For Better And For Worse
Chapter 56

Bayoko approaches Krist who is training with Léo.

Leo: here comes Bayoko.

Two of his men accompany him.

Bayoko: have you decided to participate in the fights after all?

Krist: Yes. I had an urgent urge to kick your a*s.

Bayoko (laughing): that’s what we’ll see. I’m glad you decided to participate.

Bayoko leaves and Francis replaces him.

Francis: hi Krist, so you take part in the fights?

Krist: Yes.

Francis: listen, I’m going out in a month. I know important people out there. I can get you out just as easily if you agree to do business with me.

Krist: I told you I’m not interested.

Francis: ok, too bad.

Krist’s home.

Around 11 a.m., Stella leaves the living room to return home. Shortly after, two men brought flowers, Christmas trees, strings of lights and lots of other things for Christmas decorations. Stella has them decorate the top of the gate by putting a little decoration on the walls. They also decorated the entrance to the living room as well as the interior of the house. After that, she pays them and they leave. As for her, she returns to the hair salon to continue working.

Also at Bruno’s home, his wife places an order and also decorates his house for Christmas.

Prison.

Maître Célestin visits Krist and updates him on the progress of the investigation into Gauthier.

Célestin: I have some more or less good news Krist.

Krist: I’m listening to you.

Célestin: according to Commander Boris, they infiltrated Gauthier’s network. They now know where his drugs are stored and who manages them but they need him to be present on the scene before intervening.

Krist: What if he never shows up?

Célestin: I don’t know but I know that sooner or later, he will show up to see how his business is going.

Krist: and in the meantime, what do I do? After tomorrow it’s Christmas and I’m where I shouldn’t be, leaving my wife all alone.

Célestin: I’m sorry Krist, but you need to be a little more patient.

Krist: thanks for the info master.

Célestin: there’s nothing wrong! Courage.

He leaves it and leaves.

Célestin’s home.

Maître Célestin comes home and replaces his brother preparing lunch. They eat together and he returns to work after saying goodbye to his brother who will be leaving this evening. Around 4 p.m., Séraphin calls Clarisse who joins him. Stella tells herself that Célestin would be home at this time and would like to surprise him by accepting his marriage proposal so she goes to his house. The door was unlocked. Not thinking she had found anyone other than Célestin, she entered and what a misfortune, she saw Séraphin and Clarisse making love in the living room. For her, it is Célestin who is there with another woman. She almost had a heart attack. She was leaving when Séraphin sees her.

Seraphim: oh!

She leaves crying and gets back on her motorcycle to leave, her heart broken into a million pieces. As for them, they continue to work.

Clarisse: who was it?

Seraph: no idea.

After their work, Clarisse accompanies Séraphin to the airport and he goes to his parents in the provinces. As for Stella, she enters her room and does nothing but cry. Shortly after, Isabelle comes home. Having seen the decoration as soon as she entered the house, she was dazzled. The door was open so she walks in and goes inside. Here again she was more moved. She doesn’t see anyone. She calls Stella but she doesn’t answer. She goes to the kitchen but still no one. She continues to call Stella to no avail. So she goes to her room and replaces her curled up on her at the foot of the bed. Eyes red with tears. It’s the first time she’s experienced disappointment in love, it’s worse than anything. Isabelle was really touched seeing her in this state.

Isabelle: oh my God, Stella! What did this to you?

She falls into his arms, completely discharging herself.

Isabelle: it’s okay, it’s okay, I’m here, I’m here my darling!

She lets her cry enough that she needs to before arguing.

Isabelle: what happened to you Stella?

Stella: I don’t know what’s happening to me Isabelle, I feel like my heart has been ripped out and my breathing is becoming difficult. It looks like I’m going to die Isabelle.

Isabelle: oh darling, it was Célestin who did this to you! Nothing hurts more than a romantic disappointment. I wish it never happened to you. But there is never love without disappointment. Tell me what happened.

Stella: I went to his house this evening, I was so happy because I was going to say yes to him. But when I arrived I found him making love to another girl Isabelle, my heart almost gave out.

Isabelle: oh my God, Célestin didn’t do that! He seemed responsible and honest though!

Stella: I saw it with my own eyes Isabelle, I will never be able to forget this image.

Isabelle: if you know how sorry I am for you Stella.

Stella: why is he doing this to me, Isabelle? He never asked me to sleep with him so why did he act like I refused to sleep with him?

