Chapter Five

Julian couldn’t believe it. He knew that Eve loved him, deep down inside somewhere… but he never expected that Eve would finally just say the words to him! It felt like heaven inside… to finally hear her talking about loving him again. Julian had no doubt in his mind that Eve does love TC, but not that way like how she loves Julian. It was now confirmed that JULIAN is THE man she loves. Julian felt his heart beating faster. Now that Eve has finally opened up to him about her love for him… does this mean that there will be another chance again at happiness? Was she willing to let go twenty-five years of her life… for him?

“I love you too, “ Julian confessed.

Eve and Julian locked eyes… and both were staring at each other’s lips. Eve wondered what it will be like to kiss the man again, while Julian’s heart raced at the thought of kissing his one true love… His face slowly descended towards her while Eve closed her eyes… waiting for the kiss. Her lips immediately fused with his the moment their lips met, and quickly turned passionate as Julian urged Eve to open her mouth more wide, parting for him to show her what his love was all about. Eve responded fully and kissed him with everything she had in her, holding very little behind. He wrapped his arms tightly around Eve, with his fingers tangling in her dark brown hair. Eve’s hands roamed all over Julian… one hand resting on his neck and the other, landed on his soft, graying hair. Together, they kissed like there was no tomorrow, and to them, that’s the way they would of liked for it to be for the rest of their lives.

Finally, they stopped due to lack of air. Eve smiled and rested her head on his shoulder. She gave Julian back his coat and allowed him to hold her… his arms wrapped possessively around her, hoping that it will be warm enough for her. She loved the feeling of it.

Eve then looked up at Julian.

“This means no wedding tomorrow, right?” she asked.

“No wedding.” Julian promised.

Julian’s grasp held tighter to Eve. “You do know what this means, right, Eve?”

Eve nodded her head. “Yes, I do.”

Julian hesitantly let go of Eve and took her with him as he stood up from the bench.

“Julian… we’ll face this together. I will tell TC about our past and hopefully be able to conjure an annulment from TC and get the divorce papers signed. And I’m sure that you can buy yourself a good lawyer if Rebecca does actually decide to turn you in. Just in case, anyways. We can be together again Julian… finally… you and I…”

He raised his eyebrows. “Will it be that easy?” he asked.

Eve looked uncomfortable. “Ok… it won’t be as easy as I put it out to be… but we can make it happen. We will have many obstacles facing ahead of us… but we will go past it. I just have to somehow tell TC about our past and about the love that we share… he won’t forgive me… but I have to keep my daughters in my life, Julian… and I can’t lose my career… they were my life before I had you in it again… I just hope that –“ she choked.

Julian took her hand up and tenderly kissed it.

“Don’t worry… I will make sure that your daughters and your career will still be in your life, after our love is revealed. And for me… I will deal with my issue with Rebecca so that I can be a free man again… waiting for you. In fact, let me take you home right now and then I’ll be off to the mansion to get rid of her, once and for all.”

She shook her head. “Julian… I want to come with you. I want to be there with you when this all plays out. Please, Julian, can I?” she pleaded.

He looked at Eve long and hard. He preferred that he would do it alone… but he wouldn’t mind having her to support him while he could somehow try to convince Rebecca to leave him. In fact, he realized, he wanted her there. Finally, he gave in.

“Ok Eve, we’ll do this together.”

Eve smiled appreciatively. “Thank you.”

Together, they held hands as they headed back to the mansion.
_____

TC had it. He pushed Liz out of the coach.

“TC!” Liz whined, and crawled back up. What was THAT for?

He pointed at Liz.

“I want you out of the house, NOW!”

Now, Liz widened her eyes in shock! She certainly didn’t see that one coming!

”But –“

“No buts, Liz, you will pack your bags and you will leave mine and EVE’s house – for good! And you will NEVER come back inside again, not while I’m still alive. You got that clear?”

Liz fell silent. She silently cursed herself. Boy, she sure screwed big time here! Now TC hates her! No, wait… she slowly smiled. Maybe it’s because he’s falling hard for her… that he has to kick her out of the household… because he was scared where this might have lead him.

She sat beside TC, and then began to trace her fingers at his big, muscled arm.

