A PUPPET?

The breakfast went surprisingly well, and Mirabel begged to stick over for the rest of the day and have dinner with them afterward. Contrary to what I had anticipated, she kept me company the entire day, and I'd be lying if I claimed she wasn't a nice one. 

We spent the rest of the day talking and exploring the mansion, per my request, and evening arrived more swiftly than I had wanted.

It appears that the wise men's cliche that time flies while you're having fun is accurate. Mirabel and I seem to have a connection, although I'm still not sure why. Well, I guess everything's for the best. If we go on like this, it'll only take a matter of time before Liam also accepts me seeing how he cherishes his mum.

Her gaze was concentrated on the crimson wine in the glass she slightly twirled counterclockwise in her palm. A couple of minutes ago, we were discussing field trips, but she abruptly left the conversation and began to repeat this behavior.

Perhaps I shouldn't have brought up that topic. She had sad eyes, and I could see that the topic had brought up a memory that she probably wished she had forgotten.

I felt awful as I observed her transform into a different individual in front of me—a person who was racked with so much pain.

Mirabel is the first person I've met who exudes a unique, joyful aura that will always make you smile, regardless of how you were feeling before you met her.

For the first time since I met anybody, I imagined her life to be the ideal one, free of suffering and pain. Right now, all I could see was the harsh reality that everyone had their sufferings.

"I asked you a question earlier and you still haven't given me an answer, honey," I heard her say as she turned to me and my eyes lit up in astonishment.

I stared into her eyes devoid of all emotions, all except one.

Pain?

Sadness?

I wasn't sure which one it was, but I could tell it wasn't a good one, and I despised the current circumstance.

Here I was thinking I was saved from making any false promise. I've just gone right back into that trap, and it seems impossible to get out at this point.

I looked away from her and sipped the wine I had taken off the table in front of me, which separated the two seats we were sitting on. My heart was split between two decisions as my gaze returned to hers: one was making a false promise and hurting her in the future, and the other was hurting her now, so it wouldn't come as a surprise in the future. In either case, whatever I chose to do at this point would be detrimental.

She approached my chair with a smile, sat next to me, and took both of my hands in hers, "forgive me for asking so much from you. I know I'm putting you in an awkward situation, by asking such a silly question, when you're not yet married to my son, Liam." She gazed intently into my eyes, and with a slight shake of her head, she continued, "you really don't have to make any promise." 

The nervous smile that broke from my lips instigated hers, but I could tell it was pained cause I was no fool.

She's asking for a grandchild with Liam. How am I supposed to give her a grandchild? It takes two people to produce a child, a child Liam and I wouldn't want to have.

For fuck's sake, we're in a contract marriage.

Should I tell her this? No part in the contract says it should be discrete.

I bit my lip and took her hand, a small action that had shock written all over her face, "it's not a silly question, mum and I'd love to give you my answer."

I felt a glimmer of happiness as I saw the anticipation in her eyes as she waited for my response. I couldn't, couldn't break her by not saying what she wants to hear.

"You have my word. I'll make an effort to give you a grandchild."

She grinned wider, and I could see the delight in her eyes. Mirabel returned to being the person I knew. "Well, my dear, that sounds beautiful. You have to keep to your word."

I nodded.

Cupping her left palm over a side of my face, she said, "You're full of surprises, Abigail, and it just keeps getting better every day. I'm grateful."

As I observed her take another sip of the wine from the glass, I suppressed a smile. Her behavior only served to reaffirm my intuition that the promise is very important to her, but I will have to deal with this in the future. I was currently only experiencing joy from getting her to grin again.

Just as I was ready to gulp more wine, I sensed a presence behind me and I was ready to turn to see who was behind me when I heard Mirabel's sweet voice, "You're back? When did you arrive?" 

From the way Mirabel sounded, I knew who was behind me without turning to look. I could also tell from the tingles that coated my skin that it was none other than my fiance, Liam.

I turned to see his cold, dark eyes on me before they fell on Mirabel. 

"A couple of minutes ago." His eyes came back to mine even as he spoke.

"That's great. I thought you'd be working overtime since Gerald said you had a lot to take care of. It's still good you're back. You can join us for dinner since you missed breakfast." 

Mirabel's gaze returned to me about the same time I looked away from Liam and stared at her. With a smile, she said, "I guess I'll see you both in the dining area for dinner then."  

I nodded and she walked out, leaving just I and Liam on the balcony. I made sure not to look away from her silhouette until she was out of sight just so I wasn't looking at Liam's cold, yet grave stare I saw from my side-eye. I can't figure out why he's staring at me this way, but I think I'm about to find out.

As I looked into his eyes, I noticed they had gotten darker than earlier.

Is he mad?

Who agitated him? 

In realization of my sudden concern, I rolled my eyes. Whatever his problem is, is none of my business. I only need to walk away from this situation Mirabel had created for me.

I took two steps to the entrance behind him and was about to take the third when I heard his words that made me pause, a few feet away from him.

"You never cease to amaze me, Abigail."

Is this a compliment?

I looked into his eyes, wide-eyed, but regained my composure in a blink of an eye.

With a downward smile, he continued, "I wonder who you think you are to make such a pointless promise to my mother when you're in no position to do that. Do I need to remind you of your place?"

I looked at him baffled. Did he hear it? 

"In my defense, Liam, what would you have wanted me to say? Tell her about our one-year marriage contract?"

"You had a choice, to keep your worthless opinions to yourself-"

I scoffed, "Worthless opinions?" 

He added with his indifferent eyes still on me, "Do us both a favor and stop trying to be the perfect daughter-in-law. Just keep being the good puppet that you are."

He walked away and I stood still in shock about what I just heard.

A puppet?

I'm fucking addressed as a puppet.

As I watched him walk further and further away from me to the entrance of the balcony, I felt rage engulfing me, to the point where my body started reacting, ignoring my mind's warning about the after-effect. I'm done kissing this arrogant man's ass. 

"Hey, Liam! Stop there."