Quite a mess

Alexandre covered his eyes with an arm. She was his damned honey trap. Smelling like fresh air and sweet promises. He looked up at her. His gaze fell on the swollen cheek. Red like a ripe tomato. Thick and bloated. Damn it! There were more important issues. He had to pull himself together! "Let me see." Alexandre sat up again, wrapped his hand around her chin and turned her head slowly, so he could have a better look at the swelling. He looked daggers at her cheek. Nice! There was this restlessness in him again and now he was pissed once more! His emotions have been making frequent turns of 180°C lately.

Why did he have to hit her so hard? He rubbed his hand over his mouth, his gaze fixed on her. "Lily, when your uncle gets in touch with you..." Not that he let it happen again. By now, he could imagine that Gustav de Cocieux had mercilessly abandoned his former darling. Tomorrow he would read the confirmation in the records. "Let me know before you make any decision or move. The situation is more delicate than I had thought." He didn't want anything to happen to her. He wasn't that ruthless. All he wanted was a way to get close to the bastard. No second Danielle. He didn't want to hurt Lily because of this feud between her uncle and him. He wouldn't let Gaston hurt a single hair on her head. Never again! She was his wife, after all, and what was his was not to be touched by anyone but himself!

"I still don't get it, How could it come to a family feud? If it was Aurelie who had betrayed uncle?"

"Aurelie had probably never revealed the way she was dishonored and became pregnant to your uncle. Your uncle probably has a completely different image of what happened back then."

"You never tried to tell him everything from your point of view."

He laughed bitterly. "Lily..." He ran his hand over her soft hair. "I wish it were that easy." He tried to turn away from the nightmares in his head. Far too much had happened. No apology would be enough. Oh, Lily! His naive little Lily.

"He blames my father entirely for what happened."

Somewhat uncomfortable, he remained silent for a moment. Struggling with his next words. "Your uncle loved Aurelie dearly. They were childhood sweethearts. The engagement had been fixed since Aurelie was born."

Alexandre knew the monster could love. Love that was like obsession. It was love that drove him so far. Love that motivated him! Every breath he took...

"He blamed Father alone for her suicide. Having received Fabien that night, Aurelie was sure he would marry her. But father refused since mother was expecting me at the same time. Aurelie fell into a deep depression and killed herself shortly after the birth of Fabien." He declared breathless.

"The suicide made the situation even more difficult. Nothing can be saved by words." He took a deep breath. Words could not bring back a life! He gulped for air.

"Quite a mess." He laughed bitterly before he got up. Lily gave him an inquiring look with her big watery eyes.

Her red cheek was a personal memorial to him. It was frightening. Never again, he swore to himself.

With determined steps, he walked to the minibar. Twice she had already been hurt in his care. Two times too often! Cursing, he dropped a few ice cubes into the towel. It was ridiculous! He acted as her great protector. But in fact, it was he who had put her in that kind of danger to begin with. He then knotted the towel into a little bag. Alexandre was a hypocritical bastard!

Despite the towel, the ice in his palm was still too icy for her delicate skin. He could not possibly put it on her cheek. He decided to go to the bathroom and then put the ice pack in one of the fluffy Terry towels. Now that felt better!

"It needs ointment and a cooling pad." Back at her side, he got down on his knees before her. She blinked. He was very close. "This will have to do for now." He presented her with the cooling package.

She nodded. Made a move to reach for it. He pulled it away again.

"'What's wrong?" Confusion spread across her face.

"Until we're home." Then he would make sure that the staff cared for her. Nothing should spoil her beautiful face. It was irritating! Once again he brought his wife home injured. The bruises from last time were barely healed, and she already had a new one. That scumbag!

"Come here." He clasped her face with his hand. "Maybe it's a little chilly." As a precaution he warned her once more before he carefully placed the bundle on her cheek.

Lily winced. A soft whining escaped her lips.