CHAPTER 17...
✯ᴗ✯
Simone held his hands which were shaking as he cried.
"I'm sorry..."
"I didn't know how to break it out to you or even Raphael! I couldn't push myself to do it..." Violet uttered while sobbing.
Simone pulled her into his arms and hugged her tight as tears rolled down his eyes.
"What... stage are you?" He forced the words out of his mouth and Violet broke the hug.
She wiped off her tears quickly with the back of her palm.
"I'm sorry Simone but I can't share that with you! I've started my medications in no time, I'll be fine!" She assured him looking away.
Simone placed his hands on his waist as he looked up at the ceiling, tears rolled down his ears.
How long has she been battling with this? He questioned in his head and his tears just couldn't stop falling.
Violet walked to the couch and sat down. She clipped her lips together, her heart was pounding nervously. She joined her palms together.
She stole glances at Simone, she could tell he was hurting way more than her.
But how can she put it out to him that it's eating her up inside. Violet thought while staring at Simone.
Simone turned to her direction and she looked away immediately.
He sniffed in tears and walked to her.
He knelt down in front of her then held her hand, their hands were both shaking.
Simone's eyes were all red. His gaze were on Violet's hand.
Violet's eyes became watery again.
"Violet, I'm your best friend... Don't keep things from me cos I've always shared everything with you!..."
"Don't break me anymore..." He muttered and looked up at her.
The tears in her eyes dropped.
"It's stage two... stomach cancer" She announced and cried loudly.
"I'm sorry! I'm sorry" She cut in crying then stood up from the couch.
Simone exhaled deeply and wiped off his tears.
"Let's go to the hospital tomorrow!" He stated calmly.
Violet turned around swiftly in shock.
"Sim, what are you saying? What hospital? I'm on medication, why do I need to go to the hospital?" She asked seriously.
Simone stood up from the floor, grabbed his jacket from the couch.
"I'll be here by 8 AM tomorrow... You better don't hide. If you do that, I'll tell Raphael about this!" Simone uttered coldly and walked to the door.
He grabbed the doorknob and Violet threw a pillow at him.
"How can you be this cold? Why do you want to force me to the hospital? Why? I told you I'm fine!" She screamed frustratedly.
Simone bit his lower lips and blinked twice only for tears to drop from his eyes.
"Cos I don't believe you and I want to make sure you're fine! I'll be back tomorrow!" He said and left.
Violet sat on the floor and cried helplessly staring at the door.
NEXT DAY...
Simone took Violet to the hospital.
Violet held on to his hand tightly without letting go.
"You'll be fine!" He whispered with a smile.
Violet looked at the door of the screening room. Terror and fear was written in her eyes.
Her heart pounding like it never has before.
"I don't want to do this," She uttered in tears.
Simone hugged her tight.
"Should I call Raph over?" He asked and she broke the hug angrily.
"You're cruel!" She blurted and headed into the room.
"Please be fine for me... For us!" Simone mumbled worriedly.
~ RAINING BEAUTY STUDIO ~
Raphael drove down to the studio to put in some work into his art gallery opening which will be taking place soon.
He sat at his office going through some documents when one of his employees walked into his office.
"Boss, can I have a minute with you?" She asked politely.
Raphael looked at her and nodded.
She took a few steps closer to his desk.
"Chae young, is everything okay?" He asked with his eyes fixed on the document he was going through.
She cleared her throat awkwardly and placed a resignation on the table.
"Thank you so much, boss! You've been a wonderful and kind boss. I hate to leave but I have to" She uttered sadly in an unsteady tone.
The sadness in her voice grabbed Raphael's attention. He placed the files aside and turned to her.
He picked up the resignation letter.
"Is everything okay at home?" He asked calmly.
She nodded as tears escaped her eyes.
"Chae young, look at me! Are you okay?"
She stared at him and swiftly Raphael got a grim of her future as she forced so many pills into her mouth to end her life and Raphael's heart broke just looking at her.
"I heard you're getting married? I heard some of your colleagues talking about it..." Raphael lied.
He heard nothing, he just foresee it.
