For Better And For Worse
Chapter 79

MEXICO

In his room, Krist takes a piece of paper and writes his wife’s number on it. He stands ready at the time Shan was supposed to come for their training. When Shan arrives, Gordjo sends his maid to call Krist. He holds the paper folded tightly in his hand and when he shakes Shan’s hand, he leaves the paper in his hand. The latter puts his hand directly in his pocket after the greeting to leave the paper there. They then go down to the basement to practice while talking.

Shan: what did you give me?

Krist: My wife’s number. I would like you to call him and just tell him that I’m alive and that I’m doing everything I can to come back and explain everything to him. Will you do this for me?

Shan: If you beat Fing tomorrow, I’ll be really proud of you and I’ll call your wife.

Krist: thank you very much, be sure I will win.

Shan: Are you so sure?

Krist: yes, I have a very good trainer.

He smiles at her and they continue the training.

DOTTAN.

Isabelle’s home.

The doorbell rings and Isabelle goes to open it. She is surprised and shocked to see the person, Miss Claire.

Isabelle: What are you doing at my house?

Claire: I came to apologize to you, Isabelle, and to offer you my condolences. I didn’t want to hurt you out of sadism, Isabelle, but it was because I was truly in love with your husband, except that he was a man who felt unreserved love for his wife and that he was a truly faithful man. Thanks to you two, I now believe that true love really does exist and that with a little luck, we can replace it. I’m sorry for all the hurt I inflicted on you Isabelle, forgive me!

Isabelle: ok, if you are sincere, then I forgive you.

Claire: thank you Isabelle, thank you very much. You have such a big heart. I offer my sincere condolences for your husband.

Isabelle: thank you.

Claire: Well, goodbye.

She leaves and Isabelle goes to her parents.

Hair salon.

Célestin missed Stella very much, he had to see her so he went to their house but there was no one there. He then goes to the hair salon by chance and replaces her.

Célestin: good evening Stella!

Stella: good evening sir, do you need a hairstyle?

Célestin: no, I came just to see you.

Stella: why master?

Célestin: I miss you so much Stella, I can’t sleep well or work well, I’m completely disoriented.

Stella: it was you who ended our relationship for the sake of your son Célestin, not me.

Célestin: I know and I shouldn’t have.

Stella: and now what do you want?

Célestin: I… I don’t know but I’m sure of one thing, I don’t want to lose you.

Stella: you can’t keep your ex and your child and also keep me Célestin, it’s impossible. You’re going to have to make a choice, either it’s them, or it’s me.

Célestin: Mélanie knows that I don’t love him so you and I can always continue our relationship and when the child is grown up, Mélanie will leave and we could get married.

Stella: no, I can’t accept that, it might suit you but not me… stay with your family Célestin, forget me and I’ll do the same. Good evening.

Célestin: I’m sorry.

He leaves and she watches him leave. He gets in his car to leave and she watches him until he disappears from sight. So she returns to her living room crying bitterly. It took a customer to arrive to wipe her tears and serve her.

Bruno’s home.

This evening, Isabelle goes to her parents to talk to them about her marriage. Having already notified them, they arranged to be home on time to receive her and hear what she had to say. After the formalities, they begin the real discussion.

Bruno: so my darling, what was so important for you to tell us?

Isabelle: I’m going to get married, well, get married again!

Florence (surprised): what?

Bruno: I… I don’t understand…?

Isabelle: However, I am very clear, I am going to remarry.

Bruno (smile): hum, it’s certainly a joke…

Isabelle: you should be happy, no dad, that’s what you’ve always wanted, right?

Bruno: no, that’s not how I wanted you to remarry.

Florence: but darling, your husband only died a month ago and you have already found his replacement, were you cheating on him?

Isabelle: no, of course not… but there was a man who made advances towards me but whom I had refused but now, for the sake of my child, I must marry him, he needs a father.

Florence: that’s not a reason to get married, we marry for love and not for a child or whatever…

Isabelle: I know what I’m doing, mom, so don’t worry about me. The first time you refused to attend my wedding but now I just ask you to be my witnesses.

Bruno: are you sure of your decision?

Isabelle: sure and certain dad, so you agree to be my witnesses?

Bruno: I’ll let your mom decide.

Florence: darling, can I talk to you behind closed doors?

Isabelle looks at her father.

Bruno: go ahead!

They therefore retire to the bedroom to discuss.

Florence: tell me what’s going on my darling, I know you and this decision to marry you can’t come from you so talk to me…

Isabelle remains silent.

Florence: I am your mother, you can trust me.

Isabelle: I already told you why I’m getting married, mom.

Florence: well I don’t believe you and as long as I don’t know the real reasons, I can’t be your witness.

She begins to cry and falls into the arms of her mother who consoles her. She then tells him everything that happened with Séverin and what she plans to do after the wedding.

Florence: very good, if you think you can make his life impossible then I will be your witness.

Isabelle: thank you mom.

Florence: I’m so sorry for everything that’s happening to you my darling, you don’t deserve all of this.

They return to Bruno.

Florence: it’s okay, we’re going to be his witnesses.

Bruno: okay.

Bruno looks really sad for his daughter.

Florence: actually, when is the wedding?

Isabelle: next Friday.

Florence and Bruno: what, so close?

Isabelle: Séverin has decided so.

Florence: but no mayor can celebrate such a wedding?

Isabelle: have you ever seen an honest civil servant on this earth, mother?

The maid gives them food and Isabelle returns home. She replaces Stella very sad and she tells her what happened with Célestin.

Stella: I wanted it, but I couldn’t accept his proposal.

Isabelle: you did well not to accept it, it suits him more than you. Accepting would be like agreeing to be his second office.

Stella: yes, it’s a lack of respect.

Isabelle: it’s going to be okay, he’s not the man of your life.

MEXICO

Krist and Shan finish their training around 9 p.m. They join Gordjo in the living room.

Shan: I think he’s ready to face Fing.

Gordjo: I’m sure of it. Here, your salary.

He gives her an envelope which he looks at and is satisfied with.

Shan: thank you very much Mr. Gordjo.

Gordjo: no, thank you Shan. Come on, let’s eat.

So they eat a delicious meal before Shan goes home. Krist is therefore ready for his fight tomorrow. On the way, Shan was stopped by three guys who took him by surprise and put a black hood over his head. They put him in their car and take him to the fitness club and take him to a room where Jin Fing is. They make him kneel in front of him before removing the hood.

Shan: Fing, why doesn’t this surprise me?

Fing: I hear you’re training Krist to beat me?

Shan: ah, so you’re so afraid of him, you’re starting to lose confidence in yourself it seems.

He picks him up and punches him violently in the stomach.

Fing: you know that if you’re not with me, you’re against me and I don’t like people being against me.

He gives him another blow which makes him kneel.

Fing: search it!

They search him and take his envelope, his phone and the number that Krist had put in his pocket. They hand everything over to Fing. The latter counts the money and it comes to $10,000.

Fing: $10,000! Hum! Whose number is this?

Shan: It’s none of your business.

Fing: oh well, so you don’t need it.

He tears the paper where the number is located into small pieces. He then throws her phone at her.

Fing: woe to you if you do something to harm me. I keep that (the money). Get out!

Shan gets up and leaves.