71. Child Labour.

Alice was gloating, when the letter had been gotten by her husband instead of anyone else, she was ultimately convinced that the moon goddess was on her side and also forbade the stupid union. She felt satisfied at the letter she had asked her husband to write on behalf of the king and she even more happy that this was better than whatever places she had in mind for her previously,  because now, she would be heartbroken and probably cry her eye out at been used and then discarded in such a manner and then she would also stay away from her brother herself, very soon he'll forget all about her.

Her Husband, Clover suddenly barged into their home and she was startled by the impart, "you almost gave me a heart attack, my husband, what is it?" She asked, while glaring at him.

"The king.... the king..." He stuttered, catching his breathe, "what is wrong with the king?" Alice questioned, impatient.

"He's gone! He disappeared and it's said that he even packed some clothes for himself. The only person he told when he was going is his personal servant, he doesn't trust me anymore and this is your fault! If he finds out that we've been lying to him and he finds her first, we are done for!" He exclaimed while Alice rolled her eyes.

"I knew that this day will come so calm your nerves, we won't be done for in anyway if we get to her before he does, remember that we have a leverage over him... we know where she actually is while he doesn't, I'll get ready, you stay behind and look after somethings, make sure that everything is fine." She said as she began to look around for what she could need to take with her.

"What are you going to do?" Clover asked.

"I'm going to kill her myself, and that includes the stupid baby she said she is expecting in that letter." Alice responded, desperate.

*******

Winifred closed her eyes and steeled herself against the pain. She felt almost a physical blow to her stomach that made her sick as she scanned the short note again and again even after days had passed already.  Arthur had made love to another woman. He had held another woman in his arms and caressed her as he had done with her. Had he looked deep into this woman's eyes as he possessed her? A wedding was to take place? She felt a sickness deep inside her. She moved away from the blanket, stumbling as she went. Her head swam and she clutched at her stomach. Thoughts were swirling in her head. He was marrying a lycan befitting his throne.

Alice was right, so was Elena, everybody was right after all. She had given him everything, and now he was marrying another woman. Elena's voice taunted her: 'He’ll sell your body to the highest bidder once he’s tired of your body and taste.' But no, it was much worse than that. She had simply been discarded like trash. Did he give no thought at all to his son? Her son, he simply aknowledged it and want even interested in him? Oh God, why? It was like a physical pain. The tears fell on her cheeks and she moved away from her son who was laid beside her. Why? Why? It hurt so much she couldn’t bear it. Why? She was blinded by the tears and collided with a figure who stood in her way.

It had been almost two weeks since she got the letter and she still couldn't get over the heartbreak that this man caused her.

"Winifred, what's wrong?" Robert asked with concern. He noticed her approaching in distress, seemingly oblivious to his presence. Tears streamed down her cheeks, and she tightly clutched a letter that had been causing her immense pain for days. "Oh, Robert," she sobbed, allowing him to embrace her as she wept. "I can't bear it. It hurts so much." She closed her eyes, trying to escape the pain. Robert comforted her, soothingly stroking her loose, blonde hair and gently rubbing her back until she began to calm down.

Winifred had been confined to this room for days, and Robert could see the toll it was taking on her. He decided it was time for her to get some fresh air and took her for a walk. He asked his mother to watch over the baby, giving Winifred some time to herself. They strolled along a path adorned with grass and beautiful flowers. Sitting on the grass, Robert pulled Winifred close to him.

"Winifred, I know you're in great pain," he said softly. She leaned against him, sharing her anguish. The betrayal and the feeling of being used and discarded by Arthur made her feel sick. Robert held her tightly, trying his best to provide comfort. As she sat beside him, he tenderly touched her hair and continued to soothe her, gradually helping her overcome her initial panic attack. Winifred rested her head on his shoulder, feeling a sense of solace she hadn't experienced in a long time. Suddenly, she became aware of their proximity and felt ashamed. "I'm sorry, Robert. This must be so awkward for you," she apologized, gazing into his eyes, her emerald-green orbs filled with unshed tears and pain.

"It's alright, Winifred," he reassured her, genuinely happy that she was opening up to him. It was what he had hoped for, and even though he knew it might not be the right time, he couldn't hold back his feelings any longer. "I care about you deeply, Winifred. You can always rely on me. Regardless of what that jerk did, it's his loss and my gain because you are everything any man could ever wish for. I truly hope you know that," he confessed, catching Winifred off guard. Blushing, she hadn't expected such a sudden declaration from him.

"Um... could you please give me a little moment alone? I'm not ready to discuss things like this yet, Robert. I'd like to be left alone to process my emotions," she requested, and he immediately complied, getting up from the grass and leaving as she had asked.

