Forsaken to Treasured: A Short Story

2. Encounter

Since coming back from Wallace College, Arabella felt burning up. The fever had robbed her of the strength to resist, and she could only lie in bed staring at the ceiling drowsily. Sometimes, she'd drift into dreams, even dreaming about her mom's last moments.

After her father passed, her mother was sick and sad for three years. They supported each other through tough times. Arabella was scared and just held her mom's hand tight.

In the cold room, her mom said, "My brother Louis is not a caring person, and I'm afraid his wife Mary will mistreat you. My family, the Talbot family, can't be relied upon. You've got to plan for yourself." Her brow furrowed deeply, forming an indelible mark on her forehead. "Go to Wallace, work hard, be great. Then, marry into the Cavendish family, and things will get better. Just endure."

"As long as you endure, just endure." Her dry hand clutched her daughter's so hard that it almost trembled.

But how, Mother? You didn't tell me. What if Samuel wants someone other than me?

On the third day, a maid tried to get a doctor for Arabella, but her Aunt Mary stopped it. Her Uncle Louis took away her phone and made her kneel by the graveyard in the snow every day. Arabella's condition worsened without medical care.

Arabella's hands and feet were ice cold from the fever, but her forehead was burning, and she was coughing up blood. She realized her uncle wanted her to die. In his eyes, the protection of her engagement had vanished, and she no longer had any value.

This was the cruel reality facing Arabella. She tried to recall her parents' advice and warmth but couldn't ignore the despair of rejection and abandonment. The feelings of loneliness, struggle, and being forsaken surged like a tide.

Her uncle and aunt, once falsely mild, turned cruel and heartless, leaving her feeling betrayed.

Her heart filled with icy despair, struggling in an endless darkness, seeking that faint ray of light.

It all seemed like fate mocking her, crushing her dreams. She felt lost and alone, like there was no place for her. She closed her eyes, feeling devastated and alone in the darkness.

Guests arrived at the mansion on the hill, making the place look like a winter wonderland full of warmth and celebration. But in the swirling snow, Arabella struggled between feeling cold and overheated, unable to tell what was real and what was a dream.

A gust of wind pushed the window open, flooding the room with cold. Arabella struggled to climb onto the windowsill. The snow highlighted her pale face in the darkness below, showing her helplessness.

Trapped here, she would get sick and die. Would she escape from here and freeze to death? With her head spinning, Arabella decided to take a gamble.

She bravely leaped from the windowsill, feeling intense pain as she crashed to the ground. Getting up was hard, but driven by despair and unease, Arabella was determined to escape. Without looking back, she ran desperately down the mountain.

Arabella shivered on the dark mountain path, holding her nightgown tightly around her trembling body, walking without a clear destination for a long time.

The night was quiet with snowfall until the sudden sound of a car door opening shattered the silence—a heavy coat wrapped around Arabella.

Theodore, known as the smiling demon of the Romanov family, appeared before her, his eyes downcast as he looked at her.

Instinctively, Arabella grabbed onto his coat as if it were her only hope.

There was still the sound of chattering teeth in her choked words. "Can you help me?" Her voice was tinged with desperation and bewilderment.

Theodore raised his gaze slightly, his eyes showing a hint of curiosity. "If I help you, what can you offer in return?"

The flash of light in her eyes quickly dimmed and was filled with blankness. At the same time, her heart beat more violently. In that moment, she doubted herself sincerely, as if everything she knew and worked for had become insignificant.

Speechless, feeling helpless and afraid, she questioned herself. What had she truly learned all these years? Besides being a suitable noblewoman, what else was she capable of?

"Miss De Vere, what are you skilled at?" Theodore asked with a hint of curiosity in his eyes.

Maybe the fever had clouded Arabella's mind. Almost without thinking, she said, "I am good at being a wife."

Yes, I can manage an estate, maintain connections, and do many things a good wife should. I only have a terrible reputation because my fiancé does not like me. Arabella had a frantic shouting voice in her head that was so loud it gave her a headache.

"So, what do you want from me?" Theodore's voice remained calm, but his tone had a hidden complexity.

"Could you marry me?" Arabella blurted before realizing her audacity. She stood frozen, feeling lost.

The bodyguard beside him remained silent as a statue.

The man lowered his head, studying Arabella for a moment. His brows furrowed slightly, his gaze pausing on her as if he was unsure, as if contemplating. The headlights from a nearby car briefly illuminated his face, casting a temporary warm glow.

There was none of his usual harshness in his demeanor. He reached out to Arabella.

Theodore Romanov extended his hand, pulling her out of the mess. That was his answer.

Arabella De Vere never expected she'd ever cross paths with Theodore Romanov.

She was from a noble lineage, while he was the son of an arms dealer, someone both admired and feared by many. Known for bloodstained hands and a "tit for tat" approach, everyone desired his wealth but dreaded his ruthless ways.

In the eyes of others, Theodore Romanov was beyond redemption. But he saved Arabella's life.

At that moment, he was her only hope.