"Your work is magnificent miss?...." A young lady looked at herself in the mirror before turning to Eden after saying the last word. Eden nodded with an appraising smile. The lady was her last hair stylist for the event that was to begin in only a few minutes. Mrs Graneveille had kept her word in putting a few good words for her and she was immediately hired.
She came with a few of her colleagues to the event and helped in styling the families that were organizing the event. The fashion event was spectacular and not even Eden had attended such exquisite and extravagant event. After all Lionel never took her to one.
She and her colleagues were packing up their makeup kits and other items when Graneveille walked in accompanied by another lady who seemed to be advanced as well in age. Not only her age but her stunning gown shimmered showing her worth.
"Eden my darling, I'll like you to meet Lady Estelle. She's from France and is the organizer of this fashion show." The woman smiled warmly at Eden and Eden greeted out of respect. "My daughter was beaming with joy seeing herself in the mirror. You've got magic in your hands my dear." Lady Estelle said and Eden blushed instantly. Such praises for her simple work was still a work of miracle for her. Who would have thought she would succeed in this profession but she did succeed. Her luck was changing right before her eyes and she was damn happy about it.
Lady Estelle had offered Eden to stay for the fashion show but Eden politely declined stating she had another important engagement which she couldn't neglect. Lady Estelle understood and again thanked her for her work on her family as well as the models who were to advertise her French designs into the US.
Eden received her cheque for her work as well as her colleagues. They parted ways the moment they stepped out of the building. Eden turned to her left after hearing a car honk. Her lips tugged into a wide and affectionate smile. She was nervous recalling the other engagement she had with Julian.
Despite her racing heart beat, she pulled herself still placing her huge smile on her lips and walked towards his car. Julian stepped out of the car also wearing a wide smile. Her eyes caught the bouquet of white lilies in his hands as he closed the distance between them.
Before she could speak, Julian had already held her arms and smashed his lips into hers kissing her softly. Eden wrapped both her arms around his neck deepening the kiss. For the last week, her relationship with Julian had been fantastic and loving. Julian was the complete opposite to Lionel. He was calm. He was gentle. He always prioritized her wishes before his. That attribute of him was what made Eden believe in his words of love. All he ever wanted was for her to keep on smiling. Eden was very much comfortable with him and wished she had met him sooner. He was the perfect man in her eyes and she was glad she decided to date him. To give him a chance with her heart.
Julian pulled away looking at her with so much tenderness dancing in his eyes. Eden chuckled and looked away feeling his intenze gaze burning her whole skin right now. "You're so beautiful in that dress of yours." Julian then relished in her blue floral pattern slim gown. She was breathtaking in his eyes and he wouldn't have missed this for anything in the whole world.
"So...are you ready?" Julian smiled at her. Eden gulped and pressed forth a smile to ease her fear from showcasing on her face. She didn't want him to have any weird thoughts about her. The truth is, was she ready to take this next step especially now. Eden nodded abruptly and tried to normalize her fast beating heart. Julian chuckled after her constant nod. He played with a strand of her auburn hair staring at it with so much love. "I know you very well sweetie. I can tell through your facade that you're extremely nervous." Eden widened her eyes and faced him. How could he read through her with so much precision.
"Trust me, my parents are the most wonderful people there are. You have no reason to be afraid or nervous." He cupped her cheeks and kissed her lips again. His words did make Eden relax a bit but that little uneasy feeling still bothered her. She was in no rush to move on. They had just started dating a week ago and all of a sudden, he wanted to introduce her to his parents. She wasn't happy with the rush but for the first time, she didn't refuse his requests. After all in their one week of dating, he always fulfilled her requests neglecting his own desires. She didn't want to appear selfish in their relationship.
Julian had indeed told her about his parents and their character but still....it wasn't something Eden was looking for. She wandered why Julian was in a hurry to do this. She didn't know who to talk to about this. Her mother was of no use as she was in support with Julian and moving their relationship up to the next stage. She couldn't tell Mrs Bella about it neither. How was she supposed to feel seeing her ex daughter-in-law going out with someone else. She wanted to spare her the trouble.
"So how was the fashion show?" Julian asked the moment they were on the road. His parents had visited New York some days ago and Julian was very ecstatic to see them. Eden nodded. "The fashion show was nice. I got my cheque." Her voice got higher with excitement mentioning cheque. She was now totally independent and being her own provider. Julian was also very much understanding with her regarding her work. He never stopped her from working nor did he diminish her below him. In their relationship, they were all equal to each other.
"Congratulations sweetie. You're really killing it, aren't you?" Julian laughed making Eden blush again. "And look you're blushing out." Julian pointed to her red cheeks making Eden gasp and hold both her cheeks. She had white skin making her blushed cheeks very noticeable.
"We're almost there." Eden's smile faltered hearing his words. She still wasn't ready for this but again, she couldn't tell him. She didn't want him to be sad by her refusal. She side smiled faintly before peeking her head outside the window to take in the cool night breeze that swept across her face. She felt his hands on her lap rubbing them tenderly. She darted towards him and saw his smile on her before moving his gaze back to the road. "Relax sweetie. Everything's going to be fine. Trust me. Am with you." Eden smiled widely this time and hung on to his words of everything being okay at the family dinner.
