Erastiel knew quite alright who the owner of that voice was. Dennis has already straightened up, rubbing the cheek where he was cut. Apart from a slight graze, where blood trickled out from, there was nothing major about it. Mrs Adriel, and the rest of the family who were previously downstairs, stood at the middle of the corridor. Mrs Adriel angrily stole towards the place where both men stood, and scolded Erastiel harshly. "What is the meaning if this? Why on earth did you act in such a discourteous manner, are you trying to make our family lose face?!" She asked him, her eyes burning like flames. "When he degraded our family, why didn't anyone do anything?!" Erastiel shot back, just as hotly. Beatrice quickly walked over to where they were. "I am sure they has been a misunderstanding somewhere." She said, casting a glance at Dennis. "Why don't we inquire what exactly occurred before running into conclusions?" She asked, as she tried to mediate between the three of them. "We all saw what happened, Beatrice." George quipped in. "How your cousin violently stuck your husband." He added. "But father." Beatrice began, with a desperate plea on her face. George however, didn't want to listen to any of it. She then shifted her gaze to Sylvester, but Sylvester sighed and shook his head, implying that there was nothing he could do to to intervene in the situation. "Just be quiet!" Mrs Adriel snapped. "Mother, the least we can do is to ask about his own opinion about the matter!" Beatrice said, as she stood protectively In front of her cousin. "Erastiel doesn't.. act rash like this for no reason." She said, as she slightly glanced at the latter. "Rather than standing there, shouldn't you be taking care of your husband?" Mrs Adriel asked her daughter. "If not for that servant informing us, who would have known what will have happened.." Mrs Adriel said, lost in thought. The servant, who was Cornelia In question, just stood there, her hands behind her back, head bowed, although she had a slight smile on her face, which no one could see. "I believe Beatrice takes care of him well enough." Erastiel spoke. "But did you ever ask your precious son-in-law if he looks after her, as it should be?" He continued. "Look at your daughter, can you not see how thin she looks?" He asked, turning to his aunt. "Of course I did, I am her mother afterall." Mrs Adriel said, as she crossed her arms in front of her chest. Why did you not deem it necessary to ask, then?" He continued, while clenching his fists. "Must I pry into her life that often, now that she is married? She has a right to keep things private, if she so wishes, afterall she is an adult now. And she can always feel free to disclose whatever troubles her heart, to me." Mrs Adriel exhaustively explained. "And as for her losing, weight, it is probably the change of environment-" "Change of Environment!" Erastiel exclaimed, cutting his aunt off. "Indeed! And for a span of three months, as well!" He mockingly said. "But you do realise that this man doesn't love your daughter?" Erastiel said, pointing his finger at Dennis. Beatrice's heart jumped as she heard this. "If you heard the degrading things he said about her..." "It is a part of the development process." Mrs Adriel cut him off. "Do you think I loved Beatrice's father before I got married to him? Or do you think your parents loved each other before they had you?" She said, looking at him straight in the eye. "Thst Is just the way things are. They are bound to fall In love sooner or later. It just requires time." She added. Erastiel gritted his teeth, but said nothing. "I sincerely apologize for this." Mrs Adriel said, turning to Dennis. "No, there is no need." Dennis said, waving his arms exaggeratedly. "Actually it is my fault. I wanted to gift you with something, but l left it In my room.. if I hadn't climbed back upstairs, or told the servants to get it on my behalf, none of this would have happened." Dennis said, his face melancholic. "Here" he said, handing a case over to his mother-in-law. "What is this?" She asked, taking the box from. His hands. She opened it, and gasped in surprise. Inside the box lay an elegant jewelry, adorned with deep blue sapphire stones, and intricately crafted with silver. The necklace was so gorgeous that it dazzled even when the least amount of light passed through it. "Dennis dear, you shouldn't have." Mrs Adriel, who was touched, couldn't help but say. "If I knew that a single necklace would cause all this ruckus, I would have sent it over to your abode instead." Dennis said, with a wry smile. Mrs Adriel sighed. "I only agreed to bring Erastiel over so he could learn a thing or two from you, actually." Beatrice's mother admitted. "If I knew he would wreak havoc, I wouldn't have brought him." She