I started this chapter a while ago and I forgot about it... and I continued the story... since I don't like my ideas to go to waste, here is a flashback chapter!
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Terrence Grandchester was in bad shape. His life didn't make any sense anymore... His Snow-White had left him so he could take care of a colleague obsessed with him. But life didn't make any sense without her. He remembered their meeting on the Titanic, she was a third class passenger, and he didn't care, because as soon as she appeared, his live lit up and he was feeling alive. When he looked at Susanna, he was dying inside, because she was not what he wanted. That moral debt was too expensive for him to pay, according to him. He was drinking more than he should. He had to celebrate his engagement, to be at peace with Susanna... But he was unable to decide himself. He took the train for Chicago...
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Candy when she heard Terry's voice, was brought back years behind... before she left America...
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I don't wanna talk
About things we've gone through
Though it's hurting me
Now it's history
I've played all my cards
And that's what you've done too
Nothing more to say
No more ace to play
The winner takes it all
The loser's standing small
Beside the victory
That's her destiny
I was in your arms
Thinking I belonged there
I figured it made sense
Building me a fence
Building me a home
Thinking I'd be strong there
But I was a fool
Playing by the rules
The gods may throw the dice
Their minds as cold as ice
And someone way down here
Loses someone dear
The winner takes it all
The loser has to fall
It's simple and it's plain
Why should I complain?
But tell me does she kiss
Like I used to kiss you?
Does it feel the same
When she calls your name?
Somewhere deep inside
You must know I miss you
But what can I say?
Rules must be obeyed
The judges will decide
The likes of me abide
Spectators of the show
Always staying low
The game is on again
A lover or a friend
A big thing or a small
The winner takes it all
I don't wanna talk
If it makes you feel sad
And I understand
You've come to shake my hand
I apologize
If it makes you feel bad
Seeing me so tense
No self-confidence
But you see
The winner takes it all
The winner takes it all...
Candy was in the big bedroom in the Chicago Manor, crying her eyes out. She was asking herself how she found the strength to leave, to leave her heart, to leave her soul, to leave Terry... Life was unfair. After the Titanic, after everything she has lost and found, she had lost Terry for good. She was feeling sick and she was refusing to eat, but she had to force herself and she saw that she was feeling better.
Her friends were there and they were consoling her the best way they could. Eliza tried to go see the great aunt to have Candy thrown out.
- But Aunt Elroy, she's a disgrace! She was living in sin with a man!
- Eliza, Candy is sick, I am not going to throw her out! What would people say? That we adopt orphans to repudiate them when they're sick?
- But Aunt Elroy...
- William adopted her and... Anthony loved her and she survived the Titanic... she's staying here!
Mrs. Regan arrived followed by her son.
- Aunt Elroy, said Sara
- Sarah, I've made my decision...
- What would people say?
- That we're a family full of compassion? Candy is sick and she's going to stay here. William adopted her! That's final!
- She was living in sin with a man!
- She invested her money well, in diverse charity cases, she opened a daycare for working moms ...
- But aunt Elroy, women in our families don't work...
- Thousands of women work, and it's good to see that our family is contributing in helping those young mothers...
- But aunt Elroy...
- Sarah, this discussion is over. I'm going to go take a nap...
The Reagans couldn't do anything to Candy, who, fortunately was now in peace. But she continued crying over her lost love and she was still sick.
The great aunt was worried. Albert learned that Candy was sick and he decided to come out of his shade and go see her.
- Mr. Albert? Said Candy
- How are you little one?
- I feel like I'm dying, said Candy crying, I miss him so much!
- What happened?
Candy told him everything. Georges had told Albert everything that was going on when he got his memory back a few days ago. Albert console her the best way he could, but Candy couldn't stop crying, The doctor came to see her...
- Miss Andrew, you have a bad case of the flu, you have to take care of yourself...
- Yes doctor
- There's something else...
- Yes doctor?
- You're pregnant...
- What? Oh my God!
She burst into tears.
- You have to be strong Miss Andrew, otherwise you're going to lose your baby...
- All right doctor, Thank you.
- I'm prescribing you some vitamins... medicine is bad for the baby...
- Thank you doctor
- Good bye...
- Good bye doctor
Albert came back in the room...
- Oh Albert!
- Is everything all right?
- No, but what are you doing here? You won't be in trouble?
- No, because this is my home...
- What?
- Yes, I'm the great uncle William Candy
Candy opened her eyes wide. Aunt Elroy knocked on the door and entered the room and she was surprised.
- William? OH my God! You're back?
