LOVE IN PARIS: Married To My Brother-in-law-Chapter 116: Perfection?

He gripped the steering wheel tightly. "Yeah. It’s about that."

"Why are people so mean?". She asked, her voice small. "Why can’t they just mind their business. Sister must be feeling so bad . Are we heading to her place already?"

"Yes". He sighed.

" Our teacher once said online bullying is the worst thing that an ever happen to someone, I’m so scared and they’re saying terrible things about her, why do they even get to make a comment on your affair it’s just so rude and unreasonable ". She added.

"That’s the other side of being famous, I guess. The disadvantage of fame ". He replied, clenching his hands which was lm the steering wheel even tighter.

"Don’t let them get away with it."

"I won’t". He promised. "Just... trust me." He said each word clearly and full on intentions like he was making a solemn vow to himself rather than just replying her.

They drove in silence for a few moments before he then asked quietly, "Where exactly did Dani went to ?"

"She said she has an urgent errand to run for Sister at the market so she left for the market immediately school was over" . Linda replied. "I just hope she hasn’t seen or heard about this from anywhere, she’ll be so sad".

Tyrell sighed but said nothing more and Linda also kept quiet throughout the ride.

__________

Yvette paced the length of her living room, her phone gripped tightly in her hand. Her heart raced as she dialed Leila’s number for the fifth time in the last hour.

Ring.

Voicemail.

She bit her lip in frustration. "Pick up, Leila. Just please, pick up". She whispered as she paced worriedly to and fro in the huge living room. "Please."

With a sigh, she scrolled through her contacts and pressed Tyrell’s number. The call connected after a few rings.

"Yvette?" . Tyrell answered almost immediately, his voice tense.

"Tyrell!". She blurted, the panic evident. "I can’t reach Leila anywhere. I’ve been calling her all afternoon, and her phone’s off."

He let out a sharp breath. "I know. I’ve been trying too. She’s not answering."

"She was so happy the last time I saw her". She said, her voice breaking. "And now, with everything online, I—"

"I’m on my way to her place right now, so calm down" . He cut in. "I’ll check on her. Don’t worry, Yvette and I’ll get back to you."

"I’m worried, Tyrell". She whispered. "She’s been through so much. She hides it, but... she’s fragile. Don’t let her shut herself away."

"I won’t, i promise" . He promised. "I’ll find her."

__________

Tyrell’s car screeched to a halt outside Leilas apartment complex. He jumped out, his heart pounding like a hammer.

The late afternoon sun cast long shadows across the pavement, but he barely noticed. Every second mattered.

He bounded up the stairs two at a time, dread pooling in his chest and when he reached her door, he knocked hard, the sound echoing through the narrow hallway.

"Leila ! It’s me!". He called, his voice filled with urgency.

Nothing.

"Leila !" He tried again, louder this time.

No answer.

"She’s probably asleep or just hiding from us" . Linda who had just caught up with his speed offered.

But he shook his head, worry deepening the lines on his face. "She’s hurting."

He knocked again, more insistently.

"Leila, I know you’re in there and I’m not leaving until I see you."

He pressed his ear to the door and was greeted by nothing but silence.

Pulling out his phone, he dialed her number one more time. His heart sank as he heard the faint sound of her phone buzzing inside, followed by the click of it going straight to voicemail.

"Damn it". He muttered, slamming a hand against the door. He pressed the doorbell repeatedly.

Still, nothing.

Just as he was at the brink of frustration, the crunching sounds of footsteps behind him caught his attention and he turned to see Leila’s younger sister Dani behind him, her school bag slung over one shoulder, her eyes wide with concern as she took jn the sight before her.

"Brother, what’s happening?". She asked, her voice small and edged with worry.

"Hey, how’re you?". He greeted, trying to keep his voice calm so as not to worry her. "Are you just getting home?"

She nodded. "Yes. Is Leila okay? . Is something wrong or are you two fighting?. She asked turning to face Linda who was secretly wiping away the tears cresting in her eyes.

He knelt to her level, his eyes softening. "I’m trying to get in to check on her. The door’s locked from the inside, and she’s not answering."

Linda walked besides her and held her hands, eyes filled with worry. "She’s not answering me either."

