My Life with Hades

CHAPTER 9

When I entered my room, Charon was still sleeping on my bed. I needed a hug, so I lay down next to him and hugged him. He licked my face, as if he knew I was about to break down from how sad I felt. Twenty minutes later, Ramsés knocked on my door. I didn’t want to keep talking to him, so I pretended to be asleep. After knocking several times and not getting a response from me, he entered the room. I heard him grumble because Charon was on my bed.

"Charon, get off the bed right now. You don’t have permission to be there," he said very quietly, so I wouldn’t wake up. But Charon didn’t obey him, so he snapped his fingers and made him get down. I was frustrated by it. Having Charon close made me feel a little better. Then Ramsés tucked me in and kissed my forehead, which definitely took me by surprise.

The next morning, I was really sad. Even Abigail noticed. She asked me several times if I was okay, and I just nodded. I buried myself in work to distract myself, but every now and then, I cried a bit. Ramsés invited me to lunch, but I declined, saying I would eat with the girls from the office, and he just nodded. In reality, I didn’t eat with anyone. I stayed locked and alone in my office. During lunch, Ramsés entered my office with his arms crossed.

"You lied to me, Bree. You said you were going to eat with the girls from the office, and I went to see you, but you weren’t there. Abigail told me you didn’t want to leave your office."

"I wasn’t hungry, Ramsés, that’s all."

"What’s going on, Bree? You know you can talk to me about anything," he said, a little worried.

"I’m just having a bad day, that’s all."

"Yesterday too?" he asked. I nodded.

"Yeah, I had a bad day yesterday too, Ramsés."

"You can go home and take as many days off as you want, Bree. If you feel pressured, you can do it."

"Don’t worry."

"How can I not worry, Bree? You’re acting so strange, and I don’t know what’s happening to you," he said, frustrated.

"I’m fine, Ramsés," I sighed, but he pleaded with his eyes.

"Bree, please."

"I’m fine. Don’t be annoying."

"Okay, I won’t bother you about it anymore. Do you want to have a date today?" I shook my head.

"I’m not in the mood, Ramsés."

"You see, something is wrong with you."

"Something doesn’t necessarily have to be wrong for me not to want to go out. We can go out on the weekend if you want."

"Whatever you prefer, Bree," he said, leaving my office.

Minutes later, I received a lunch order, but I hadn’t ordered anything, so I assumed it was from Ramsés. I sent him a message thanking him. I barely touched the food. On our way home, I got a w******p message and it was from Christopher:

"Today is my first day without you. I feel broken."

Damn it! I felt like crying immediately. I looked out the window, making an enormous effort not to cry in front of Ramsés. When we got home, I was the first to get out of the car. I hurried inside and locked myself in my room to cry.

In the following days, I was so sad that I dragged myself everywhere. Christopher’s messages continued every night, which made me sleep very little. So, I was in a pretty bad mood.

I was distracted on my computer when Ramsés entered my office. Ever since I told him that Abigail knew about our marriage, he stopped announcing himself. He just entered.

"These days, I’ve respected your decision to be alone all the time, Bree. You haven’t joined me for lunch even once, and you don’t even come for a drink in the lounge."

"You should stop drinking so much, Ramsés," I said quickly.

"We’re not talking about that, Bree. I’ve been very patient with you, but today, you’re having lunch with me whether you like it or not."

"Can you stop forcing me to do things? Can you at least ask me?" I scolded him, frowning. He sighed in frustration.

"Don’t start with this, Bree. I’ve been asking you for days, and you refuse."

"Haven’t you thought that maybe when someone says no, it’s because they don’t want to, and you shouldn’t force them?"

"I don’t care, Bree. Grab your things, because you’re coming with me. If not willingly, then unwillingly," he replied angrily.

Furious, I grabbed my things and left the office. He followed me and took my hand, but I immediately pulled it away. Abigail looked at me in disbelief. I got into the car with my arms crossed. Ramsés was about to speak when I silenced him.

