Chapter 40

Clarie and Lucas were satisfied traveling around Paris for four days, they were both at a souvenir shop. Clarie was so enthusiastic about choosing knick-knacks for her best friend Daniele, as well as her mother and sister. In Clarie's heart, she felt that someone was following their journey for the last two days and the climax now, she was choosing a key chain and felt that from outside the shop until she and Lucas entered the shop, a man had followed the two of them. He was dressed all in black, complete with a black hat, in a corner not far from Clarie, touching knick-knacks on display while occasionally glancing at Clarie.

'Who is that man? It just scared me, I have to get out of here. If he really is following me he will also leave here.' Clarie nodded faintly then walked to the cashier after grabbing her bag, key chain and a miniature of the Eiffel tower.

"Why are you so scared, honey?" Lucas asked his wife who had just arrived beside him.

Clarie looked back, luckily the man didn't follow her. Lucas was surprised, he then pulled Clarie to stick to him.

"Let's get out of here quickly honey," Clarie said, looking up at Lucas. Clarie put her groceries on the counter, they then counted them.

"Why? What's wrong, honey? Tell me." Lucas caught the fear in his wife's eyes and demeanor.

"Total 21 euros," said the female cashier.

Lucas reached into his wallet from his pants to pay.

"No need, I have the right money honey." Clarie reached into her sling bag and paid with a 20 euro note and a 1 euro coin.

"Thank you, Mrs." Clarie smiled and took the groceries that had been wrapped in a paper bag.

They exited the shop and Clarie stepped hastily into the car that was waiting for the two of them. Lucas followed and sat next to Clarie, the car drove away, Clarie looked back and yes, she guessed right, the man came out of the shop and looked like he was annoyed, kicking at random.

"Why, darling? You've been serious since earlier, um ... even since yesterday I noticed you keep getting restless."

"That!" Pointing back at Clarie, Lucas looked back. But, then the car turned left.

"What's wrong? Do you know him?" Clarie swallowed disappointment, she should have said earlier so her husband could know the figure of this man.

"No, that guy is following us," Clarie said, taking a deep breath.

"Ah, really?" Lucas looked back to make sure the man wasn't chasing them. Trying to refute his wife's words. "He didn't follow us, never mind honey. Don't panic like that, we'll be leaving Paris soon. Do you want to say goodbye to the Eiffel Tower?" Chuckled Lucas, hugging his wife so that the woman would relax and not worry too much about it.

"Okay, honey. Maybe he just happened to be hanging around us."

"Yeah, just think positively."

***

A month after their romantic honeymoon, Clarie experienced no signs of pregnancy even though she was looking forward to having a baby in the midst of their happiness.

"Negative again, honey?" Lucas asked in the morning, this was the umpteenth time that his wife hoped that the mark on the testpack would have a double line, but in fact they are not yet believed to have children in the near future.

"Yeah, you can see for yourself," said Clarie, looking down sluggishly, holding a test pack. Lucas hugged his wife from behind, he rested his head on Clarie's shoulder, he had just woken up. But, the clock is already showing eight o'clock, luckily it's the weekend. So they could laze all day in the new house Lucas bought after their wedding or go out for a cup of coffee to unwind.

"Don't make you sad, it's no big deal honey. Do you want us to go out? Or we can just stay home, think Mrs. Henderson, we can spend more time together before we get busy with the baby, don't be sad..." Lucas said comforting the wife.

Clarie was silent, she digested the sentence that came out of her husband's mouth, she then realized.

"Yes Honey, you're right. We can hang out together, do what we want before we get busy with the baby. Should we head out?" Clarie asked back, Clarie's cheek touched Lucas' aquiline nose.

"That's a great idea, go to the salon or shopping, usually women like to spend money."

"Good idea, but I'm not interested in spending your money on things that aren't important, Mr. Henderson," Clarie said fiercely, she tried to let go of her husband's hands that were wrapped around her stomach, but Lucas held her as hard as he could so Clarie couldn't escape. "Let go, honey. I'm going to take a shower."

