Chapter 14

**Gulliver's Logbook
Extra Chapter**

I am Gulliver, or at least that's what they call me, a freshwater pond frog from the Montenegro mansion. I've lived there my entire short life, but I'm not an ordinary frog; I have very good manners and enjoy elegant dinners with ingredients that surpass the money spent on the dish, and cleanliness is indispensable for my daily routine—a very clean toad is a toad of high society. One day, I tried to seek a life befitting my status, but I got lost along the way because I suffer from frog disorientation. When a giant hand captured me, from that day on, I have been fed food of dubious origin for my culinary standards, and the baths are not foamy for my sensitive skin. My captor is a bit scatterbrained and noisy... but her body is warm, and I like to cuddle next to her. She talks to me all the time as if I understand her, but someday I will escape.

My plan is to escape at night, after putting a strong sedative in her glass of water, I will jump over her greasy and poorly cared-for face until I reach the window of that filthy monkey cave, to finally reach that giant mansion I once saw as a young frog, and finally live the aristocratic life I have always deserved.

"Gulliver, I'm back. I brought you some insects I caught, and later I can give you a bath," she said, stroking my head, and I thought of postponing my Machiavellian escape plan for a snack of insects.

"How about I put a little dress on you, I'm sure you'd look very pretty."

"Respect me, horrid woman, I am an elegant being who lives by and for elegance." I tangled my small sticky hands in her hair, trying to tumble her to the ground in rage, but she started to laugh.

"You like my hair, Gulliver... although I think I haven't washed it. Anyway, I don't think you mind, you're a little toad," I retched involuntarily.

"Gulliver? Gulliver, what's wrong!?" I will not give up; I will escape the malicious tortures of this giant monkey with dubious hygiene routines.

"Eat, Gulliver... you will feel better afterward, I will make sure you feel better with my care."

Chapter 15

"Mr. Keylef! Mr. Keylef, wait! Keylef!" he finally stopped and turned towards me. When our eyes finally met again, I quickly said,

"Maybe you didn't see me when I greeted you, but I was a few meters away listening to you," I said with an uncomfortable smile, knowing he had seen me.

"Yes, I saw you..."

"Oh, so you ignored me on purpose." He let out a slight sigh and said,

"Forgive me, Belle, it was rude of me to make you run, especially in your condition," he said, looking at my cast. I quickly raised my arm a little and he scolded,

"Don't do that, you'll hurt yourself again."

"I'm fine, really, don't worry. Beethoven says I was always a very strong girl as a child, I don't like being so still," I said timidly and then asked, "Can I know why you ignored me? Are you mad at me? Did I do something wrong?"

"It's just that the music brings back very good memories, and you remind me of someone I miss," I stood motionless, thoughtful about those words, and I so badly wanted to ask who he was talking about, but a part of me didn't want to know.

"It was a very beautiful song," I said nervously, unable to look him directly in the eyes.

"Yes, I suppose you're right... you know what? I don't want to burden you with my nonsense. How about we go out for a while? This place has a very oppressive air." With an excited smile, I looked at him. We would go out together somewhere, and I couldn't even hide the incredible eagerness I felt.

♥

Cesar

I woke up abruptly, breathing heavily. It had only been a dream, but why, of all the things I could have on my mind, had I dreamed of that annoying little girl? Hard-headed and troublesome. Just yesterday, she had already given me a headache with what had happened, and now I was dreaming of that unacceptable... this was already making for a dreadful morning.

"Good morning, Mr. Cesar. Here is your breakfast with a steaming cup of coffee, with a lump of sugar just how you like it," I said, with an intense headache indicating.

"No coffee, better an infusion with an aspirin, my head is killing me." She hurriedly left the tray, saying,

"Yes, sir, right away." When Benelope returned, she poured the infusion from the teapot and placed the aspirin beside me. I sighed wearily, taking the cup.

"It seems you didn't have a good night, Mr. Cesar. Is there something that's bothering you that I can help with?"

"Bothering me..." I murmured, drinking the infusion.

"It's just my head that seems to have gone crazy."

If only that woman hadn't appeared in my dream, I wouldn't be so upset. What on earth was I thinking... if she hadn't gotten on my nerves so much, I wouldn't be so annoyed with this matter. I could only find that explanation for why she appeared in my mind, I murmured while the water covered my body. When I finished bathing, a clean and impeccable suit awaited me in my dressing room. As I buttoned my shirt in front of the mirror, a perpetual expression of anger remained frozen on my face.

"Something isn't right..." I murmured, adjusting the collar of my shirt.

"Maybe the tie, or..." suddenly, I heard a knock on my door and firmly allowed entry.

"Mr. Cesar, it's the doctor from the hospital where... that little girl was admitted. They need to speak with you right away." My face changed to one of confidence. Surely, she had started to waste the hospital's resources. I took the phone and answered.

"What is it?"

"Mr. Montenegro, I'm sorry to bother you, but I wanted to talk to you about the patient who was hospitalized yesterday for the fracture."

"Charge any expenses to my account," I said, considering this would happen sooner or later.

"Actually, she has insisted again that I discharge her. I've noticed she's very uncomfortable with the nurses' care and in the room, instead of recovering, she seems like a trapped guinea pig. So, as a doctor, I decided to discharge her so she can recover in an environment where she feels more comfortable. I always prioritize my patients' health. That's why I wanted to inform you."

"Fine, thanks for letting me know." I immediately hung up without even saying goodbye and called Joffre.

"Mr. Cesar, I apologize."

"What happened? Didn't I ask you to watch her?"

"I know, sir. But the doctor made the decision to discharge her. I had no power to oppose it. In fact, she indicated she would rather keep the money for her payment than have it spent on the hospital."

"What?"

"Of course, I told her not to let her leave, but... they still discharged her."

"Bring her to the mansion," I said with a tense jaw, hanging up feeling humiliated again. She took my intentions and trampled them on the ground as if they were worthless. Who did that uneducated little girl think she was? I slammed my fist hard on the table. She just wanted to make me angry... the only thing left for me was to offer her a room in my mansion. If she went to that filthy cabin, she wouldn't recover. But I couldn't stay; just seeing her was driving me insane with anger. But why? I still couldn't recognize the reason for my dislike towards that insignificant woman in my life. Was it because of her face...? Denying the strong resemblance to Belladona would be lying to myself, but they were like oil and water, completely different. It wasn't that... I couldn't even identify the source of my bad moods. I had to go far away for a while and distance myself from her as much as possible.

"Benelope."

"Yes, sir?"

"Cancel my meetings for a few weeks; I'm going on a trip for a while." Surprised, she nodded and left. "Maybe seeing so much misery and lack of class has impacted me. I'm not a man who runs away, but it was better than nothing."

♥

A few hours earlier.

I dressed carefully, so as not to hurt my cast. I was so excited that I only saw butterflies and stars, or maybe it was the side effects of the pain medication. Whatever I saw, my happiness was mine and no one else's. When I crossed the door, I met Joffre and the doctor.

"Wow, so much energy... a few hours ago, you seemed like a trapped bird," I said, a little embarrassed, honestly.

"I would get sicker staying here, and I hate knowing that they are paying a fortune for this room when I don't need it. Please, I ask you to discharge me. Mr. Cesar doesn't have to pay for this. You have already seen with your own eyes that I am completely fine. I'd rather spend the money on something beneficial and not on something useless like this room," the woman smiled and said,

"Actually, that's why I was coming. I was thinking of discharging you if you weren't comfortable. It's better to recover in a place where you will really recover." My eyes fell on Mr. Joffre, who quickly took out his phone.