Chapter 109

It had been a while since Leyla had been led limply by the hands of her uncle. She was unresponsive during the whole walk, and now, the cabin remained silent and still even at the break of dawn.

Consciousness eventually bled into her eyes, the glassy look disappearing into a resignation. Her eyes flickered down, imprinting in the back of her mind every crack and crevice on the old wooden table in front of her.

She blinked a couple of times.

Everything that happened was still so surreal. Each scene came in flashes, playing loop by loop endlessly. But the most prominent one was Uncle Bill crying.

She let out a low chuckle, devoid of any emotion. Her uncle was crying because of her.

Sunlight eventually streamed into the cabin, Leyla’s eyes latching onto the silhouette of the sun rising through the clouds, parting as though to tell her everything would be fine today.

The birds’ flapping their wings also drew her attention.

She vaguely remembered holding back her uncle as he tried to run back to the annex. She was hugging him firmly from behind, holding him in her arms with an iron grip as he yelled profanities and promised to kill him…

She was vaguely thankful they were deep in the forest, no one else would hear their commotion. But it seemed to happen forever ago, and now, she was uncertain what would happen next.

“This needs to stop, Leyla.” Uncle Bill finally began, his voice cracking and rough after the long night, “Tell me what’s wrong, because, this, this is not right sweetheart. Please, tell me the truth.” He pleaded with her, yet Leyla couldn’t find any words to tell him.

Bill’s heart ached for the girl he raised. This catatonic state of hers greatly reminded him of that little girl who came to him after a few tragic experiences.

He ensured she would want for nothing, and have a beautiful and better life than he had, than she had in her youth…

And now…

He won’t let her become the Duke’s mistress! He’ll kill him before he ever let that happen! Bill promised to himself, as his fists clenched at his sides.

“Uncle, I lo-” Leyla began to explain, but Bill could finally see right through her.

“Don’t you dare lie to me!” He scolded, making Leyla flinch involuntarily at his raised demand, “I know you Leyla, I. Know. You.” He reiterated, “And I don’t believe for one second this had all been voluntary.” He finished, breathing deeply through his nose as he tried to reign in his temper.

Leyla didn’t need that from him. She didn’t need his fury. But she also needed to be reminded she had people in her corner, no matter how futile it seemed for her.

And it was like his words had cut deep into Leyla, for that passive poker face of hers twisted into something undesirable. Her lips curled downwards as they trembled, and sobs wracked out of her body, as she desperately hid her face in her palms.

Bill immediately sat beside her, and pulled her into a comforting embrace, whispering how he’ll make things better soon, she just needed to trust him.

When he persisted in asking how long this had been going on, how it began, Leyla bit into her lips, unable to look at him, he worried she’d draw blood…

But then things began clicking into place.

The accident in the greenhouse, the way the Duke dropped the charges and kept him employed despite him knowing some employees had been sacked for lesser offenses…

The way Leyla started pulling away from him, while at the same time began to cling desperately around him…

The added favors the Duke made to what he thought would help better his and his niece’s situation in the long run…

And like a fool, he didn’t think twice about looking at the gift in the horse’s mouth. Bill despaired how he’d been a willing pawn by the Duke to imprison his lovely girl further. He could only pale at the thought of his involuntary compliance.

It wasn’t the Duke’s mercy and grace that got him out of jail. It was the promise of Leyla submitting to his whims and desires that did.

“No way… it was the accident wasn’t it?”

“No!” Leyla persisted, pleading it was anything but, promising she’d fallen in love with the Duke and begged him to make her his mistress, but Bill could hear every lie now that he was well aware of it.

Blatant lies they really were, very plain to see. Leyla had never been a good actress, much less a liar. He hadn’t been able to see it before because he didn’t want to see it.

“I foolishly thought he’d saved us from poverty when he released me, but I had unwittingly sold you to a monster instead….”

“No uncle! Please, believe me, I love him! I was selfish, I wanted him to be mine!”

“I promise you I’ll kill him, with my bare hands if I have to!”

Bill shot up to his feet, unbridled anger now coiling beneath his veins, a hidden promise to deliver it to the guilty party! Bill had no doubts the Duke even took into consideration the ruined reputation Leyla would have once word of their affair would get out.

If that happens, Leyla would forever be trapped within his shadow, his to use and dispose as he wanted. The Duke would bear none of the brunts of his actions, but Leyla would bear every shame.

“No uncle don’t!” Leyla pleaded as she blocked him from leaving the cabin and knelt before him, “If you go to prison again, I won’t live!” She exclaimed, tears flowing out of her eyes as she wailed for him to stay.

“Why should I not kill him for what he did to you?!” Bill demanded, still angry at his blindness and for failing to protect his ward.

“Because I’m leaving anyway! I swear it, I will leave Arvis forever, and finish our affair before he even marries Lady Brandt! I won’t go to him anymore after tonight, I’ll do my best not to!”

And then it all clicked, every conversation of hers trying to convince them to leave behind Arvis, and settle somewhere else so far away…

She had tried to fix everything by herself. How could Bill jeopardize her even further by soiling his hands with murder?

