Chapter 47: More than Quinn ever could
Upon returning to the castle, Hezekiah’s frustration was palpable. Without a word to Belle, he dismounted the horse and walked away, leaving her standing alone.
Belle felt a pang of guilt that gnawed at her. She stood frozen, helpless, berating herself for her choices. She should have left the cabin before things escalated. If their roles were reversed, and she caught her man with another woman, her reaction would mirror Hezekiah’s. She sighed bitterly as this was exactly how Quinn had treated her in the past. The only difference was, she hadn’t had the courage to say *no.*
"Belle!" Mia’s familiar voice broke through her thoughts.
"Mia!" Belle cried, her emotions unraveling as she rushed forward, throwing her arms around her friend. Tears streamed freely as she clung to Mia, her comfort the only solace she could find.
"Oh, Belle! Why can’t you let go of him? He’s not worth betraying Hezekiah for. Have you forgotten why we are here?" Mia’s voice was both stern and soothing as she patted Belle’s back, torn between scolding and consoling her.
Belle laughed softly through her tears, recognizing Mia’s inner struggle. "Are you scolding me or comforting me?" She teased weakly.
"How can I scold you when you are like this? You know I have a soft spot for you," Mia replied, her gentle words earning a chuckle from both of them as the tension eased.
After a moment, Mia continued, her tone more serious. "Aurora hasn’t recovered from the forest incident, so Maddie decided she should stay with their cousin for a while. With her gone, I don’t have much to do, so I will be with you every moment now."
Belle stepped back, startled by the revelation. Though she hadn’t spent much time with Aurora since the incident, she assumed the girl was fine. Her smiles seemed genuine. But now Belle realized Aurora must have been masking her pain.