She nodded sadly wiping off her tears.
"You're not happy?" Raphael asked and stood up from his seat.
"It's an arranged marriage. My parents and his are happy about it. The wedding will be a grand one, he said he doesn't want his wife working. He loves me so much, I can tell by his actions" She stated laughing and crying at the same time.
Raphael exhaled sharply and moved closer to her. He patted her shoulders and she burst into a louder cry.
"I asked you if you're happy! Who cares if they're all happy... Chae young are you happy about this wedding? Is this what you want for yourself?" He asked warmly.
She looked up at Raphael and shook her head negatively.
"No boss, I don't want to stop working. I don't want to be a housewife and I don't love him! I dislike everything about him... He's too egoistic!" She cried pouring out her heart.
"Then don't get married to him! Only do what makes you happy chae young cos that's the only reward you can give to yourself! I'm not accepting your resignation letter... Tell him, I said so!" Raphael said defiantly picking up the letter from the table and handing it over to her.
She looked at the letter and sniffed in her tears.
A call came in through Raphael's phone.
"Excuse me!" He uttered and walked to the side before taking the call.
"Raph, my friend and I are headed to the restaurant. If you don't mind, join us for lunch so you would speak with him in person!" Josh suggested over the phone.
Raphael smiled. "I'll be there! Send me the location!"
"Sure!" Josh cut in and hung up.
Raphael turned to Chae young.
"Chae young, you're stronger than you think! Don't force yourself... Don't do anything you'll regret" He smiled and grabbed his car keys.
"Thank you boss! You're the only one who has asked me if I'm happy! Thank you so much..." She smiled with appreciation.
Raphael nodded with a smile and just then a thought crossed his mind and he widened his eyes in shock.
She was the employee he saw her future the same day he saw Mabel's three years ago.
★★★★
AT THE RESTAURANT...
Raphael joined Josh and his friend at the restaurant. They had a thoughtful and meaningful conversation during lunch.
They were done discussing business so they headed out of the restaurant.
They noticed a crowd next to the restaurant, so many people ram towards that direction.
"What's going on here? Did a celeb show his face here?" Raphael mumbled trying to get a peek at the crowd.
That was when he saw Mabel seated under a shade with a decorated table in front of her. She was having a fan gathering meeting.
She gave free hugs and autographs to her fans.
"Isn't that Mabel?" Josh questioned quickly as he sighted her.
Raphael smiled warmly.
"She looks happy today!" He muttered staring at her.
I don't know if she's fine. What if it's closer than I thought. He stated worriedly in his mind as he thought of Chae young.
Josh grabbed his hand and pushed him into the crowd.
"Josh!!" Raphael grunted looking back but the bustling crowd, everyone was fighting their way forward so they ended up pushing Raphael to the front line.
Raphael bit his lower lips awkwardly.
"You can get a free hug and an autograph...which would you prefer first?" Mabel asked cutely as she signed on the flyer of the last movie she acted.
Raphael kept shut.
"Hurry up and say something... We've been waiting here for hours," The crowd ranted.
The rant caught Mabel's attention and she looked up.
Her heart skipped a beat seeing Raphael right in front of her.
"Which... Would you prefer?" She stuttered still trying to be composed.
Raphael moved closer.
"How about a hug?" He requested.
Mabel swallowed nothing. She looked around and she saw her fans squealing in excitement as if they were the ones speaking to her in person.
She spread her arms open and Raphael hugged her tight.
"The gallery will be opening in a few days, you'll be there right? I want to see you there!" He whispered and Mabel broke the hug.
Hearing Raphael's voice just reminded her of what she saw yesterday. It wasn't a memory that could be washed off in one night.
"Next!" She smiled handing a flyer to Raphael.
"Unni! I'm a huge huge fan of yours... My mum is a fan also, she has always dreamed of having your autograph!" A fan girl squealed nervously.
Raphael stared at her for a minute then left. Mabel stole glances at him as he left.
He just left but she missed seeing his face already.
None of it is real, Mabel. She said in her head pulling herself together.
★★★★
Charlotte and Kent were out to meet up with a client.
