651*JK Rowling owns Harry Potter!
*Title of the chapter comes from 'White Blank Page' by Mumford and Sons!
*This is the last chapter, I decided! It's meant to be sort of cliff-hangery….. BECAUSE THERE WILL BE A SEQUEL/ CONTINUATION…
…IN SCOROSE POV (I know y'all were starting to get sick of Belle, and I'd like to explore the other characters, too!)
-It should be up in about a week (this weekend hopefully!) I don't have a title yet, but you'll know it when you see it! I'm excited!
-So, thanks for reading!
***Since this is the last chapter… I expect reviews from ALL Y'ALL
I can't remember anything that happened last night. But I do know that I'm not at home, and that I'm married. I also have the eerie feeling that yesterday didn't go as wonderfully as planned. And somehow, I'm no longer in my wedding robes. I don't know why that is.
The door to my room opens slowly. I was rather surprised at first when Simon expressed to me that he didn't have any intentions of sharing a bedroom. But he wakes up so early that I don't particularly care. I wince at the flood of light in the room.
"Aren't you awake already?" Simon questions. I can tell by his tone that he isn't exactly happy with me. He hasn't been for the past few days. Words can't describe how lonely I feel.
"No," I answer quietly.
"Then please wake up," Simon says in a voice that makes his use of manners sound contradictory. "I have things to do today, and I'm to be at work later."
I'm not sure why, but I didn't think Simon would return to work so soon. We got married yesterday, doesn't he at least want to spend one day with me? Perhaps I'm stupid to think so.
I hear Simon's footsteps cross the room. He stands in front of my bed. "How do you feel?" He asks quietly. "Do you feel any different?"
"Tired," I say. "How should I feel?"
"Pregnant," Simon says without preamble.
I frown at him. "What?"
"I didn't stutter," Simon says plainly. "I told you yesterday evening."
I stare at him blankly for a moment, and then I understand. My eyes well up with tears. "How could you?" I demand.
Simon's facial expression doesn't change. "You lost our son. We need another," he says nonchalantly.
"You took advantage of me," I say in a voice I can barely hear.
Simon shakes his head at me. "You're my wife. I have the opportunity whenever I want it."
I can barely look at Simon. "No… you don't. If you… if loved me, you wouldn't want to do that."
"I didn't want to," Simon assures me. "I was simply compensating for your carelessness."
I can't say anything. I can't look at Simon either. I just want this to be a bad dream, but I know full well that it isn't. It's reality, and I've chosen it for myself.
Simon strokes my hair quietly. "Think of how happy you'll be when we have our son," he says, kissing my forehead.
I don't respond. I won't be happy. I don't want a child. I don't ever want children. I only want Simon to quit bothering me, and I hate the fact that only having a child will fix that.
"What are you thinking of?" Simon questions softly. It confounds me just how quickly his behavior towards me can change.
I pull away from him. "I want to go home," I whisper. I don't want to be here. I want to be with my family. Not with Simon, if he's going to treat me so horribly.
Simon smirks a little. "You sound like a silly little child," he tells me. "You are at home now."
"I mean with my parents," I specify. I want nothing more than to see them.
Simon frowns at me, and I can tell he isn't happy. "After everything I've given you?" he asks. "You are truly ungrateful."
I shake my head. "No, I'm not."
"Yes, you are!" Simon says in protest. "I've done everything to make you happy, and you tell me you want to leave me?"
I don't want to upset Simon, especially so soon after waking up. I don't want my entire day to be destroyed. "Simon-"
"I'm going to give you some time to rethink your attitude," he says shortly. "I'm about to conduct an interview downstairs." He stands up and leaves the room, slamming the door. I pull my blankets over my head and cry. I think of the horrible story Simon told me last week. He's going to cut off my head.
I am finally able to stop crying and get dressed. I know that Simon would want me to dress beautifully if there is a guest over, and I don't want him to be angry with me or make a bad impression. Reluctantly, I go downstairs, and I can hear Simon speaking with someone. It sounds like a female voice, and that makes me sick to my stomach. I haven't heard his voice sound so lighthearted in days.
I come into the living room. Simon's back is turned to me, but the girl stops talking. Simon's voice trails off as he turns around. He gives me a slight frown, as if I'm in the wrong for interrupting whatever this is.
"Isobelle, this is Charlotte," Simon says slowly, taking my hand and kissing it in greeting. "My new intern."
Simon gestures to the young woman. She looks about my age or slightly younger, and she has long, red hair. She reminds me of Victoire in a way I immediately don't like.
"I-intern?" I stammer dumbly. Has Simon forgotten the conversation we had? With a history like his, I'm in no way comfortable with him working with a young woman, or any woman for that matter. This can only end one way, and I can't bear to think of it.
