CHAPTER EIGHT
Prick the Wound
The contract signing between her, Lady Elizabeth, and Chris Duvier were gloomy. The rain outside poured heavily like the environment, inside the castle library. Agnes wore again her black frock and her pair of glasses. She felt relaxed now that she manages to have an agreement with Chris.
They signed the contract without hesitation. She smiled. She felt vindicated of the mistake she made eight years ago. She can smile again for her sister and Chris. She just hopes that they will love the castle as well as the people inside it.
A sigh of relief escaped from Lady Elizabeth. “This call for celebration.” Smith suddenly appears pushing a trolley with the champagne, wine glass, and a dainty cake.
“Duvier, my niece especially made this cake for you. She said special people need a special cake.” The lady smiled at her niece proudly. At first, she was surprised at her niece’s action. She was so adamant not to marry him. In her usual self, she was an unpredictable woman.
Agnes blushed when Chris looked at her with amusement. “I hope you did not put poison on this pretty cake.”
“Try it and you’ll see.” Their eyes meet. For a second, some current was on the air. She pulls herself to look away and meet David Bern’s, looking at her intently. She blushed and looked down at her old shoes.
Chris stood up and stand beside her. He put his arm on his shoulder. Surprised, she tried to dislodge his arm on her shoulder but his fingers pressed on her shoulder, “David, what do you think of my fiancée?”
The man speechlessly looked at his friend. “Ahh—Beautiful. I mean-,” His face was turning red. “You’re a lucky man Chris.”
A devilish smile graces his face. Looking down on his future wife, he whispered, “David had a smart and pretty girlfriend. I don’t like things I own to look at other men. Understand?”
Things? Agnes’ face contorted with anger. Her blue-green eyes spark with spat. Angrily, she pulled his face towards her. He was surprised at her aggressive attack on him. He watches his witch’s angry face staring at him in fury and whispered back, “I’m not a thing, Duvier.” The use of his last name tells him a lot about her temper. “You don’t own me. Let’s be clear about it. I don’t want you curtailing my freedom just because I will marry you.”
“Don’t forget, you just sign a contract. I bought you.”
“Wrong. Aunt Liz bought you. We are the ones paying you. You are just lucky that my aunt selected you. So don’t stand there as if you have any right to own me.”
Chris’s eyes glittered. “You think I want this dismal place? Do you think you’re worth my name and status? Agnes, wake up. I don’t value you. I can have any woman; I desire if I wished it.”
“Really Duvier? How about Lea? Can you have her without my help?”
The hate on his face while looking at her, almost floored her. She gasped at the venom on his face. “Don’t talk about her in front of me. Ever.”
The tension between them was palpable. Everyone in the room can sense the friction between the two. Chris picked the whole champagne bottle and drink it all. Put the bottle down on the table in front of Lady Elizabeth with a bang a smiled coldly.
“My Lady, we already overstayed our welcome.” He nodded at David to follow him. He left the room in steam while his friend ran behind him.
“What did you do Agnes?” Her aunt hissed at her. Weakly she sat down in one of the deep chairs and sighed. Somewhere in her chest, she was hurting. She took a deep breath trying to analyze what just happened.
“I think, I just stated the truth.”
“What truth?” Lady Elizabeth had a foreboding feeling about what her niece was talking about.
Tears silently ran on her face. She looked at her aunt painfully, “The truth is that no matter what we will do, he is still in love with Lea. He was doing all this for one reason only ---to have her back.”
“That’s nonsense!” The old lady tried to ignore the guilty feeling she felt inside her. A silent voice was mocking her. “Agnes, do not think of Lea or any other woman. Use your charm to make him fall for you. This is your chance.”
She laughed, “What charm? Auntie, the only people who were under my spell was you and Walden’s people. Outside from this wall, I’m nothing. Can’t you see the difference? You’re asking me to charm the man who hated the Walden’s more than anybody.”
Lady Elizabeth sighed, “Yes Agnes, you have to for your people, I and our heritage will perish. Do everything in your power to win his heart or there is nothing you can protect anymore.”
