hearts at war , bound by fate.

THE CALM BEFORE THE STORM

The chancellor of Sorbonne University had to call Mrs Duval and inform her of what had occurred to her daughter earlier on. She had cried all night since she got that call ,while trying to pack her bags to go to Montebello the next morning , she cried and prayed, burnt incense and begged her ancestors and the gate keepers of souls to preserve the life of her only daughter. She thought Lenora was surely going to die and it will be all on her head since she allowed her go to that school "that school must be cursed she thought to herself , first it was her best friend who cut short her life now my Lenora. is she trying to kill herself also? no no no " and she wailed even more .

Chriselda Duval got married when she was only 18 years old because culture demanded her to. Hers was an arranged marriage, she was never and has never been in love with Mr Duncan Duval, she just wanted to make her family proud. Her family believes that love is something that develops with time, they believe that a man is the one whose duty is to love and a woman's duty is to submit and cater to her husband's needs. three children later Mrs Duval still found it hard to genuinely love this man and due to that; their marriage resulted in a divorce and she became a single mother. Lenora has two brothers who are younger than her, Chance and Emilian Duval who are both a Freshman and Sophomore in high school.

Mrs Duval was to take Chance with her the next day to Montebello to be by Lenora's hospital bedside. "do not worry mom Lenora will be just fine, she is her mother's daughter after all. you are both the strongest women I know, believe in her fighting spirit" Emilian said to his mom before heading to bed, Mrs Duval smiled "even strong women brake down sometimes my boy". "goodnight mom" Emilian said, "are you not forgetting something boy?" he came back placed a kiss on her right cheek and went to bed.

ESPERER NETCARE HOSPITAL

Earlier on the Martinez family arrive at the hospital . Darien as the eldest one suggested he be the one to go and seek for information about the pedestrian that was transported here earlier. upon entering the hospital the others decided to go sit at the waiting area as Darien went to the reception.

As Darien went out looking to see if he will get what they are seeking, Kieran already knew everything ,he has friends in high places after all. "She is in room 5 and her name is Lenora Duval, she is 20 years old and yes you all owe me, unlike our elder brother I get things done!" he stood up and left for room 5. As he was approaching the room, his throat went dry, his heart started palpitating, he felt dizzy and he needed to sit down. Sir are you alright? You look like you are about to fall, dont worry about it Im fine, but Sir you look pale ," I SAID IM FINE, DONT YOU HAVE PATIENTS TO ATTEND TO INSTEAD OF HOVERING AROUND ME? IM FINE DAMMIT!" The nurse lifted both her hands as a motion to say ok I give up and she left. He leaned on the wall and slowly sat down on the floor to try and catch his breath "twice in one day have I had dizzy spells, what is happening to me?" he thought to himself. "maybe you should really check that out, you look pale" Darien said to Kieran as they passed him going into Lenora's ward. it was not difficult for them to be let in into the ward, they are the most powerful family in Montebello and besides Duke Gregor owns a wing at this hospital so its unknowingly home to them.

Almira gave Kieran a worried look as they passed him and shook her head. They got into the room, Darien went straight and checked Lenora's medical file and found out she has fractured ribs and a head injury, they had to put her in a medically induced coma to help the swelling in her right brain to go down, Almina broke down crying after hearing this and knelt next to Lenora's bed and begged her to pull through so she can tell her how sorry she is for knocking her over it was not her intention to hurt her . as she was still talking Kieran walked in and stopped dead in his tracks when he saw the person laying in the bed , he took one sloppy step forward and swallowed his saliva .his eyes suddenly turned bloodshot red , he looked at Almina and tightened his fists so hard his veins started to pop out . "are you okay Kieran?" Almira asked touching her brother on his arm "breath Kieran, breath, come on look at me breath slowly now let it go" she brushed him gently on his back. "what is wrong brother you have not been yourself lately what is troubling you?" Kieran was just dumb struck staring at Lenora on the bed, he wanted to run and go hug her, tell her to wake up but he could not, his body just froze even though he is cold Blooded. "Kieran, Kieran, KIERAN!!!" he snapped out of it," uhm?" he said, "have you seen this girl before? you look like you have just seen a ghost of someone you know", "no brother I thought I recognized her from somewhere but my memory was playing tricks on me" , "ohh I see" Darien said looking at him dead in his eyes , "what Darien ? stop trying to play a god in everything , I do not know her!" Kieran said , he yanked his hand away from Almira's hand and left the room . removing his phone from his back pocket he dialled Sir Lewis:

"where the hell are you Lewis? Come take me home."

"I am at the east wing of the hospital my lord, I am coming."

Lewis spent all his time with Duke Gregor, he knew and still knows all his affairs, they were practically the best of friends though the duke's family does not know about that. Duke Gregor bought the east part land of the hospital and built the east wing of it and named it the (east comfort home) for all the mothers with gravely ill children who does not afford medical care and bed payments for their children while they await their treatments ,and can not afford to travel to and from to check on their children. he had a chapel built for them to go pray too and a garden for the children .he use to visit now and then disguised as a janitor to come and spend time with the children . Sir Lewis went to that part of the hospital to pay homage to the tradition the duke practised in his waking life and to light candles in his memory . Getting into the car and driving off into the night, there is an awkward silence that lingers in the car , unsaid words thick in the air .

Sir Lewis clears his throat wanting to speak, before he could say a word Kieran interrupted him not one f*****g word Lewis, not one word. I just want to be left alone for some peace and quiet.

"Emmene-moi au bar du centre-ville."

"I can not take you to a bar lord Kieran, not when you have that look on your face, I am sorry but I must take you home."

"WHO THE f**k DIED AND MADE YOU MY CARETAKER LEWIS? I WILL THROW YOU OUT OF THIS MOVING CAR WITH A BACKSLAP YOU WONT KNOW WHAT HIT YOU AND I WILL DRIVE OFF AND LEAVE YOU LYING DEAD IN THE BUSHES IF YOU EVER TELL ME WHAT TO DO AND WHEN TO DO IT EVER AGAIN, DO YOU HEAR ME "

"

Lewis just kept quiet and drove to downtown.