"Yes," Simon says stiffly. "I hope you don't have a problem?"
I'm prepared to open my mouth and inform Simon that I do, when Charlotte cuts me off.
"You're so much prettier in person!" she tells me with an incredibly fake smile. "I've seen so many pictures of you, and they just don't compare!"
I'm too stunned to reply. How dare Simon bring his sodding mistress here? I know that he's sleeping with her, or he at least has plans to. Simon can think what he wants, but I'm not that stupid.
I glare at Charlotte.
"Isobelle, don't be rude to our guest," Simon prompts, squeezing my hand slightly. "She gave you a compliment, and quite a true one."
"Thank you," I say stiffly. "You're a sight yourself." Her robes can barely keep her chest contained, and I'm sure that's by her choice.
Charlotte smiles blankly and nods. "Oh, you're very welcome. I'll be plenty invested in Simon. Although, I'm sure I can't be as good as you," she tells me.
"I'm certain you could be," I mutter.
"Isobelle," Simon says with a tight smile on his face. "How about you go decide what's for breakfast, and I'll come shortly."
I know that I can't protest. It wasn't a suggestion. Simon lets my hand go and makes it clear that he wants me to leave.
"Fine," I say quietly. "Husband."
Simon's gone to work, and I'm a bit relieved that I can be separate from him for the day. Still, the worry of what he's doing at this very moment is driving me insane. I've decided to see Teddy to calm myself down.
Teddy pulls me closer to him, and I immediately burst into sobs. He doesn't say anything, he just holds me closer to him.
"Belle," Teddy whispers quietly. "What's wrong?"
"S-Simon," I answer. "I w-want an annulment!"
Teddy frowns at me. "You've been married for a day," he reminds me. "Just wait, things will get better. I promise." He wipes my tears softly. I love Teddy more than anyone, but being with him upsets me at the same time. I'm sick of thinking what could have happened had I not been so stupid and realized he was the one who actually loved me.
"No… they won't," I tell Teddy. "He hates me."
"Simon doesn't hate you," Teddy says. "Maybe you two aren't getting along right now, but things'll get better."
I shake my head at Teddy. "Things would only get better if I married you," I whine. "I want to be with you."
Teddy nods solemnly. There's a draft in his flat. "I want to be with you too," Teddy says. "Don't you think it's hard for me? To see you married and unhappy? I can't even describe how that feels."
"I know it's hard, Teddy. And that's- that's why I feel so guilty…" I say, my voice trailing off. I let go of Teddy and pace back and forth. "And… I know Simon's cheating on me."
"You don't know that," Teddy says.
I nod in protest. "Yes, I do. He brought some woman over this morning, his new intern, he called her. And- and the way her looked at her, the way he acted toward me, something is going on between them!"
Teddy sighs and shakes his head slightly. "Don't stress yourself," he tells me gently. "You can't control anyone's behavior but yours."
I give Teddy a small nod. "I understand that, but what if you knew that you were being cheated on? And you were married? Would you be happy about it?" I question.
"No, of course, I wouldn't, Belle, but-"
"This isn't going to last," I decide. "I'm going to speak to Simon, and he's going to ask her to leave. If not, I'm involving-"
Teddy takes my arm gently, stopping me in my walk. "Belle," he says quietly, staring me right in the eye. "Just calm down. Please. It's not worth it."
My eyes well up with tears again. Why doesn't Teddy understand? Simon is my husband, and he doesn't have the right to cheat on me. It isn't fair.
"You don't know…" I say under my breath. "How hard it is to think that someone loved you with their entire being and then they just… they aren't who you thought they were… it's the most horrible feeling."
As horrible as Teddy' life is, he's at least extremely lucky that he's always been surrounded by people he was sure loved him. I haven't been so fortunate, especially by way of relationships.
Teddy rests his forehead against mine and nods slowly. "You don't deserve any of this," he whispers.
"I made these choices myself ," I protest.
"You didn't know what was going to happen," he reminds me.
"If I did, I would've married you. I don't want the life I have. I want one with you," I tell Teddy, quietly. "I feel so stupid. I thought that just being Simon's wife was something I wanted, and I liked feeling important, too. None of that was worth it."
Teddy caresses my cheek with his hand. "You are important, Belle. You're important to me," Teddy tells me. "I wish that was good enough."
I can't resist him any longer. I press my lips to Teddy's, and he pulls me so close against him that my chest is constricted, and I can only make short, sharp breaths.
"I… love…you," I say shortly, as Teddy kisses me over and over.
He doesn't need to reply. I know he loves me too, more than any other man could. More than Simon, no matter what he's claimed.
