Sitting in front of the park where the neighborhood children were playing, Emma imagined what her future might be now that it was turned upside down. She put her hand on her stomach and watched the children massed around the swings, laughing, running, in the afternoon sun. She swallowed her saliva a number of times to avoid crying for the umpteenth time. Her grief dissipated when a black shadow took place beside her. Emma didn't have to turn her head to know who was standing next. A simple look to steal it on the loose hand, holding his letter was enough to know his identity.
Unexpectedly, no perceptible sound came from her mouth, and yet she expected a flood of insults and threats from him, calling her a liar, a little upstart wishing to trap him in the cruelest of ways. . But nothing happened. Just the sound of loud breathing dominating the children's cries of joy.
Emma looked down at her hot chocolate, swallowing.
"I must have read that letter a hundred times before...
He trailed off, but his voice was dark and almost broken, a sign that there was anger inside of him.
Emma decided to sit up on the bench and turn her body slightly towards him. He looked tired, his chiseled features tense, as if waiting for her to speak first.
"Know that I could have kept quiet and never said anything," Emma began, her voice as dry as she could manage. I could have kept the secret, but I preferred to meet you anyway and you...welcomed me so coldly that I was terrified!
He said nothing, but still pressed his lips together in an angry grin.
I do not know if it was fate that put us back on the same path, but if it had only held our first meeting, I would never have tried to contact you again. Added Emma bitterly.
She saw his jaws clench, she had to fight her emotions to try not to show anything.
"Why didn't you try to tell me at the ball?" he asked in a penetrating voice.
Emma showed him with an expression of disgust all the reasons for his silence.
"How could I have?" You have never ceased to despise me and your past has not helped me in any way! How could I have been sure that you wouldn't have called me a liar?
He inhaled loudly and gently grabbed her forearms, his eyes streaming with a light she couldn't interpret.
"Probably because no one knows what I did in that lab...
Emma went pale and stared at him with parted lips.
He breathed suddenly.
I should have suspected something, I agree to have acted badly Emma.
Where was the vindictive Azzario who was known to accuse people? She thought, looking him straight in the eye.
"Why don't you get angry?" She growled with a deaf cry of heart.
"What use would that be to me?" While I am partly guilty of your silence! He retorted in a tone that took her breath away.
Azzario was arguably the first man to curse on this planet. An immense rage seeped through his veins, the guilt he felt was so painful that his whole body ached.
"I'm not asking you for anything, Monsieur Dantes, and I'll never prevent you from seeing....
What ? He cut his eyebrows completely furrowed. You seriously think I'm going to abandon you and settle for a few courtesy visits! He scolded, unable to conceal his anger that she might want to escape him.
"It's the best solution and you can't force me to...
"....marry me?" He finished in his place, the black eyes of anger rising in him.
His whitish face looked so tired that he thought it best to calm down.
"I don't want your pity. She let go coldly.
She turned her head towards the horizon.
"I asked you to marry me long before I knew you were pregnant with me!" I was ready to accept your child as my own!
My God, Azzario would never have believed that this belly that he had touched with his fingertips was enclosing his child and that his mother could be the one who obsessed him to the point of no longer being able to think.
He remembered that day at the clinic vividly. It was through a desperate act that he had saved his sperm for fear of never finding the happiness of being a father.
And now this sample kept in her care in the greatest secrecy was undeniably taking shape in her.
Azzario in turn averted his gaze so that she could not discern the confusion that inhabited him.
"That's probably how men work in your world, but not in mine.
Her soft voice snapped him out of his thoughts.
There is only one world Emma.
That's what you think! She retorted curtly, getting up.
Azzario got up and followed her as she desperately walked to get away from him.
"Would you have looked at me in Sergio's studio if I hadn't entered your property?" She asked throwing her cup in the trash.
He caught her by the arm to force her to turn around.
We are attracted to each other, you can not deny it Emma!
This is false!
"Then why are you blushing. He replied tilting his face to hers.
Azzario decided for a moment to forget their child to focus only on what he wanted above all.
She.
"Men like you don't believe in marriage!" Haven't you learned that in the past?
It was totally different, do not play on words Emma, I am a perfectly loyal man and I will not support any other accusations from you!
Her eyes widened, a sign that she would continue to counter him.
I do not believe you ! She spat, staring at him bitterly. You...you're more the type to replace << for better or for worse, until I get tired of you and...>>
That's enough ! Apostrophe Azzario mouth twisted.
He released his arms after shaking him slightly, bitterly regretting his gesture.
"You don't even know me. Objected the young woman.
He moved closer to her until he felt her natural perfume intoxicate him.
"I know that when I compliment you or approach you you blush, and when you're nervous or embarrassed you rub the floor with the tip of your foot.
They both looked down at his outstretched foot in action.
Immediately she stopped the colored cheeks and turned her heels.
Determined, he followed her.
"Emma, I won't leave you!" Neither you nor my baby!
