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"You won't go in, I'll get something and you'll stay in the car," I say as I turn off the engine.
I watch her waiting for her to nod and when she does I can't help but approach her and kiss her lips as I've longed to do.
As we part due to the impending lack of air, I let her know I'll be back quickly and exit the car to head up to the apartment.
When I finally arrive I walk straight to the guest room. That room where she stayed during the time she had to live here with me.
Upon entering the room I head towards the closet and search the top drawers for the small safe I have here. When I have it in my hands I enter the code and as it opens, I take out the one thing it contains: the spare keys to the mansion.
When I decided to transfer the property to Juliette, I hadn't planned on making a spare set of keys. It was only after I left rehabilitation that I asked Paul to do it, and it was a good call on my part.
Ready to leave, just as I step out into the hallway, I come across someone, but fortunately, this time it's the cook and not Alice.
"Mr. Durand," she greets me with the same expression that everyone who has seen me today has worn.
"Don't tell Alice I came," I immediately requested. "Do you know if my daughter is already asleep?"
"No, sir. Miss Alice left a few minutes ago with little Vittoria. I think she was going to her parents' house."
For my peace of mind, I hope those elderly folks aren't sick this time.
"Very well," is all I say and without wasting any more time, I leave the penthouse.
I quickly return to Juliette again, and we head towards the mansion. I notice many questions forming in her mind as we start to enter the neighborhood where the house is located, but she chooses to remain silent until we arrive and I only step out of the car to open the garage door.
"Did you have spare keys to the house?" she asks when I get back into the car to park.
"Yes," I reply.
"How many?"
"Why do you ask?"
"Never mind," she quickly dismisses, making me give her an inquisitive look. Nevertheless, I let it go and we finally enter our home.
Walking back in here with her by my side is the best feeling. It was for Juliette that I bought this place, because I pictured her living here with me from the beginning, long before we officially became a couple.
"Do you want to go to the bedroom?" I ask.
"I need to take a shower."
"I'll help you upstairs," I say, ascending the stairs with her to the master bedroom. "There are towels and robes in the bathroom, but if you need clothes, I can go to your apartment to get them."
"No," she immediately declines. "I don't want you to leave me alone here."
"I won't," I say, kissing her again. "Do you need help with the shower?"
"No," she answers, releasing a slight smile that infects me.
"Do you want me to order some food?" I inquire, to which she nods. "Okay."
As I leave the room, the first thing I do is dial Luc's number and ask him to buy clothes for Juliette. After that I order some Chinese food for us to eat.
I pace back and forth in the living room, unable to stop thinking about all the things that the bastard could have done to Juliette during these days.
With that scumbag at large,
I know she's not safe, and we need
to do something.
Minutes later the food arrives and Luc also shows up at the house, leaving Juliette's clothes and even some blankets that I didn't ask for, but I appreciate that he thought of it since we don't have any.
Juliette decides that we eat in the bedroom and so we do, avoiding talking about what happened during that moment.
"Thank you," she says suddenly.
"Why, my love?"
"For saving me, for coming to get me and not leaving me," she replies, her voice trembling.
"You don't have to thank me, I would do anything for you and you know it."
"I was foolish, I didn't believe you. I never thought Damien could..."
"Don't mention it," I ask, closing my eyes in frustration. "I don't want to hear his name."
"I'm sorry."
"Tomorrow we will report him," I informed her.
"Gérard."
"Don't you dare say you won't, Juliette," I warn her.
"The last thing I want is more trouble," she says. "I just long to finally be happy with you."
"He kept you kidnapped for five days, Juliette," I say, trying to maintain composure.
"Yes, but..."
"But nothing," I intervened sternly. "If you don't, I will do it for you."
She simply lowers her gaze and continues eating in silence.
"I want you to move in with me," I say without further ado, capturing her attention again. "I'm tired of this shit, tired of us being together and yet apart. I want you here with me, to wake up and go to bed with you. I want you here."
"Yes."
"Yes?"
"I also want to wake up and go to bed with you. So yes, I'll move in."
"Are you serious?"
"It's the answer you wanted to hear so badly and now you don't believe me," she says, laughing.
I revel in that beautiful laugh that drives me crazy and I smile, setting aside all the remaining food on the floor and positioning myself on top of her, pinning her beneath me on the bed.
I'm about to kiss her l but I remain mesmerized by her beautiful face. Her cheeks have their natural rosy hue, her beautiful lips that transport me to another planet when they kiss me, her long eyelashes and her beautiful eyes that seem like galaxies, a truly exquisite and out-of-this-world phenomenon.
I love her. I love every damn detail of her.
I love her, damn it.
And I don't see a single day of my life without this woman.
"Why are you looking at me like that?" she asks, her chest rising and falling, breathless.
"Marry me.”