Trails of Intertwined Stars: Chapter 74 {Part 1}

~Chapter 103: The Argument~

"What are you... talking about?" Leora chuckled, nervously, trying to play it off.
Jiu's expression darkened.
"So it did happen; didn't it? It's not just a rumour. You only react like that when you're trying to play something off. Leora...why didn't you tell me?"
Leora froze slightly hearing the hurt tone to his voice. It hadn't been her intention to upset him, quite the opposite, in fact. She'd assumed he would be better off without worrying for her, he did that so much for her; his selflessness was one of the many things she loved about him, but also one of the many things that she wondered if she was abusing, by using it so frequently. With the illness and everything, she hated to even imagine it was a one-sided relationship, and loathed the idea of Jiu taking the brunt of it all.
"I..." Leora muttered," I thought it best you didn't worry so much..."
"Dumby," Jiu rubbed his temples," I worry about you every time you're with that vile man, and now I'm going to worry way more knowing you won't even tell me when something serious like that happens! Did our promise mean nothing to you, Leora? That you'd tell me if he hurt you. What happened to that, huh!?"
Leora frowned," You're upset..."
"Yeah, I am," Jiu huffed," I'm pretty damn upset. Upset you don't trust me enough to tell me something like that. Upset that our promise wasn't upset. Furious that he'd fucking do that to you! What did he do, Leora...that day, you tell me what he did."

Leora glanced away, her mouth open to speak, but too hesitant to say the words allowed. Jiu gripped her shoulders, searching her eyes, upset.
"You do not get to do this to me now," He uttered," You do not just...just leave me in the dark like this! I kept my promise, to stand up for you. But you haven't kept yours. The very least you can do, is tell me what happened that day!"
"He touched my thigh, okay..." Leora glared at him, coming off sharper than intended," No, caressed it is a more accurate way of phrasing it. I shoved him off, and had a panic attack; alright? I asked him to keep it a secret."
"A secret. From the house?"
"No...from you..."
Jiu's expression fell at the last confession. His hands dropped to his side, his expression unreadable. He wasn't quite sure how to feel about all of this, one thing he knew, was that it hurt him greatly.
"So...let me get this straight..." Jiu stared at his lap, struggling to keep his emotions at bay," You...not only didn't tell me any of this for weeks, but you also...told Julian, the one who did this to you, to not tell me specifically. He could have told the servants, your grandparents, hell, even Henry; and it wouldn't matter to you as much!?"
Leora gripped her coat tighter. When he put it that way, it did sound rather cruel of her. Her intention had come off completely wrong, but her pride she'd learnt from her older brother, kept her apology shoved down.

Jiu let out a humourless laugh, standing up suddenly to glare down at the girl hunched over on the steps.
"I can't...I can't believe this!" He yelled," You won't even deny it! You're aware how harsh it is then, aren't you!? God...I can't believe that you of all people would do this. Fuck, Leora. I...I don't even know what to think."
Leora glanced away, coldly.
"Let me guess, this isn't the first little event you've kept from me!?" Jiu cried out, begging that she'd deny this accusation at the very least," Lord Bramston has too, hadn't he and you didn't tell me?"
Leora recalled when Lord Bramston had intruded on her in the bath, and she bit her lip, frustratedly. Jiu's eyes widened.
"You can't be serious right now..." Jiu muttered," Leora...tell me you're doing this on purpose to upset me, and my accusations was wrong..."
Leora stared at her hands, quietly," You're not...wrong..."
Jiu stared at her silently for a moment, at a complete loss for words. He let out a shuddering groan of disbelief, glancing around the front garden of the manor for any sense of hope, before glaring at the girl wounded beyond words.
"When. What. Tell me, now."
Leora glanced at him nervously, something about his tone genuinely terrified her. It wasn't cruel, it was simply collected.

"The day before the wedding..." Leora mumbled, nervously fiddling with her coat," I went for a bath and he followed. He intruded, ran his hand up my thigh, under my lip. He ran when the radiator pipe burst... I've never felt more disgusted...I didn't want you to be disgusted with me too..."
Jiu couldn't even look at her anymore. Not because he was disgusted with her at the situation, if anything, he sympathised with that incredibly and would have never seen her in that light. No, he was disgusted by the fact she saw him that way, and disgusted that she'd kept that from him for so incredibly long. He turned, walking down the steps to leave the manor. Leora stood up suddenly, gripping the sides of the wall to steady herself when she felt lightheaded from the sudden movement.
"Where are you going!?" Leora cried.
"Somewhere, anywhere; not here," Jiu muttered, not bothering to look at her," I need some time alone. I'll be back later, and we'll talk about this more. But for now, I can't even look at you knowing you can't trust me to stand up for you; whilst you still stay with that stupid Lord Bramston..."
Leora watched with wide teary eyes as Jiu made his way around the house, clearly going to the back exit to go to town. She glanced back at the front door, debating whether it was worth it to go back in, and just cry to Edward. Then, she got an idea. It was incredibly reckless, and foolish, but it felt right at the time.

The girl hurried down the steps, gripping the wall so she wouldn't trip from her lightheadedness, and made her way all the way to the stables. The farmer, Mr Porter, was currently stocking the horses with hay for the winter. Leora rushed over, gripping her coat to try to keep herself warm.
"Mr Porter!" She cried, hurriedly wiping her tears.
"Miss Leora," Mr Porter blinked in shock, tipping his hat to her respectfully as she hurried over," You look upset, love. Is everythin' alright?"
"I need a cab to the train station, immediately!"
"Miss..."
"Please, I know I'm not allowed out, but I promise you I refuse to let you get in trouble. Now please, for me?"
Mr Porter sighed, before smiling weakly," Alright then, to the train station it is."