For Better And For Worse
Chapter 81

A FEW DAYS LATER.

It’s the weekend, Stella calls Yves.

Yves: hello my baby!

Stella: yes, hello Yves, how are you?

Yves: well, and you?

Stella: It’s okay. I’m calling to see if you can come with me to go shopping at the supermarket, my groceries are finished.

Yves: okay, no problem my darling, I’ll be there soon.

Stella: okay, thank you.

Célestin’s home.

Mélanie comes to find Célestin who was watching television in the living room.

Mélanie: darling, the fridge is empty, we should restock it.

Célestin: okay, I’ll give you something to go shopping.

Mélanie: why don’t you come with me, it would be good for two of us to go, right?

Célestin: ok, no problem.

Supermarket.

A little later, Célestin and Mélanie go to the supermarket. Having got out of the car, Célestin holds his baby in his arms. Yves and Stella were also in the same supermarket. The two couples do their shopping separately. At one point, Stella sees Célestin and Mélanie. Jealousy then takes hold of her. She stops and looks at them angrily.

Yves: what’s the matter my love?

He looks towards her gaze and sees them.

Yves: come on, don’t hurt yourself any more. Please let’s go!

So he grabs her arm to make her move and Célestin turns but sees no one. They finish shopping and as they go home, they leave the supermarket and Célestin sees Stella and Yves. She turns around and their eyes meet. So they stop to look at each other for a moment. Mélanie didn’t understand why her husband was no longer moving and now she also saw Stella.

Mélanie: we’re leaving, my love.

Yves: let’s go darling, please.

This is how they get into the taxi to leave. Célestin and Mélanie get into his car to leave as well. He only thinks of Stella at the wheel and she, for her part, turns her back on Yves and only thinks of Célestin.

Stella’s home.

Once home, Yves chats with Stella.

Yves: what was the scene earlier?

Stella: I’m sorry, it was stronger than me. I couldn’t stand seeing him with her.

Yves: so I mean absolutely nothing to you, you couldn’t pretend when I’m here?

Stella: I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to hurt you.

Yves: if you are incapable of forgetting it then I don’t see what we are doing together. Goodbye Stella!

He gets up to leave but she grabs his hand.

Stella: no, don’t go, please! I need you if I want to forget him, don’t leave me; please !

He stops and looks at her.

Stella: understand me, I can’t forget him overnight. Give me another chance.

Yves: ok, ok, but don’t ever do that to me again.

Stella: I will do my best.

So they hug each other and go to put away the groceries and then start cooking. After eating it, Yves returns home. After he leaves, Célestin arrives and opens the door for him.

Stella: What do you want?

Célestin: Open the portal for me.

Stella: I won’t open, what do you want?

Célestin: so you’ve already replaced me?

Stella: what do you want me to do, stay here and cry while you live the good life with the mother of your child? I had to find someone to console and comfort me.

Célestin: so you really don’t feel anything for me anymore?

Stella: Even if I still felt something, what would it change?

Célestin: please be patient until the child grows up and we will get married.

Stella: I’m sorry but you’ve already made your choice so you’ll have to forget about me. Farewell Célestin!

He gets into his car and Stella closes the door but he comes back down and knocks again. She comes back to open it angrily.

Stella: what?

Séverin: forgive me, I can’t forget you Stella.

He walks up to her and k****s her on the lips. So he goes in with her. She struggles to free herself from him but he grabs her and holds her to him. She finally frees herself and gives him a good slap.

Stella: are you sick?

Célestin: I love you Stella, tell me you don’t even and I’ll leave.

She approaches and k****s him in turn. So he picks her up and brings her into the bedroom. He covers her with k****s and caresses.

Stella: take it easy!

Célestin: are you still a virgin?

Stella: Yes.

Célestin: It’s surprising. You want me to stop ?

Stella: no, don’t stop.

After the act, they keep a moment of silence then Stella breaks it.

Stella: I think we just did something stupid. I wanted to lose my virginity with you but not in these circumstances!

Célestin: don’t regret anything my love, I promise you that…

Stella: no, don’t make me any promises please. Between you and me, it can’t work, I’m sorry.

Célestin: no, it’s me who’s sorry.

Stella: you have to go home.

Célestin: I will never forget this moment my love, never!

He k****s her on the forehead and gets off the bed, gets dressed and leaves. Stella bursts into tears and cries all the tears in her body.

Célestin’s home.

Once home, Mélanie attacks her partner.

Melanie: where were you?

Mélanie: what does that concern you, I have nothing to answer to you.

He leaves in front of her and goes to take a shower. Mélanie follows her into the shower.

Célestin: what are you doing?

Mélanie: I’ve been here for almost a month but you don’t even touch me.

Célestin: leave Mélanie immediately!

Mélanie: please, I want you.

Célestin: I remind you that you and I are not married. If I accepted you, it was only for the good of the child, nothing more. So if you want to make love, look elsewhere. Now get out!…I’m telling you to get out.

He pushes her out and finishes his shower then he goes to get dressed and calls Stella to ask her out for dinner but she refuses.

Séverin’s home.

That night, Séverin tries to get a little closer to his wife but she always refuses. He gets angry.

Séverin: what’s up with you, we’ve been married for a week and you’ve refused to make love with me ever since, why?

Isabelle: I didn’t marry you for love Séverin, so I can’t give you my body so don’t even insist.

Séverin: you must assume your marital duties.

Isabelle: I have no marital duties to assume sir, now let me sleep.

Séverin: you are my wife Isabelle, you refuse to prepare, you refuse to make love, what do you want?

Isabelle: I want you to let me sleep.

Séverin: I want you.

He tries to caress her and she slaps him.

Isabelle: I told you not to touch me

She gets off the bed and goes to another room to sleep. A little later, Séverin follows her and jumps on top of her to forcefully k**s her.

Isabelle: what are you doing? Stop it Séverin, stop it or I’ll scream with all my might and you’ll explain yourself to people. Not only that, but I’m also going to file a rape complaint and you’ll end up in jail. Don’t forget that I’m pregnant eh, if anything happens to my baby, I swear to you that I will kill you with my own hands, I swear to you.

Séverin: why are you doing this to me?

Isabelle: because I don’t love you.

Séverin: if you refuse to sleep with me, I will publish your naked photo.

Isabelle: wait, are you serious?

Séverin: I’m very serious!

Isabelle: wait…!

She gets up, undresses completely in front of Séverin and takes her phone to give it to him.

Isabelle: take a photo of me, the one before wasn’t very clear, now go ahead, take as many photos as you want!

He refuses to take it so she gets dressed.

Isabelle: just try to publish this photo and you will see. I’m your wife, no, I hope you haven’t forgotten? Post this photo and see what will happen to you. I am going to file a complaint against you for image defamation. If you don’t know, let me tell you that image rights are well protected. Go ahead, publish. 1, you yourself will be humiliated because you will have exposed the photo of your wife on social networks, which is the behavior of an idiot, an insane person and 2, I will file a complaint against you and you will rot in prison. Try it you’ll see!

Séverin: It’s unfair what you’re doing to me.

Isabelle: ah, so you think it’s fair to have blackmailed me into marrying you. I told you, marriage can’t be forced, you said you don’t care if I love you or not. Now I show you that I don’t love you and why are you angry? Be careful eh Séverin, where I am here, I am a wounded lioness. For the slightest misstep, you will pay dearly. Now please let me sleep and this is the last time you ask me to sleep with you. From now on, act like I’m not there because I’m not in this house. You can even bring little ones to make love in front of me, I don’t care, you understand? Come on, get out!

She pushes him onto the bed and goes out to go back to her room.