect, at least we are a couple moreover we will soon get married and have a child, and that's enough for me to let me show it to whoever I want." She replies casually.
"If for you, it's enough, well know that it's not the case for me. I would ask you to be very careful in your attitude towards Muse! I will not admit that you provoke her by your actions!" I summoned her severely.
"Ah yes? Because she's the Queen of England maybe?! I don't want to control my attitude, whether in front of her or in front of I don't know who else."
Sandra surprises me every day. She hadn't used to talk to me like that before. I don't know what's got into her. I therefore answer her unequivocally.
"You and I are by no means a perfect couple. I got together with you at the insistence of my friend Nicolas and you know full well that I didn't love you from the start of this relationship. Then there was this pregnancy that came and that's why you're still here. I would therefore advise you to stop playing the hypocrite just to make Muse jealous. What you just did, I'm not sure to be able to tolerate this if it were to happen again."
I leave her and continue in the bedroom. I was really lifted by what she did.
Muse
Sitting on the bed with my head resting on my father's legs, I narrate him about my misadventure with Euniel. I didn't hide anything from him about our relationship, from our first meeting until my return from England. He listens to me attentively then, at the end of my story, he tells me
"Why did you refuse to give yourself a chance before leaving for your studies?"
"I don't know dad. Maybe I was just scared. Yes, I didn't want to end up being disappointed one more time, especially by someone I esteemed and loved a lot. I preferred the easiest way, scrolling."
"I get it, you were still traumatized by your past and you were afraid of everyone." My dad told me affectionately.
"Yes, and it's thanks to Euniel that I felt better."
"To tell you the truth, I always suspected that there was something between you two"
"It's true?" I asked taking my head off his legs.
"It's obvious that you love each other my daughter. One just has to see the affectionate way you look at each other. I knew immediately that you loved each other."
"Me maybe, but not Euniel. At least, I believed that this love was mutual, but it seems that I took the wrong path."
"No, you haven't taken a wrong turn. Euniel loves you, and I have no doubts about that." My father assured him with confidence.
"It doesn't matter anymore, since he preferred to stay with Sandra." I say in an unhappy tone.
"There must surely be a logical explanation for his attitude, because knowing him, Euniel couldn't have chickened out overnight. I'm going to do my little investigation."
"Don't hurt yourself dad. He's already made his choice and nothing and no one can change that." I retorted desperately.
"What do you know? Life has these surprises my little one. What I do know is that if Euniel is meant for you, no matter what happens and where he goes, you will always end up together."
To be honest, I'm not going to say whether he's investigating or not. I just had my for what Euniel did to me. He preferred to be with Sandra, well I wish them a lot of happiness. As far as I am concerned, I will try to rebuild myself on my side. There must be somewhere on this earth at least one man with whom I will be happy, who will manage to make me forget Euniel.
After my father left, I slept for more than 2 hours. When I woke up, I found a message from Nicolas. He wanted to know if I'm better. I answered him on the spot and thanked him for his attention. There followed a conversation by message that I really appreciated. In the end, he is a kind and caring person. It's obvious that I'm having an effect on him. Why not try to rub shoulders with him? Maybe I won't regret it and above all, who knows if he'll manage to get Euniel out of my head?
The days that followed passed quickly. I was especially apprehensive on Sunday afternoons, because Euniel is supposed to come and spend the rest of the day at home. I wondered how things were going to turn out. The climate between us, and many other things. I suffered terribly from the absence of Euniel, I dreamed of the moment when we would finally see each other again, but at the same time, I didn't want him to be there. That day, when he came, I preferred to slip away into the bedroom. I'm not a sado-masochist to hurt myself so much. Indeed, seeing Euniel without being able to snuggle up to him, or kiss him, was a penance for me. So I preferred to get away from him as much as possible, waiting for jimy to get out of my head.
Despite my precautions to stay away from Euniel, my father called me down to join them in the living room. I had no other choice, because it was an order.
"Did you call me?" I asked the question once descended to his level. I spoke to him as if he were just alone, not paying attention to the presence of Euniel who was sitting next to him.
"You didn't say good afternoon to euniel." Replies my father pushing me to the limit.
"Good afternoon Euniel!" I threw at Euniel without looking at him.
"Can I go back to my room now?" I asked my father impatient to leave their presence.
"No. I called you because I wanted to talk about the search for Euniel's mother. We've been very late, but we need to act quickly while there's still time."
"Right here right now ?"
"Yes, it's the only day of the week we have. Or do you have another day for us?"
"No." I resolved to answer. I could feel Euniel's gaze on me as we talked. However, I was not tempted to look at him myself.
"In that case, let's go to the garden for a better discussion." Concluded my father by getting to his feet.
As we go to the garden, we heared behind us.
"Wait! I want to help you too!"
We all turn curious to see who it is. Against all odds, my sister Audrey is standing on the stairs.
"Audrey? Since when are you interested in our topics of discussion?" I questioned the surprise on my face.
"You always complain that I never get involved in what's going on at home, so I want to be more involved now."
"Yeah, but it wasn't about that kind of situation. I wanted to talk about being involved in matters that concern mum and me, or the family in general. This is different." I protested.
"Involvement equals involvement. You like to complicate things too much."
"No but..."
"You can come Audrey, I'm sure she will be of great help to us, Muse." My father cut short the discussion between my sister and me.
Why this sudden resurgence of interest in our discussion? I don't know, but it seems weird to me that audrey takes part in our discussions. However, my father having given his agreement, I cannot change anything. I comply and we go to the garden where we all sit in our usual place. Without wasting time, my father speaks and we listen.
"I brought you together because I think it is crucial that we look into the case of Euniel's mother. I think we have waited long enough. From now on, we will have this meeting every Sunday to think about strategies for release. Does anyone have any objections?"
My father looks around at each of us seated around the table. Meeting every Sunday means that I will be obliged to be in the presence of Euniel for at least an hour of the time. I would have gladly done without this trouble, but I think that mama's freedom is more important than our little squabbles.
"Perfect! As everyone is in agreement, now let's get down to business! We know that Cécile is being held captive in this brothel. We know that she is under threat of losing her son who is Euniel. What is ours to deduce that Euniel must be surrounded by people who are under the control of these people and that at any time they can attempt his life.Therefore, our every move must be discreet, lest we be the object of of their attack. My father summed up the situation perfectly well.
"Does that mean we're tied hands and feet?" Euniel inquired.
"Not necessarily. We don't know who is who and who's in charge of all this. However, we have a mole, Charles, Euniel's supposed father." Replies my father.
"Except Charles denies any involvement in the kidnapping of Euniel's mother. I don't see how he can help us." I intervened.
"You have it all wrong my daughter. Everyone has a price and above all, a weak point. If we manage to break through his, well, we can extract information from him." Said my confident father.
"So what is this weak point he has?" I asked again.
"I believe that Euniel can be of use to us on this level. Tell me my boy, how do you think we can succeed in getting your father to cooperate with us?" My father asked Euniel.
"I believe that my father has nothing that is important to him. He has nothing to lose in his life. However, there is one thing he cannot resist." Euniel pointed out.
"What?" My father hastened to ask.
"Well, it's all about the money." Euniel replied.
"Bingo! So we have it."