Chapter 16: Six hours
"You have less than six hours to vacate my estate, unless, of course, you would prefer my men to assist you in departing *politely,*" Quinn commanded coldly before turning on his heel and leaving the room.
Belle barely paid his threat any mind. Her attention remained fixed on the divorce papers in her possession. She cared not for his attempts to humiliate her, she had already anticipated his every move. The king and she had long since arranged her departure, knowing Quinn’s impulsive nature. That he would resort to expelling her from the estate was a foregone conclusion.
But, alas for him, she was more than prepared. She would leave without hesitation, never to return.
Staring at the door through which Quinn had exited, a small, satisfied smile crept across her face. "You shall pay for everything soon," she whispered to herself before turning to gather her belongings.
"My lady!" Came a sudden cry, and as Belle turned, she saw Mia rushing toward her, wrapping her in a tight embrace.
Relief washed over Belle upon seeing her faithful maid. She had been planning to confront Izabella to demand Mia’s release, but it appeared she had no need. If Quinn knew of Mia’s absence, he showed no sign of it, and his lack of interference made Belle suspect Mia’s disappearance had been orchestrated by Izabella alone.
"Did she harm you? What happened?" Belle asked urgently, pulling back from the embrace to inspect Mia for injuries. Her eyes darted over the maid’s figure, searching for any signs of abuse. Knowing Izabella’s love for cruelty, Belle feared the worst. The only reason Mia had avoided Izabella’s full wrath in the past was because she was smart and knew how to take care of herself. If only Belle possessed Mia’s intelligence, she might not have endured so much suffering.
"She wouldn’t dare," Mia replied, dismissing Belle’s concern with a wave of her hand. "She merely had me running errands and waiting on her."
"That wretched woman!" Belle spat, her anger flaring at the thought of Mia serving Izabella. It infuriated her that the vile woman never ceased her attempts to sway Mia to her side, oblivious to the loyalty that bound the two women together. Mia had been her sole confidante, the only person she could trust implicitly. No matter the circumstance, Belle knew Mia would never betray her.