“TC, you can’t just –“

“Oh yes I can!” he roared. “I can’t believe you would betray my wife like that! Eve has done nothing but take you in to our home… and gave you a place to stay. She’s been kind and generous to you, and was even patient enough so that you can finally afford a home and move out. And here you are, willing to just… I don’t know… THROW yourself at her own husband and tried to seduce him… IN HER OWN HOUSE!”

“You are a despicable woman!” he spat. “And I don’t care if you just lost all your money to the Blue Note and have nowhere else to go – I want you OUT! Find your lover-boy Antonio or something… go any place else… but just STAY THE HELL away from me… and my family!”

“Aha!” Liz thought. “He called Antonio my lover-boy! He’s just jealous!”

When Liz tried to kiss TC again, TC threw her down the floor, and started advancing towards her.

Suddenly, she was scared. “He’s manhandling me!”

“When… will you finally see… that I am just not interested? I love my wife… I have two children by her and many miscarriages… and I’m not going to lose it all for you, Liz, no, I won’t.” He then picked up her arm.

“Let go of me!” she shrieked.

“I want you out by fifteen minutes. Pack your bags now and get ready to leave.”

He then turned around and went upstairs.

__

“WHAT?” Theresa and Whitney asked in unison.

Fox kneeled beside them and grinned. “I asked if you guys are ready to leave for Harmony yet.”

“I thought you weren’t allowed back?” Whitney asked. “I mean, that WAS the reason why I’m still here with you in the first place…”

“Whitney, I’ll explain it to you later, all I’m asking right now is whether or not you and Theresa would like to back to Harmony yet or what?”

“Oh yes!” gushed Whitney. “If you are allowed back as well then I’m all for it! I would love to see my parents again and Simone!”

“Perfect! Theresa?”

Theresa shifted uncomfortably. She supposed it would be nice to be back in Harmony again with her son, Little Ethan, and her family again… and it wouldn’t hurt one bit to see Ethan again… “I guess it would be alright…”

Fox’s eyes narrowed. “So is it a yes… or no?”

“Yes! Yes of course!”

“Ok! Now let’s go change and start packing! We’re due to leave in an hour.”

Whitney and Theresa jumped out of the pool.

“So how are we going to get back?” Theresa asked curiously.

“With the Crane jet of course! My grandfather sent it over.”

“Ok! I have a lot more things to pack guys, so I need to start right now… see you two later in an hour!” Theresa ran off.

“Well, now that Theresa’s gone… Whitney… I have to talk to you.”

“Yes baby?”

“Alistair said that he will bend my father’s orders and allow me to stay and live in Harmony… on one condition…”

“What’s that?”

Fox reluctantly replied, “That you have to live with me in the cottage too.”

Whitney bit her lip. She wanted more than nothing to live with Fox, but she knew that her daddy would not like this one bit at all. She was actually expecting to live with her parents again… and with Simone. She wanted to make amends with her.

“Well…” Whitney pulled her arms around Fox’s neck. “If it makes you that happy and if it means that my baby can live in Harmony again… then I’m all for it.” She grinned.

“Whitney, that is just awesome! Wow… you don’t know just how happy I’m feeling right now!” he kissed her on the lips. “Come… we have a lot of suitcases to fill and a plane to catch!” He then grabbed her hand and ran with her back to the apartment.

____

“Ready?” Julian asked.

Eve took a deep breath and nodded her head quickly. “Ready.”

They had just arrived at the mansion from the park. It was a long walk, and they both savored every moment they had together holding hands. To them, it was heaven, until they reached their destination. Both Eve and Julian anxiously awaited to see what will be in store for them behind the closed doors of the Crane mansion.

Finally, Julian turned the doorknob and stepped inside with Eve. What they saw ahead of them would only certainly send them the shock of their lives. For standing in front of them, was not the face of a anyone expected to be there to greet them... or of Rebecca Hotchkiss', but rather, it was the face of the ruthless and powerful Alistair Crane.

“Well, well, well… if it isn’t for my son, Julian Crane, and that filthy black whore of his, Dr. Eve Russell… my, my… what a pleasant surprise,” he sneered.