The fake smiles were endless. Clare wriggled the corners of her mouth, pretending in front of her parents and guests that everything was fine, although her stomach hurt from nerves. She felt like running out of the room and finding Felix. She was squeezed by the thought that he was in danger.
At one point, she couldn't stand it. Tears began to squeeze into her eyes as she watched Ian drinking white wine. He was furious and hid nothing from his guests. It was because of her that he was emanating anger, as she became engaged to him and kept thinking about her ex-boyfriend.
She felt his intense gaze on her as she turned her back on him and hurriedly walked away toward the bathroom. She occupied one of the stalls and sat down on the toilet bowl, clutching the phone in her hand.
Tears ran down her cheeks as she typed Felix's number on the keypad, then put the cell phone to her ear. Each missed signal caused a feeling of dread in her. She was already about to hang up when she heard his sad voice:
- You made a good decision. I hope you will be happy. - Her heart broke because he didn't want that, but he cared about her safety.
- How can I be happy if it's not you? If you hadn't rejected me, I would have stayed by your side and could even have died by your side.
She heard him sigh, then spoke:
- You don't seem to realize the words you are saying, Clare.
- And how can I be happy when every second makes me panic and fear for you?
- You have to stop. It doesn't make any sense. My life will never look the same again. I'm treading on thin ice, and it's a matter of time when I'll fall in and never get out again. I can't drag you down with me. You are the one who needs to be happy and live a long life. You deserve the best of everything.
She burst like a soap bubble. Tears flooded her face as she sat with her head down.
- I really try, I try to be happy, but not seeing your face, makes me unable to smile. If I could see you even for a moment....
- That's why I have to disappear from your life so that you can finally be happy.
- What do you mean? - She asked in a fearful voice, having a bad feeling.
- You will be relieved when I disappear from here forever and hide somewhere on the other side of the world. Knowing that nothing threatens me, you will be able to start living peacefully.
- So take me with you! - She energetically rose from the toilet bowl.
- No, Clare, because you will not be happy at the side of a man who will be on the run from thugs for the rest of his life. You have to lead a normal life, like any other woman. We come from different worlds, I'm not going to let you give up everything and live in fear every day.
- So you are going to leave me here and disappear from my life forever? - She asked in a sad voice, staring at the white cabin door.
- Yes.
Leaning her shoulder against the wall, she slid down and curled up on the floor.
- You can't disappear from my life once again.
- I have to, if it's the only solution so that we're both safe.
- And will you at least let me say goodbye to you?
- I'm leaving tomorrow.
She opened her eyes wide, and her heart stood still.
- Where are you? - She picked herself up from the floor and walked out of the cabin, leaning on the sink with one hand. She looked at her reflection in the mirror, noticing that she had smudged mascara around her eyes.
- Under the building where your engagement party is being held," he whispered.
She didn't wait a second longer. She inadvertently left her phone on the sink, then broke into a run and passed the guests without regard for Ian or her parents. She realized that at most she would have to explain herself harshly, but she couldn't miss the chance to say goodbye to the love of her life.
The wind blew her long blond hair away as she opened the massive door and, standing in the threshold, spotted Felix sitting on a motorcycle. She hastily ran down the stairs and jumped to him, embracing him tightly.
- Let's get away from here at least for a few hours, please.... I want a chance to spend more time with you before I lose you completely.
She moved away from him, and he handed her his helmet. The night was chilly, so he took off his leather jacket and threw it over the shoulders of the girl, who was dressed in a dress.
Opting for comfort, she took the stilettos off her feet and tossed them onto the lawn.
- Let's go to the place we love most.
She sat sideways and hugged him tightly around the waist. Before she drove off, she noticed that Ian ran after her out of the building.
She didn't mean to hurt him, but she couldn't miss the opportunity to say goodbye to Felix, even though she knew it would be hard.
- Sorry, Waller," she whispered under her breath.
*
With her bare feet, she stood on the ground as she stepped off the motorcycle. The forest surrounded them, and in front of her eyes was the vacation home that was hers parents. It had cooled down outside. The wind had picked up, and the night sky was beginning to be covered with clouds.
She tapped out the code she used to open the door. Felix followed her inside, looking around earlier.
- We've been here often," he said as he closed the door behind him. The blonde nodded and smiled slightly.
- That's why I like this place so much," she replied, turning on the light. - We have many memories here.
She was approaching the kitchenette when he unexpectedly embraced her from behind and pressed his face into her hair, looking sad.
- I am so sorry that my life has turned into hell and I can't have you by my side.
- If only you had said you wanted it, I wouldn't have let go of your hand. I am ready to give up everything and run away with you.
He turned her to face him. He shook his head, letting her know that this is not an option.
- We came here to spend our last hours with each other before I run away. I want to say goodbye to you.
Her eyes were sad as she watched his face.
- It really scares me to think that I will never see you again.
He leaned over her and pressed his lips to hers, then deepened the kiss, which she returned.
She missed this. She missed the closeness of this bastard.
- Even if I disappear from your life, know that you will always be one of the most important people to me. - He rested his forehead against hers, at which she smiled slightly.
- You are my first love, so it will always be so.
Felix lit a fire in the fireplace after which he joined Clare, who had been sitting on the couch for a long time, silently. The girl rested her cheek on his shoulder as he moved closer to her.
- Tomorrow I'm facing hell, since I ran away from my engagement.
