Chapter 30
A week has passed since Augustus and I was engaged. I am still not sure if he's aware of the bargain that his father has made. In which he forced me to agree with.
The past week has been nothing but a blurred. Every morning, a set of three maids will attend me to change my attire and even brush my hair. Truth be told, I just find it so awkward.
I know how to dress so what's the fuss all about? Even in modern times, I do dress my own body.
Also, ever since I was engaged with Augustus. They began dressing me to very beautiful yet expensive gowns that felt like I am going to this and that when in fact, I will only be staying in this manner.
To be frank, the gowns they kept giving me felt like I am a Greek goddess or whatsoever.
Every so often, as they were brushing my hair, I'll catch their eyes staring angrily at me in the mirror. When I asked them what's wrong, they'll just roll their eyes and give me a very fake smile. Sometimes, when I am walking towards the garden to think about my plans on my mission, I'll hear some of them whisper the word, "whore,"
And it's been a week since Martha decided to quit her job, bidding me a very heartful goodbye through a letter. Saying she'll just work as a vendor of bread in the streets than have her life threatened here.
About Miss Dolores, well, I am still mourning for her. I mean, sure, she and I were not that close but come on, I've known her since I was like what? A fetus? Also, I still can't believe she's dead, meaning, I can die as well in this era and never go back to the present times.
About Leo, well. He went to the barracks and told me he will be staying there for at least two weeks. He told me to be strong and if ever there is an emergency, I should just go straight to the barracks. Leo then gave me the address.
Every time I remember kissing him in the tip of his nose as he was on his way to leave, I cannot help from mentally cursing myself due to how stupid I must've looked. I must've looked like a kindergarten to him.
Now, my only problem would be Augustus who kept barging into my room every now and then. He almost caught me wearing only my undergarments. Gosh.
Now that's Leo is not here, Augustus insisted on going to the town since life inside the manor was boring. Plus, Mister Bennett went in an urgent meeting and will be missing for at least a
month or so according to Augustus.
And is why, we are now inside a carriage, on our way to the wedding gowns boutique, purchasing a wedding gown.
The maids forced me to wear something extravagant again. Something that will make me stand out due to how stupid I must've looked. I am going to the Town's market, not a ball. The gown was nothing but lace so I cannot help myself from scratching myself over and over again.
Leo, meanwhile, looks like he's going to a ball as well. Oh, dear.
I suggested to Augustus that Judy, his cousin's wife should accompany me but he refused to, saying he should be the one to be with me.
"Isn't it too early for that?" I asked Augustus, my eyes stuck on the ground.
"Not really, my mermaid. Besides, we're getting married as soon as Father comes back," Augustus replied, his hands wrapped around my shoulders.
As soon as he said that, I cannot help myself from coughing. "You mean, like, next month?"
Augustus just nods at me as he gave my neck a peck which made me cringe. This is just too much.
As soon as we're inside the boutique, the employee asked me what's my preferred choice of gown.
"A minimalistic style would be nice. Nothing too fancy," I answered, giving her a smile as I let my eyes wander around the room where hundreds and hundreds of gowns can be seen.
But as the employee was about to leave us, Augustus butted in, "No. Bring her your most expensive gowns,"
oh dear, this is what I am scared of. Being bombarded with expensive things. Believe me, I do love expensive stuff and such but I am not the type of girl who would be head-over-heels to you just because you gave me a piece of clothing that probably costs more than my life.
And in just one snap, dozens of gowns are in front of us and simple is not the word you can describe them.
One thing I've noticed is how they all varied in different colors. Well, goes back then must've been not really focused on white alone though as far as I know, Queen Victoria's gown was in the color of white, right?
A pastel pink gown instantly caught my attention but Augustus, crossed his arms and said, "No, my fiancee will only wear white," in which the employee hurriedly eliminated all the colored ones.
Now, there are dozens of gowns left. All are balloony. These are the types of gowns that somehow, to be honest, will make you feel like a princess.
I have to be honest, I do fancy the idea of wearing beautiful gowns on my wedding day but not to the point it'll be super expensive and let me tell you this, all these remaining gowns looks hella expensive.
I just stood there, biting my lip, examining them. Afraid to touch one since I don't want to ruin them.
To my surprise, Augustus said, "My fiancee will try them all,"
And so, I have no choice but to follow him and proceed to the dressing room as the staff helps me change into these bulky gowns.
The first gown was of course, in the color of white and let me tell you this, I am so in love with the jewels.
This one looks okay to me but Augustus said, "You look beautiful, darling but believe me, that gown is horrible,"
And with that, I am off to gown number two. This one I am kind of in love with but it is too sparkly due to the jewels. Also, I am guessing Augustus want something more extravagant.
"Nah," Augustus commended and with that, I changed to the next gown.