Winifred walked along the grassy path, refreshed by the blooming flowers and the short respite. She pondered Robert's admission and wondered about it. Living a comfortable life with him seemed enticing; he was hardworking and would take care of her. Concern for her son lingered in her mind, although she had no reason to believe that Robert would be anything but a loving father figure. As the sun dipped lower in the sky, she contemplated whether she could love Robert and build a life with him. Having devoted her heart and soul to Arthur, only for it to end in heartbreak, she hesitated to open her heart to someone new. The trees stood tall, and the grass felt soft under her feet.

The atmosphere was calm, just like the previous evening, with the twilight casting a warm, pinkish hue among the trees. A man appeared ahead, dressed in forest green breeches and a frock coat, donning a wide-brimmed hat. Winifred noticed his dark hair tied in a clubbed fashion. There was a strange sense of familiarity, although she couldn't see his face clearly. Unexpectedly, he turned around, intending to change direction, and nearly collided with her. Winifred's breath caught in her throat. She gasped, frozen in place, horrified as she gazed at him. Then, in a panic, she turned and hurriedly fled.

"Winifred!" Arthur called out to her, but she ignored him, desperately attempting to escape. Unfortunately, her corset was laced so tightly that she couldn't take deep breaths or move swiftly enough.

Arthur muttered a curse under his breath and pursued her. Catching up to her wasn't difficult, as she wasn't moving very fast. He was puzzled by the horror he had seen in her eyes upon encountering him. After all, if anyone's behavior should be condemned, it was hers. He reached her and firmly grasped her arm, swiftly turning her to face him. "Winifred," he sternly called her name. She closed her eyes, silently wishing for him to disappear. The pain and betrayal flooded back, raw and fresh, and she wanted nothing more than to forget it all. He looked devastatingly handsome in his green attire. It felt so unjust. Why was he back?

"Don't touch me," she said, trying to pull away, but he held her closer to him. She caught a whiff of his masculine, clean scent, mingled with the fragrance of jasmine. It triggered memories of their intimate moments together, with nothing between them but the scent of jasmine on a sultry night when he took her for the first time.

Her emerald eyes shimmered as he held her beneath a towering oak tree. "Winifred, what is happening here? I have been concerned for your safety, and upon returning to London, I find you involved with your new lover. I should never have left you alone, as your bed quickly grows cold," he declared with a mixture of anger and longing.

Winifred's anger flared as he dared to mention Robert while he himself was married with a new child. "My bed grows cold?" she retorted. "That's rich, coming from you! My God, when I think of everything I've sacrificed and endured, and you..."

"And what about me?" he interrupted, pulling her closer into his embrace. "And what about me, Winifred? I made a promise to you. I stood before the royal court and proclaimed that you would be my wife. I fought against numerous obstacles for our union. You were meant to be my partner, my luna." He was infuriated that she had discarded their love and future for the first handsome man who paid her any attention. Was she truly that cold and calculating? Had their entire relationship been a facade?

"None of that matters now, how could it?" she spoke coldly. How dare he stand before her and reminisce about the past when he had married a werewolf and gotten her pregnant? "Why are you even here? What do you want?"

"To finish what we started, Winifred," Arthur said with a hint of determination in his voice. Winifred shook her head, refusing to entertain his words. "There's nothing to finish. This is over. Go back to the lycan Kingdom." Arthur released his grip on her, but not without taking a lingering look at her figure. "We'll see, Sugar," he replied, a mischievous tone in his voice.

As Winifred watched him walk away, a wave of frustration washed over her. How dare he touch her and taunt her when she had been neglected and cast aside? What an arrogant man he was! What did he mean by wanting to finish something? she wondered. Why did he seem so composed and collected? Did he expect her to become just another woman in his harem, as his father had done? Had he decided that he could continue living the way he had when they first met, expecting her to willingly submit to being his plaything? The very thought was unimaginable. She was even more infuriated with herself for feeling any lingering attraction toward him, even in this moment.

His dark eyes still had a weakening effect on her, even now. She found herself desiring him, despite the fact that he had been with another woman and had a child. It disgusted her. She was almost trembling with anger and self-contempt as she made her way back home. How did he even know about Robert? He casually mentioned "a lover," even though she had said nothing about it. Then, realization struck her.

He must have been following her all this time, stalking her and waiting for the perfect opportunity to reappear in her life. It seemed so bizarre. He had a wife and child in the lycan kingdom, so what was he doing here? The pieces of the puzzle were slowly coming together, but there were still so many unanswered questions.