“Oh, my poor girl,” Bill sobbed, pulling her up to her feet and bringing her into a tight hug, “I’m so sorry, my dear, I’m so sorry!” He begged her for forgiveness, as Leyla hugged him tight in equal desperation.

How brightly the sun shone in Arvis, completely oblivious to the storm clouds over the two unfortunate people in the quaint cabin.

*.·:·.✧.·:·.*

“Master, we’re all set to leave.” Hessen quickly said after he’d approached quietly beside Matthias.

He nodded in acknowledgement, and swiftly stood to his feet. Hessen got to work, brushing his master’s suit to keep it pristine, while Matthias gathered his things.

As his butler was fixing his clothes, Matthias looked out his massive windows, hoping to catch a glance of his mistress walking through the gardens. He belatedly noted that the roses would be in bloom soon.

He smiled to himself at how similar Leyla was to the flowers. She lived and came into his life to make it beautiful.

A slight pout appeared in his lips. Leyla must not have left for work yet. Usually he’d have seen her by now. He really hoped to see her before he left. Perhaps they could work out a system once he returned.

Once Hessen had backed away, finished with fixing him up, Matthias headed to his golden cage, and smiled at his canary. He lightly tapped against the sides of the cage to gain the bird’s attention.

Without fail, the bird stopped grooming itself and chirped in greeting him, drawing closer to his fingers. It was happy today too.

Matthias turned on his heels and walked out of his mansion. His chauffeur held open the car door for him as he descended the steps. Belatedly, he cursed himself in his mind for not asking what she wanted for his return.

Nevertheless, he was certain he could pick her a gift worthy of her beauty.

“Oh, Mr. Remmer, good morning.” Hessen’s voice interrupted Matthias’ musings as he halted from entering the car to look back and saw his butler greeting the old gardener, who held a muddy shovel in hand.

Matthias hoped he wasn’t tracking mud all over the garden, and if he was, he’d clean it up soon.

“Can I help you with anything?” Hessen asked the gardener, who locked eyes with the Duke.

There was something there, Matthias could tell, but he couldn’t fathom where it would come from.

“Mr. Remmer?” Hessen called out softly, finally gaining the gardener’s attention once more.

“Oh, it was nothing. Must have blanked out for a while there.” Bill replied amicably to Hessen, his hands on his shovel tight, judging by the way his knuckles were turning white.

Bill had decided to never go near the Duke again, in an effort to keep his promise to Leyla. But when he’d seen the Duke going down his mansion, all pristine and untouchable…

He marched forward, making a beeline for the Duke.

It was only the memory of Leyla begging him not to, that kept him glued in his spot, long before the butler even took notice of him.

The Duke must have brushed him off as something trivial, for he got in the car not long after that. He watched as the chauffeur shut the Duke’s door, going around the car to get back in the driver’s seat.

Oh how outwardly he really was the picture-perfect gentleman. Bill had once been in disbelief and awe of him.

“Bill, truly, what’s wrong?” Hessen turned to him once more, after giving his master a respectful goodbye bow. “This isn’t like you.”

Bill’s grip on his shovel tightened, and he swallowed down his scowl and displeasure. Hessen wasn’t free of his ire either. He was undoubtedly the head butler of the Herhardts and was well aware of his master’s extracurricular.

He must have known it was Leyla, and still, he did nothing.

Bill gave him a tight smile instead.

“Really, it’s nothing.” Bill insisted, quelling his anger with righteous patience. For Leyla’s sake, and so they can escape. He will reign in his rage.

The family he once saw as his fellow workers were gone. They weren’t family if they blindly allowed this to happen, and never thought to inform him.

These were people he’d been with, grew up with since his youth. This new truth was sickening and disheartening to him.

And now, he was just plain tired.

“I was just going to say goodbye.” Bill added as an afterthought, “That’s all, nothing more.”

Without waiting for a further reply, Bill hurriedly made his exit, and went back to the direction of the gardens. Just as he was about to near a flowerbed, he was stopped by an image of a child, waiting in a mail wagon.

And then his ugly emotions came rising up, immediately rearing its ugly head, as he threw his tightly gripped shovel away in haste! His abrupt actions didn’t go unnoticed, drawing a few more stares from his fellow co-workers.

But no one dared to ask him what was wrong.

“Ah, Mr. Remmer! Just in time, I see!” Remarked the mailman jovially as he noticed the seasoned gardener. He began to approach Bill with a bright smile, and the old gardener fought to keep himself calm.

Whether the mailman noticed his trembling hands as he received his telegram, he would never know.

His eyes focused on the telegram he had just received, a cold steely gaze formed in his eyes as he realized what it was. It was a telegram replying to the one he had sent a few days ago.

Discreetly, he opened up his telegram away from any prying eyes, and read its contents swiftly. Relief bled into his eyes the more he read its contents, his trembling hands coming to a relaxed grip, and the burning ire in him was gradually doused.

He won’t make the same mistake again. This time, he’ll make sure he’ll protect his Leyla, and not fail her as he did.

He only has one priority left, one promise to keep with all his heart, and he won’t fail it. He’s ready to leave everything behind for this. Everything else pales in comparison than the promise this one thing would bring them.

