Tested Love

CHAPTER 1

"Why? How? This is a joke right?" a confused tearful Elyna screamed uncontrollably towards her dad, as news of her arranged wedding was told to her.

"You know my situation Elyna, our situation, if I didn't do this we would lose everything within the next 3 days, besides I'm doing this in your best interest." Stated a desperate Jules Blanc, who inexplicably surrendered to the ultimatum given to him by Hugo Dubois, a billionaire, which consists of collateral containing 30 percent of Jules' company's shares as well as his only child, Elyna on an arranged wedding before the deadline date set by the state, for the company's bankruptcy filing.

"No, No, No…What about my feelings and aspirations in life?" Raphael? I'm still in a relationship with Raphael, dad!" 

Jules' visage changed from a passive into an aggressive visage, uncontrollably trying to tame a flame of fire in him but couldn't. He stared into Elyna's eyes and shouted at the top of his voice with gestures flying all over.

''Raphael, seriously? Will Raphael save our family business? What has he done for this family? I've warned you to stay away from that guy but you don't listen!" exclaimed Jules as he left Elyna's room, out of desperate anger.

"I love Raphael, and there's nothing you can do about it. We both love each other!" exclaimed an emotional Elyna as her voice reached its highest vocal cord, as she expressed her love for Raphael, her longtime boyfriend.

"Elyna, listen to your dad, it's in the best of our interests as a whole. Look at my condition, I need medications and regular treatments, you know? Mr. Dubois is a well-mannered and wealthy young man. He will take care of us, and especially you." Jeanne sympathized with Elyna, as she tried using her motherly warmth to Elyna's distraught reaction to the life-altering news.

"Mom, how can you say such a thing? You know my love for Raphael? I've been with him since my high school days. There's no way I'm leaving him for someone I don't even know, just for financial reasons, really? This was Dad's fault. How can I be part of this deal? His company is in danger, not mine."

Thumping his feet theatrically and emphatically loud as he enters the room,"Hey listen here Elyna, whether you like it or not, you are getting married to Mr. Dubois, on Friday, end of discussion, Jeanne watch her" commanded Jules with an authoritarian demand, as he leaves the scene and embarks on a journey to meet Hugo.

"Why, mom, why? What did I ever do to deserve such treatment, why?" expressed an unconsolable Elyna as tears soak across her face as she sinks into her bed sheets.

"Ely,Ely, ne pleure pas, venez ici " expresses an affectionate Jeanne as tears fall from her hazel eyes as she joins Elyna on her bed, and cuddles her within her warmth reassuring her that it is in her best interest.

"Even if you do not want to do it, please remember us. Where will we live? Our home will be repossessed,where will we live?,all our assets will be repossessed as well, which source of income will feed us? My condition worsens day by day as these problems mount on top of each other. Marrying Mr. Dubois, is of great help not only to your dad or me, but mostly towards you."

"How mom, how is he beneficial towards me? It sounds like you and dad are putting your selfish needs over my existence" as Elyna jumped out of her bed, with aggression to what just came out of her mother's mouth.

"Elyna, do you think Raphael can take care of you? He can't even take care of himself. How do you intend to spend your life with someone like that? Stop being a child and grow up!" exclaimed an agitated Jeanne as she proceeded on claiming her influence as Elyna's mother.

"I love Raphael mom, even though he is not wealthy or as stable financially as an average man, I still love him. My love is not based on financial needs" expressed a tearful Elyna.

"Elyna, listen, the best thing you can do now,is to think logically and prepare for your wedding on Friday,with Mr.Dubois there's no turning back,as contracts have been signed,and trying to deviate would lead to imprisonment of us all." uttered an undefined Jeanne with no emotions being shown on her visage, as she steps out of the bed and leaves the room with her walking stick directing her path.

Elyna thumps her back on the bed with great force as her hands find their place on her face. Tears roll over as she gets to terms with her new arranged reality of being Mr. Dubois' wife.

"This can't be it, no way" an unconsolable teary Elyna uttered, just before an adrenaline rush vitalised her flesh as she thought of informing Raphael of her new reality, as she hoped for a possible escape plan being merged.

She stretches her hands across the bed in search of her phone, and directs her search for Raphael's contact.

"Brr,Brr..Brr,Brr argh why isn't he picking up his phone?" , Elyna rushedly quit the call and messaged him. "Babe, call me as soon as you see this message, we need to leave Paris as soon as possible" typed an anxious Elyna, as she couldn't stop fidgeting her fingers as she waited for Raphael to read the message and respond as the evening darkness slowly set in.

Three hours have gone by and no phone call or message has been sent by Raphael, towards Elyna's contact. "Elyna, come and prepare dinner for us tonight" yelled Jeanne from the living room as she fondled herself on the couch while watching her favorite evening television series.

"Elyna?...Elyna?" questionably yelled Jeanne as she grabs hold of her stick and set her sights on Elyna's bedroom.

As she enters the room, she finds Elyna still in tears and anxiously fidgeting her fingers. "Elyna, didn't you hear me call your name?"

"Uh, no mom" responded a confused Elyna.

"Come downstairs, and prepare dinner for me and your dad. Crying won't change the situation, you got to accept your new life" uttered Jeanne, as she left the room with the door slightly open.

"Okay, I'm on my way" responded Elyna respectfully as she is still processing her potential new reality.

Just as she steps out of her room, her phone vibrates on the bed, and she rushes towards it, unlocking the phone and anxiously murmuring the text shown on her screen, under her breath continuously until she passes the unlock phase ,"Raphael, message from Raphael".