Tested Love

CHAPTER 2

As the phone unlocks, she urgently rushes to open Raphael's message, and mumbles softly " Hey, Elyna what's going on?Why should we escape?" Intrigued by a seemingly confused Raphael, " I'll call you and explain everything in 30 minutes, my parents are in need of my attention now" an anxious Elyna shakingly typing the responding message, and grabbing a silky black coat as she abruptly dresses it on,sliding her phone in one of the available pockets and slamming the door,while rushing down the stairs, and meeting the stares of her parents.

"I'm sorry, I was looking for my slippers, and found them under my bed" Elyna answered as she felt the stares of her parents required a compelling lie of what took her time.

"Just prepare the pasta and meatballs, use the pasta that is in the first drawer under the cupboard, the meatballs are in the fridge" instructed Jeanne, on what should be prepared for dinner. "Okay, I see it" responded Elyna. As she prepares the dinner, she takes the opportunity to message Raphael as she notices that he's online. She explicitly types, "My dad has married me off to Hugo Dubois, and I'm getting married on Friday."

"Really? Why?" replied Raphael after 2 minutes of Elyna sending the message.

"So, we need to escape by the latest, Thursday" prompted Elyna, as the food reached serving temperature, and she prepared herself for dishing dinner for her parents.

"Thanks Elyna" Jeanne showed her appreciation for the well-served dish.

"Delicious aroma,will surely miss these dishes,Mr.Dubois will definitely be enjoying your cooking soon" responded an excited Jules, resulting in Elyna storming to her room in anger, as a retaliation to what her father uttered, as reminiscence of her future grabs her consciousness.

"Jules, what was that for?" Questioned Jeanne, "The wedding is on Friday, she should get over her petty feelings" stated Jules with a firm voice.

Elyna enters her room and puts Raphael on speed dial. "Raph, we need to come up with a plan to leave Paris before Thursday."

"How? Wait, you haven't explained why your dad arranged your marriage with Mr. Dubois, I'm still confused, and we must leave Thursday? Which is tomorrow?" questioned Raphael as he was trying to gather a sense of the message that Elyna is trying to convey. "Remember dad's company has been in debt way before the economic meltdown, and now it's even worse, he has to file for bankruptcy by Friday and potentially serve a prison sentence." Elyna breaks down her current family situation in an understandable way for Raphael. "But…how do you then come in?" a confused Raphael questioned.

"Mr. Dubois has already signed to clear the debt as he takes 30 percent of the shares of the company…and takes me as his wife." uttered Elyna with a voice below a whisper as she cannot fathom living with another man besides Raphael.

"Mr. Dubois, the Elegancy Group guy, the billionaire?" a shocked Raphael questions.

"Yes, that's him, that's why we need to escape before Thursday" Elyna instilling that Raphael does not fade from the main mission at hand.

"Okay, I understand that, but why must we leave when we can use this opportunity to create wealth for ourselves?" a curious Raphael inquired. "What are you mad?, Raphael, is that you?! " a confused Elyna trying to make sense of what she just heard from the phone. "Yes, look, running away from Mr. Dubois is a dumb decision. It will result in your whole family being imprisoned. Just get married to him, once we milk him off his wealth, then we leave!" An excited Raphael explains his thought process to Elyna, who knows of Raphael's obsession with the finer things in life, but not to this level.

"Who said my family will be imprisoned if I don't marry Mr.Dubois? How do you know this??" Inquired a curious Elyna as she was shocked at how Raphael got insight into this piece of information.

"Uhm, that... that is just what normally happens when an arranged marriage is organized, don't you see it in series?" replied a hesitant Raphael as he tries to evade the questioning of how he has insight into the deal between Mr. Dubois and her family.

"Elyna,your food is getting cold,don't mind your dad, come downstairs and eat, who are you on the phone with?" intrigues Jeanne, as she slowly opens and fidgets with Elyna's bedroom door knob.

"Raphael, I'll call you later" stated a desperate Elyna. "It's only Raphael mom, I was informing him of my situation", responded Elyna with a shaky voice, as defeat took room in her eyes.

"Come, it's been a long day, you need to put something in your belly" responded Jeanne as she drew a pair of her hands across Elyna's hands and drew her towards her chest before embracing her, as they made their way to the dining area.

"Bon Appétit, Elyna" said a cheerful Jeanne. "Merci" responded Elyna with a smile of defeat very evident on her face. As Elyna digests the meal, she envisions her new life as the wife of Mr. Dubois, tears begin to fall off her visage uncontrollably, without her ushering the cry.