Gloomily, she stared at her aunt silently. Felt the burden of Walden’s name on her shoulder. Her eyes looked out on the window. She realized the rain had stopped. How strange. She felt she was facing a storm but the weather outside was getting brighter.
***
The rock tumbled at the cliff as Chris hurled stones to the edge. Angrily he shouted Agnes’ name in anger and it echoed back. This made him mad and he throws more stones at the cliff. David watched him helplessly. He had never seen him like this before. He was a furious man.
When he settled down, he sat at the big stone at the edge and watched the castle from afar. Cautiously, David approached his friend and sat down beside him.
“That woman knows how to twist my heart.” He said quietly. “She dared to provoke me… she doesn’t know what she was getting into.”
David offered a smoke at him. He took it. Chris was thinking deeply while he was smoking. Flicking the ash watching the embers slowly consume the tobacco.
“I want the Walden’s to burn.” He smiled mercilessly. “I’m looking forward to seeing that proud woman tumble from grace David. I want her to beg for mercy like what they did to Lea.”
“Are you sure about this Chris? Agnes seems different from what people said about her. I mean—she has spirit but the servants love her. I can see how much they adore her. It’s not like the other people painted about her being a witch.”
Chris stubbed the cigarette at his hand and looked at him mockingly. “You too?”
“What do you mean?” Confusedly he asked.
“You also blinded by her charm David. Don’t think I didn’t notice how you look at her?” He laughed sarcastically. “We are in the same boat. For the first time, we like one woman. It just showed how good she is in charming us mere mortal.”
David avoided his gaze, “It’s not like that.” He heard Chris laugh and it echoed on the mountains, “I just think she was innocent.”
“Innocence. Pure, perfect, clean, white as snow.” Chris hammered the words one by one in mockery. “She should be a candidate to sainthood. C’mon David, let’s go. I made up my mind.”
“What do you mean?”
“I will show you the true face of a bitch dress in white.” Chris throws the keys at him. “You drive.” Then, he turns as if forgetting something. “Do you have a lighter?”
David throws the lighter at him. He then pulled from his back pocket a piece of paper. It was scented and have pink ink. He clicked the lighter and burnt the paper. A cruel smile was pasted on his friend’s face as he watched it burn to ashes. Then, he blows it away.
“What was that?” David asked curiously.
“A secret contract,” Chris said coldly. “Between me and Agnes.” He entered the passenger seat and sat down silently. David pulled the seatbelt of his friend and fasten it. It’s not like Chris to forget this essential especially when it comes to safety. Worriedly, he glances at his friend.
Surprisingly, Chris Duvier was smiling happily and started to whistle.
CHAPTER NINEWedding JittersLea stared at herself in the mirror. Her blue eyes are more violet now after the tears grace her wide expressive eyes. The news of the Walden-Duvier wedding trumpeted in all media outlets. Everybody who knows Chris Duvier talked and wants to be invited. The news dabbed the union as the wedding of the year. She, however, felt the hurt of the news. Even now, Chris was very much a part of her. Nothing could erase the pain she suffers for the man she truly loves. The most painful part of it was that the woman he will marry is her sister. Her sister causes the problem in the first place. If only Agnes had kept her mouth shut while she plans to marry Chris eight years ago. She knows that her eldest sister had always wanted Chris for herself. She turns traitor to her sibling. At first, she did not notice Chris Duvier. Lea cannot imagine her
CHAPTER 10 Dilemma " Do you want me, Agnes? Even if I will have nothing, would you still want me?" She stared at his eyes. If only you know Chris Duvier, that my heart already belongs to you. Long before you set eyes on my sister. Much longer before that. The first day when I saw you standing in front of the horse while you talked to them. My heart was also communicating with you. Long before you glance at me dismissively you already took my heart away. I love you. Even now, my heart is aching, I will stilllove you because part of me is already yours a long time ago. Suddenly unbearable pain twisted her heart. She said, "What change you, Chris Duvier? I remember, a boy who was good and kind. What happen to you?" She asked him sadly. Her hand unconsciously touched his beautiful