Isabelle: I don’t know. He should be the one to ask the question.

Stella: I never want to see him again in my entire life Isabelle, never again. Otherwise I might kill him.

Isabelle: I’m sorry.

She hugs her again.

Isabelle: He really ruined the party before the party. However, I loved your decorations, it was a wonderful surprise.

Stella: I’m sorry.

Isabelle: no, no, it doesn’t matter. It’ll be OK.

Someone rings the doorbell and Isabelle decides to open it. She faces Séverin.

Séverin: good evening Isabelle.

Isabelle: hello, please come in

Séverin: thank you. Looks like everything is ready for Christmas at your house?

Isabelle: we can say that. It’s Stella’s job.

Séverin: wow, this is really excellent work.

Isabelle: yes, you are absolutely right.

They enter the living room.

Séverin: where is she, I must congratulate her.

Isabelle: unfortunately, she cannot be available. Her boyfriend cheated on her with someone else, she is heartbroken.

Séverin: oh, I’m sorry for her. She’s a good girl who doesn’t deserve this.

Isabelle: we agree. I just got back, I’m getting ready to prepare.

Séverin: can I help you?

Isabelle: okay.

So they go to the kitchen. Séverin helps him with some tasks while chatting. Having nothing more to do, he sits down to watch her. Instinctively, he stands up and sticks behind her, wrapping his arms around her waist, his chin resting on her right shoulder. Isabelle reacted negatively.

Isabelle: hey, what’s wrong with you?

Séverin: I’m sorry Isabelle, I don’t know what happened to me. Suddenly I saw you as my wife making dinner and I acted on instinct. I’m sorry.

Isabelle: I didn’t like it.

Séverin: I know, I am sincerely sorry. I think what I feel for you goes way beyond friendship Isabelle. I think I’m in love with you.

Isabelle: are you in love with me?

Séverin: yes, I feel something very strong for you, something that can only be love.

Isabelle: I am a married woman Séverin and to be honest, I like you, I like you a lot but that’s it. Between you and me, it can only be friendship, nothing more.

Séverin: why, you and I get along well, we have a lot in common, we can be husband and wife.

Isabelle: it’s completely impossible Séverin, I’m not a free woman and you know it.

Séverin: yes but sometimes the heart does not understand the reason.

Isabelle: It was necessary though. If you value our friendship, you must quickly forget this feeling.

Séverin: I don’t know if I could do it.

Isabelle: I have to.

He stared at her for a moment without saying anything.

Isabelle: what!

Séverin: Damn, how beautiful you are!

Isabelle: can you let me work?

Séverin: ok, I’m in the living room.

He returns to the living room, leaving her alone to cook. A few moments later, she finishes her preparation and goes to see Stella but she has no appetite at all. So she returns to Séverin to eat together. He just stared at her.

Isabelle: can you stop looking at me like that?

Séverin: sorry, it’s stronger than me. Hum, everything you are and you do is always perfect Isabelle. This dish is truly delicious!

Isabelle: listen Séverin, if you don’t want our friendship to break up then respect me as a married woman. But if you don’t value our friendship, you can walk out the door.

Séverin: I will settle for the first option.

Isabelle: well, then let me be clear. No inappropriate compliments and no inappropriate gestures.

Séverin: I understood.

After dinner, Séverin returns home. Isabelle goes to see Stella and tries to cheer her up by telling her about her first disappointment in love.

Isabelle: you know, the first time I had my heart broken was in middle school. Krist was very handsome and very intelligent; a lot of girls wanted him and I knew it but when I saw him kissing another girl I couldn’t stand it.

Stella: so you too had gone through moments of disappointment, who would have believed it?

Isabelle: of course Stella, true love always travels a fairly difficult path but the key is communication and forgiveness.

Stella: kissing is different from sleeping together Isabelle, I can’t forgive him like that. I might never even get there because this image will never leave my mind. I believe he and I are not meant to be together.

Isabelle: don’t say that, time always heals broken hearts, it could make things right. But refusing to eat won’t help anything at all. Come on, you need to eat something.

This is how she managed to convince her to go eat.

Somewhere in town.

John was dressed as a vigilante and went to a bar where Corneille’s men often sold drugs. He sees two guys arriving and he hides to wait for them. As soon as they passed him a little, he attacked me from behind and disarmed them before beating them properly, taking their bags and leaving.