Erik and Christine: Loves Secret (A Phantom of the Opera Story)

Chapter 22

The next day, Christine sees Raoul's father in the library. She quietly walks inside the small library and observes his father. Noticing that he is looking for a book. "Hello," said Christine.

Ralph turns around and says, "Ah, good morning Christine. How are you?"

"I'm good. How about you?"

"Good."

"Good," said Christine with a smile on her face. Ralph also smiles then puts a back on the shelf as he looks the next shelf over to look for another book. "So what are you doing?" she asked even though she already knew.

"Just figuring out what I should read, but there are too many to choose. Plus I've read so many of these books before," Ralph replied as he runs his fingers against the spines of the books. Christine glances down for a brief moment then walks a few steps towards him. "Well, perhaps you should read your favorite," she suggested.

"That makes it difficult because there's only two that are my absolute favorite. But honestly I am in here looking back at the memories that happened in here," Ralph replied as he turns to face her.

"Like what?" Christine asked. Ralph smiles then walk towards another bookshelf. Christine turns as she watches and walks towards him. "Let's see. When you and Raoul were five years old, you would always have his mother read to you, and Raoul would fall asleep right in the middle of the story," Ralph remarked.

"I remember. I told her every time to please the story because I wanted to know how the story ended."

"Yes, and I remember how sometimes we would have small parties here then we would ask your father to play the violin, and you would sing."

"I remember that too! And of course, when you would return from your business trips, you would always give us a small present."

"Yes. Because even though Raoul would get you into trouble, I still considered you as family."

They laugh then look away from each other. Christine looks back at Ralph then walks to the window. Ralph realizes that something is troubling her and is wrong. "Christine, I know we are not related, but I've always seen you as if you were my daughter," said Ralph.

"That's so sweet of you to say," Christine replied as she turns back around.

"I just wish Raoul would understand that things have changed within the last few years," said Ralph. Christine raises her eyebrow at him and notices that something happened last night between him and Raoul and it must have been bad. "Please. Tell me what happened after I left with my cousin. Did you and Raoul argue?" Christine asked.

"It's hard to explain," Ralph replied.

"Just start from the beginning."

Ralph glances away for a moment, puts a book back on a shelf that he found and explains, "Well, after you left to talk to your cousin, I told my son what happened in the last few years. When I told him that I got married again...I was trying to tell him for months that I've met someone, well, he knows her from a long time ago. Anyway, I wanted to tell him how I felt about her, but I couldn't find him because he was constantly traveling from one city to another. I know I did the same business that he is doing, but I made choices that I know is much better than the ones he is making right now."

"Which is what?" Christine asks.

"I put my family first before my job. My family means everything to me, just like my wife did. And now Emily means the world to me. But honestly, I don't know what happened between him and I that night at the engage meant party. For when I told him that I got married to Emily, he was so frustrated that he looked at me as though I'd committed a crime."