Episode 4

Claudia's POV

I came out to her house and walked towards my car. Adam, my butler, opened the door for me. After thanking him, I sat in the car and he shut the door for me, then he sat on the driver's seat and asked "Where to, Madam?" "Take me home" I replied and he started driving towards home. There was complete silence inside the car.

After some time, Adam broke the silence and asked "Madam, did Miss Ray agreed?"

I released a sigh and said, "It's way too early, Adam. We should give her some time to think".

He glanced at me through the rearview mirror and asked "You are going to wait for her answer?"

I hummed in response. And again, complete silence.

I was looking out of the window when I noticed Adam's expression, through the rearview mirror.

"Ask," I said.

"Madam, I am a little curious. You have met many girls from the top families of this country, to suit our Young Master's personality. But why is it that you have chosen Miss Ray to be his Young Lady?" he asked with hesitation.

"Belle may not be from a top family, but she has something, that none of those top-level family girls have," I told with a smile.

"And what is that something, Madam?" he asked.

"You'll know once you'll meet her in person," I told him and he smiled.

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Belle's POV

(next morning)

"Ah..my head hurts, I couldn't sleep at all, last night and this is all because of Mrs. Smith's visit. "Ah..." I said to myself, looking at my face in the bathroom's mirror. I look like a complete mess. My hair is frizzy and I have dark circles under my eyes.

After taking a bath, I call Agnes, to ask, if I could come over and she said yes. Then, I quickly had my breakfast, wearing a bathrobe, then I went to the bedroom to dress up. Today, I was wearing, blue jeans and a white tank top with a beige shrug. For footwear, I chose to wear white sneakers. My hair was tied in a messy ponytail. After taking my phone, wallet, and keys, I left the house.

After 5 mins, I reached their house. Eric opened the door for me, holding Zach in his arms.

"Hello, Eric..." I greeted with a smile, "...and hello, my little marshmallow, where's mommy?" I asked Zach, pinching his chubby cheeks.

"She is in the study," Eric told me.

"Okay..." I said "... we'll play in some time, Zach," I told Zach while patting his head and went to the study.

"Hey, how you're feeling?" Agnes asked while doing my routine check-up.

"Come on, it's written all over my face that I'm tired and need some sleep," I said mocking myself.

"Those sleeping pills still don't work," she asked.

"Not much, they just help me sleep for an hour or so," I told her.

"And, what about your headache?" she asked in her doctor's tone.

"I feel better now, but, in the morning I had one," I told her as an obedient patient.

She sighed and said "They were the best medicines, but I don't why they don't work on you"

"What do you mean?" I asked with a confused expression.

"Belle, I think, it's your body, who is stopping you from taking rest" she explained.

I tilted my head with a confused expression. "Look, I know you for a long time now and as far as I know, you have always lived alone, without your family, you've never dated someone or anything like that, right?" she asked.

"Yeah..so?" I was super confused at this point.

"What I think is, Belle, that you need someone. Someone who can take care of you." "Wh..what are you saying? How can you relate these two, totally different things?" I asked.

"Belle, you have been living alone all your life because of which your mind is too stressed and these pills don't work." she finished her explanation.

"Agnes, I know where it's going.." I was annoyed by her weird explanation "..you are just indirectly convincing me to marry that Jason" I said.

"What? Jason..who?" she asked.

"Oh wow! Agnes, you are a fantastic actress," I scoffed, "But, I am not dumb. You know this very well that yesterday, Mrs. Smith was here, only to know about my marriage plans, but you never told me about this before. Why?" I asked in a serious tone.

"What? Who told you?" she asked in disbelief.

"Last night, Mrs.Smith came to my house and she told me everything. So it's no use acting like you don't know anything." I told her with a serious look.

"I'm sorry for hiding this from you. But, tell me what's wrong with marrying Jason? Because, as far as I know, he rich and handsome, he would give you a happy life, as every girl wants."

"Agnes!" someone shouted from behind, I turned and found Eric, he was angry.

"How can you say such a thing to Belle?" Eric snapped.

"What? I only said the truth. Jason can give her a life that every girl wants, then what's wrong? Agnes said to Eric.

"Enough! You should keep quiet when you don't know anything" he said to her with anger filled in his voice. I was watching the whole scene, I didn't know what else to do.

"What's wrong with you, Eric? Why are you behaving like this? I only said the truth," she said to Eric. Then, she asked looking at me "It's not like you have parents or a family to stop you. Then, tell me, Belle, what is stopping you from marrying Jason?"

"Enough is enough, Agnes!" Eric said

" Why you're forcing me to marry a stranger, Agnes?" I asked, I felt hurt by the way she was talking to me.

"Belle, look, I am your friend and your doctor. When I see you suffer like this, I feel bad for you. You need someone who can take care of you. You never told me this, but I know, you're deeply hurt and only love can heal your wounds", she said with a concerned expression while holding my arms. I removed her hands from my arms and then silently left their house. I could hear Eric calling out my name, but I ignored it.

I took long strides to reach home. As I reached home, I quickly unlocked the door went in. Then, I went to the kitchen and drank three glasses of water. Then, I came out and sat on the sofa, "I'm indeed hurt but it doesn't mean that only love can heal me" I said to myself.

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Thank you for reading. ☺💜

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