Leyla was now his utmost priority, and no one else is above that. Not even his own life.

*.·:·.✧.·:·.*

“Teacher, are you sick?” a small voice asked Leyla, when she looked down, she saw Monica, looking up at her with worried eyes. Before she could even answer her, the little girl’s lips began to tremble and promptly began to cry..

“T-teacher!” She wailed, and reached out to grab her by the edge of her sleeves to tug her arm down as Leyla rubbed the sleep from her eyes.

“Oh sweet thing, I’m sorry for worrying you,” Leyla hushed, while simultaneously trying to keep herself alert and awake to do her job. She reached down to hold the girl’s hands, while her other hand reached to put on her glasses. “Why are you still here? Is your ride not here yet?” She asked worriedly, smiling reassuringly to the young girl.

Monica whimpered as she still kept sobbing with worry.

“You look sick, teacher.” She persisted, fresh tears flowing once more, “Please don’t die!” She wailed once more. “Don’t be like my mom too teacher! She was sick, and then she died! Don’t die, teacher!” She kept saying.

In the end, Leyla was kept out of her depressing thoughts trying to console the young girl she was nowhere near sickness nor death.

She ended up sitting the young girl in her lap, while wiping her tears away with her handkerchief, until the wails and sobs turned into sniffling instead.

“So, teacher is not dying?” Monica sniffed, her red-rimmed eyes finally beginning to believe her. “You’re not sick?”

“No, I’m not.” Leyla said with a smile, but inwardly, she was berating herself for holding herself rather poorly that her student had to see her in such a pathetic state.

Meanwhile, finally convinced, Monica quickly beamed at her and hopped out of her lap. She darted quickly to her things, and then back, holding a fistful bouquet of grass flowers up to her.

“Then, I’ll give you this teacher.” She sweetly offered. Some plants had already started to wither, but Leyla could still see the brightly colored yellow petals, and received it kindly.

“Thank you, Monica.”

“Don’t get sick, okay?” Monica reiterated and Leyla nodded with a gentle smile. “You promise?”

“Pinky promise.” Leyla told her. Monica beamed at her brightly. Leyla set the bouquet down gently on her desk, before wiping the remnants of her tears, and fixing the little girl’s hair back to how it had been when she first entered the class.

The child finally left for home, leaving Leyla alone to her thoughts once more.

The novice teacher sat in her seat, looking out into nothingness before she shook out of her own reverie, and gathered her things, before getting ready to return to their cabin. She half dreaded having to see her uncle again, still being painfully reminded of what he now knew about her.

“Let’s leave, Leyla.”

Oh how she longed so much to hear those words from her uncle. But she hated how he had to know about her sleeping with the Duke for him to say it. He’d been silent for several days since he figured it out, leaving her to her thoughts and ruminations, when he broke his silence this morning just to tell her that.

“I can’t leave you in his hands for another day. Let’s run away together, even to the end of the world so that the Duke will never find you again.”

Her uncle’s eyes were cold, even though his words were passionate as he said them to her. Speechless as she was, she couldn’t deny wanting to do the same, and nodded her ascent.

She was going to leave soon anyway, so why not do it sooner than expected? She hated she had been caught by her uncle, but the damage was done. She’d been discovered, and Uncle Bill ended up getting hurt.

At the very least, she could finally leave him now. All that was left was to leave him. It was what she wanted most in the end after all.

It didn’t matter to her where they would end up. So long as it was as far away from him as possible. So long as she could forget him in peace, and never see him again, she would be happy once more.

And then she could re-live her dream life, and live peacefully with her Uncle once more, as they did before this whole mess even began.

She hoisted herself over her bike, occasionally rubbing her eyes to keep herself awake until she got home. She then proceeded to pedal back home, quickly passing by the cityscapes and busybodies in the streets.

Before she knew it, she had already turned down the road headed to Arvis, a fond memory quickly resurfacing to mind when she’d been visiting Uncle Bill as she rode on a rattling mail wagon.

She had been practising milling with an old luggage bag in her tiny arms. She remembered praying earnestly that her Uncle Bill would like her. If he turned out to be better than the others, then she promised she would be a good little girl.

And when he turned out to be the best guardian she could ask for, she tried really hard to be a good girl. And yet, she ended up with a lifetime of looking over her shoulder, in fear of a powerful man taking her away from her uncle.

She also broke her uncle’s heart. Giving in and resulting in shameful acts just to ask for what she wanted from the powerful man. It was an act not so easily forgotten…

She belatedly thought she should never have come to Arvis in the first place.

She should have gone with the orphanage instead. If she had, she would never have crossed paths with the Duke, she wouldn’t be in this mess. She wouldn’t have had to suffer in her adult life…

Kyle and Uncle Bill would have been better off never meeting her too. If they hadn’t, they would have never been so unhappy now.

But she was also selfish. Because she knew, if she were given a chance, she would still choose to come to Arvis anyway despite knowing that. And it made her stomach churn uncomfortably at its implications…

Suddenly, a car came around the corner, halting Leyla in her tracks. She’d recognize that car anywhere.

It was the Duke’s.