LOVE IN PARIS: Married To My Brother-in-law-Chapter 117: Solace

"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."

At his words, her breath caught in her throat, leaving her carefully built facade crumbling into unredeemable pieces right by before her and she did just as he’d said, crying it all out, the pent up frustration and words she’d been enduring all along, she just wanted to be free of them and he was like her solace gently patting her head , whispering words of comfort as she cried it all out.

"I’m here, just let it all out and you’ll feel unbothered". He whispered gently against her ears as he patted her hair gently. "I love you. Just as you are. Always and that will never change Leila ,it will never fade or fail nor change."

After a while of crying, her body felt limp and exhausted and she rested on him for support. Finally after fumbling with the right choice of words, h er lips quivered. "Tyrell..."

"I don’t care what’s happening online, Leila. I don’t give a damned shit about whatever it is that they are saying" . He continued firmly as if on cue about what she was just about to say. "None of that matters to me and it shouldn’t do to you either, I’ve got you. We’ll figure it out. Together . I’ll find a way to stop it."

A bitter laugh escaped her lips as he concluded his sentence.

She shook her head, her eyes filled with a mixture of pain and resignation. "You make it sound like it’s just a rumor that can be stopped by presenting evidence but we both , no it’s we all know that it’s not a rumor, it’s reality Tyrell".

She said, her voice cracking. "What they said... it’s true, I’m not the best one for you."

His brows furrowed as he placed his slender finger on her lips, silencing her from saying any further. "No, it’s not. Leila believe me. This is my own very affair and I think only I have the right to decide for us, only we do so please believe I’m us. Their words doesn’t matter".

"Yes, it does. Every single sentence matters. You know, all a woman wants to be is to be perfect for her man but I.... .!". She burst out, stepping back from his touch.

"I’m not beautiful. I’m not thin. I don’t have that perfect figure, I’m just . . . This. I’m not the woman people expect to see on your arm and you know what, hey’re right, Tyrell. Look at me!" . She concluded, gesturing at herself from her head to her toes and giving him a self deprecating smile.

However Tyrell reached out for her hands, clasping it tightly in his as he said to her calmly.

"I am looking at you, Leila". He said fiercely but calmly and clearly, each words well enuciated. "And all I see is the woman I love, the one I want forever with, regardless of everything."

Tears streamed down her face as she clenched her fists, melting under his words.

"But you don’t understand. This will hurt you. It already is! Your career, it will go downhill because of me. Trust me, I been in this line of work for years and I’ve seen several situation like this. It’s going to be bad, you’re going to loose it all if you persist and that’s don’t want to happen. We’ve already gotten to this point, just deny our relationship, you can say that we’re merely colleagues and the pictures were . . Just say something and that way, your career will have a chance and I’ll be happy as long as you’re happy . . ."

"Forget my career!". He snapped, interrupting her mid sentence. "Forget the damn shit, I don’t care".

She stared at him in shock, stunned at his sudden outburst. "What . . What . . ."

His chest heaved with emotion as he took her hands in his, hie eyes locked onto hers.

"If I can’t even keep the woman I love, how can I keep anything else, how am I worthy to be called a man if I sweep my woman under the carpet just for some god-damned unreasonable excuse or for a career? My career doesn’t mean a damn thing if I lose you Leila."

Her voice trembled as she tried to argue with him, to find the right words to defend herself, to defend her point.

"But you’ve worked so hard for this, for your career. You’ve sacrificed way so much. You’re finally going international, and now this..."

"I know". He said softly, his thumbs tracing circles on her hands as his other hand wioed away her tears.

"I know how hard I’ve worked. I know what’s at stake. I’ve achieved all I want, gotten the medals I deserve, enjoyed the fame. But I also know what’s real. This . .". He paused and squeezed her hands. "This is real. You are real. Leila, we are real. And I’m not going to deny that."

"Tyrell.."

"I won’t pretend you don’t matter. I won’t lie to make things easier. We’re in a relationship. That’s the truth, and I won’t hide it." He said in all go, melting all the defense she’s built all afternoon.

Her tears came faster now, and a sob escaped her lips and she clung to him, burying her face in his chest as she sobbed.

"I’m scared, I’m so scared". She whispered.

"I know". He whispered back, his hand stroking her hair. "But we’ll get through it. Together."

"I don’t want to hurt you, I don’t want to be the cause of your pain or loss". She sobbed.

"You won’t."

"But what if I already have?". She sobbed even harder as she held the hem of his shirt tighter.

He however smiled and kissed the top of her head. "Then we’ll heal together."

She clung tighter, her words muffled against his chest. "It’s my fault..."

"No". He said firmly. "None of this is your fault. People are cruel because they’re small. That has nothing to do with you."

He comforted her calmly and gently when even he himself was feeling just as bad as she did, the words and comment made him mad and broke his heart but her tears shattered it, he didn’t ever want to see her crying, he felt hurt as the tears streamed down her cheeks, he felt hurt so bad like someone was twisting a knife in his heart. He just wanted to protect her and make her happy and safe , loved and cherished.

She lifted her head, her eyes searching his and then she sniffed. "But they’ll keep talking. They’ll keep judging each and every one of our every move."

"Let them keep doing whatsoever it is that they do best, let then do whatsoever make them feels better". He said quietly. "As long as you love me, as long as I’m the only one your eyes look at, I’m satisfied and nothing else matters."

Her breath hitched at his words and she sniffed back the tears threatening to fall in heavy downpour. "I do love you."

"And I love you too Leila. I will till I breath no more." He replied and kissed her forehead ever so gently and tenderly.

For a moment, neither of them spoke relishing in the silence, away from the storm just outside of the door.

She pressed her face into his shoulder, her tears soaking into his shirt as she cried and he held her, tightly in his embrace, comforting her and whispering words of comfort.

His hand moved in slow, soothing strokes over her back, his other arm wrapped protectively around her, just like he would shield her from anything.

Finally, she whispered. "I don’t know how to be strong enough for this."

"You don’t have to be" . He murmured. "Just let me love you. That’s enough."

.

For a moment, neither of them spoke relishing in the silence, away from the storm just outside of the door.

She pressed her face into his shoulder, her tears soaking into his shirt as she cried and he held her, tightly in his embrace, comforting her and whispering words of comfort.

His hand moved in slow, soothing strokes over her back, his other arm wrapped protectively around her, just like he would shield her from anything.

Finally, she whispered. "I don’t know how to be strong enough for this."

"You don’t have to be" . He murmured. "Just let me love you. That’s enough."

.