added. "And I came solely because of Beatrice." Erastiel cut in. "You just be quiet! Shameless, you still have the audacity to speak! Why can't you be half as competent as Dennis? Honestly.." Mrs Adriel stopped at this point. "I would rather not be compared to a despicable scoundrel like him." Erastiel said, ignoring the glare that His aunt shot at him. "Beatrice dear, are you sure you want to remain In this Marraige?" Erastiel asked, turning to Beatrice. Beatrice was shocked. Even if she wanted to leave, she couldn't. After all, besides loving him blindly, there was another element that bound her to him-and that was the child growing within her. "Well?" Eras asked, waiting for her to reply. "I am okay, Eras. I really don't want to leave." She said, with a smile. "It seems like you don't know the man you married." Erastiel pressed on. "You will be in for a load of pain.." "Is there any relationship that exists without pain?" Beatrice asked him. "Eras please, I am exhausted right now." Beatrice said, as she placed her hand to her forehead. "Excuse me, I have something to attend to." Dennis told his mother-in-law. "That is alright, son, we are about to leave anyways." Beatrice's mother replied. "I told you, didn't I? That a crowd was going to appear..." Dennis quietly said, as he walked past Erastiel, Cornelia behind him. Erastiel's eyes widened involuntarily when he heard this. Did this man.. perpetuate all of this? "You.." Erastiel began, but his aunt caught him off. "You have done enough, Erastiel, we are leaving now." His aunt said. She turned to Beatrice. "Do take care of yourself, Beatrice." She said, as she embraced her. "You too, mom." Beatrice replied, ignoring the tears that gathered at her eyes.
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Beatrice laid in her bed, utterly exhausted. It was night now, but she couldn't sleep, her mind going back to what transpired earlier that day. She couldn't help but feel bad for her cousin, both of them were like actual siblings, and both being the only children of their parents, while also soliciting for and keeping each other company. While she was still still in her reverie, the bedroom doo creaked open, and she felt the other side of the bed strain from someone lying next to her. "Are you asleep?" He asked, although he knew quite alright that she was not. Beatrice's left eye twitched. "Is anything the matter?" She asked him indifferently, her eyes closed. She felt someone brushing her hair away from her face. "Open your eyes, Beatrice." The man ordered her. She opened them reluctantly, hoping that he would leave her alone. "I want to do that." He told her frankly.
Beatrice stared for some time. "Wait, hold on a second." She began In Panic, but the man had already towered over her, pinning her hands to the bed. Beatrice cursed in her mind. How could she possibly have intercourse when she was already expecting?! Maybe some people do, but she wouldn't!. "Dennis.." She pleased, trying desperately to free her hands. But he gripped them tighter, and her hands were starting to hurt. "What is the matter?" He asked, his brows furrowing. "Why are you so unco-operative this time? I thought you liked how it made you feel?" He added. Beatrice bit her lower lip. She did enjoy it, afterall. "I just don't want to do it, so there!" Beatrice said. "Why don't you want to do it?" He asked. "It is hard to explain!" "Break it In simple terms, then." "Dennis, let go of me! No Is no, so there!" Beatrice exclaimed. To her utmost surprise, Dennis released her, the passion in his blue eyes sufficiently dimmed. "I should have known." He thought silently. He then descended from the bed, and began to flip through the wardrobe. Beatrice sat up. "Why did you stop?" She asked him. "Did you want me to continue?" Came the cold reply. After that, both of then were silent for some time. "Thank you for giving my mom that necklace, it was really beautiful." Bestrice said. "I didn't give her because I wanted to, I gave her because I had to. It is all a pretence, afterall." He said, as he gazed at her. "Besides, tell her to value it-to turn it into a heirloom or something. Afterall, your family is not capable of getting something so valuable,even in ten years time." He said, as he gave her a mocking glance. "So recognise wealth, while I still flaunt It In your presence." He added, lying down on the bed. "Don't you ever get tired of pretending?" Beatrice demanded bitterly, her heart feeling like it was about to eexplode. "If it is to get what I want, then no." Dennis replied. "Now, just let me sleep okay? I have a long day tomorrow." He said, turning his back on her. As Beatrice laid down as well, there was only one thought that ran through Dennis's mind-the fact that she won't break so easily.