"Come on honey, let's continue last night," Lucas said, kissing Clarie's neck. The girl shuddered with amusement from Lucas' attack.

"No, I want breakfast first. Aren't you hungry? I'll have some fries and a salad." Clarie held Lucas's lips with her palms so they wouldn't touch the skin of her neck.

"Let's do it once honey and then we have breakfast. Just order me some spaghetti."

"There are still ingredients in the refrigerator, want me to make it?" she asked.

"Yes, honey."

"Then let me go first and I'll make it for you, honey."

"No, I want to do morning exercise before breakfast."

They continued to argue, and Lucas wouldn't let Clarie leave until he had the "breakfast" he wanted.

***

Marion is released on parole thanks to the help of her father's attorney, Alexander. The news reached the ears of her best friend, Helen Grady. The woman was furious, she was deceived by Marion's persuasion to invite her to kill Clarie, but when they were imprisoned, Marion only thought about her own fate, not caring about herself, who was even willing to be told by her.

"You bastard!" cursed Helen as she thumped the iron in front of her, staring down the long hall. "It's hard to get me to go to jail but he can be released easily, instead I'm the one left here alone!"

"Why did you?" asked one of the female occupants of the room closer to Helen.

"No, no problem," Helen replied flatly, sitting against the wall behind her.

"What's wrong? Something seems to be bothering you." The woman also sat down, she crossed her legs in front of Helen.

"My best friend, um-no, I don't want to call her friend anymore."

"Who? The woman you were talking about at the time?" she probed.

"Yeah, her. I hate her to death this second." Helen looked down, tears falling.

"Be patient, she will definitely get a reply," said the woman trying to comfort Helen, patting her shoulder.

"I hope so, there's nothing I can do but wait until the time comes for me to repay this pain to her," Helen said, she wiped away the traces of tears that were flowing profusely down her cheeks. Two other women approached Helen and asked what happened to make her cry. The woman who was in front of Helen then told her everything.

On the other hand, the newly freed Marion is on her way to pamper herself after being released from prison this morning. She decided to go to the salon because two months in jail made her whole body dull and not shining.

"Hello, Papa?" said Marion, she was busy taking off the roll from her bangs.

"Aren't you tired, honey? Why are you out already?"

"I just go to my regular salon, Pa. My body and face are terrible, I have to do treatment."

"Oh, so that's it. All right, be careful on the road, don't do anything else," the father ordered.

"Yeah, I'm not a kid anymore so there's no need to remind me."

"Even though you are not a child, you need to be reminded not to forget yourself."

"All right, Pa. I hung up."

Marion put her cell phone beside her sitting, she polished bright red lipstick to her sexy lips. She then looked to see if she had pulled on the glass in the car. And yes, the driver was staring through the mirror, he couldn't even swallow his saliva. Marion laughed realizing that she was still attractive in the eyes of all men.

Three minutes later they arrived at Marion's regular salon, she got off and went into it. The woman was greeted warmly by the salon employee, she immediately sat down in one of the chairs.

"Where's Jane?" Marion asked while taking off her glasses.

"She's inside," answered the girl.

"Can you call? Just say I'm looking for her," said Marion with high confidence.

"Um-excuse me Miss, what's your name huh?" the girl said doubtfully, her face a little scared.

"Hahaha ... you don't know who I am?" Marion asked, pointing to herself.

Everyone who was there immediately looked at Marion and the girl, surprised. They then whispered about Marion's abnormality. Marion then kept quiet and told the girl to come closer with her index finger.

"I'm Marion Larsen, a model. You really don't know?" whispered Marion into the girl's ear. After knowing Marion's name, the girl smiled awkwardly, feeling uncomfortable.

"Sorry Mrs. Larsen, sorry again. I'll get Madam Jane right away." The girl was about to leave, but before the girl left Jane had come and approached Marion.

"Who's our guest, Jess?" she asked.