Chapter 2: My new wife
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.