Chapter 59

Charles
I know I'm just a good-for-nothing who couldn't do anything with his life. The only opportunity I had to do good, I ruined it by doing anything. I wonder why Cécile came back with me, when at that time I had nothing to please. I lived with my parents and they did everything to make me a responsible man, but I only had my head in alcohol and women. When I met Cécile, she was distraught and on her own. She did not know to which saint to devote herself. I liked her right away. I don't know if it was love or pity, but I wanted to be with her, to protect her. She was so beautiful and innocent and I only wanted to be with her. Despite the fact that she was pregnant by another man, I had decided to bring her home and make this child mine. It was the first time I had done something meaningful and I felt it deep inside me. I had lied to my parents that Cécile had become pregnant with me. And right away, they liked her. They were so happy that I was finally taking responsibility and ready to do something meaningful with my life.
When Euniel was born, I liked him straight away. Although he was not mine, I loved him as a father loves his son. However, I had started to review my dating again. At the time, I was friends with Pen and it was he who introduced me to Pauline. We were all young, but this one was different. She had a rather dark aura. His ideas were always evil. With her, we made these Machiavellian shots. And his ambition was always excessive. I had become worse than before. I no longer stayed at home. Despite Cecile's complaints and tears to get me to change, I had no case. On the contrary, she annoyed me with these complaints. Pen and Pauline, to whom I told my story with Cécile, started giving me bad advice.
"Are you that me for raising a child that isn't yours?" Pen had said mockingly.
"I'm sure he's helpless." Pauline adds, laughing the loudest.
"No, I love Cécile and she loves me too, that's why we decided to live as a couple." I had tried to justify myself.
"You love her, but she doesn't love you, my boy. All she cares about is finding a father for her child and since you're quite stupid, you fell into her trap." Pauline resumed.
That's how Pen and Pauline set about pitting me against Cécile. I started hating her with all my might. Although she was breastfeeding, I beat her shamelessly. My parents, who had loved Cécile very much and had adopted her as their daughter, threatened to drive me out of their house if I continued to make life difficult for Cécile. These threats calmed me down and forced me to stop raising my hand to Cécile. However, even though I no longer beat her, she annoyed me more and more. My friends had managed to sow hatred in me towards her and her child.
When Euniel was a year old, Pen and Pauline convinced me to force Cécile to work at the brothel. Being a beautiful woman, she would be the star of the brothel. And, most importantly, I would have enough money in return for his work. The offer was quite attractive and I had nothing else to do but to accept it. Cécile disappeared during the night. Nobody saw her yet. I had made everyone believe that she had abandoned her home. If the child believed when he grew up, my parents never believed me. They suspected me of having something to do with Cécile's disappearance, but they were only suspicions. Indeed, they had no evidence against me.
I had succeeded in putting hatred in Euniel's heart towards his mother. Nothing was like before. Euniel thinks I hate him, but the truth is that I felt guilty seeing him near me. I was ashamed of what I had done to his mother. He was my judgment and every time my eyes fell on him, the guilt of having sold his mother wanted to kill me. I had no choice but to run away from the house because I wanted to run away from the sword of Damocles on my head, which Euniel constituted. Despite his efforts to approach me, I had decided not to be near him for fear of constantly reminding myself of what I had done. But still, I loved him. I was secretly happy with his successes, his happiness. But it was by far. I had kept all those things to myself. However, the truth always ends up being known. He came back asking me to tell him the truth about his mother and where she is. In reality, I'll be a dead man if I open my mouth to tell Euniel the truth. His last visit pained me a lot, especially his last sentence before he left my house forever. That look he gave me still haunts me. I was a bad father, or maybe I wasn't even a father to him. This child was deeply affected and despite this, he decided to come to me for help in finding his child. And as the coward that I've always been, I kicked him out. Pauline and Pen have long run my life. This time I have to do something meaningful, even if it's the last before I die. I'm going to ask Euniel to come back to see me, because I intend to reveal the whole truth to him and take the opportunity to ask his forgiveness for the despicable father that I have been to him.
Audrey
I believe Pen is my soul mate. I love him so much and I'm not sure I can live without him. I know he loves me too, because I can feel it in his eyes. I was afraid he just wanted to take advantage of me and then dump me like an old sock. Luckily he reassured me. As soon as he has a better job in another company, he will go there and we will be able to live our idyll without hiding from people anymore. I can't wait for that day to come. I'd like to shut the crap out of those girls who hover around him at work forever. I'll see the face they go when they find out I'm Pen's girlfriend. I will be happy to taunt them today.
Today, when I was at his apartment, he proposed to me.
"I want you to continue to follow the discussions of Muse, Mr. Hawam, as well as Euniel regarding the research on Euniel's mother."
"But I already told you that I don't have access to their meeting. They decided to exclude everyone from their discussions, even my mother cannot know anything about what they say to each other."
"I know sweetie. But I'm not asking you to get their permission to do it. You can attend without their knowledge."
"In other words, you expect me to spy on them?!" I questioned Pen, looking her straight in the eye.
Pen hesitated for a moment, then began to stammer pretexts.
"It's not what you think honey... Uh... I just want you to listen a little bit to what they're talking about. What they're saying might be about us..."
"Why do you care so much about what they say in their meeting? Why is that so important to you?" I interrupted him, looking at him curiously.
"At the moment, I can't tell you anything. But I promise you that when the time is right, I'll tell you everything."
"Why are you always hiding things from me? Sweetheart, don't you trust me? Whatever you do, I want to help you. I don't want any more secrets between us, please!" " I tell him in a pleading tone.
"I can't tell you anything at the moment for your own safety. Mr. Hawam, as well as your sister, are steeped in shady business. How do you think he has so much money? He's a pimp who does a lot of other illicit trafficking. In order not to put you in danger, I must not tell you anything. Otherwise you and your mother will be in danger." Pen explained to me.
"You can still tell me a little more, can't you? I promise not to tell anyone and I would like to help you unmask them." I proposed to Pen looking very interested.
"No, you're already helping me a lot by spying on them. Keep doing it and very soon their shenanigans will be exposed to the eyes of the whole world. It's because you can be with me and understand me without asking annoying questions. , that I chose you as my girlfriend. I know that I can count on your silence. I am a man who must be very distracted, and I trusted you to keep this discretion."
Pen managed to convince me and I believe he is right. He could have any woman. But if he preferred to be with me, I must consider myself lucky and not smother him with annoying questions. When the time comes, he will surely tell me everything.
"Do you promise to spy on them sweetie?" He asked me before I left his apartment. I nodded then replied
"Count on me my heart. I will do what you asked of me."
So I came home with a mission to spy on what Muse and her gang are going to say in their Sunday meeting. Why am I not at all surprised to hear that Muse is steeped in unclear stories? This girl has always had an inordinate ambition. Since childhood, she has always had long eyes. We will see how she will do when the masks have fallen.