This one is in the color of pink so I don't know why the staff let me wear it but oh well, I do love the gown but as soon as I wore it, I immediately went red. It is just too revealing. One wrong move and my boobs will be seen.
When Augustus saw me, he has his jaw dropped but then he said, "is this gown comes in the color of white?"
The staff shook her head, "No, Sir but you see, pink becomes-"
She hadn't had the chance to finish her explanation since Augustus rose from his seat and hollered, "I don't care what is and what's not. My bride will only wear white and that's it!"
The whole room went quiet due to Augustus' scream. Dear, Lord. So humiliating but to be honest, Augustus' scream scared the daylights out of me. I've never seen him so angry like that. His face turning red.
The staff shakily yet hurriedly changed me into the next gown which is in the color of white.
The whole theme of the gown made it look like Augustus and I are straight out of a fairytale. Believe me, it was the opposite.
Though to be honest, am too is in love with this gown. But I felt like this will be the type of gown that would surely be the talk of the town.
As soon as Augustus saw it, his face instantly lit up. "That's the one, my dear," as if he did not shout a while ago that scared all of us.
And with that, we're done to buying wedding gown which also came with a veil. About the shoes, I don't know, I think I'll just borrow one from Judy since she has dozens of shoes or I could just wear oxford flats since nobody would see it considering the length of the gown.
We then went straight to buying Augustus' suit and man, it took him so long to choose one. I mean, all of them look the same to me. Great texture yet awful prices.
Augustus has like, ten suits to fit before he found the one which totally suits the gown I'll be wearing. The whole time, I was just sitting in front of the fitting room, my legs crossed as I kept drinking the free tea which, to be honest, kinda taste awful. But hey, free is free. Beggars can't be choosers.
"I am so excited for our wedding day," Augustus said, his arm around my shoulder as we walked towards the carriage.
I just nod at him and forced myself to reply a smile.
"And night, if you ask me," he added which made my eyes go wide. Augustus saw my reaction but chose not to say a word to it. Instead, he winked at me.
As soon as we're sitting inside the carriage, the footman turned to us, asking, "Where to next, Sir?"
I was expecting Augustus to say home but no, he said, "Take us to the theater,"
And since Augustus came from a loaded family, we will be sitting in the balcony where everything can be seen. It was, indeed, a good view though I am not much of a fan of watching ballet. It makes me wanna sleep.
The whole time, all I can see was a couple of girls wearing beautiful dresses and boys wearing, well, leggings that make their bulge noticeable.
And since this are of ours is exclusive only for ours, Augustus and I are the only ones around in the balcony seats. Augustus kept rubbing my shoulder and lap which made me wanna punch him so hard.
I kept looking at him, giving him deadly stares but he pretends not to see me. "Keep your hands off me, jerk," I finally said.
Augustus must've thought I must be playing hard-to-get or is joking because he stared at me funnily and said, "Come on,"
"Touch me again and I swear to God, Augustus, I will cut off your balls,"
And with that, Augustus turned to look at me, his brow raising and said, "I'll let you pass this time,"
The legendary douche then decided to keep his hands off me. Well, at least, to my lap since he still has his ark around my shoulders. Ugh.
I just can't focus on the ballet due to how pissed I am. Augustus, meanwhile, kept ordering champagne. The next thing I know, the ballet has come to an end and we are now off to home.
The carriage on the way home was worse since Augustus was tipsy, he talking nonsense.
"you know what, I really want to be a doctor," he said, laughing and not sitting properly.
I know, Augustus. You already told me that ages ago and in this exact spot as well.
At first, his drunkard speech was okay to me but then, Augustus' hands began to itch again, his hands traveling around my body.
Without any second thought, I was about to slap him but then he caught my hands firmly. "Don't you dare! You think you could get away from me acting like a bitch?"
And I don't know what happened, the next thing I know, Augustus was kissing me. Of course, I am not kissing him back. His hands traveling around my back.
I can sense that my tears are gonna fall any seconds now but I forced myself to not act and show my weakness towards this demon.
God must've heard my prayer because, after a few minutes, the footman told us we are already in the manor. As soon as we heard that, Augustus stopped kissing me and stepped out of the carriage, he even offered his hand to me but I get out of the carriage without his assistance.
By the look of Augustus' face, I know he's annoyed. After bowing to the footman for delivering us to our destination safely, I began walking really fast towards my room, hoping Augustus won't follow me.
The maids even saw me racing towards my room, rolling their eyes heavenwards and murmuring under their breath. I bet they are calling me different names now. Completely positive I am that they're thinking Augustus and I did something since I am aware of the state of my clothing and my hair.
As soon as I am face-to-face with the door and was about to open it, Augustus held my shoulder.
"W-what do you want?" Of course, I forced myself to sound so strong. Leo is not here to protect me so I need to be tough.