"Do you know where she keeps a spare key or how we can get in, it’s kind of urgent?". He asked.

The girl hesitated, glancing down at her feet and trying to keep up bits and pieces to understand what was happening. Her sister wasn’t always like this.

"Dani?" . Linda called and she raised her head up as she answered, gazing curiously at Linda who immediately shufed away from her gaze .

"She used to keep one in a flowerpot behind the stairs for me. But I don’t know if it’s still there."

"Let’s find out then". Tyrell said almost immediately and standing up, filled with a certain level of hope as he prayed under his breath to find the key.

Together, they walked to the staircase just a few feet from the apartment door. Tyrell crouched, his eyes scanning the dusty flowerpot nestled against the wall.

He reached inside, his fingers brushing against cold metal and he sighed in relief, his face lighting up with a smile immediately.

"Got it". He said, holding up the key.

The girl’s face lit with a small measure of relief and Linda asked Dani "Will it work?" .

"I hope so." She shrugged her shoulder, still confused about what was happening.

Back at the door, he slid the key into the lock. His heart thudded as he turned it, the door clicking open and he exhaled sharply, stepping inside.

The apartment was dark and still, the curtains drawn tight against the sunlight, it usual warmth overshadowed by an oppressive silence

A faint scent of jasmine hung in the air, but the silence was suffocating. His heart raced as his eyes swept through the dimly lit living room almost immediately searching for that familiar face but then realize she wasn’t there.

No sign of her at all.

"Leila?". He called out, his voice sharp and urgent however there was no response.

"She must be in her room". Dani whispered behind him as she trailed after him.

"Okay" . He replied her as he glanced over his shoulder, he then added. "You two should go do your homework, okay? I’ll go check on her myself."

Dani nodded reluctantly. "You’ll tell me if she’s okay?"

"I promise." He smiled , patting her head.

She gave him one last look before retreating to her room with Linda, the sound of their footsteps fading.

As soon as the girls moved out of sight, he moved quickly, the floor creaking beneath his feet as he approached her bedroom door.

His pulse pounded in his ears, the weight of his fear making the air feel heavy. He grasped the handle, but the door gave way easily—it wasn’t locked.

He pushed it open.

And there she was.

Leila was standing by the window, her silhouette outlined by the soft, fading light of the afternoon.

Her arms hung limply at her sides, her head slightly bowed as she stared out aimlessly at the busy street below.

The window was open just a crack, letting in a cool breeze that stirred the curtains and brushed against her hair. She looked fragile, as though a gust of wind might break her apart.

"Leila!" . He breathed, relief flooding his voice as he rushed into the room, taking a moment to catch his breath.

She didn’t turn.

She didn’t move.

"Liela". He whispered again, immediately crossing across the room in three urgent strides, stepping behind her and wrapping his arms around her waist, pulling her against him.

He held her tightly, as if trying to bind her to himself.

"I was so worried. You didn’t pick up. You didn’t answer the door..."

She sighed softly, leaning into his embrace. "My phone died, the battery ran out". She murmured. "And I didn’t hear the bell, I’m sorry."

His grip tightened. "You got me so scared, I was so worried". He whispered. "Don’t ever do that again."

"I’m sorry". She said, her voice so quiet it was almost swallowed by the breeze.

She shifted slightly, composing herself as she straightened her shoulders. "I didn’t mean to worry you."

When she finally turned around, her eyes met his. She wore a practiced smile, small and composed, as if everything was normal.

But her eyes told the truth—red-rimmed and filled with a storm of emotions.

"I’m fine, really". She said lightly, forcing a chuckle. "You didn’t have to—"

"Stop". He interrupted, his hands cradling her face. "You’re not fine, Leila" .

His thumbs brushed her cheeks gently, his touch tender. "Don’t do that. Don’t pretend with me, just cry it all out if you want to."

But her eyes told the truth—red-rimmed and filled with a storm of emotions.

"I’m fine, really". She said lightly, forcing a chuckle. "You didn’t have to—"

"Stop". He interrupted, his hands cradling her face. "You’re not fine, Leila" .

His thumbs brushed her cheeks gently, his touch tender. "Don’t do that. Don’t pretend with me, just cry it all out if you want to."