ÈGOÏSTE |18+ [English Version]

Chapter 79. "Masquerade."

The masquerade costume had another advantage: in it Raoul was alone with the anguish of his soul and the sadness of his heart. He did not have to pretend or turn his face into a mask devoid of expression: it was already hidden by the mask.

Gaston Leroux

"The Phantom of the Opera."

On behalf of Joanna:

- What did you just say? - I was about to fall through the ground.

- You're pregnant, miss. It's very early, but it's already a live fetus. You're not going to have an abortion, are you? - She asked me.

- I'm shocked... I didn't think I could be pregnant... I'm sorry," I said and left, taking the sheet with me, on the way to my car I cried, I couldn't contain my emotions... because there was only one thought running through my head, "that's not Edmund's baby", he's dead, then who was with me?

And the first person that popped into my head was Daniel, that creep was taking advantage of me, pretending to be Edie...? God... - I covered my face with my hand and just sobbed, and when Tony saw me he came running up to me.

- Joanna! Joanna! - He put his arm around me. "What happened to you, honey? - He took me by the arm and led me to the car...

- Tell me what happened. - He started to ask me, and when he took the sheet he looked at it and didn't understand, - Please, Joe!

- I'm pregnant, Tony! - I shouted.

- What?" He looked at me, "what did you just say? YOU'RE BABY?!

- Yes!" I kept on crying.

- Calm down, please! Come on, Joe, point it out, I'm begging you! - Tony tried to calm me down.

- "All right, I'll tell you now.

- Come on," Tony said.

- It all started at the hospital when I was the last one to go into the NICU to see Edie... I was sitting crying when I heard laughter, I looked up and saw Edmund laughing at me, I fell on the floor and started screaming because I thought it was some kind of spirit... and we ended up making love to him... - I hesitated, - then he came to my hotel room when I was sleeping and also, we met when I went to breakfast with Dan, but we had a fight and I left and met Ed...

- But, he's dead... - whispered Tony, - how can that be?

- I'm scared, what if all this time I thought Ed was with me... - I looked at the boy and he got worried.

- And who was in his place?

- Daniel...

- Why would you think that?

- Because lately Daniel's been telling me that he loves me and he wants to take me back to New York and start our lives over...

- What a freak! I didn't think he was like that... - I can't disagree with your version, but, man, I can't quite believe Ed's really dead...

- Tony, I'm lost, I don't know what to do... - I leaned against the back of the seat and closed my eyes, - and the kid... what am I gonna do with him?

- Love, Joanna, love... - answered the brunette and started the car and we drove off...

***

When we arrived at the hotel, we met Sandra.

- Where have you been?

- On business, why? - Tony said.

- Viviana has called everyone together, she wants to make an important announcement.