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"I will not sign this divorce papers mom!" Monique threw the papers away in anger. Rosalinda was furious by her daughter's stupidity. "Don't be foolish my dear. Do you think you're going to win Lionel's heart this way. Can't you see he's getting fed up with your crazy behaviour?" Monique didn't care. Call her crazy or a psycho. She knew divorcing Lionel was the same as freeing him from her forever. She loved him too much for her to let him go so easily.
"This is all that bitch's fault. She came back into our lives and ruined everything for me." Rosalinda didn't know how to make her see reason. "Eden's his ex-wife and plus, she's with someone now. How do you wish to spend a happy long life with Lionel when you keep pushing him away with your crazy attitude? Plus you don't have much life span in you unless you do the surgery. Be smart. You'll have all the time in the world to woo him and show him you're the perfect woman he invisiones every time."
"Eden might be his ex-wife but they'll still be connected to each other and that connection is through their daughter. I've totally lost mother. My baby died in the accident. He was my only chance at making Lionel love me truly but now I don't have a baby." Monique slumped to the floor while hot tears flushed down her cheeks from her eyes. She felt heartbroken that Lionel wanted to end things with her quickly. She had hoped after knowing Eden was with Julian, he would give their marriage a second chance but how wrong she was. He didn't want her despite Eden not wanting him back at all.
Rosalinda's heart got torn seeing her daughter's condition. She hated Lionel for using her daughter like this but at the same time, they needed Lionel's help in paying the money for the surgery. He was their only hope at getting such a huge amount of money at the soonest. Calling her ex-husband was out of the question as he had thrown both she and Monique out of his life and disappeared long ago.
She patted Monique's shiny blonde hair as Monique squeezed her self on the floor and close to her mother. "Why is he doing this to me mom. I love him so much. Why doesn't he care about me mom?" Rosalinda didn't respond and kept on stroking her daughter's hair. Her daughter was very beautiful and could get any man at her feet. Once she was cured after the surgery, many men would want to be with her. "My dear, Lionel isn't the only man out there...."
"But he's the only man I will ever love mom." Monique got up from her mom and looked at her directly. "He's the man that has my heart and am not willing to let him go." She spoke with determination. "How? And when, in a few months? Because after that, your condition will worsen more than repair and it will be too late dear. Accept the divorce and have the surgery. He's willing to help with your surgery..."
"What's the point of living if I can't spend my life with the man I love." Monique cut her off sternly with more hot tears running down her pale cheeks. "I don't want to live mom...i don't want to...." Her mother slapped her face hard making her to face the other side. There was silence after the echoes of the slap wore off into the air. "You don't want to live. Are you hearing yourself? What are you even saying. It's because of this sickness of yours that your life was placed on a standstill. You were left all alone. No one wanted you as their spouse because of your illness which made you depressed for a long time. And now...you're finally having a chance at life my dear. Luck is smiling down at you and you want to ruin that because of some man. Some man that didn't love you from the beginning."
"Mom!" Monique gasped. Rosalinda glared at her. "It's the truth. And even you knew that as well. Lionel never loved you from the beginning. The reason he had issues in his first marriage was because his first wife wasn't portraying to be the ideal wife for him at that time. But don't forget that he loved Eden and just because of his wealth, he began being distant with her." Monique held both her ears refusing to hear her mom's lips which spoke the bitter truth.
"You have to listen to the real truth Monique. You only took advantage of his seeking for a perfect poise and elegant and well qualified woman as his wife. He was mistaken thinking he loved you but you and I know the absolute truth. He was only infatuated with your elegance and poise and not the actual you." Monique stared at her mother with a blank expression this time. She knew what Lionel wanted at that exact time but she was confident that Lionel would fall deeply in love with her afterwards and even when learning the news about her illness, he would have still accepted her.
Rosalinda got up from the floor and grabbed the scattered papers on the floor. "Sign the divorce papers! Do it for yourself and get back your life. There's still a chance to win him back after the surgery. If you still want him after the surgery, then I'll support you." Rosalinda smiled after her last words.
Monique looked defeated. In the end, Lionel had got her by the neck. She didn't want to die but at the same time a life without Lionel wasn't a life to her. She held the pen with shaky hands. Her mother was right. She wasn't going to win Lionel like this, by being crazy and persistent. No man likes a persistent woman. She wanted to win him over again. She wasn't done with him just because of the divorce.
Rosalinda placed the papers before Monique and Monique signed at the column where her signatures were needed. Lionel was willing to offer her alimony in return along with the money for the surgery. She signed on all the necessary papers and the pen slipped from her shaky hands afterwards. It was officially. They were officially divorced but this made her come with a new determination and drive. She was going to get him back by any means necessary next time.
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Julian packed his car in front of a nice restaurant. He had called his parents on the way there and they had informed of their arrival at the restaurant a few minutes earlier. Eden was again nervous about meeting his parents and hoped they were as cool as Lionel's.
"We're here," Julian smiled widely and his excitement was known all around him and Eden took note. Julian got down from his side and rounded to her side opening her door for her. Eden smiled at him and took his hand before getting off the car. He held her hand firmly as they both walked into the restaurant.
"If my parents approved of our relationship, them we're off to the next step." And this got to Eden making her narrowed her eyes at him.
Why do you think Julian's in a hurry?
Also now Monique has signed the divorce papers but will that stop her chances?
Till then....