CHAPTER 11 Far, far away in a distant land, a bride stood in front of the entrance of the church fidgeting and very worried about her future. Agnes felt her secure world tumbling down on her as she gazed at the heavy door of the church. She must have lost her mind to agree to this solemn and religious event turning into a farce of make-believe love story that the world thought was perfect as the media continually hype for the sake of one Chris Duvier. "Lord, please do not strike me with lighting." Agnes silently prayed. Her cold clammy hands gripped the floral bouquet that cascaded down to the floor. It was like carrying sacksful of guilt and remorse on this momentous occasion. She dreaded this day but there was no turning back now. It is a do-or-die moment for her now. Agnes holds back her tears as she suddenly heard the orchestra start the wedding march. The steps she took, timid and uneasy and each step se
CHAPTER 12Sunshine poured inside her bedroom making her wince when she opens her eyes. She looked around and saw her wedding gown fold neatly in a box. She remembered, her Aunt Liz and the servants waiting for the newlywed at the castle entrance. Her new husband, step down from the car while she followed clumsily behind with the bellows of white lace and tulle. Ann ran towards her and help her with the gown she was wearing. The maid stopped in her tracks when she saw Agnes’ face, mascara and makeup dried up on her cheeks after she stops crying. Ann hurriedly pulls out from her pocket a white handkerchief and wipes her face tenderly. “Beas, the man is a beast. I can’t believe he made you cry.” Chris strode at the steps of the castle and smiled triumphantly. His eyes roamed at the old building with possession in his eyes. He smi
CHAPTER 13 The early morning fog covered her figure as she tries to sneak in back to Winshord. Agnes climbed stealthily to the back gate and sprinted towards the veranda where her bedroom was located. She ran to the stone steps, open the sliding door with her spare key, and safely entered her room with no hitched. She sighed in relief. At last, she was safe in her bedroom. Undressing quickly, she dived in the covers of her bed. A blissful sigh escapes from her lips. At last, she sleeps peacefully. Fuzzily, she felt a presence beside her on the bed. Sleepily, she pushes the covers beside her and saw an arm. A male arm lazily stroked her leg. She screams but before she can do so, a hand covered her mouth. She struggled and push and kicked him on the stomach. “Ouch!” Chris Duvier rol
CHAPTER 14 “The man is impossible!”, she stormed inside the castle startling the servants who were cleaning the room. The usually amiable and nice heiress frightened the new maid who fought with Ann, just a couple of days ago. It cemented her observation that the master and mistress of the castle would surely end their marriage very soon. She could just feel her pockets full of money after she and Ann, wager their monthly salaries. Agnes plopped down on one of the chairs. Her anger increased by the minute when she recalled what Chris Duvier said to her. It’s been a week since he has been treating her like a pariah. He ignored her doggedly and refuse to even look at her. When she cannot take it anymore, she decided to settle the matter by baking him a cake as a form of appeasement for her lack of experience in lovemaking. She assumed that the reason her husband
CHAPTER 15 “Where are my clothes?!” Agnes screamed at the maid who looked frightened at her outburst. Ann averted her eyes and looked the other way. “Your aunt told me to throw away your clothes and your er---lingerie.” Pulling at one of the new clothes hanging neatly in her closet, Agnes almost cringes at the open neckline when she inspected the piece of cloth. “You can’t expect me to wear this garbage. Are you?” she asked incredulously at Ann, who looks more uncomfortable every minute. Ann cleared her throat and said, “Mario, your wedding gown designer pick all the clothes and underwear for you. He said all of these are exquisite and suited to your form perfectly. Chris Duvier will drool when he sees you wearing these clothes.” She laughed
CHAPTER 16 How true were David’s concerns and keen observation? Chris Duvier was assaulted by a roller coaster of emotion. The witch has amp her spell on him. He's been avoiding Agnes especially during meal time but it seems she always ends up dining with him. The first Monday morning when he had his breakfast supposed to be alone, she joins him wearing almost nothing. Even Smith who was guiding the maid while serving the food almost collapses in shock. She was wearing flowing lacy lingerie in pink that left nothing to the imagination. He almost chokes on his coffee. “What are you doing here?!” he demanded. “Wearing that?” “Of course, having my breakfast.” She smiled innocently at him. “You like it, love?” He never knows that food could be se