- It's a late hour, so the guests won't notice. Worse for your parents and fiancé. - The last word barely passed through his throat. - I hate Waller, but I believe he will take good care of you.
She looked at him with disbelief in her eyes.
- How can you so easily hand me over to another guy?
- If you will be happy at his side and assured of your safety, this is the best solution. The naked eye can see that he is crazy about you.
She raised the corners of her mouth upward because there was truth in his words. However, she was not going to tell him that she had a frank conversation with Ian, and he confessed to her that he had been in love with her for many years.
That would only be awkward.
- Let's not talk about it, since these are our last moments together. Let me just fall asleep by your side. Let me feel your closeness.
Felix put his arm around her and rested his head against her head.
- You are the best thing that has happened to me in my entire life," he whispered as she closed her eyes. She listened to his voice as he told her about the many situations from the past that involved them and that she would never forget.
The wind outside became more and more gusty.
- Promise not to leave until I wake up. I'm so tired, all the stress is coming off me, I need to take a nap," she said quietly.
- I promise to stay by your side until you open your eyes. I won't leave you here alone. - He kissed the top of her head.
A moment was enough for her to fall safely asleep in his arms. She slept like a baby while he stared into the fire with tears in his eyes.
He knew that if he waited until she woke up, she would not want to let him go. Saying goodbye this way would be more painful than leaving her in silence.
He decided to stay with her for a while to enjoy her closeness, since he won't see her again. It pained his heart to have to leave her again, but he had no choice if he wanted to keep her safe.
She would definitely be better off without him.
The fire in the fireplace flickered, the wind becoming more and more gusty as he arranged her body on the couch and covered her with a blanket he found on the pouffe.
- Lead a safe life, as befits a woman of your status," he whispered as he leaned over and brushed his lips against hers.
Looking over his shoulder, he glanced at her one last time, then pulled his cell phone out of his pants pocket.
In his contacts, he found Waller's number, which he had obtained from one of his buddies some time ago. He went outside, hearing thunder somewhere in the distance.
He had to call for him to reach her and get her to safety before the storm came.
He didn't have to wait long. He answered after the first beep.
*
She cried out in helplessness. With her head hidden between her knees, she sobbed quietly, trembling with fear.
He had left her.
He had done it again, even though he had promised her that he would not leave until she woke up.
She scowled more when she heard disturbing sounds coming from outside. She was afraid. Even though it was pouring outside — the girl was terrified by the thought that she was here alone. In a desolate place, in the middle of the forest in a rest house that was hers parents.
It flashed, causing bright light to illuminate the interior of the wooden hut, which was in semi-darkness. The girl raised her eyes uncertainly and, looking into the window with frightened eyes, moved restlessly as a cold shiver ran through her body. She had the impression that for that moment she saw ominous shadows that formed the silhouette of a demon — a creature she had seen in a horror movie. In a movie, she once watched with her beloved. While at his side she had acted boldly, now she was terrified by every tap. Although she spontaneously created images in her head, she insisted that she was not safe. She claimed this because there was now no one at her side to protect her from danger. There was no man she could rely on.
She rubbed her shoulders with her hands and jumped when the fire from the fireplace shot loudly, causing her momentary anxiety. She let the air out of her lungs with relief, repeating to herself that a lush imagination causes trouble.
The powerful thunder led to the blonde screaming nervously, entangling her fingers in her hair. Breathing heavily, she looked around the living room, and her attention was caught by the landline phone on the coffee table. She ran to it and put the receiver to her ear but found deafening silence. There was no signal, and that meant the storm had knocked out the lines.
Outside, a gusty wind was raging, and she sat locked inside the house, surrounded by tall trees that could damage the roof at any moment.
She was terribly afraid.
Where is my cell phone, she thought nervously, looking around the dark room. The only source of light was a fire from the fireplace, as there was no electricity. The girl was unable to find anything, especially as the wood began to burn.
- What should I do? - she whispered quietly, biting her finger in her mouth. Panicked, she looked at the window and could have sworn that for a brief moment, she saw a silhouette flash before her eyes.
She opened her mouth and, with her heart beating loudly, retreated backward, in her mind anticipating the worst-case scenarios. She feared that she had become the victim of a ruthless murderer who was just waiting for the moment when she would be left alone — defenseless so that he could get her without any witnesses.
She looked to the side and put her hand to her left breast, as she was frightened of her reflection in the mirror. It was dark, so she felt anxious the first moment she saw the outline of the silhouette. She felt like she was starting to freak out because of her fear. Even though she was all alone in that place, she was creating stories that could drive her insane. And that was because of the man who had left her alone.
- What to do? - She said quietly, uncertainly opening the door. A powerful gust of wind hit her, causing her to retreat backward.
The door banged against the wall, and with wide-open eyes, she stared at the terrifying image outside. The trees bowed halfway, giving the impression of a disturbing vision.
Another powerful thunderclap brought the blonde to a standstill. She turned pale with fear, clenched her fists and drove her fingernails into the skin of her palms.
Someone stopped in the doorway, and hope appeared in her eyes. She was not frightened because she recognized the silhouette. Although they were both of similar stature, she knew perfectly well which of them had the courage to reach her in adverse conditions.
The boy came inside and slammed the door behind him, and she ran up to him and cuddled her face into his chest, shedding tears of happiness.
He appeared by her side, and all fear went away, causing a feeling of bliss.
- I'm sorry, Ian... I am so sorry for you.