Augustus just stared at me. He may be handsome but he can't-fool me. This man is the work of the devil.
Augustus then held my chin, making our faces inches apart
. The whole time, my heart was beating so fast. To my surprise, Augustus kissed me roughly, his fingers digging to my waist and after a few seconds, he released me.
"Kiss back," he exclaimed, his voice loud which made me wince. Augustus is out of his mind.
I then raised my middle finger to him but Augustus just stared at me, confused. Oh, I forgot. This finger sign is still not invented but oh well, more reason to flash him this finger of mine.
Augustus seems to be unbothered by it. Still, he held both my cheeks in one hand and said, "Have a good night sleep, love," then kissed me once again. I am so done with his disgusting kisses. I can feel my lips getting red and swollen from all his rough kisses.
To my relief, Augustus finally left and as soon as I am inside my room, laying to my bed, I let my tears fall.
My heart is now aching for Leo. Leo, please come home. I miss you. It's only been days but it already felt like years.
I fell asleep crying, murmuring Leo's name over and over again. Wishing by the time I woke up, he's here.
I woke up in the middle of the night, I am sure everybody is fast asleep. I want to be productive so I decided to sneak into Mister Douglas' office downstairs since Augustus is fast asleep and Mister Douglas is away from a business meeting.
I was wearing only my satin sleeping gown that the maids forced me to wear. This satin sleeping gown is far expensive than my annual maid's salary.
I am walking barefoot towards Mister Douglas' office holding a candle and thank goodness I know where Miss Dolores left all the keys to all the rooms. Plus, Leo also taught me how to open a locked drawer using only my hairpin.
By the time I am inside the office, alone. I hurriedly went straight to the drawers in which I thankfully managed to open thanks to Leo. I rummaged through the drawers.
The first drawers are full of mister Douglas' tobaccos and ashtrays. There are also dozens of spices and bottles filled with tears. I instantly knew it was torn since Leo told me many those who had their loved ones die had bottles of tears which contain their own tears as proof of mourning. Perhaps these tears are for his late wife who died from falling off the carriage on the way to the orphanage.
I slowly closed this drawer, hoping I am not too loud. I then proceed to the next drawers and I almost jump due to how happy I am since in my hands are the papers which will serve as a proof of Mister Douglas' illegal acts. Papers that talks about his newly formed gang, about hitmen, skilled assassins or whatsoever. The paper he signed about trading cocaine to another country. Another one he signed that concerns an artist in London who forges fake paintings that Mister Douglas will sell for millions of pounds.
This is it. The proof of how evil this man is. The reason why I need to murder him. The key to me going back home.
Hurriedly, I compiled all the papers and hid it inside my gown.
I kept checking the door to see if anyone is awake and is walking past the door. I can't digest the idea of someone catching me holding me all these files. Augustus would surely kill me and Mister Douglas, in an instant would be here to brutally murder me.
I don't know what came to me to open the next drawer and slowly, I scanned the papers. And here I am, holding Leo's parent's death certificates, saying they died in the fire. What made my knees jelly was the sight of the next two papers. It was the wills of Leo's parents.
Another one was saying they will leave all their debts to their one and only son Leo and the other one was saying it will be left to Douglas Bennett, their most-trusted friend.
I don't know about you but one thing I am sure of, one of these is fake and the other one was the original. Of course, I am not stupid to not think Leo's parents would surely leave all their fortune to Leo since he's their son but why the hell is there another will?
But one thing is for sure, Mister Bennett has something to do with the death of Leo's parents.
I can imagine Leo's confusion and anger when he learned that all his families' wealth is all left to Bennett's family instead of him, the heir of the Finleys.
When all this time, he thought his family's wealth were all gone due to bankruptcy or perhaps, considering the fire, he thought they were all burned.
I need to tell Leo about this right away. Leo needs to come home and get what truly belongs to him.
After this, I stormed out of the room and quickly yet quietly went straight to my room. I then hid the files under my mattress.
I then retrieved my diary under my mattress and began writing what just happened this whole day. Staring from letting Augustus purchase a wedding gown for me, him having his arms all around me and kissing me like a freaking maniac up to what I ascertained inside Mister Douglas' office.
Leo needs to know everything, that is why first thing in the morning before Augustus could wake up and stop me from leaving this hell of a place, I will go to Leo and tell him about his parents.
And if the other officers won't let me talk to him personally then I will just give him a letter explaining all these.
I then began writing a letter to Leo explaining what I discovered a while ago. The proof of Mister Douglas' illegal acts up to the death of his parents.
I fell asleep holding the letter to my chest.
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Watsup, everybody! I know some of you may be angry for taking me so long to update. Well, first of all, I am sorry. Hehe. Second, I promise to finish this book before July. I think it will only have 45 or less and we're good to go. :)