It's been a month of it and Christian turned icy cold and began to live his life having one goal, make his money righteous. He began to hate love. If he never loved anyone, they will never leave. His father, mother and now Merlin. He began to think that his destiny has no love for him. The state of devastation that turns you void and no matter how much you want to cry at your ravage, no tears dared to spill out and ease your heart and you could feel the rushing of agony in your vein, stirring your mind. The feeling of emptiness residing in his heart. The state of destruction he is going through is incomprehensible for him.
He is left with only a promise he made to his mother. The promise to make Sophie his bride but he knows that if he suddenly appears on her doorstep saying this, this will make matters worse. He just wants to live his life protecting Sophie and fulfilling his promise.
'I tried to twist fate and get away from you. But, even after trying that much, here I am, bending my knees at your doorsteps to get what belongs to me..'
The darkness consumed his heart and his terrors of dark increased turning it into an actual phobia. Whenever he sees darkness, he can see his heart in it; void, dark, desolated. Lost in the feeling of betrayal and heartbreak, he decided to leave his emotions behind. There's no point in loving someone, they will eventually leave you. Relations are nothing but a burden, the more you feel connected to them the more isolated they will make you from yourself.
Christian then dedicated to work hard to earn ethical money. He was left with the desire to become someone his mother would be proud of, he has to live his life with virtues and fulfill the promise he made to his mother years ago.
..But, you can easily stray from your path when you are in darkness..
He was sitting in his cabin, lost in thoughts when his assistant; Henley came,
"Sir, here are your divorce papers." She handed him the paper reluctantly, he took them and stared at them.
"Sir, maybe you should listen to Ma'am Merlin first before taking such a drastic measure. We all know how much she means to you." Henley tried to make him understand.
"When trust is broken it cannot be built again, Richard. And yeah, not all fortunes are good." He said emotionless and signed the papers.
"Send them to her." He leaned back on his chair, Henley gave him a look of pity but decided to be silent as she took the papers and left.
***
It's been a month, he was in a state of depression but from inside from outside, he is an icy cold guy. He was in a club drinking to forget his pain but then Tyler came as he began to say,
"Dude, Sophie's brother had an accident. He is in a coma, Sophie is jobless, they are in a state of crisis." He stopped as he clenched his hands in a fist. He grit his teeth. That’s all he has left now… Sophie. He has suffered enough and he has no place to go other than her but her was protesting about how to meet her.
"She has finished her graduation. Find a job for her." Christian said coldly as he left and went to his home, trying not to think about it anymore.
***
It's been two years, Christian is 28 years old now, his once golden heart that used to care about the one he loved is now tainted black because there's no one he loves now. One day, he got a call from Juliette, he had no intentions to go but when she mentioned something about Sophie so he had to go.
They are in a cafe as Juliette began to say,
"You're thinking of fulfilling your promise, don't you? You want to marry Sophie-"
"It has nothing to do with you."
"Knowing Amelia, she wouldn't have said a thing to Sophie, do you think you'll suddenly appear at her doorsteps saying if you want to marry her and she'll let you?"
"It's none of your concern."
"Even if you tell her everything, she will never accept you and if she knows that you are her Aunt's son; her cousin, she will never marry you. Eugene is your cousin and Sophie is her step-sister, what is she to you? A thing? Or someone dear?"
"What are you trying to say?"
"Okay, let's be straightforward, don't you think Sophie will marry you just because of a promise. She is already in a state of trouble, the only way she would let you fulfill your promise would be if you help her to escape her devastation in return for something. A contract marriage about sexual intercourse.." And this was enough to enrage him as he stood up and left without saying another word.
Her words caused him to go into the darkness more. He was beyond angry not at her but rather himself but her words somehow held some reality, if he would appear before her saying she is his, she would never believe it and since Sophie doesn’t know anything he has no choice.
After some time, Christian decided to visit his Aunt. Amelia was shocked to see him after these years, they both sat down as he told her everything that has happened till now. Amelia hugged him as she began to cry, for his loss, for what he has gone through and for not being able to attend the funeral of her own sister. This broke Amelia's heart.
When she calmed down, Christian began to say,
"I heard what happened to Eugene." She gave him a sad smile and nodded.
"Sophie is working hard." A silence fell upon them. But, Christian broke it and began to say,
"I.. want to fulfill my promise." Amelia was taken aback by his words.
"Sophie will never agree to marry you. First, She don't know anything. Second, She will never marry, not until Eugene wakes up. Third, Your age gap."
"I know Aunt he cannot recover with his current treatment and you need money for a better one." Amelia understood what he is trying to imply as she spoke in a threatening tone,
"Don't you dare to make her marry you for money."
"What option is left then? I possibly can't take her with me just because she belongs to me. I don't want any illicit relation with her. Only, if she knew everything from the start." He said exasperated.
"I want to give her a normal life." Amelia said firmly. Amelia took a deep breath as she stood up,
"I will not tell her anything. And I won't force her to do anything either. Do whatever you want and let her decide what she wants."
"And what if she refuses?"
"You better leave her life then."
"That's what I can't do." he said standing up.
"If she refuses, I'll tell her everything and then we will see what she says."
"She will hate me for hiding it." Amelia said, scared.
"Aunt, it is your fault for hiding it." Christian said firmly and Amelia couldn't believe what she was hearing. Is it really that Christian who said that he wants Sophie to have a normal life? Who is this cold guy?
"Okay, but remember, I'll not force her."
"Don't worry, I have my ways."