CHAPTER 33: CHANGES (3)

The next day dawned bright and clear but was nothing like Shelby’s mood. She felt low and had no will to get up.

’I don’t know why I am putting up with this. Why can’t I grow a backbone in all this?’ However, despite her thoughts, she pulled out her phone and typed: ’How to live with your husband...’

"What a ridiculous thing to search for?"

She said to herself and flung the phone away only to pick it up immediately. This time, she searched: ’How to stay married.... How to get your husband to. Like you.

Her resolve weakened, and her mood dipped further as Shelby flicked through the different pages and web forums. After reading a few absurd comments and blogs, she reviewed a handful of the saner ones. She read out,

’Learn how to communicate with your spouse....’

"Exactly how am I supposed to do that in this situation? They don’t know what they are writing!"

’Trust is key!’

"How do I even trust in situations like these?" She read the words and answered them herself.

’Clearly, none of them have been married to Ian!’

"Pfttt!! Shelby, you are so silly! Of course, I am the one married to him and no one else. How would they know about my situation?" She spoke out loud once again and then, sighing,

"I can’t even talk to Mum like an adult would. She is always wrapped in her world as if she doesn’t see what is happening around her, but I do understand her sometimes. Brianna is angry at me now and can’t be concerned about talking to me...."

She ticked off the people around her on her fingers. "...Rocky is only now in school, and I cannot bother him. Ava would never understand. She will try to help, but her perspectives are different! Nevertheless, she would only tell me, ’ Shelby, you are now married! That is the only thing that matters. Whether the marriage was forced or not, you said the vows yourself, so you must keep that vow!’"

Shelby sighed as she thought of these in Ava’s reprimanding voice.

Her routine had been simple in the Thornston Estate for the past six weeks. She woke up, ate, walked around the mansion, ’played’ with Gabriel and ’talked’ to Ian while seated by his door. Even though it was a one-way conversation, she liked it, for it was better than nothing. Suzie was now used to seeing her like that; seated on the floor by Ian’s door, and did not worry about it anymore.

"I wish I could see Ava in person and not through video calls!" She muttered. Sadly, that is all she was allowed to do in her new home.

As she talked to herself, she heard a soft knock on the door before it opened.

"Good morning, Miss Shelby! How are you today?"

"Good morning, Suzie," she whispered and shrunk under the sheets. Suzie walked around and opened the shades on her windows wide to let the daylight stream in.

"Here is a glass of water. What would you like for breakfast?"

"Thank you, Suzie. I will go to the dining room later and have whatever is available."

"Seeing that you might be tired, we will bring your meal here for you!"

"Tired? Why would I be tired when I just woke up?" She asked puzzlingly.

Suzie gave her a sly look and giggled.

’What is wrong with her today?’ Shelby thought. Even though Suzie had been assigned to her, she had never done anything for her apart from being by her side when she was needed.

With a clap of Suzie’s hand, three other maids came in with stacks of wrapped gifts. Shelby finally sat up on the bed in curiosity and dangled her legs over the side, with her blond hair sprawling all over her face. "Madam Geneva gave these to you."

"But for what? As far as I know, there is no occasion worth celebrating -"

"How can you say that, Miss Shelby? Didn’t you spend some ’quality time’ with Master Ian yesterday?"

"WHAT?"

"Don’t be shy. We all know, and we are rooting for you!"

The other three maids set the gifts down and raised their hands jokingly and encouragingly before leaving the room for Shelby and Suzie.

"But- h-ow do you-"

"We know all there is to it." Suzie said obscurely, adding, "... but we are so curious! How did you get Master Ian to open that door for you? Is it from the talks through the door?" she wondered. ’I didn’t know that those would be that effective!’

"What’s in there?" Shelby rather asked brightly, gesturing towards the gifts as if to circumvent the question.

Suzie laughed out loud, raised her hands in a surrendering gesture and said, "I understand and will not pry anymore Miss."

Suzie then proceeded to unwrap them and placed all of them in front of Shelby. Shelby’s surprise and happiness were infectious upon seeing everything laid down. It was a painting kit that included a tabletop easel, a standing aluminium easel, stretched canvases, canvas panels of different colours and oil, watercolours, acrylic paint sets, palette knives, wooden & plastic palettes, painting pads, brush sets, mixing colour wheel etc.

Shelby was a bit confused but touched, nonetheless. "Mum got this for me?"

"Yes! She knows you like painting and artwork and gave you these to practice your pastime. Do you like-"

"Of course, I love it! I love it so much!" She said as tears pooled in her eyes. The days of boredom were coming to an end! Shelby got up slowly and approached the things with trembling hands.

"But why? She asked as suspicion crept in.... Wait a minute! You mean Mum gave me these things because I entered Ian’s room?"

Suzie half nodded, "In a way!"

"What do you mean?"

"You are one step towards the task she has given you. You got Master Ian to open the door for you. We are all puzzled as to how you did that, but the fact that he also touched you is the main reason why-"

"How did you know that?" Shelby blurted out almost immediately in apparent shock.

’I didn’t talk to anyone last night, and I also did not meet anyone after I exited the room, so how did she?’ Suzie’s smile widened as she observed the changing expressions on Shelby’s face. She felt so good herself because her mistress’ favour and advantage would spill to her, too. In the past weeks she had served Shelby, she had started to become mocked by her fellows. They even had a bet as to how long Shelby could last. Because as soon as Shelby left the estate, she, Suzie, would also be kicked out as well.

"Suzie?"

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