Past the Point of No Return

Chapter 1

Christine's POV Third Person:

Christine was just finishing making dinner when she heard the carriage pull up to the house. Christine prayed that today of all days would be a good day. For the past year, Christine tried her best to protect her daughter, Ebony, from any trauma that might be caused by Raoul's drunken outbursts. So far, she has been successful. However, Ebony was a smart girl, and as she grows older, the more Christine grows anxious that Ebony will finally put all the pieces together.

One time, after a particularly harsh and violent outburst, Christine's arm was broken. A doctor had come over because once Raoul had sobered up, he realized that Christine was in need of medical attention. However, Raoul feared getting caught and arrested.

That was the first time Christine saw Raoul buy someone's silence.

Christine knew she should get help, but the thing is, whenever Raoul is sober, he's actually really sweet to Christine and Ebony. When Ebony was still little, he would lift her up high over his head and spin around with her. Raoul still played with Ebony, but it's become more rare.

About a year ago, Raoul had come up to Christine and had said that Ebony would not be able to carry on the family name or be able to inherit the full family fortune. So, they needed a son. They tried multiple times, but then Raoul would have these dreams every pregnancy that the baby was a girl, so he would mercilessly beat Christine until the point of miscarriage. Her last pregnancy, however, he had a dream that it was a boy, making Raoul overrated with joy. However, the joy didn't last long because when Christine gave birth to their first and only son,

Doctors speculated that she kept miscarrying because of the stress from the need of a son, and it had been difficult to conceive Ebony already, so the lack of pregnancy wasn't turning many heads.

After the stillbirth, a beautiful baby boy, Christine couldn't take the pain anymore, or at least she wasn't ready to. Christine blames herself for Gustave's death. Yes. They had named their child that they didn't even get to meet alive. The doctors said that it had something to do with the umbilical cord, but Christine hadn't been listening. She had been in too much shock when she received the news. The other ones had been painful, but this time she had felt him kick. She had held him in her arms. He was perfect in every way. Raoul practically had to pry him from her arms. Even now, three years later, she's still learning to forgive herself.

Christine told Raoul that she couldn't take losing another baby. That was the worst mistake of her life. Raoul started drinking, and would try to force Christine to lay with him. She always said that she would happily do so, but he was too drunk. It wouldn't be full consent on his behalf.

Eventually, he started beating her. For everything. Calling him drunk and unable to consent. Not letting him get her pregnant. Not making love with him. Not bearing a son, and instead, a daughter.

Christine prayed every night that he wouldn't start taking his anger out on Ebony. Her sweet, innocent Ebony.

Today was Ebony's 8th birthday. Christine had made meatballs for Ebony's birthday dinner, just as she had requested. That morning, Ebony had also requested that her mother do her hair "like a princess". Unable to say no, Christine say her down in front of the mirror at her vanity and began pulling Ebony's long, curly, golden hair back into a tight bun. Ebony had been born with dark hair like her mother, hence why she was named Ebony. However, as she had gotten older, her hair lightened and was now a dirty blonde. She and Raoul expected that in a few years she would be as blonde as Raoul, if not blonder. Now that Ebony's hair wasn't even close to ebony, it seemed kind of silly or strange, but it couldn't be changed now.

Christine and Raoul had planned a trip to Perros-Guirec, where Christine's father was buried, and also where Christine and Raoul first met. Ebony had been dying to see where "the korrigans jumped over the moon," but Christine knew that there was no such thing. They were scheduled to leave tomorrow.

Christine chuckled fondly at the innocence of her daughter as she began to set the table. Her good spirits were ruined when she heard the door of the de Changy  manner open.

"CHRISTINE!!!"

Christine's gut tangled up into a knot of dread. Her hopes of Ebony's special day might as well have floated out of Christine's body and right out the window.

Today would be Ebony's worst birthday ever. Christine was certain of it.

Author's Note
Hey guys!👋 This is my first phanfic, so please let me know what you think and constructive criticism is welcomed.😊

BTW Perros-Guirec is from the novel, and so are the korrigans. They're from one of the folktales that Christine's father had told her and Raoul, similar to the the Angle of Music and Little Lotte.