- Yes, aunt Elroy... I came to see my daughter
- Oh... she's sick...
- And you kept the Reagan away from her! Thank you very much...
- Anthony loved her... he would've wanted me to be nice to her, especially after the Titanic, which I feel guilty for listening to Sarah and her children...
Candy looked at Albert with big eyes.
- You're the great Uncle William?
- And your adoptive father...
- Oh my God!
- Calm down Candy, I'm here... I'm going to take care of you...
Candy burst into tears again in Albert's arms... Aunt Elroy left them alone.
- What did the doctor said?
- That I was pregnant...
- Oh...
- Oh Albert, Terry wanted for us to get married, but he wanted to officially ask you for my hand in marriage... now... oh my God!
- It's going to be fine Candy. I'm here...
- What am I going to do?
- Well, you're going to start by taking care of yourself and the baby you're carrying...
- I'm not married...
- That's why we have to tell Terry...
- No!
- He is the father, is he not?
- Of course he is...
- So we have to tell him...
- But Susanna, she needs him, she saved his life...
- You've made a decision without having all the elements... Terry has to know that you're going to have his baby...
- But he's going to abandon Susanna...
- That's the right thing to do...
- No...
- Candy...
- No...I want to leave... leave America...
- But there's the war in Europe
- I can go where there's no war... In Asia, Australia, in Africa...
- Candy...
- Please Albert, I don't want to stay here...
- All right, I'm going to make arrangements
So Albert made arrangements for Candy to leave America. When Candy felt better, she was able to do some shopping before she left.
The day before she left for New York, her friends had a little party at the manor. Alistair took her aside.
- Candy, are you all right?
- Yes, Alistair, what about you?
- I was thinking about going to the war.
- Oh Alistair...
- But...I don't want to make Aunt Elroy said... risk my life... Anthony died so young... you almost died... like if precious, I'm not going to risk it because of sick head of states forcing us to kill each other!
- You're right, said Candy, I'm not going to go to Europe...
- Good...
Eliza arrived with a young man in uniform, she was proudly holding by the arm.
- Michael, here is my family, said Eliza, who apparently is celebrating something...
- Like Candy's departure, said Archie
- That's the best news so far! Good riddance! She's a bad luck charm...
- Eliza! Said Aunt Elroy, show more compassion for your cousin.
- But aunt Elroy...
- Enough! Behave yourself like a member of this family and stop insulting your cousin!
- Very well aunt Elroy... come on Michael
But Michael was looking around and he saw:
- Candy!
- Michael! Said Candy smiling
He approached her and hugged her. Eliza left angry! Another one under Candy's charm!!!
- What are you doing here?
- I came to see my family before I left
- Where are you going?
- I'm going to Asia...
- Straight?
- No, I'm going to change boat in France
- Perfect, because I'm leaving for France...
- Oh...
- We could go together
- All right... I need some air..., said Candy
- I'll come with you...
Candy went on the terrace with Michael.
- What happened with your fiancé?
- It's over between us, said Candy crying
Michael took her in his arms consoling her.
- Everything is going to be fine, don't worry, he said nicely, I'm going to take care of you...
- Oh Michael, I need you..., she said.
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In the bushed at the manor, Terry was looking at them heartbroken when he heard those words... He had made the trip to Chicago to hear that? Candyand Michael? What was he doing there? Didn't he have a duty to fufill? He didn't listen to the rest of the conversation and went back to New York, heartbroken and organized a reception for his engagement with Susanna...
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Candy left Chicago in tears with Michael. Her friends took her to the train station and they goodbyes were touching.
Candy spent the trip in Michael's arms, crying. She slept a lot too. She finally told Michael the truth.
- But that's crazy Candy! You can't leave without telling him!
- But...
- Think about yourself, about your baby, if you prefer, He or she deserve to have their father in their lives!
- Michael...
- You have to go see him Candy, at least try; if he wants to stay with Susanna, we'll take the boat and leave America...
- All right...
Candy manage to take his courage into her both hands and went to the theatre... and she saw Terry celebrating his engagement with Susanna, in her wheel chair, who was glowing of joy... Terry smiled... why spoil everything with his new fiancée? It was better for her to leave him alone...she went back to Michael...
- So?
- He's happy with her, said Candy crying.
- It's ok, said Michael hugging her.
So she left America with her good friend Michael, without knowing that a pair of blue-green eyes were looking at them heartbroken...
He went back to get drunk... he was going to marry a woman he didn't love. Like was unfair...
But the was an even that had changed the course of her live and it was time to reveal what that was...
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