Between our hands

Chapter 71: Reflections of Attention

Just as they had finished the interview, Maëlle's phone buzzed repeatedly in an unusual way. She glanced quickly at the screen and saw a flood of messages from people she hadn't heard from in years. Old "friends" who had once been close to her but gradually pushed her aside. Their names appeared one after another, all seemingly suddenly interested in her life.

Sighing lightly, Maëlle silenced her phone and handed it to Samy. "Can you keep this in your pocket, please?" she asked, her gaze thoughtful.
Samy, curious about the request, took the phone and raised an eyebrow. "Why aren’t you answering these people?" he asked softly, a curious expression on his face.

Maëlle looked up at him, a faint, sad smile on her lips. "Because these people were never really interested in me. We were friends—at least, that’s what I thought. But in reality, I spent most of the time on the sidelines. When we hung out, they often excluded me, made plans without me, and when we drifted apart, none of them bothered to ask how I was doing."

She paused, her eyes drifting into the distance as if reliving those painful memories. The mention of those old wounds tormented her. "But now that I’m in the spotlight, that journalists are talking about me, they suddenly remember I exist. They want updates, but really, they don’t care about me. They’re just drawn to the attention I’m getting."

Samy listened attentively, his face hardening slightly with each word. He saw how much it affected Maëlle, even though she tried not to show it. Without saying a word, he pulled her into his arms, holding her tightly. "They don’t know what they’re missing, Maëlle," he whispered in her ear, his voice soft and comforting.

Maëlle sighed softly, resting her head against his chest, appreciating the warmth and comfort he offered. Samy gently stroked her hair, trying to soothe her troubled thoughts. "They don’t matter," he continued. "You’ve always been incredible, and just because some people didn’t see it before doesn’t change anything."

She sat up slightly, raising her eyes to meet his. There was a sincerity in his gaze that reassured her. Despite the sadness of the situation, a light smile spread across her lips. "Thank you," she whispered simply, touched by his words.

They then walked, still hand in hand, toward their suite. Once inside, Maëlle collapsed onto the couch, feeling suddenly exhausted by everything that had happened that day. Samy sat beside her, wrapping his arm around her shoulders, pulling her closer. "You don’t need anyone else," he murmured. "You have those who truly love you—your family... and me."

Maëlle, nestled against Samy, felt a shiver run through her body. His words resonated within her like a familiar melody. She wanted to hear more, to push him to open up even further.

She straightened up slightly, a playful smile on her lips, and looked at him with that teasing gleam he knew so well. "What did you just say?" she asked innocently, though she knew perfectly well what he had just said.

Samy frowned, confused. "What? That you don’t need anyone else?"
Maëlle shook her head gently, her smile widening. "No, not that," she replied, her tone playful. "What you said right after."
Samy, still perplexed, took a moment to think. "That you have your family?" he tried, still uncertain.
Maëlle fixed her gaze on him, her eyes sparkling with amusement. "Nope," she said, inching a little closer, her fingers playing lightly with the hem of his shirt. "You said... that I have those who love me."
Samy raised an eyebrow, now aware of where the conversation was heading. "Yes, that’s what I said," he replied softly, his smile growing shyer.
Maëlle tilted her head, her eyes locked on his. "And... could you repeat that? I mean... who really loves me?" she asked, her voice gentle but full of hidden meaning.
Samy finally understood what she was getting at. He bit the inside of his cheek, feeling a warmth rise in his cheeks. Maëlle’s mischievous yet affectionate gaze completely disarmed him.

After a brief moment of silence, he lowered his head as if to hide his embarrassment, then softly murmured, "Me... I love you."

Maëlle, satisfied, smiled broadly. That was exactly what she had been waiting for. She gently raised a hand to his face, making him lift his head to look her in the eyes. "I love you too," she whispered before kissing him tenderly.

Even after that tender moment, Samy remained a bit flustered by his own words, but Maëlle held him even tighter, showing that she wanted nothing more than to be with him, here and now.

After their sweet moment of intimacy, Samy and Maëlle headed to the dining room to join the rest of the family. As soon as they walked in, knowing glances and teasing smiles were quick to appear. Victor, Sacha, and Daniel had, of course, already taken their seats and seemed ready with a series of jibes.

"Oh, here come the stars of the moment!" Victor exclaimed, feigning surprise. "So, how does it feel to walk hand in hand under the spotlight?"

Sacha immediately chimed in, his mischievous grin fixed on his face. "I didn’t know we were getting a free photoshoot at the farm! You should have told us, I would’ve brought my camera."

Maëlle rolled her eyes, trying to hide her amusement, but Samy turned slightly red. He wasn’t used to all this attention, and certainly not to being the center of it for something so personal. "Oh yeah," added Daniel with exaggerated flair, "and to think I always thought bodyguards were supposed to stay discreet... but here you are, Samy, all over the screens!"

"We might as well say he’s the one becoming a prince at this rate," Sacha added with a wink at Maëlle.

Maëlle burst out laughing before responding, playing along, "Careful, you’re going to scare him off with all this teasing!"

But Sacha, always the most playful, wasn’t done yet. "Tell me, Samy," he said, leaning in closer, "what’s it like being the chosen one of the princess? You must be hiding some special talents, right? To have her pick you over everyone else?"

Samy, already quite flushed, tried to respond, but the words seemed stuck in his throat. Maëlle, amused by his embarrassment, decided to come to his rescue. "He doesn’t need to prove anything to you," she said, squeezing Samy’s hand a little tighter. "He already proves everything I need."

Her words had an immediate effect. The tone shifted slightly, the boys calming down a bit, though their smiles lingered on their faces. Samy, still a bit embarrassed, finally managed a smile, grateful for Maëlle’s support. "Alright, alright," Sacha said, raising his hands in mock surrender, "we’ll stop, but just for today! No promises for tomorrow."

Maëlle laughed again, and while casting a tender glance at Samy, she led him to a chair, ready to enjoy the meal despite the brothers' incessant teasing. Their laughter echoed through the dining room, and for a moment, the outside world seemed distant, enveloping them in a bubble of happiness and togetherness.