Star-Crossed Lovers Of The 1850s (JJK ff)

CHAPTER 14

Days blended together in a haze of despair as Louisa struggled to shake off the lingering trauma of that fateful evening. Her mind remained anchored to the painful memory, reliving the distressing moments with unsettling clarity.

As a result, Louisa withdrew into a shell of silence, ceasing to engage with anyone around her. Her interactions became monosyllabic.

Her parents, oblivious to the underlying reasons, attributed her sudden reticence to compliance, pleased that she was finally adhering to their wishes.

Edward, too, noted the change in Louisa's demeanor, his gaze lingering on her with an unnerving intensity. Though he hadn't repeated his transgression, Louisa's fear remained palpable.

Every day, Louisa faced Edward, her heart sinking with each encounter. Their interactions were now laced with tension.

Edward's words, though polite, carried an undercurrent of dominance. Louisa's responses were mechanical.

Her soul longed to break free from this prison of obedience, but fear kept her shackled. The thought of crossing Edward sent shivers down her spine.

As the days turned into weeks, Louisa's existence became a mere facade, her true self hidden beneath a mask of submission.

As the engagement day drew near, merely a week away, the atmosphere around Louisa transformed into a whirlwind of excitement and anticipation. Everyone was engrossed in preparing for the grand event.

Her parents were ecstatic, overseeing the intricate details. Relatives and friends buzzed with enthusiasm, all eager to celebrate the union.

Meanwhile, Louisa's heart sank deeper into despair. Trapped in a prison of obligation, she felt powerless to alter her destiny.

The looming engagement seemed an unscalable mountain, its shadow casting a dark pall over her existence. Louisa's thoughts swirled in tumultuous chaos.

She knew that once bound to Edward, no one could rescue her from his grasp. Conversely, if she weren't meant to be his, no one could force her to remain.

A sense of resignation settled over Louisa. Perhaps her fate was inextricably linked with Edward's.

The thought sent a shiver down her spine. Was she forever tied to this man who filled her with dread?

As the days ticked by, Louisa's emotional turmoil intensified. Her smile, now a rare sight, was forcibly revived for the sake of appearances.

Behind closed doors, tears streamed down her face, a silent protest against the life predetermined for her.

As the engagement preparations reached a fever pitch, Louisa found herself frequently crossing paths with Jungkook, the man who had once captured her heart, within the grand estate's opulent halls. Their interactions, however, had become stilted and strained.

After his rejection, Louisa couldn't bear the thought of facing Jungkook, her emotions still raw and tender. The pain of his refusal lingered, making every encounter a painful reminder.

Despite her influence reassigning Jungkook to serve as genral head personal attendant, Louisa's gaze would hastily avoid his whenever their paths crossed. She struggled to reconcile her feelings, her heart still heavy with the weight of his rejection.

Jungkook, too, seemed to sense the tension between them, his eyes cast downward in a mixture of regret and resignation. The once-warm smiles that had once brightened their interactions had vanished.

Their conversations, now sparse and limited, revolved around mundane tasks and duties. The distance between them grew, exacerbated by the strict social norms of the 1850s that dictated strict boundaries between members of the aristocracy and workers.