Adeline Returns a Week Later

The sun lazily crept over the horizon, casting a warm glow across the quaint town of Lodamir. I stood on the balcony of my chambers, the gentle breeze playing with the tendrils of my hair as I watched the world awaken. A week had passed since Adeline married Alexander, and in that time, a sense of tranquility had settled over me.

Jacob, consumed by his own affairs, had largely left me to my own devices. I found solace in the simple pleasures of life, particularly in the freedom of riding through the rolling hills that surrounded Lodamir. Each morning, I would saddle my horse, the loyal companion who understood my need for solitude, and together we would traverse the winding paths, the rhythmic sound of hoofbeats echoing through the stillness of the countryside.

I ventured further into the countryside. I discovered hidden glens carpeted with wildflowers, their vibrant colors painting a tapestry against the lush greenery. I would dismount and wander through these natural wonders, the sweet scent of blossoms filling my senses and the soft caress of the breeze soothing my soul. In these moments, I felt a deep connection to the land, as if it whispered secrets of centuries past.

Meanwhile, Jacob's absence was palpable but not unwelcome. He had found his own refuge in the bustling town of Lodamir, where he spent his days attending to matters unknown to me. Rumors of his frequent visits to Vivian's house danced through the gossip-laden streets, but I paid them little heed. As long as Jacob remained distant, I was content to let him wander in his own world.

Despite the occasional pang of loneliness, I cherished these moments of solitude. They allowed me to reflect on the changes that had swept into my life with the swiftness of a summer storm.

My heart quickened as Jacob's sudden intrusion shattered the peaceful ambiance of my chambers. His presence was a tempest, his anger a palpable force that seemed to fill the room.


“What did you tell Adeline on her wedding day?” Jacob demanded, his voice tight with frustration.


I met his gaze evenly, my own expression a mask of calm despite the turmoil roiling within.


“I only wished her good luck, my lord,” I replied softly, my words measured.


Jacob’s eyes narrowed, his jaw clenched with tension.


“It appears that she has run off to her estate,” he spat out, his words heavy with accusation.


My heart skipped a beat at the news. I was worried that something was very wrong for Adeline to flee.


“Is she hurt?” I asked, my voice tinged with worry.
“Not yet,” Jacob replied curtly.
“Alexander has gone to retrieve her.”
“I must go to her,” I declared, my resolve firm as I moved to gather my belongings.

“Katherine you will do no such thing.”
“Jacob, our daughter is in danger.”
“She is her husband's problem now.”

“Jacob, how can you say that?”
“If it was Adelaide, you would help her.”
“Adelaide, would not pull a stunt like this.”


Before I could say another word Jacob locked the door. I was pinned against the wall in seconds. His weight was crushing me.


“You will stay in your room until Alexander returns with Adeline.”
“I cannot have you messing with my treaty.”


I was about to say something when Jacob put his hand over my mouth. I wriggled beneath Jacob's grasp, my words muffled by his hand.


“Don’t worry sweetheart it will all be over soon.”


I shot him a bewildered look. What did he mean by that? I had lived a very careful life. Since the multiple assassination attempts and kidnapping attempts, I have been very cautious. Jacob left the room and locked the door. All I could do was wait. Three days later Jacob walked back into the room.


“Alexander has been spotted just over the hill.”


Jacob pulled me down to the courtyard. While Adeline dismounted, I could tell that something was wrong. Before I could speak, Jacob escorted us to his study. He demanded that Adeline go to her chambers. He instructed me to keep Alexander entertained.

I poured Alexander a glass of wine. He drank it silently. Neither one of us spoke. A few minutes later Adeline walked into the room. A bruise was visibly blooming on her face. I quickly walked her into Jacob’s bedroom. I shut the door behind us.


“Did your father hit you?”
“Yes, he did.”
“Father disowned me.”

I took a minute to gather my words carefully.

“I am sure I can persuade him.”
“Just give me some time.”
“Has Alexander been unkind to you?”


I was surprised when she told me that he tried to have his mistress teach her how to please him. I was disgusted at his behavior. Before I could say anything else we heard Jacob enter the room. We quickly walked back into the study. Alexander and Adeline quickly left. I worried about Adeline’s safety as they disappeared over the hill.

Jacob and I stepped into his study. The air seemed to thicken with tension. His expression was stormy, his jaw set tight. I could feel the weight of his anger before he even spoke a word.

Without warning, his hand flew, delivering a stinging slap across my cheek. The force of it sent me reeling, the shock reverberating through my entire being. My hand instinctively flew to my face, the sting of the impact blooming into pain.

I stared at him, wide-eyed, my mind racing to comprehend what had just happened. Anger and hurt warred within me, but I held my tongue, unsure of what to say.
Jacob's chest heaved with pent-up emotion, his gaze intense as he bore into mine.


"How could you?" His voice was low, seething with betrayal.
I struggled to find my voice, the words catching in my throat. "Jacob, I..."
“I know that you encouraged her to escape.”
“Jacob she is my daughter.”
“I want her to be happy.”

