Part 1: Let go of the hand that holds yours too tightly

Chapter 1: The golden rules

"For me there is nothing left to live for!"
"Me, I am here! Let me hold you for once!", he was shouting but not really, more like pleading with eyes full of tears. Christopher couldn't believe he's ears when he's one and only love was talking about killing herself with no remorse, with the knife HE bought at that in his own bloody house.
"You should grief, sir, as I did for such a long time. Duke Napier, let this be our last meeting."
Her hands stopped trembling long ago. With a clear mind, she pushed the knife further making sure to not let go of it even for a second. There was no room for hesitation, not anymore. She fell on the floor with a loud noise. Eleanor's eyes closed at once and closed remained. The blood spread until it reached he's feet.
"You shall not die alone, my darling. How dark and cold must be." Hugging Elenor's soulless body, he took the knife out and followed her through death. 

This is how "Duke's Napier obsessive love" ended. A short light novel that presents the tragic ending of  Elenore Ambrose and her stalker, eventually husband, Christopher Napier, who's name she's never pronounced out loud, not even once. 

It was one of those long dreams that seems and feels as real as daylight. An unfamiliar face, that was supposed to be mine, reading up till' late at night a cliched novel. How strange.

Elenore Ambrose, same name, same family matters, same educational upbringing. I've never met a gentleman called Christopher Napier, but the Napier family does exist and it is indeed led by a duke. This is troubling as I might be THE Elenore that this novel is talking about. It's a bit too much to take after just waking up. I'm in need of a good breakfast, to overcome this shock.

"Sylvia, bring me some scones with peach jam an a cup of tea, please! And ask Abigail to prepare my bath, I need to leave at once as I have business outside that require my full attention."
"Yes miss!"

Elenore Ambrose, met, on her way home, a wanded men. Her pure and naive young self made sure to attend to his wounds herself and left his side only after the medical team, she called for, arrived at the scene. This is how Christopher, a young head of a long time deceased family, fall irrevocably in love with the gentle and selfless Elenore. Typical main protagonists for a typical love story. Nothing wrong with that except for, what also the title spoils "Duke's Napier obsessive love", the duke's tendencies. As he was also a psychotic, manipulator and oppressive lover, who not only threaten and trapped her in a marriage she didn't wish for, but also killed her entire family in an act of jealousy. Nonetheless, he was also the sole reason why she couldn't play the violin anymore.

And this, apparently, should be my, not so far away, future. Fun... but not so hard to avoid as I haven't met the duke. Maybe I don't know he's appearance, but I know for sure I haven't treated any random guy yet. Why would I even do that? Why did I carry bandages? I mean, for the book itself shouldn't be so important, as the main character has to be somehow altruistic and a clearly too good for her own good kind of person, but for me?! It just doesn't make sense. 

Anyway while reading the book you can gradually sense a shift in her personality. Along the way Christopher becomes more and more demanding, draining her of any light in her life. She soon becomes apathic and depressed, the last straw being the death of her parents. Elenore understands that she will only be able to get some rest after ending everything related to her so called husband. Getting a divorce is out of the table, she has no power or monetary funds. Christopher made sure to deprive her of any outside household  activities making her fully dependent on him. What was left to do was kill him or herself. She chose the later. Wanting for him to be tormented by her death for the rest of his life, for him to feel at least a small portion of her sadness and despair, Elenore stabbed herself. Christopher didn't follow her wish. Dying using the same knife as his wife, in the exact same place, while hugging her lifeless body. He had no time to despair, he passed right after her.

The duke was described, like any other male lead, as being really attractive. Dark hair and eyes and of course the soul survivor of a massacre that wasn't described in the novel. It was only said that between all the family members that lived in the Napier mansion, he was the only one who survived. Who knows in what kind of circumstances. Important to the plot was clearly his trauma and nothing else. I was infatuated with him, his speech and obsession were a delight to read about. So exciting to read about someone's obsession in full detail. But that's where I'll cross the line, reading not living. 

The situation changes fully when the object of his obsession is me and not a simple, yet unlucky, character in a book. But again they've never met previously the accident, so I just have to avoid treating him. I don't know exactly the day of the event, but you don't stumble upon wanded people in a normal every day life so I am not really worried about it.

After taking a bath and finishing my breakfast I took a carriage to the center city. I need a new pair of chords for my violin as my first post graduate concert is approaching. In the book it's written that I never get to actually play because of Christopher's involvement.
That means it won't be long and I'll stumble across him. I could just not go out from today on and this should resolve it. I was supposed to meet a friend today at the store and after finishing our business to walk a bit maybe get a cake or something as well, but I think is better to cut short this outing. 

"Cough cough..."

There is a wanded person on my right. Inspire, expire...ignore and run. Not looking at the person I run to the first police officer I meet on the road and explain where the not so unknown person was, took another carriage and went straight home.

I wasn't ready for this. I didn't get to see his face, but the sight of a bloody foot was enough. I am not leaving this mansion anymore. One of the servants will have to take care of my violin for me, I am not risking it. Why know about the book if I don't change anything about that tragic future. I will have enough time to enjoy going out after the concert.

This was my resolve and I managed to keep it. Waring a siren white-golden dress I am entering the stage in the company of my partner, Alfredo. He is one of the best pianists in my university. We graduated at the same time and promised our first concert will be together.
"Let's spread beauty Elenore, after all that practice, we shall amaze them."
"Let's have fun and play as we never did before, for a fresh start in music."

Our moment isn't long, we'll sing together two pieces: "The pearl fishers" by Georges Bizet and "Chaconne" by Tommaso Antonio Vitali. We are the final act of the concert. What we'll be left after this is just the future. The Book's plot is already fully avoided. I have never met the duke, he doesn't know me and I don't know him. I'll continue my career in music, meet a good person and  get married when the time will come. I knew being lucky was one of my good treats. I feel refreshed now.

Applauses and flower bouquets fill the room. So beautiful, what a sight...may this be my future from now on.
"Mother, father!"
"My dear, you were absolutely lovely darling" 
I hug my mom tightly, but what I see from behind her back shatters me into pieces, a pair of dark black eyes. What would the chances be? Such a beautiful face with sharp angles that might look a bit harsh, but nonetheless so pretty. This brought me out in a cold sweat. 
Father while hug me with an arm over my shoulder says clearly full of proud:
"Duke Napier, meet my Elenore, my one and only daughter."
He takes my hand and kisses it, I don't know how I do it, salute him and leave the place babbling some excuses, all without looking at him twice or fainting. Inspire, expire, ignore and run. He's hand is not the one that should hold mine. He would crush it without betting an eye, I need to let go before it's too late. I won't live the book's future. I already changed a few important parts, I shall do it again.