"Shattered Vows: A Tale of Toxicity"

24. Mad Dance

Amelia sat in the dimly lit library; her once vibrant demeanour had now changed. The physical wounds from that night had healed, but the inner glow that once emanated from her seemed to have dimmed. She glanced up as the butler entered the room, his presence barely noticeable in her sombre state.

"Good afternoon, Miss Amelia," the butler greeted respectfully, his voice carrying a note of concern.

Amelia offered a faint smile in return, acknowledging his presence. "Good afternoon,. I am sorry, even though I am the lady of this house, but I am letting you do all the work."

"You don't have to worry about work, Madam," the butler replied, though there was a hint of hesitation in his tone. He had noticed the change in her demeanour since the night he heard her pleading scream, and it weighed heavily on his mind.

Amelia sighed softly, her gaze drifting to the window overlooking the garden. "Do you know anything about William? I haven't seen him coming home for a long time."

The butler hesitated for a moment before replying, choosing his words carefully. "Master is staying at the hotel, madam. He felt it was best for you to stay away from him."

Absorbing the information, Amelia nodded. "I see. Well, I suppose I should pay him a visit then. Would you mind preparing some food for me to take along?"

"Of course, Madam. I'll do it immediately," the butler said.

"Amelia stood up from her chair and, with a determined look in her eyes, said, "Tell the driver to prepare to go."

The butler bowed slightly, submitting to her wishes. "Well, Madam. I'll inform Mr. James of your visit, so he can alert Master William."

"Thank you," Amelia said softly, gratitude filled in her voice. "I appreciate your assistance."

The phone rang, piercing through the silence of William's hotel room. With a rush of anticipation, he reached for the device, his heart pounding in his chest. The screen illuminated with the name "James," and without hesitation, he answered.

"Master," James's voice crackled through the line, "I have some news for you. Madam will be visiting you at the hotel today."

A surge of emotion flooded William's senses, rendering him momentarily speechless. The mere mention of her name sent a shiver down his spine, igniting a fire within him that had long been silent.

As James hung up the phone, William's mind raced with anticipation. He knew this day would come, yet the reality of it still felt surreal. His beloved, Amelia, was coming to see him. It had been so long since he last laid eyes on her, so long since he felt the warmth of her presence enveloping him like a gentle embrace.

With trembling hands, William made his way to the wardrobe, his heart pounding with each step. He swung open the doors, revealing a treasure nestled among the shadows lay the object of his affection: the red gown.

A tear welled up in William's eye as he reached out to touch the delicate fabric. It was as if he could still feel her fingertips grazing his skin, could still hear her laughter echoing in the depths of his soul. "You wore this gown once, Amelia," he murmured to himself, his voice barely above a whisper. "So I took this out of your closet before leaving the house. For the last month, I slept holding this dress. It still carries your scent, your essence."

Clutching the gown to his chest, William closed his eyes, allowing himself to be consumed by memories of days gone by. He could see her standing before him, radiant and ethereal in the soft glow of candlelight. He could feel the warmth of her smile, the gentleness of her touch, as if she were right there beside him once more.

And then, without warning, he began to dance. A crazy, wild dance that seemed to defy gravity itself. With each twirl and spin, he lost himself in the music of his own making, his movements fluid and unrestrained. In that moment, he was no longer William but a humble servant of his craziness; he was a man possessed by love, consumed by longing.

But as the dance came to an end, reality crashed down upon him like a wave, leaving him breathless and aching with longing. Collapsing onto the bed, he clutched the dress to his chest, his fingers curling around the fabric as though it were the lifeline keeping him from losing his sanity.

"You made me wait for so long, Amelia," he whispered, his voice tinged with both sorrow and determination. "But soon, I will find you. And then, I will punish you for making me endure this torment." His words were spoken with a chuckle, but there was a menacing edge to them, a glimpse of the darkness that lurked beneath the surface.

                                ~~~

As Amelia knocked on the door, she sensed a heaviness in the air, amplified as William opened it with a sullen and guilt-ridden expression. His usual vibrancy seemed dimmed, his eyes now shadowed by dark circles, betraying by many sleepless nights.

Startled by his appearance, Amelia couldn't help but feel a pang of pity for him. Without a word, she handed him the food she had brought, her silence speaking volumes.

"I am leaving," she finally said, her voice filled with pain as she turned to go.

But William, unable to let her slip away without a word, hurried after her, his steps hesitant yet determined. "Let me lead you to the hotel entrance," he offered, a faint plea in his voice.

Amelia stopped in her tracks, her back still turned to him, her posture tense with uncertainty. She remained silent, her emotions swirling within her, unsure of how to respond to his unexpected gesture.

"I know I've caused you pain," William began, his voice barely above a whisper, filled with remorse. "I don't expect forgiveness, but please, let me at least ensure your safety."

His words hung heavy in the air, the weight of his guilt visible. But Amelia remained silent, torn between her compassion for him and the hurt he had inflicted upon her.

"Amelia," William implored, his voice cracking with emotion. "Please, don't shut me out completely. Let me do this one thing for you."

Slowly, tentatively, Amelia turned to face him, her eyes meeting his with a mixture of doubt and pain. "I don't need your help," she said softly, her voice tinged with sadness. "But if you think it will bring you some peace, then I won't stop you."