The emotional strains in Antonia and Christian’s relationship grew worse as the days went by. The streaks of raw passion they once shared in their love became replaced with uncertainties, fear, detachment, invisible distance and longings fueled by the love Chris had for his children. Christian no longer belonged to her, he had a life she would never fit into.
“I thought you would spend the night with me,”she said to him one night after he’d taken her to see a movie. He had seen her off to her room and she’d offered to make dinner for them in her private kitchen when he declined.”I was hoping we could sleep in penthouse and stare at the stars together. Like we used to do”
A small smile played on Chris’s lips as he remembered the time they shared sweet intimacies on the roof. Under the stars, in the cool breeze, with no cares to daunt them but their raging desires.
“I have to help the children with their assignment and get them prepared for school tomorrow. Laura is a little ill so she wouldn’t be able to take the children to school”
And that was it. Her contender, her walking nightmare, the woman who mattered the most to her husband , the woman who had the most of his heart.”Do you understand now Tonia?”
“I do,”she sat at her vanity table and starting apply night skincare, “you can leave now”
He stood up from the couch in the living room and headed to the door,”what time should we meet tomorrow evening?”
“We won’t be meeting Chris,”she declared firmly, “this is nothing but a losing game. You no longer belong to me. There is no point sharing you”
Those words stabbed Chris in the heart and a distinct hotness crawled under his eyelids. He saw through Tonia’s pain. Through the facade the broken woman put on,”I love you Antonia and nothing will ever change it. I can’t breathe without you, can you not see? Your words are hurting me babe, slicing through my marrow and you’re making things worse, please huh, Ant”
“Please don’t move closer,”she raised her hand the instant she sensed his movements, “just walk out the door and slam it behind you”
“Let me wish you a good night!”He crooned softly, moving closer, “let me at least feel your warm skin”
“Get out Chris!,”she picked a perfume bottle and threw it at the door, breaking it into tiny pieces,”I don’t wish to see you again! I hate you! Focus on your family and leave me alone”
Antonia cried herself to sleep that night, feeling even worse for her implusive action. What if the bottle had harmed Chris? Godammit! She knew Laure had heard their argument.”stupid bitch”she cursed under her breath as she dragged her legs to her wardrobe to fish out an unopened bottle of alcohol.”go ahead and mock me. Tell Chris to stay away from me because I’m hurting and dysfunctional. Incite him to divorce me like you’ve been doing ever since you met him”
The next morning, Chris showed up in Antonia’s bedroom, fully dressed for work.
“I thought I told you not to return here,”she hissed angrily and covered her head with the duvet, to blot his stunning image out of her eyes, “please go away'”
“Dress up,”he declared, “I’m taking you to work with me?”
“Are you insulting me that I got suspended from my place of work now?”
“No it’s not it.”He explained, dropping his suitcase case and sitting on the edge of her bed,”I just want to spend the whole day with you. I’ve rented a yacht for us and a live band. We won’t come home until the weekend”
“What about your children?”
“Laura has taken them to school. She’s going for a medical checkup and she’s decided to drop them on her way”
He stopped and reached for her hands, “I want us to be the way we were before.”
“There is no before, Christian. This is our fate”
“But it doesn’t mean…”
“What if I take full custody of the children?”Antonia suddenly asked innocently, adjusting sitting on her back”that way I could raise them and we would be one happy family”
“I signed agreements with Laura,”he lowered his head in sadness, “she can’t leave her children with me and I might eventually have to give her my last name and the title of a Mrs. It’s what the contract stated”
“Are you eventually going to marry her?”
“I can’t marry anyone else sweet Ant,”he gathered her in his arms and kissed her softly on the lips, “I already have a wife. I already have you”
Those words melted the sadness in Antonia’s heart and she relapsed into his hold, savoring the fragrance of his perfume.
“I’m just afraid Chris,”she confessed slowly, “I don’t want anyone to take you away from me. I want to be in your life forever”
“And you will, we will grow old and grey together”
Just then, the door was suddenly flung open and Laura stormed into the room like a wild bull. She stood in the centre, arms folded beneath her breasts. Livid and fuming, glaring at Tonia with hatred, as though she was a mere piece of rag.
“We need to talk Christian. The children have demanded to see you.”
“But I thought I already bade them farewell,”he remarked, “I said I would start taking them school after I arrived from my vacation with my wife”
“So you are going to abandon your children for this empty barrel,”she gestured to Antonia, “this disgusting alcoholic and for a whole week at that!”
“Did you just call Antoina names?”Christian asked coolly, he saw tears welling up in Tonia’s eyes and that made anger course through him.”I’m asking you a question Laura”
“Wait until I call the court and report your act of parental negligence,”she fired back, bringing out her phone, “wait until I sue you. You are supposed to stay away from this hag here and focus on your family but you are treating us like we mean nothing to you”