Behind Closed Doors

Chapter 34

Donna whispered into the phone as she walked out of the room, leaving Emily alone, staring at the ceiling.

"She's not okay. She can't continue like this. It's too much," Donna said, closing the door to the room before letting out a loud sigh. "What on earth could I do?"

"We have to work together," Andre's voice came over the phone. "Has she had anything to eat?"

"No, not at all. She has refused to even taste a drop of food since that day... all she does is smoke it all away... I'm honestly scared," Donna complained.

"I might have to come to LA," Andre said. "This is so bad," she heard him sigh through the phone.

"I agree with you, but we'll have to let her know first because you know, your presence will endanger the lives of all three of you..."

"I understand," he agreed. "But do you have any idea where Lucas would be?"

"Regrettably, I don't. But I honestly suspect her husband. From all she told me about him and his status in society, I think it's possible for him to pull it off."

"And honestly, I think she suspects too but is living in denial. That's another thing that's eating her up..."

There was silence between them for a moment.

"I'm worried about her," Donna confessed, frowning and staring at the door to the room Emily was in.

"What does he want from her?! Hasn't he hurt her enough? How can a man do this to a woman he claims to love?!" Andre sounded infuriated.

Donna listened to him express his anger, though he tried to keep it cool.

"I will try my best to take care of her," Donna assured. "Bye, I'll call you tomorrow."

"Thank you, Donna. Please don't give up on Emily," was the last thing Andre said before he hung up.

*]%[^[^%

He gracefully walked through the hallway to the room with a white door. Entering, he saw his spitting image curled up near the bed, surrounded by toys he had bought and beautifully furnished. The child stared at him with animosity.

"Luke, dinner is ready," he said in a calm but authoritative voice.

"I want my mummy!" Lucas rebuked. "Stay away from me, bad man!"

Mark sighed and walked towards him, but Lucas scurried as far away as possible. Thankfully, the room was big enough to keep a sizable distance. Mark stopped and stared at him.

This child had continued to reject him since the day he brought him into the house. He refused to eat food from him, which made Mark really worried. His child wouldn't die of starvation, but how could he prevent it when Lucas wouldn't even taste any food? Mark felt a moment of sadness wash over him; he was disconnected from his son, a spitting image of himself. Could Lucas not see it too?

"Is that how your mummy taught you to treat strangers? Call them bad men?"

"No! Mummy said I should be nice to strangers, but you are a bad man! You took me away from grandma," he began to cry. "And you hurt grandma!"

Grandma? What kind of delusion was Emily feeding this kid? Who were those people? Well, it didn't matter now; he had gotten what he wanted.

"Listen buddy," Mark walked up to him and squatted while keeping his arms folded. "I'm your father, not some bad man as you say."

Lucas stared at him blankly for the next few seconds. Mark's stare was stern.

"You're a bad man! Stay away from me! I want mummy and Andre!" Lucas began to throw tantrums again.