Your ! She corrected, turning violently, her eyes misty with tears.
What ? He whispered.
She moved closer and lifted her chin, her mouth quivering with anger.
Congratulations Mr. Dantes, you have killed two birds with one stone, you should be delighted.
Emma had taken advantage of the fact that he was motionless on the sidewalk and just as shocked as she had been when she found out, to run away to her apartment building. She climbed the stairs and double locked herself. She leaned back against the door, breathing hard. She had never expected such self-control from him. At no time had he given her an accusation, or even a contemptuous look. He was determined and much more today than before. And the announcement from his doctor would no doubt only increase his resolve.
She took her head in her hands, still having the sound of her two little hearts beating in the hollow of her ears.
One, then two, then a multitude of knocks began to ring against his door.
Emma gauged the latter, her heart racing with the pain of her beating.
Open! Emma!
Despite the winter sun and the building full of people, it didn't stop him from having an angry voice.
"I'm going to break down the door!"
This threat made him recoil when he matched the action to the word by giving a shoulder as a warning.
Emma pulled back further, rubbing her arms.
Go! I want to be alone!
As soon as he finished his sentence, he appeared in front of her with a dull crash accompanied by splinters from the door.
Horrified, she put her fingers to her mouth, staring at him.
He had just broken down his door without feeling the slightest pain. The rays of the sun highlighted his devastating and dark profile leaving no doubt of the rage that rose beyond himself.
"You broke down my door!"
He moved slowly towards her, and his dizzying height forced her to tilt her head back.
Twins ? he asked in a low voice.
Fraternal twins and I....
Since when ?
The ridiculous meaning of his question had a terrible time penetrating his mind.
I just learned and that's why I wrote to you.
Otherwise you would not have told me, is that it?
Of course yes ! I am not one of those women who have no heart! Emma raged away from him.
He lifted her to rest her on the floor directly in front of him.
A shiver ran down her spine at the intensity of her gaze.
Please don't run away from me!
Are we on familiar terms now? She asked, trying to pull her hands away from her waist.
Since I'm not ready to let go of you, I think so, you'll have to get used to having me around for as long as necessary.
He paused to cup her chin.
"That is, until you come with me."
Forced to recognize that he was obviously not ready to let go, Emma felt the anger win her succeeded by many other contradictory emotions. Her heart jumped as her fingers closed around her chin.
"Emma, please calm down so we can discuss our future."
We have no future, I refuse to get married because I'm pregnant! Damn I never wanted this! I only wanted a baby! A family!
She pulled away from him to sit on the couch.
"And I'll give it to you." He replied in a voice without appeal.
He stormed off towards his room. Emma didn't have the strength to follow him. Staring into space, she remained pensive as her shadow passed away, and obviously he was busy packing his bag.
"We'll talk about all this at my house!" he declared curtly in his room.
I no longer have the strength to speak.
"Then I will speak for us!"
Emma put her hand to her hot forehead.
"You can't marry me just because...
His footsteps came closer and cut her off when she saw the barrage of his black eyebrows.
I wanted to marry you long before the situation changed Emma, but now it's more than just a desire. You offer me more than I ever dared to wish for.
She stared back, holding her breath at the immense hope that had just crossed the sparkle in her eyes.
He closed his bag which he had found without difficulty and came to kneel in front of her.
"It's not just babies.
"Then what is it?"
"You will learn to love me.
She let out a strangled laugh.
Love does not feed on appearance or on a simple look, or on a sudden desire!
It's not a desire!
He closed his eyes, annoyed, then looked up slowly.
"Emma, you're going to come with me now, don't make me drag you into the car by the skin of your buttocks."
She shivered, her lips parting almost to object, but his menacing gaze only brought her to stand obediently. But when he put his hand on her shoulder, she pulled away vigorously as she walked out of the apartment.
Once in the car, she slowly looked up at the driver who immediately rolled up the window when he sat down next to her.
"I won't let you hurt yourself.
I have no intention of hurting myself!
"Then please calm down. He ordered, running his hand over her cheek.
Emma felt her legs giving way even sitting down. She turned red as a peony.
"I just wanted to have a child. She repeated in a hoarse voice.
He pulled his hand away and turned back to the window. He remained silent, enough to make her worried.
For a moment, she thought she could trust him.
"Who knows?" He finally asked absently.
'Sergio, he figured it out on his own...at the ball.
"Why didn't you try to tell me at the ball?" he asked in a soft voice.
She touched her stomach.
I tried, but when you proposed this marriage, I panicked.
He swore in Italian and turned as fearsome as ever.
"Why didn't you find out sooner for...
'Because I didn't check. Emma cut her eyes down.
What ?
I was afraid of having a nervous pregnancy so I did not control, I was wrong, I wanted to protect myself and I did everything wrong.
Her answer was a gentle kiss on her forehead.
This gesture, as unexpected as it was pleasant and comforting, puzzled her.
Should she trust this man?