Chapter 39: Chapter 39
Sierra pov.
I look up and meet William's eyes, wondering if he was addressing me or someone else. I divert my attention back to the food on the floor and begin to eat. Whether or not he was observing me didn't matter to me.
Suddenly, I feel myself being lifted off the ground, and as I put the last morsel of food in my mouth, I quickly cover it with my hand and look up at him.
"What the heck are you doing?" he demands, but I remain silent, gazing at him. "Why would you eat from the floor?" he yells, yet I say nothing.
He releases me, and I stand there, attempting to calm my irritation at him for ruining my meal.
"Why?" he asks, and I look at him, trying to discern his meaning. "Why do you have to be this way, mate?"
I approach him cautiously, my eyes fixed on him. Was he actually calling me mate? I raise my hand as if to touch him but quickly withdraw it and walk away.
"You need to leave. I have a lot of work to do."
Just as I reach for the broom, he turns me around, and I fall onto his body, my face pressed against his chest.
"I love you, mate," he whispers, and I remain there, listening to his heartbeat. "I'm sorry I had to treat you this way. I wanted to do something, but I felt weak in some way. Can you forgive me, please?"
Hearing those words, I step away from him and stare into his eyes, noticing how dejected he seems. The memory of what he did to me still stings, and now he wants me to forgive him. I walk back to the bucket of water in my hand, and with rage, I pour it on him.
"I have you!" I scream, staring at his face. "I hate you."
Tears streamed down my face as I broke down, consumed by the weight of my pain. My life had become a living hell because of him, and now he had the audacity to ask for my forgiveness. My heart raced in my chest, and I felt utterly lost, unsure of what to do next.
As he approached me, I could see the concern etched on his face. He reached out his hands and pulled me close to him, but I couldn't find it in me to reciprocate his gesture. I just sat there, crying and feeling the hurt that he had caused me.
"Why did you do it?" I asked, my face buried in his hands. I needed to know why he had betrayed me and left me to suffer.
"I didn't do it, mate," he replied, his hands still holding me. I wanted to believe him, but my trust had been shattered, and I found myself looking at him with doubt.
"You got my friend pregnant, and because of you, the child died. And everyone blamed me for it. Why?" I hit him around the shoulder, trying to understand why he had hurt me and left me to suffer.
"I'm sorry," he kept saying, but I wasn't in the mood to listen to him. "You have to believe me, mate. I never did anything."
His words seemed genuine, but I couldn't believe him without proof. I stood up, wiping away the tears on my face and picked up the broom on the floor. Turning to face him, I said, "You can leave. I want to do some work."
He stood there, motionless, as I looked at him, our eyes locked in a silent struggle. I longed to run back to him, but I had to hold myself back. Seeing that he wasn't going to help, I began sweeping, and he just stood there, watching me. I made a conscious decision not to look back at him as I swept, feeling as though I had been shattered into a million pieces.
As I watched William approach, his steps deliberate and measured, I saw the dusting brush in his hand, its bristles moving methodically back and forth as he swept away the dirt. I was taken aback and found myself at a loss for words, simply observing him from afar and going about my own business.
For hours on end, he worked tirelessly until the whole place was spotless, and I gazed at him in astonishment, unsure of how to express my gratitude. "Thank you," I murmured softly without meeting his gaze. I detected a small smile on his lips, but I couldn't be certain as I was preoccupied with my own thoughts. Gathering up the cleaning tools, I began to head towards their original storage place.
However, before I could make it to the door, he called out to me. "Sierra," he said, and I halted in my tracks, looking back at him. In his eyes, I saw a hint of concern and worry.
"I promise to make things right," he declared before turning on his heel and striding away.
After I had finished tidying up, I made my way to the bathroom, luxuriating in a hot bath and then changing back into my grubby clothing. Since I had nothing else to wear, I resigned myself to wearing them for the time being.
Next, I headed to the kitchen, where I was met with a throng of maids who were eager to assist me. "Are you okay, ma'am?" they inquired, and I smiled, nodding in response.
"I'm fine, thank you. I'm just a little hungry," I replied.
Without hesitation, they scurried around, bringing me a plate and spooning out some food. I was touched by their kindness and felt grateful even in the midst of my difficult circumstances.
As I ate, my thoughts turned to Henry, and I couldn't help but feel a pang of sadness at his absence. If he were here, I thought to myself, we would be laughing and enjoying each other's company. But he was not here, and I was alone.
Glancing down at the plate, I noticed that it was the same rice that Alex had thrown in my face earlier, but this time, it had been taken from the pot. The spoon was placed neatly beside it, but I opted to use my hands instead. I was famished, and the maids watched in astonishment as I devoured the food before me.