The Marriage Counselor. (Woman x intersex)

twenty-one.

Here we go guys.

Slow start.

UNEDITED .

chapter twenty-one:

one month later..

Danielle watched as the cars passed by through the cafe window, the warm cup of tea comforting her in the fresh fall weather. It's been a month since everything went down at her home and nearly two months since her and Nour met. She tried everything in her power to avoid him, getting away with it for almost a week until he came knocking on the door with presents.

She just couldn't face him after everything that happened. She needed space, taking that week to cry and lay in bed as she tried to process her emotions. She felt heavy. As if the weight of the world was crushing her lungs. Once she opened the door, Nour engulfed her in his arms and she melted completely while apologizing. They ended up making love again and they went hours and hours until they both fell asleep.

Danielle finally summoned Alfred for divorce, being grateful that he didn't think to do it. She hasn't seen them or the boys ever since he took them, but they FaceTimed on their iPads all the time until Hazel said it was enough. The only thing stopping Danielle from bashing her face in were her boys. She just wanted them back home.

The house felt so empty without their presence, Danielle sometimes spending hours in their room just staring at their things. She even fell asleep in Mason's bed, Nour having to carry her to the bedroom.

She was now in the Cafe a few blocks from her home as she waited for her new lover. She sipped her tea, her stomach being in knots because she was nervous about the meeting. Nour had finally admitted to hiring a P.I to figure out what happened to her office and who was behind it.

Her insurance claim was transferred to a different company so she was still out of business. Nour suggested that she took this time to relax and prep for family court which was in a few months. Danielle was exhausted all the time, no longer her happy cheery self. Alfred and Hazel sucked it out of her, but day by day Nour did their best to bring it back.

"My petal." Nour whispered into Danielle's ear as he kissed the side of her face as a greeting. Danielle smiled, looking up at her lover before pecking his lips. He sat down, looking down at the lack of food on her plate before sighing.

"You're still not eating."

"I'm just not hungry. I don't have an appetite."

"I won't press it. But I am worried you may become malnourished, mama." Nour responded honestly. Footsteps immerged next to the couple, Nour standing up to greet another tall figure. She was dressed in a beautiful cashmere dress suit and matching sweater, her heels holding her dark legs graciously. Hair hair was large and curly, her bright ice blue eyes meeting Danielle's wide ones.

"Ah, so this is the woman that has my dear twin going insane." Danielle's heart rate sped up as Nour grinned with a nod, the woman's eyes freaking Danielle out.

"Your eyes.."

"Yes?" The woman chuckled, Nour looking down at Danielle with a smirk while shaking his head.

"Danielle, this is Nura my younger sister by ten minutes."

"Pleasure to meet you. Nour speaks about you a lot, and it's all great things." Nura greeted as she shook Danielle's hand. They both sat down again, the resemblance being there but not too much. Nour's features were unique, Nura's features being more soft and less chiseled.

Less sharp.

"So..we've found a culprit. Unfortunately it is not Iyana. I would've loved to see her in cuffs." Nura scoffed causing Nour to roll his eyes while Danielle snickered. Nura pulled out a large yellow folder, handing it to Danielle.

"So..your suspicions were right. Except it wasn't Alfred. Hazel hired someone to do this." Danielle looked through all of the money transactions and text messages that went back almost two years.

"They've been planning this?"

"Yes. This was premeditated. All the bad treatment..forgetting the anniversaries..the last three years he was with her. There's no Victor. They've been together for more than three years."  Danielle had no more tears left in her, staring blankly at the pages that felt like a dream. She couldn't believe what she was hearing, all lies that were told to her swirling in her head.

"What do you mean there's no Victor? Who is that man I've met so many times?" Danielle asked, Nour slipping to her side of the booth and rubbing her arm.

"A close friend and associate of hers. Hazel isn't who she seems to be and Alfred knows that. This has been strategically planned by them both. The problem is they've been doing this for a while.. so they have stuff that you're not aware of."

"None of this makes sense to me. I don't understand." Danielle felt as if she was losing her mind. She suddenly felt warm, rubbing her neck as she loosened a button on her shirt. Her face showed discomfort, Nour immediately picking it up.

"Are you alright?" Nour asked quietly as he kissed her cheek. She shook her head, letting out a shaky breath as she continued to look through the documents.

"This is too much."

"I'm sorry. I wish I had better news." Nura sighed as she grabbed Danielle's hand and squeezed it.

"How long have you known Hazel?" Nura asked.

"Since before Mason was born. Almost thirteen years. Two years after I got..married to..oh." Danielle's voice sounded defeated, the quiet oh nearly breaking Nour down. Danielle nodded, biting her lip as she held back her tears while holding the bill between her fingers.

"What is this bill for?" Danielle asked quietly while clearing her throat. Nura looked at Nour who frowned slightly.

"I didn't mean to include that in there, but uh..it's IVF. They were planning to have Sophia for a while, but Hazel couldn't get pregnant."

"So you're saying he got me pregnant for her.."

"That sick fuck." Nour spat. Danielle felt numb, staring down at her tea as she stirred the spoon. She was beyond upset, her thoughts racing as the pieces slowly fell into place.

"I can't..I just..can you take me home? Please?" Danielle begged quietly as she stared up at Nour who nodded before looking at his sister who sighed.

"I'll keep track of every move they make. What I do know is that the boys are okay. Elias seems a little quiet, but the P.I thinks it's because he misses you."

"Okay. Thank you."

Both Nour and Nura started speaking in their native language, Danielle staring into space as her thoughts raced and her heart pounded in her ears. She just wanted to lay down and sleep this nightmare away but knew she couldn't.

"Tell 'ab ruhi I send my hello's." Nour hugged his sister goodbye, Danielle standing up and shaking her hand before walking off. They decided to walk home, the stroll silent as Danielle tried her best to hold her composure.

"How about a bath and some tea? Hm?" Nour asked as they walked into the house. Danielle shook her head, walking up the stairs slowly to her bedroom. She sat down on the bed, Nour walking in to see her staring down at her shoes.

"I've got you. I've got you." Nour breathed quietly as he kneeled, taking off her shoes and rubbing her ankles. She tried to smile, but her face didn't budge as she continued to stare at Nour. He pulled her pants off her body before standing up, rubbing his fingers through her hair.

"Can we just nap?" Danielle asked. Nour nodded, stripping from his clothes as Danielle removed her blouse. They both crawled into bed, Danielle's eyes closing tightly as Nour squeezed her body against his.