Silence resumed in the car and they stared at each other for a moment before he spoke again.
- Explain to me Violet, I want to understand.
- It's a man I met on....a dating site.
Cameron laughed nervously and rubbed his eyes.
- A dating site....so that's the best. And then? No you know what, we're going to talk inside because I feel that to support this discussion, I'll need a good drink.
He got out of the car without waiting for his answer and invited her to come in. Even angry, he always behaved like a gentleman which scared her more.
He sat in an armchair in front of her with a glass of whiskey. He seemed relaxed even if she knew it was wrong. He stared at her crossing his arms.
- So it started on a dating site? And then?
- Then....three weeks later we met in a cafe and we got to know each other. The current was passing well between us but as always I am on my guard, I asked your sister to do some research on him since he told me that he is known on the internet and that he is famous even rich. But it's not...
- It's not his wealth that you wanted but rather to know what kind of man he was on the internet.
She looked up at him.
- Don't be surprised. Despite my absence I know better than anyone, after your parents, that you are the last person to want money from others. Continue.
- After my research, I became distant with him and I always pretended to have something to do to no longer accept his appointments. But at some point, I decided to be honest and it was my birthday. I told him the truth and also that I wanted to cut ties with him, that I didn't want to have anything with him anymore. He guessed that I saw his past on the net and he freaked out.
- No....( he slowly straightened up, resuming his hard and dark gaze. He understood in advance the rest). Violet, look at me.
She stared at him with a certain shame in her eyes.
- He didn't dare to do that?! He didn't touch you, did he?
- If....he got angry, he threw me to the ground and tried to strangle me. There was his fork next to it that he had dropped and I seized it to plant it in his shoulder. When he screamed in pain by freeing my neck to put his hand on his shoulder, I ran away to the toilet. I locked myself there and called Layla who applied back five minutes later. She came with the police and asked me to go out to explain the situation to the police before they boarded her. When he left, he told me "I will take revenge" and since that evening I have never seen or heard about him. I just know that right now he must be in jail.
Cameron stood up abruptly and went around her armchair before returning to stand in front of her.
- Finally, Layla did well to shut up in front of our mother otherwise I think she would have had an anxiety attack.
- There for once....I regret hiding it from you.
- Oh but you do well to regret it. Because believe me, now I don't let go of you. Now my question is this: why have you put yourself in such danger? Let's go back to the beginning, why did you decide to put yourself on a dating site? And tell me the truth.
She looked at him for a long time before answering. If he asked this famous question that she had asked herself several times, it was obviously because he knew the answer which for once did not delight him so much.
- You want me to admit it, don't you? So I'll tell you. I tried, in vain, to forget you with another man, before recognizing that I was obvious.
- Which one?
- No man other than you has treated and respected me as well as you did.
- You finally recognize him. (He approached her and began to see her neck). I now understand why you always wear turtlenecks. They certainly look good on you but, in my memories, you didn't wear so many before. (She gently spread her hand by going up her collar.) Violet.
- It's been four years, I think the brand has left since then, you won't see anything.
- If you really believe in it, you wouldn't have pushed my hand away. So let me see because I don't believe you at all.
He lowered his collar and took his breath away for a moment. The brand may not have been as lively anymore but it is still there and the strangest thing was that it didn't really look like a simple brand. He examined her more carefully and understood that it was not only a mark she had but rather a healed wound.
- Violet, are you sure it's been four years? And is it really just a brand?
- Yes....why? (She remained motionless but still worried). To tell the truth, I don't really pay attention to it when I get dressed or even when I take a shower.
He straightened up and sighed. Violet could read in her eyes that there was much more than that. He was now more painful than angry but was still there.
- You have a Violet wound, and a mark. A wound that is the length of my hand, surrounded by a mark. And for a four-year-old wound, I would say that it has somewhat reopened.
- Two months ago, my aggressor....
- Dio me...( he rubbed his eyelids by turning to resume his whiskey green.) But yes of course the famous aggressor, he had to attack you at this level and reopened the wound. (He put himself back in his seat then got up again and sat at the edge of the table). Why did all this have to happen to you when I'm not here? Hm, tell me?
- Maybe ....that it was a message to make you come back. (She smiles at him, resuming her smiling air. His angelic air got the better of him, he took her face in his hands and kissed her with all his heart.)