With unsteady feet, I began to descend the stairs but when I reached down, I saw with dismay that the corridor leading to the lounge and Marc's study was in deep shadow and I had a distinct feeling that someone or something was watching me. “Argh………!” I give a barely suppressed scream as a hand gripped my shoulder and Marc's voice demanded.” Why are you here at this time of the night ?”“Don't ever do that again to me!” I said in a trembling voice, leaning my head weakly against the heavy panels of the door.“I am sorry if I startled you,” Marc said in a cold voice. “But as I said before why are you downstairs now, when everyone else is sleeping in their bedroom?”“I am not about to steal anything from your locker if that's what you're thinking!” I said bitterly my temper rising, as I faced Marc's arrogant figure, my earlier distress at the problems I had caused him evaporating in the light of cold reality.I realized that I had been hoping that Marc had some emotions left and I could tell him to give me my passport so that I could return to London but my hopes had been unrealistic.“I have a headache, and my big handbag complete with painkillers is in here. Now, do you mind if I get it? Or are you going to continue this interrogation all night?”Shaking his hands off my shoulders I walked towards the lounge to search for my bag, I was scared that he would take advantage of the situation as I was wearing nothing inside the flimsy recovering that I was wearing.Eagerly I picked up my handbag from where I had left it beside the coffee table, very much aware that Marc had not moved from his position by the door and was regarding me intensely from his eyes.“Can I go now? Or you want to search me.” I took out the medicine and showed it to him inside in mocking tones as he continued to block my exit.“Don't tempt me, Carmen!” He said harshly and I felt my legs begin to tremble alarmingly, as I realized that my words could be misunderstood as a direct invitation for the storm, as I tried to push forward away from his figure and walk towards my room, only to find my arms being held by him.“Don't worry Carmen, I'm not going to take you up on your generous offer !” He said grimly.“Why you conceited pig! Didn't you have enough in the afternoon?” I raised my free hand and would have slapped him fiercely on the cheek as he grabbed it with his own. He held me as I struggled for a moment and tried to read his expression which was unreadable in the dim light of the corridor.“You can stop struggling! As I've said you have nothing to fear from me.” He shrugged his broad shoulders and leaned his powerful body against the wall looking at my angry expression. I have a proposition to put to you. It would seem sensible to call a truce between us for the remainder of your stay here in Milan. I have to visit another Vineyard, on business tomorrow, I thought perhaps you would care to accompany me. It would give you the chance to see a little more of my country. We could ask Ria to come along with us too if my company would bore you to death.”“It's very kind and generous of you Marc,” I stammered awkwardly.” I would like to have to come but I have already promised Mathias and Ria that I would go with them to Naviglio tomorrow.”“So then that is settled.” Marc released my imprisoned hand straightening from his position and looked at me without expression.“Perhaps we could go later in the week.” I suggested tentatively.”“I don't think so , I have many business matters to attend to but do not let me detain you any longer Carmen! I expect Mathias wants to go early in the morning so you can go ahead and take a rest.” Marc said flatly.“Look Marc I would have liked to have come, honestly!” I said my anger against him feeding rapidly and I held his hand lightly.“ Carmen please excuse me, I'm feeling very sleepy. Marc put his arms firmly away from my touch and moved pointedly towards the stairs. “I have to wake up early in the morning tomorrow, I think we should both get some sleep. “I was shocked when I came back to my room as I realized that this is the first time we had parted ways peacefully. I fell asleep surprisingly quickly when I returned to my room and consequently, I woke up in a more cheerful frame of mind, feeling more ready to face whatever the day should bring. It was only seven-thirty and I breathe a sigh of relief that I had not overslept once more. As usual, the sun was shining brightly through the windows, the glare muted and softened by the blinds of the window.I wanted a Cup of coffee to rejuvenate myself, so I went out of the room and headed towards the kitchen but just as I reached the landing the nurse emerged from her room. She gave me a faintly disapproving look. “ Mrs. Garcia, how can you allow your husband to go outside? Please tell him not to go out, as it may be bad for his health, he needs complete rest.”She looked at me and I did not know what to say as Marc was very stubborn when he makes a decision, so I said politely. “Nurse just let me have my coffee, then I will go and speak to him.” “ I will not allow him to get out of bed again today,” the nurse said chattily. “He keeps tiring himself. He should never have gone down to dinner last night and perhaps you could visit him more often than he wouldn't want to get up.”I wanted to laugh at that but I made myself look calm. I went down and Ada bustled out to greet me eyeing me with interest with those dark eyes. Over the coffee Ada suddenly said, “You will not wear yourself out, fighting him. Marc has never admitted defeat in his life. “My cheeks turned red. “I am not going to discuss my marriage with you Ada.” I made myself sound polite but firm and was furious when Ada laughed.“He was the same when he was small pig-headed and possessive. Anything he owned was forbidden territory.”“He doesn't owe me!” I stated clearly.Ada looked unimpressed and said. “Are you trying to fool yourself or me.”I got up, my chair trust back violently. “Ada, I owe myself.”But did I? I asked myself as I went up to see him. How could I claim to be in command of myself when Marc could walk in and take me whenever he liked? I had no self-control where he was concerned. It angered me to admit it. Even to myself and it was humiliating that Marc knew it as well as I did. I walked into his bedroom stiffly and with dignity and he looked up from the newspaper that he was reading and saw the armor I was wearing with one brief sardonic glance.The nurse was studying the medicines on the chest near the bed. She looked around giving me an acceptable approving smile. “You see Mr. Garcia, I told you she would come.”Marc looked least bothered.” So you did,” he murmured.The nurse diplomatically withdrew with a final smile at us and I swung away to stare out the window.“Marc why don’t you listen to the nurse and stay in bed, till you regain your strength back.” I told him pointedly. As I did want him to take rest and recover.“I thought, I showed you that I have regained my strength back yesterday.” He smiled wickedly. “ or do you want me to prove it again.”“Marc stop it !” I exclaimed. “I don't want to be rude but I am requesting you to give me my passport back ,” I said flatly.” I miss my son and I am the only family I can't live leave him alone into someone else's care for too long. He has never been alone this long."Marc looked at me disapprovingly and said. “ I will make an arrangement for him to be brought to Milan and he can stay with my mother but I will not return your passport back. You will stay here with me."“Why are you doing this? You want me to come back into your life as your wife but you cannot acknowledge him as your son do you hate him that much?” I asked with sadness in my voice, wanting to know what was going on in his mind.The question made him gasp in shock. After a moment he said hoarsely, “I don't know what you think of me Carmen, but I couldn't hate a child for any reason whatever.”“But you prefer not to be reminded that he exists, isn't it?I looked at Marc for a moment and tried to pierce through his features and discover the true state of his feelings towards my son.“Carmen as I said earlier, I don't hate anyone and he can come and stay in Milan but not with us and you know the obvious reason,” he said flatly.“God Marc I hate you! I hate you for judging me a long time back and still now, you are judging me and accusing me of the things that I have not done and you say that you still want me to be your wife for good.” I said sadly and turned to leave.I walked to the door and Marc asked sharply. “ Where do you think you're going?”“Anywhere but here,” I said sharply. “I find your company unbearable and its request please listen to the nurse and take rest.”I closed the door on whatever he had to say to that and escaped into the warm clear air.