Days passed and Serena managed just fine. It wasn't easy, seeing her abuser everyday and having to act like she was unaffected but she did it. She made sure she was never alone and spent a lot of time with Gerald who seemed not to mind. She was eagerly waiting for the time Thomas would pack his things and leave because the week he had proposed was slowly coming to an end. She'd told herself she would survive as long as Gerald was by her side and that looked like the case. It looked like everything will turn out fine and Thomas would leave without making any contact with Serena. Until that day came.      Gerald had received a letter from the Royal family asking for a meeting and all dukes had to be in attendance. Gerald was no exception. It would last for a week before they could be able to return home. Serena heart dropped to the ground when she heard it, her body breaking into goosebumps.       " You really have to go?" Sh

Serena escaped to her room, locking the door behind her. Slumping to the ground, she let the tear well up in her eyes and flow out. She was so terrified for a moment she'd thought he would have his way there. She lay there, her heartbreaking. Why does this have to happen to her now! How the hell is she supposed to stay away from him till Gerald comes back! With shaking legs, she stood up to her feet, barricading the door with a few things before standing behind it, her heart beating loudly in her chest " You can't hide in there forever, you know that right?" Thomas's voice boomed and her blood ran cold. He was already here! She clenched her fists so hard they began to hurt. " Go away…" she growled, her voice menacing. She heard him chuckle, probably amused by it. " I'll find the key to this room and when I do, you're going to regret biting me, young lady." He announced. Her heart did a summersault and she felt li

Gerald stared ahead, his face drawn into hard lines as he watched the doctor inspect Serena who was still unconscious. He'd been terrified to death after she went limp in his arms and he thought for a moment that he'd lost her. He would never be able to forgive himself if he did. The doctor finally straightened up, walking towards him with an expressionless look on his face. " How is she, doctor?" Gerald asked as he stood up, worry radiating off him in waves. The doctor let out a sigh before continuing with his diagnosis. " She's fine. Just exhausted and under a lot of stress. Not to mention she's been malnourished for a while and that has taken a toll on her body. I've administered some medications and she's resting right now. It'll take a while before she wakes up so I'll suggest you be patient." The doctor told him solemnly. Gerald glanced at Serena whose eyes kept twitching as she slept. Even in her sleep, she was still so restless. A huge lump grew in Gerald's

How could Thomas be dead? Gerald repeated to himself a thousand times. He was fine yesterday. What could have happened in the space of hours to have warranted his death? It just wasn't making any sense. The butler continued with his story. " That was the report I received from the police station. They went into his cell yesterday and found him on the ground, unconscious and cold." He finished. " That's impossible…" Thomas grated out, his voice low and deadly. " Thomas isn't dead. He was fine yesterday. Maybe they were lying to you." John was surprised at the turn of events. Gerald was finding it hard to believe his brothers death? He tried again. " B-but, Your Grace…" " But nothing." Gerald cut him off with a raise of his hand. " Go back to the police station and tell them to provide Thomas, alive and well. Do you hear me? He's not dead. He can't be." " Who's dead?" A tiny, scratchy voice asked. Th

"What?!" The softly spoken words sounded like a bomb in the huge room. Gerald watched her in disbelief. Surely, he didn't hear her right. Serena shuddered, tears clouding her eyes. Her lips trembling, she tried again. " Divorce me." She muttered, her voice unnaturally calm. Gerald's mind was blank at first as he took a step back, still trying to process get words. When he did, a fist full of rage filled him to the brim. " I'm not doing that." He stated vehemently, his eyes filled with fire. Serena was unfazed, even though her lips were trembling. " Why? Isn't that better for the two of us?" She asked. " How is that better! Why can't we look for a solution together!?" " Because there's no use doing that! Things are already bad between... No, terrible between us. There's no use salvaging it." Serena shot back, her voice a few pitches higher. " So you just want to throw it all away, is