"Don’t talk to me," I said, looking at the street.

"You’re impossible today, Bree, absolutely impossible!" But I challenged him with my gaze.

"I said, don’t talk to me!"

He shook his head and remained silent. We got out at the restaurant, and I stayed with my arms crossed. He, as always, stole all the glances. Even the waitress looked at him with loving eyes. As far as I was concerned, all the women in the world could have him; I only wanted my Christopher.

After ordering for both of us, the waitress left, and he took my hand.

"I don’t know what I did to make you act this way with me, but I hope you feel comfortable soon and tell me so I can improve."

"I don’t like it when you force me to do things I don’t want to," I replied, looking at him intently.

"I know, but if I hadn’t pushed you, I couldn’t have given you the surprise I had planned," he responded with a half-smile. I looked at him, confused, and he smiled.

"I know we didn’t have a honeymoon, so today I’ll make it up to you. We’re going to Paris for two weeks." I was silent. How did he know about Paris? And just like that, as if he had read my mind, he looked away.

"I talked to your friend Carol. She told me." I knew Carol had done it maliciously because I wanted to go to Paris, but with Christopher. She knew that perfectly.

"What did I tell you about Carol?" I crossed my arms again, maintaining my façade of jealousy.

"Yes, Bree, I know what you told me, but if you weren’t talking to me, what was I supposed to do? I opted for a desperate measure."

"You’re right, but don’t let it happen again," I replied seriously, and he nodded with a half-smile.

"So, do you want to go to Paris with me?"

"Do I have another choice?" I asked, raising an eyebrow.

"You’re going to love it, Bree, trust me. Paris was my mother’s favorite city. The last time I set foot in France was with my whole family. Mom loved those family vacations. After they died, I couldn’t see the point of going without my family." He said that last part with a slightly broken voice. His response definitely took me by surprise. Apparently, all his responses did. I felt the urge to hug him.

"Why didn’t you want to go anymore?"

"I couldn’t see the point of going without my family."

"And now, why do you want to go with me?"

"Because you’re my wife, Bree. You’re my family."

"I don’t want you to feel pressured to go just because I want to."

"No, no," he said, shaking his head. "To me, Mom is in every corner of Paris, so taking you there would be like introducing you to her." I got up from the chair and hugged him tightly.

"I’d love to go with you," I said, smiling at him.

"I missed this."

"What?" I asked, confused.

"You, smiling, Bree."

"I don’t know why everyone is afraid of you if you’re just a Care Bear," I said immediately to break the awkward moment.

"I’m the boss, I have to put on a tough façade," he chuckled.

We ate in silence, and, oddly enough, this time he respected it. After eating, we went for a walk, holding hands. He had asked me to, and I had treated him a bit poorly these past few days, so I wanted to please him.

He sighed. "I see you smiling, but your eyes are still sad, Bree."

He was right. I was still sad.

"You’re right, I’m sad. But don’t worry, it’ll pass."

"Thank you for telling me. You’re important to me, and I would love for you to be able to trust me."

When we landed in Paris, I was a bit overwhelmed with emotion. I found myself crying now and then, both because the place was beautiful and because I missed Christopher. I told Ramsés I was crying out of emotion. I knew he didn’t really buy it, but he chose to go along with it. We stayed at the Lutetia Hotel, and I had to admit, it looked more like a castle than a hotel.

One afternoon, as we were walking hand in hand, he stopped, captivated by a little girl who looked about five years old. I felt a slight panic. What if he wanted children and forced me? That thought scared me too much. I had never considered it before.

"When Rachel came home from the hospital, I fell in love with her instantly. Dad entrusted me with her protection, and I failed, Bree. Rachel died with them when she was just five. I failed them, and I failed my little sister."

A lump formed in my throat, and I was on the verge of tears from his words. I hadn't even known he had a little sister, let alone that she had died. I had always thought he was an only child.