19. Six days before the wedding
1991 Words
Wendy POV
Six days, that's all the time I have left of my freedom, and I hate every single second of it. I should spend the time doing what I want to do instead of pondering all the things I will be forced to do later. Something in my head denies me that, and I already know what it is, or rather who, Damien.
When he realized what was going on, his broken face is nothing I will ever get off my head. He's hurt and betrayed, I understand him. If I know him right, I know he's sitting at home in his apartment with a glass of whiskey, his brothers, and Adrien to figure out a plan to save me.
But he can't save me, not this time; I just hope he realizes it quickly. Nothing can prevent this wedding, although I would like it to. All I can do is hang out as much as I can with my kids, before it's time to say goodbye.
Gregorio picked up the kids this morning from Damien's, and I've been with them ever since. We've talked, and it hurt me incredibly when I had to tell them to stay with Damien. At first, there were tears, but the more I explained to them, the more they understood that it was for them to be safe.
I have promised to come and visit as often as I can; the problem is that it may be a promise I have to break later because I do not know anything about what my life will look like after I say "I do" in church on Thursday. I'm leaving the kids with Damien on Wednesday, even though I wish they could be there.
We concluded that it is the best, even though others may have objections. Kids have to be safe no matter what, it's as simple as that, and it doesn't matter if I have to give my life in exchange. I was thinking about killing myself to avoid the wedding, but came to the conclusion that it's not a good idea.
If I die before the wedding, then the war begins regardless, and everything was for nothing. No, I get to be the submissive girl I've always despised; there's no other way out. Caleb walks into the kitchen, where I sit with my coffee cup in an unsteady grip.
"Mom?"
I lift my head from the cup and look at my strong little prince. His face is as cold as Damien's when he's at work, but I can see the fear in my son's eyes. I pat myself on the leg for him to come to me and sit down, which he does.
"What is it, Caleb?" I ask and kiss him on the forehead.
"Are you afraid?" he asks, and the tears are not far off from falling.
"Yes, baby, I'm afraid," I answer in a whisper.
"Will they hurt you if you don't marry him?"
"I don't know, honey, they can do that anyway," I answer truthfully before I have time to stop myself.
"But the risk is less if you get married?"
"Yes, baby."
"Are you sad and terrified, mommy?"
"No, baby, I'm alright," I answer and keep looking at my coffee cup.
"Then, why are you crying? Asks a voice from the doorway.
I look up and get met by the men I'm afraid to meet. Damien stands there with his brothers and Adrien, with sad faces. I look confusedly at them and then at Caleb, who looks guilty. My eyes don't leave his until he sighs and gives up.
"I called dad, okay?" he says.
"But I'll be fine, baby," I answer and kiss him on the forehead.
"Not this time, mom," he says, kissing me on the cheek. "You need them."
He walks out of the room, and Adrien walks up to me. My cup is taken away from me, and he sniffs a little on it before pouring out the contents. I'm guessing he felt the Amarula liqueur in my coffee, that son of a b***h knows me way too good.
"Seriously, Wen?" he asks in a big brother voice.
"What?" I ask, annoyed, and walk to the fridge to bring out a beer instead.
The kids have a new nanny that I called here a few hours ago, I need to have the kids close, but I also need someone who can have a proper eye on them while I break in the shadows. Don't judge me! I don't know what else to do. I guess someone asked her to leave.
"You've given up!" he exclaims.
"What do you want me to do, huh?" I exclaim, angry. "I have no choice; I have six f*****g days left in freedom, then I'm stuck for the rest of my life! No matter how far or short it may be..."
Fiona comes into the room and looks at me. Without saying anything, she walks up to me, and I lift her on my hip. She kisses me on the cheek and wipes the tears that I have not noticed falling. Her eyes are a copy of her father's, and it's never hurt this much to look at my daughter.
"I will miss you, mom," she says quietly.
"I'll miss you more, cupcake," I whisper. "Make sure your brothers take care; I can trust you, right? Don't let all the testosterone in that place get too much, put your foot down and be my big girl."
I try to smile, but it does not matter if you smile simultaneously as tears flow, anyone, including a child, can see that you are not happy. She nods her head slowly, wipes my tears, and gives me a high five as usual when we have our girl power moment. I put her down, and she runs back to her brothers.
"What did you tell them?" Damien suddenly asks.
