Belle couldn't tell if it was her pregnancy stirring her emotions, but turmoil was brewing within her. There he stood, the very man who had marked her as his own, beaming at another woman on his arm while he seemed oblivious to her presence. She was only a few steps away, yet he made no move to seek her out, though he easily could.
Her breaths became shaky and she could feel her legs wearing out. While she endured, toiled, and suffered here in the mansion, her loyal husband was with another woman and was audacious enough to bring her home.
"My lady, we should go. The doctor advised avoiding anything that could distress the child," Mia urged, hoping to persuade her. She feared for the child in her belly and hoped Belle would not endanger her life by letting her emotions drive her.
"No, Mia! The Duke hasn't called for me, not once since his return," Belle insisted, determined to stay. The only reason she endured everything was because of the hope of them becoming a happy couple again, how could she just accept what was happening?
"Does he seem likely to? Look at him, basking in admiration with that striking lady beside him. Does he appear troubled by your absence?" Mia couldn't help but note the woman's more alluring features in comparison to Belle's.
"That was most helpful," Belle replied dryly.
"Oh, he's already heading upstairs," Mia noted as she saw the Duke making his way to his quarters, but this didn't dissuade Belle. She followed resolutely, ready to exhaust herself today if that was what it took for everything to be back to normal.
"I shall request an audience with him. He needs to know about our child." Grasping Mia's hand, Belle declared, then made her way towards his room.
Upon arriving, she found guards stationed there, with no sign of his loyal beta or assistant, the one person in this household who treated her kindly.
"I wish to see the Duke," she announced, but the guards barely acknowledged her.
"The Duke has stated he is occupied and will see you after dinner," they responded, leaving Belle shocked. They had not even relayed her request, was Quinn avoiding her? That could be the only answer to the guard's rude approach.
"And how would you know this without consulting him?" She stepped forward, attempting to appear intimidating, but the guards held firm. "Those were his orders, Duchess. Please don't make this difficult."
"How dare you speak to your Duchess in such a manner?" Mia interjected, but Belle, unwilling to cause a scene, gently restrained her.
"I shall see him later, then," she said, feigning indifference as they walked away but internally, she was breaking down.
…
That evening, everyone was seated in their places, waiting for the Duke and his female guest. A quiet dread filled Belle as she feared he might ask her to vacate her seat for this woman.
"The Duke arrives!" Called the announcer, and all stood as he entered, still firmly clasping the lady's hand, as though she might vanish if he let go for even a moment.
Belle's heart wrenched, and she forced herself to look away, swallowing the urge to weep. If she could just find a moment to tell him about their child, perhaps things could return to how they once were. Quinn wouldn't be that cruel as to dismiss her just because he was in love with another woman, or would he?
"Klaus, take your seat over there," he ordered his beta, who immediately made way for his new lover in his seat that was close to Quinn's.
Quinn's voice was cold and detached, so unfamiliar that Belle almost forgot how he used to sound. She hadn't even had the chance to truly behold him since his return, and now, with him so close, her heart gave an unsteady beat.
"I shall admire him later," she assured herself, unwilling to glance his way and witness him holding that woman's hand.
Soon, the dining hall filled with the sound of quiet eating, though all eyes were drawn to the Duke as he continuously placed food on his new lover's plate.
"I would like to make an introduction," Quinn's voice suddenly cut through the silence, prompting everyone to set down their utensils and turn their attention to him, all except Belle, who continued eating.
Quinn started, "Her name is Sofia, the daughter of the Duke of the South. I met her when she came to deliver supplies at the border. She will be my new wife, and I ask that you show her the respect I do." Every word Quinn uttered about his new lover only made Belle's heartache. This was too much of reality for it to be a prank, she had lost her mate.
Murmurs spread around the table, though some appeared shocked, most were pleased, harboring disdain toward Belle.
"I shall see that your wedding is grand, my son," the old woman declared, her eagerness apparent.
Belle only forced a smile, swallowing each bite despite her lack of appetite. He had made his decision, yet a small glimmer of hope lingered within her. She briefly raised her head and stared into his dark eyes, searching for any hint of remorse or playfulness but averted it when she found none. What she dreaded from the beginning of their relationship was finally happening.
After dinner, she retreated to her room, where she soon vomited all she had forced down, with Mia by her side.
"My lady, you…" Mia began, but a sudden knock interrupted her. She went to the door, then stumbled back, startled.
"D-Duke!" She whispered, shocked to find him standing there.
"Leave us," he commanded. Mia glanced back at Belle before departing.
Quinn entered the room, visibly restraining his disdain as he stared at her. She was a stain on his honor that he could not wash away. How could she be dressed this way when he made sure to send a letter just before his arrival? Regardless of what could have hindered her, she had no excuse to dress repulsively.
"Oh, I apologize. I have been… rather occupied, and haven't kept my health as well as I should," she explained, noting his expression and attempting to justify her frail appearance. If she had just a minute to spare, she would have gone to change before coming to welcome him but maybe it didn't matter.
"How have you been?" He inquired coldly, and though she almost smiled, his gaze held no warmth.
"Well, enough. And you?" She replied, keeping it cool for as long as she could.
"As you see," he answered curtly, his gaze hardening further.
After a tense silence, she gathered the courage to ask, "Are you truly marrying that woman?" Her words came out before she could restrain them.
"I believe I made myself clear at dinner," he replied, turning to leave. But she wasn't ready to let him go and called out, "Quinn! Please, tell me…do you love her?"
"Do not question me!" He snapped, his voice rising. "Be the dutiful Duchess, and perform your role as expected!" Then added, instructing. Why does she suddenly care about his love interest when all she ever wanted was to be a duchess?
The sharpness of his tone made her flinch. She stared at him, fear and disbelief clouding her eyes, this was not the man she had once loved. Something…no, everything was different about him, he was no longer the same.
Suddenly, a stabbing pain gripped her abdomen, and she collapsed to the floor, clutching her stomach.
"Fetch the doctor!" Quinn ordered, though he made no move to help her himself.