"Teddy…" I gasp. "I… I need-"
"Belle, we can't," Teddy tells me. "You know-"
"I won't tell," I assure Teddy. I slip my fingers through the loops in Teddy's trousers. He doesn't do anything to stop me.
"Belle… Isobelle- look at me. That's not what I'm worried about."
I glance up at Teddy from underneath my eyelashes. "Neither am I." I kiss Teddy again. "You're sleeping with a married woman. Your morals are already out the window."
Teddy gives me a small smile, and I smile back. He allows me to pull him to the bed. Our noses are nearly touching, and for some reason that makes me laugh. I feel happy again.
"What if we were married?" I question, raising my eyebrows playfully at Teddy.
Teddy presses his lips against mine. "Then I'd be the luckiest damn bloke on the planet," he tells me.
I guide Teddy's hands so that he can unbutton my robes better. "You're pretty lucky now, aren't you?"
"Loads," Teddy mutters against my neck. "But we have to be-"
"Simon's at work all day," I tell Teddy. "We can take all the time we want." I shift out of my robes, and Teddy gives me a distracted smile.
"That's not what I was going to say," he says.
"I'm not too keen on talking right now," I mutter, kissing my way down his chest. I unzip Teddy's trousers. "Teddy…"
"Belle, I don't want you to get pregnant," Teddy blurts out.
I glance up at him briefly. "If I do, Simon will leave me," I say convincingly, lifting my eyebrows. "Then I can marry you."
Teddy shakes his head. "That's not why you have kids," he tells me. "Just be careful, all right?"
"I know how to not get pregnant," I assure Teddy. I move closer to the waist of his trousers. "Just… relax. I love you."
Simon and I sit across from each other at the dinner table. He eats silently, without acknowledging me. I stare at him for a while, trying to decide how to go about this.
"How was work?" I question.
"Dismal," Simon replies, not even looking at me.
"How was Charlotte?" I question.
Simon's fork clatters on his plate. He clenches his jaw. "What did you just ask me?"
"You're cheating on me," I say plainly. "I'm glad you had the decency to introduce her."
"I'm not listening to this," Simon says angrily. He motions for one of the house-elves to bring him another drink.
I frown. "The truth?"
Simon shakes his head. "No. Your stupidity." I can tell my his expression the latter was correct.
"I'm not stupid because I don't want you to cheat on me," I say indignantly. "If you are, just tell me. I'd rather at least know than to be sitting here stupidly thinking you're being honest with me when you aren't. "
"I'm not discussing this with you," Simon says gruffly.
"I thought you said you wouldn't hire someone like Charlotte," I remind Simon.
Simon shrugs nonchalantly. "I needed the extra assistance. She was available."
"In more ways than one," I mutter under my breath.
"Did you say something?" Simon questions. "I dearly hope that you didn't."
I bite my lower lip and take a deep breath. "Simon, it's just that-"
Simon pushes his chair out and gets up from the table. He leaves the room. I don't even think before going after him.
"Simon," I say, reaching out to touch his shoulder. Simon turns around and looks at me as if I'm offending him.
"What part of 'we aren't discussing this' aren't you comprehending?" He questions harshly, his blue eyes boring into mine. I can't tell he's had a rather long day, but this isn't something I feel can wait.
I open my mouth to answer, and then pause for a moment before thinking of what I want to say. It isn't just that Simon and I haven't discussed his relationship with Charlotte, we haven't discussed much of anything in the past couple days. He isn't the Simon Montague I fell in love with. We haven't spoken about that either.
"Please, give me one minute," I plead. "Just one."
Simon looks like he's going to regret it. "Don't waste my time," he says.
"I'm not. I'm your wife. Simon, you pursued me. You convinced me to marry you, and I said yes. It wasn't against my better judgment. I agreed to marry you because I truly felt that you did love me. I love you, too, with my entire heart and being, and I am so sorry that I lost our son. You have to believe that I wouldn't ever intentionally hurt you, and I hope you wouldn't try to hurt me, either," I say.
Simon stares at me blankly, as if he doesn't know how to reply. He tilts my chin up to look at him, but I can see emptiness in his eyes. Still, I imagine he's going to attempt to make some form of an apology.
"I want you to come to my bed tonight," Simon tells me dismissively. He gives me a lingering kiss. I try not to show my disappointment.
I can smell strong perfume on him. It isn't mine.
(A/N: Wow, this story took me nearly a year to write. I really hope you guys somewhat somehow found it enjoyable. The continuation of this will be from Scorose's POV (should be up in about a week- stay posted!) , which I'm SO EXCITED to do! Leave a review!