The Devil's Sweetheart

Heather is his secret. His beautiful little secret. She took his heart away long before he knew, but he can\'t call her own. There is never a day he doesn\'t think of her and wishes she was by his side. When Leena brought the topic unexpectedly, Francis was afraid Leena would misunderstand, thinking he is treating her well only because he loves Heather. It is the very reason he denied his feelings earlier, but at last, Leena had noticed his feelings long back.

\'\'Leena, child, if you have misunderstood my intentions of taking care of you only because of your mom, push those thoughts aside. No word can describe how much you mean to me, nothing that could lessen my love for you, as you have it now and for all eternity. You are the answer to every time I looked up at the skies and asked for a miracle.\'\' Francis gently said, taking Leena\'s hand. Leena tightly grabbed his hand when he first took her into his arms. Even it was for a while, she had Francis\'s heart forever.

\'\'I would never doubt your unconditional love towards me, Francy. If all the children get a father like you, their future will surely be perfect.\'\' Leena glanced up at him with a smile that assured him. No matter how much she loves Devin, Francis would always be her number one superhero in her eyes,

\'\'Now I can sleep peacefully,\'\' Francis said with a sigh of relief. Little did he know, Leena is not done with him yet. 

\'\'It\'s already late. Stay back tonight. I will inform Devin.\'\' Just when Francis was about to dial Devin\'s number, Leena cut him off.

\'\'Don\'t call him. Francy. He will throw tantrums at you.\'\' Devin has turned into a possessive wife lately, and like a kid, he compares with Francis in everything. \'\'Let me message him first.\'\' Leena unlocked her mobile and quickly texted him. \'\'I have informed him to stay alone for today. But we both know the moment he sees the message, he will rush here.\'\'

\'\'Selfish, ungrateful brute. Is he starting a war with me? He should be thankful that I have given my precious princess.\'\' Francis muttered. He is regretting not torturing Devin like a typical father-in-law.

\'\'What did you say, Francy? I didnot hear properly.\'\' Leena asked curiously. 

\'\'Nothing,\'\' Francis dismissed her thoughts. \'\'Had your dinner?\'\'

\'\'Yeap. I met Andrew and had dinner with him,\'\' Leena added. \'\'If you are free, let\'s go for a walk.\'\'

\'\'If Heather sees me, she will assume I have lied about _.\'\'

\'\'I never thought you are such a scared cat, Francy,\'\' Leena yelled, startling him. \'\'Meet me at the backside garden.\'\' Having said that, Leena unlocked the door and stomped out of the room, leaving Francis in bafflement.

\'\'Trouble is brewing. Leena will definitely investigate me until she got all the information,\'\' Francis muttered and reluctantly strolled out of the room.

....

While waiting for Francis, Leena relaxed, sitting on the garden bench, enjoying the night sky. Francis arrived, making sure that Heather didnot notice him and spoke up. "Someone wanted to take a walk in the garden?\'\'

\'\'Ignore that little bird, Francy.\'\' Leena giggled, clearing the withered leaves that have fallen on the bench, and invited him to sit. \'\'You know why I called you, right? Quickly spill the beans.\'\'

\'\'You already know about my feelings. What more you want to know?\'\' Francis asked, settling on the bench.

\'\'My investigation only reached the tip of the iceberg.\'\' Replied Leena with a mischievous smile. She asked her Meemaw about the past events, but she would only tell that her mom loved Max and married him. She tried to pry more details from her mouth, but Margaret is way smarter. 

"When did you both meet?\'\' Probed Leena.

\'\'We know each other since we were kids.\'\' Francis smiled, recalling their first fighting encounter over a backpack that his dad brought to him. Heather beat the shit out of him and snatched it from his hands.

\'\'Your grandmother and Heather\'s mom were good friends. Unfortunately, your grandmother died due to ill health at a very young age. Your grandfather is always running political campaigns, and he rarely pays attention to Heather. So, she would spend almost her entire day in our home except when she goes to school. We have got very close to each other, but everything changed when she went to study Medicine. I got busy with company affairs, and I hardly had time to meet her, and Heather distanced from me,\'\' Francis explained. Although he doesn\'t meet or see Heather, Francis kept an eye on her, taking care of the people trying to harm her. Shortly, he got information that Heather moved close to Max. To his surprise, then after, Heather rarely spoke to Francis and avoided him when he tried to initiate a conversation. 

\'\'You have been close to mom for a long time, but why didn\'t you confess your feelings to her once?\'\' Leena asked in a whisper. If they both were close to each other, why did Mom allow Max into her life?

\'\'I didnot get the chance to confess my feelings,\'\' Francis added bitterly. His thoughts went back to the past all of a sudden. Although he got information that Heather moved close to Max, he didnot see it with his eyes. That was a huge relief. After Heather graduated, she went to Germany to pursue higher studies. Positive or negative, Francis decided to confess his love for her. He was planning to go to Germany, but at the same time, Evelyn told him she is coming to New York for Devin\'s second year\'s birthday.

It happened in a luxurious fancy cruise ship. Those three days were the best moments in Francis\'s life. Heather talked with him like the old times. On the night before they returned, Heather got drunk and started flirting with him. Getting one step ahead, she boldly kissed him. In that heated moment, Francis grabbed the wine bottle Heather was carrying and followed her moments. Soon after, everything went blank. 

Within a month, Heather\'s father announced her marriage to Max. Francis confronted her if she was forced into this, but her reply shattered his heart completely. \'No one has forced me.. It\'s because I love him, I am marrying him.\'