“Her happiness does not matter.”
“Just as yours does not matter.”


Jacob's hand struck my cheek with a force that sent a shockwave through my body. I staggered back, feeling the sting of his betrayal mirrored in his eyes.


"You think you can justify this?" His voice was a venomous whisper, laced with pain and anger.
"You knew what she meant to me.”


Tears welled up in my eyes, a mixture of guilt and defiance.


"I couldn't stand to see her suffer in that place.”
“I had to do something."

"You chose to betray me?" Jacob's voice cracked with emotion, his fists clenched at his sides.
"I did what I thought was right," I choked out, my voice barely a whisper.
"Right?" Jacob's laughter was bitter, devoid of any warmth.
"Do you even know what that word means anymore?"

Before I could respond, his fist connected with my jaw, sending me reeling to the ground. Pain exploded through my senses.

I hit the ground. The world spun around me, the taste of blood filling my mouth. Each breath felt like a struggle as I tried to gather my wits amidst the chaos of pain and confusion.

Jacob's towering figure cast a shadow over me. His simmering rage palpable in the air, I fought against the pain pulsating through my body. Each breath was a struggle, each movement an agony. With trembling hands, I attempted to push myself up from the ground, but my strength faltered, and I collapsed back down, defeated.


His smirk deepening, Jacob's eyes gleamed with triumph as I tasted the metallic tang of blood in my mouth. Despite the pain, defiance flickered within me like a stubborn flame refusing to be extinguished. Gathering what little resolve I had left, I met Jacob's gaze with a mix of defiance and desperation.


"You think you've won," I managed to rasp, my voice barely above a whisper,
"You're just a coward hiding behind your fists."


Jacob's smirk twisted into a sneer, his fists clenching tighter at his sides.


"You've got guts, I'll give you that," he spat, the venom in his tone slicing through the tension-filled air.
"Guts won't save you now."


With a swift movement, he reached down, seizing me by the collar of my dress and yanking me up to meet his gaze at eye level. Pain shot through me like a lightning bolt, but I refused to let it show, locking eyes with him defiantly even as the world spun around me.


"Come on, Jacob," I challenged, my voice trembling but resolute.
"You think you're tough because you can throw a few punches?”
“Real strength isn't about violence.”
“It's about standing up for what's right, even when it's hard."


For a moment, Jacob's grip loosened, a flicker of doubt crossing his features before his anger reignited like a flame engulfing dry tinder. With a growl of frustration, he shoved me back to the ground, sending a fresh wave of pain crashing over me.


"You talk too much," he spat, his voice laced with disdain.
"I'll show you what real strength is."


He raised his fist, poised to strike once more. I braced myself for the inevitable impact, knowing that even in the face of overwhelming odds, I would never stop fighting for what I believed in.
This time his fist connected with my stomach. I gasped in pain. My vision blurred. This time I passed out.

Consciousness slowly returned, I found myself lying on the cold, hard floor of Jacob's room, the dull ache in my body a constant reminder of the brutal beating I had endured. Blinking away the haze of unconsciousness, I struggled to piece together the events that had led me to this moment.

The memory of Jacob's fist connecting with my stomach flooded back with painful clarity, the sensation of impact and the searing agony that followed still fresh in my mind. Gasping for breath, I attempted to push myself up, but my body rebelled, protesting every movement with a symphony of pain.

Grimacing, I forced myself into a sitting position, my vision swimming as I took in my surroundings. The room was dimly lit, shadows dancing along the walls like silent specters. Jacob loomed over me, his expression unreadable as he watched me with a mixture of curiosity and contempt.


"You're awake," he remarked, his voice devoid of emotion as he folded his arms across his chest.
"Took you long enough."


Ignoring the throbbing ache in my body, I met his gaze with a defiant glare, refusing to let him see the extent of my weakness.


"What do you want?" I demanded, my voice hoarse with pain but laced with determination.


Jacob's lips curled into a cruel smile, the corners of his mouth turning up in a mocking gesture.


"What do I want?" he repeated, the amusement evident in his tone.
"I want you to learn your place, to understand that you can't just waltz in here and challenge me."


His words cut through me like a knife, the realization of my vulnerability hitting me with the force of a sledgehammer. Even in the face of adversity, I refused to back down, drawing upon reserves of strength I never knew I possessed.


"I won't let you intimidate me," I declared, each word a defiant challenge.
"No matter what you do, I'll never stop fighting for what's right."


Jacob's smile faltered, replaced by a glimmer of uncertainty as he studied me as if seeing me in a new light. For a moment, the air between us crackled with tension, the balance of power shifting imperceptibly.

Then, with a dismissive shrug, Jacob turned away, his facade of indifference slipping back into place like a mask.


"We'll see about that," he muttered, his voice barely audible over the pounding of my heart.


He left the room, leaving me alone in the suffocating silence, I knew that the battle was far from over. I struggled to my feet. I managed to stumble to the restroom. I washed my face and changed into a simple dress. I stumbled to the bed.