Charlotte sat down with her leg crossed against the other. Her thoughts were all over the place but it was all about Raphael.
Kent kept stealing glances at her as he had sips from his glass of water.
"Charlotte you don't look nervous one bit!" Kent spoke up breaking off the silence.
Charlotte scoffed brushing her hair behind her.
"The case doesn't look like a hassle to me. He just wants some shares from his father's company! Not a big deal at all" She uttered sarcastically.
"You think it's not a big deal... If you don't win this case, then you'll have me to deal with!" Henry fired angrily from behind.
Charlotte stood up gently like a boss lady.
"Emm... Henry, what are you doing here?" Kent asked in shock.
Henry joined them on the table. He slammed the table angrily and looked at Charlotte, he was shocked to the bone to see her in front of him.
"Charlotte...why are you here?" He asked in disbelief.
Charlotte smirked and sat down back.
"I'll be your second lawyer, I'm assisting attorney Park!" She stated professionally.
Henry cleared his throat.
"Shall we begin?" Kent cut in.
"Yes!" They both chorused.
Kent took out some files and placed it on the table.
"Here is the agreement, your father signed with your mother. He agreed to give fifty percent of his company shares to their first child and you happened to be the first child but right now, the company is in the hands of your step brother! Why's your father going back from his words? Do you think this has anything to do with his divorce with your mother?" Kent asked professionally.
Henry frowned.
"Divorce isn't a barrier. He agreed on something then he should keep up with his words,"
Charlotte scoffed.
"Why are you laughing?" Henry asked angrily.
"There's only one way to make your father do that without going to the court!" She uttered with a vicious smile.
Henry and Kent gave her a curious look.
"Blackmail him!"
"And how do I do that? My father's one of the most stubborn and annoying men I've ever met in my whole life!" Henry uttered seriously.
Charlotte turned to Kent.
"Kent, I'm thirsty... Please can you get me a fruity drink?" She requested cutely.
"Sure! Do you want any?" Kent asked referring to Henry.
"No, thank you!"
Kent left the table. He was clueless to think Charlotte had anything on her sleeve.
Charlotte leaned closer to Henry with her hands on the table.
"Listen to me Henry! If you want this to work out for you then you better listen to every word I say... I've got loads of dirt on your dad, he's not going to survive any of it if I give out a signal to my source. I'll only do that if you sleep with Mabel.."
Henry's jaw dropped in shock.
"What are you saying Charlotte?" He gasped.
"I want you to have s*x with her! I don't know how you plan on doing that but do it as soon as possible and I promise you, your shares in the company are all yours! I want to make Mabel yours, I know you want that also... Think about it... You've got an hour to do so!" Charlotte uttered coldly then leaned back on her chair when she saw Kent coming back to the table.
Henry looked at her with fear in his eyes.
Why would she go this far?
LATER AT NIGHT...
~ MABEL'S APARTMENT ~
Mabel was making a pineapple smoothie for herself. Her thoughts were crowded with her vision of Raphael and Charlotte.
The blender blended the fruit to liquid, she didn't even notice.
Her thoughts got disrupted when her doorbell rang.
"Am I expecting anyone?" She questioned herself before getting the door.
She grabbed the doorknob open and Henry was standing in front of her with a bouquet of flowers in his hand.
"Hello beautiful!" He uttered with a smile.
He had shades on so he doesn't get recognized outside.
What is he doing here? How does he even know my place? Mabel questioned in her head staring at him.
She stood at the door refusing to move but suddenly Henry's fans rushed out of the elevator.
"I saw oppa! Henry came up to this floor..." They screamed excitedly.
Henry pushed Mabel with him into her apartment.
"It will be trouble if they see me outside your door!" He smiled.
Mabel moved away from him but he pulled her back against his chest. He hugged her tight, pressing her a*s against his d*ck.
Mabel felt something hard behind her and she widened her eyes in shock, about to push him away but Henry covered her mouth with his strong hand while squeezing her b*obs with the other hand.
I'm sorry, Mabel! He said in his head and tore her dress forcefully.