Chapter 9
The Bellamy family demanded a meeting.
I agreed.
Daylight.
No engagement decorations.
Arthur came.
Celestine.
Three uncles.
Two older cousins.
Amabel declined.
Good.
Not her burden.
Julian stayed with her.
The first uncle asked whether the child was “confirmed.”
I stared.
He corrected himself quickly.
Good.
Arthur wanted discretion.
Of course.
He offered financial restoration.
Return Amabel’s lost wages.
Property.
Education fund.
Money for Julian.
I almost laughed.
Still thinking in transactions.
“This is not a purchase.”
Arthur’s jaw tightened.
“What do you want?”
There.
He genuinely did not understand.
“I want you to stop deciding what other people are allowed to know because the truth inconveniences you.”
He looked almost offended.
Then one cousin said:
“The engagement protects everyone.”
No.
It protected Bellamy influence.
I ended it formally that morning.
No ring.
No wedding date.
No alliance through marriage.
Celestine closed her eyes.
Arthur became pale.
The room shifted.
Then I made another decision.
Bellamy remained an allied family.
Not punished collectively.
Arthur lost all private access to my household.
The uncles who knew nothing remained.
Those involved in planning Rosemere lost influence.
Specific consequences.
No family-wide revenge.
One uncle actually thanked me.
Interesting.
People are often exhausted by being treated as extensions of relatives.
Then Arthur asked:
“What about my daughter?”
“Celestine has a life.”
“Without you?”
I looked at him.
“That is still a life.”
He did not understand.
May you like
Celestine did.
For the first time, she looked less afraid than sad.