"The truth," I answer and bring up my beer again. "That I have to get married for them to be safe, and Fi should scold Adrien when he buys too much sugar for the boys."
Damien smiles, and Jaxon chuckles a little. Until we all start laughing, because we know it's true. I laugh with them, until the laughter becomes heavy breathing that becomes sobs. Damien comes up to me noiselessly and takes me to his hot body.
He says nothing but holds me, gives me the classic kisses on my head, and just is there. The others leave us alone, and Damien lifts my head to look at me. His thumbs gently wipe away my tears. I want to scream and trash the apartment, but I can't.
Damien looks into my eyes with his hands still on my cheeks, and I look back into those two diamonds that I fell in love with. Our lips meet in the most amazing kiss he has ever given me. It's not a kiss filled with lust instead of love and desperation.
Everything we want but can't get is put in that kiss. It starts soft but quickly becomes more violent, and if the children had not been home, we would have had s*x now. I long for everything with him. We interrupt the kiss to breathe; he continues to look into my eyes.
"I love you, and I don't say it often enough, but that's the truth. You are all I have and everything I want; there is no one who gives me as much happiness as you. If I told you earlier, we might not have been here by now..." he says, and a lonely tear falls from his eye.
"Baby, we would have ended up here anyway," I answer and smile sadly. "I love you until the end of time."
After our intimate meeting, the brothers and Adrien come back into the kitchen with all the children. We laugh at funny memories, hugging, Adrien telling embarrassing stories to the kids from when we were teenagers, and we generally have fun. I put the kids to bed before I prepare to say goodbye to the men.
"Stay strong, we'll get you out somehow," whispers Brody as I hug him.
"It's not going to work this time, and you know it," I respond sadly, moving on to Jaxon.
"For what it's worth, you'll be the most beautiful bride ever at your wedding," says Jaxon, and I laugh.
"b***h, what have you done?" Adrien jokingly asks with a smile, but he has tears on his cheeks.
"Way too much," I answer, smiling and kissing him on the cheek. "Take care of my boys now."
The three walk out the door, and Damien stays in the doorway. He doesn't want to go, and I don't want him to go, but we both know he has to. I caress his cheek tenderly and kiss him on his mouth as a reminder that I am always there even though I am not with him.
"Why didn't you say anything, baby?" he asks in a broken voice.
"It was already decided when I found out, love," I answer, hugging him.
He rips away from my hug and walks out the door. I understand his anger, frustration, and that he feels betrayed. No matter what happens, at least he knows now, he knows I love him. Six days, that's all I have, six days to prepare for how I'm going to have to miss Damien endlessly.
Damien POV
When I walk out of Wendy's apartment building, I breathe heavily and feel the sadness inside me getting worse. I slam my hand into an electrical cabinet, and it leaves behind a big dent. Honey, what did you do? The tears run from my eyes, and I can't stop them.
With my back to the building, I slowly slide down on the ground. What should I do? The woman of my life marries in less than a week with another man; the worst thing is not that it's not me, no... The worst part is that Wendy dies if she doesn't and risks death if she does.
Ravellie's are no friendly people, and after Wendy literally kicked the door when she visited their company, I can only imagine what they can do to her. She's a strong woman, probably the strongest I know. But even she doesn't have a chance against three men at the same time.
It scares me that she might be a totally different person the next time I meet her IF I meet her at all again. The possibility exists that she is dead on Friday morning, or after she says, "I do." No one can know for sure.
"We have to get her out," I say quietly.
"I did everything I could, brother," says Brody with a sad face. "There is nothing we can do; the wedding is arranged and approved by both parties. The only way to get her out is if all three of them die."
"What are we waiting for? Let's kill Ravellie's!" I say excitedly and get up.
"We can't do that, Damien. There are too many of them; we'll die if we try at all. Do nothing foolhardy, " he replies.
"And why the hell not?! She is the love of my life!"
"Because you will make your children orphans," he shouts, and I immediately stop. "They will lose their mother in six days, don't be the reason they lose you too. Not now that you're the one, they need the most."
A/N:
Hello everyone!
So this chapter was also a downer, and the time is ticking away.
* What are you feeling?
* Was Wendy wrong for telling the children the truth?
* What do you think about Wendy's situation, what advice would you give her?
* What did you think of this chapter?
Please let me know your thoughts! Lots of love! <3
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