(5)

SEVEN YEARS AGO...

Henri was sitting in a park by herself thinking about the events of the past months and it occurred to her that maybe she was more than a little in love with Nate and that scared her.

If she was this crazy about the guy after knowing him for only two months, she might just call off her engagement six months down the line to ask him to marry her instead.

But the problem was that she couldn't afford to lose Auguste. He really was the sweetest guy and he was her best friend and her future husband.

She tried not to encourage his advances, to ignore him when he flirted with her. She tried not to make him any promises because she knew that in the end,she would have to leave.

She should have told him that she was engaged.. that she was taken but she didn't because it felt so good to see him look at her like that.. like she was the only woman in the world.

Auguste Moreau was a great guy but for all his wonderful qualities,he didn't act like he needed her. Like he would die without her. Not that she could blame him. They'd known each other since they were in diapers. They were best friends and they'd loved each other their whole lives. With them,it was never a question if they would end up marrying each other but a matter of when.

She knew how much he loved her and that he would do anything for her. So, when he proposed the night of their high school graduation,she said yes.

How could she not.. when she loved him so much.

He was even willing to wait for her while she pursued her dreams in the mountains of switzerland.

He even convinced her Dad to let her study what she wanted when they were fighting about her chosen course of study for college.

She couldn't wait to be his wife...to share his last name.

The problem was that she ended up falling in love with another man.. with Nathaniel Duval.

It wasn't until she started day dreaming about a future in switzerland with Nathaniel that she realized she was in trouble.

She was about to go see Auguste to explain to him how she had failed him and wasn't deserving of his love and his pure heart and that he deserved someone better when she ended up over hearing a conversation between Nate and someone on the phone and from the sound of his voice,she knew that she couldn't break her promise to Auguste because he was her one chance at true happiness.. the one who kept giving and who never expected anything in return.

Pulling herself together, she hailed a taxi and called Nate and asked to meet at the party instead of going together as they initially planned and then she called Auguste,told him she'd changed her mind and asked him to meet her at her family house with his things.

On getting to the house, she packed her bags and got ready, taking great care in choosing her outfit and with her hair and makeup done perfectly determined to leave a lasting impression.

She called her pilot and waited for Auguste.

Her heart broke as she saw how happy he was to see her and because she couldn't stand the cheerful atmosphere around her,she whispered in his ears and took his hand leading him out of the room. Then she asked him to dance... without music and he agreed. Perhaps he could tell that she really needed one dance, one last memory with him.

Then she told him she was leaving breaking his heart and then Auguste came looking for her because she was taking too long.

When Nathaniel asked who he was and why he was waiting for her,she had no choice but to tell him the truth; that she was engaged to Auguste and the look in his eyes as he left reassured her that she'd made the right choice. It wouldn't have worked out in the end, because he wanted more than she could give him. She was certain Auguste was the only one for her because he never asked for more than she gave.

And she believed that everyday since then, until the night when she saw how happy he was at the prospect of more and she knew she had to break his heart even if it would kill her to do so...

PRESENT DAY

She never expected to see him again. She certainly never expected to see him like this.. looking so frail and very weak. She was going to do whatever it takes to save him and then she's going back home to Paris with Auguste, continue on the path she had chosen and forget all about a certain brown haired,blue eyed man with a dazzling smile who she once loved,who she would have given her life for his without thinking about it and who would have let her because he thought love was all about her sacrificing everything for him while he reaped the benefits without giving anything back.

She had no doubt that he hates her now and she wouldn't blame him if he did. In fact,she would hate herself too if she was in his shoes but she doesn't regret her decision. She would do it again in a heartbeat.

After all these years and all her efforts trying to let go of the memories, trying to forget him and how he almost made her lose the love of her life, now that her life was a mess did their paths cross and he was going to think that it meant her and Auguste weren't meant to be together.

Suddenly she couldn't breathe and she realized that it wouldn't be long until she succumbed to a full blown panic attack.

Get it together Henriette Marie Moreau she scolded herself.

Breathe.... Just Breathe. You will be fine. You are a brilliant scientist and the very best in your field. You worked hard to get to where you are today. It wasn't handed to you on a platter of gold. You deserve all the recognition and accolades that comes with it.

You are the only one who can save him so do what you do best.

Put your beautiful brain to work and save Nate.

You can think about your wrong choices later but now,be the genius scientist you are and save Nathaniel.

After talking herself out of a panic attack, Henriette Marie Moreau got to work saving the life of Nathaniel Duval.. the man whose heart she broke seven years ago.