"Who is everyone?Who told ye such a lie?Ye kenned me, Boyd.I would never do such a thing to ye!"
Boyd dragged his hand through his hair."Years on and ye still lie.I hoped for a better resolution, but I see now, it is futile.This marriage will remain in name only.I want ye out of my sight, Bella."
"Why?"she rasped.
"Because I want ye to ken what it feels like to be nothing.To be rejected.To be unwanted."He turned to look at her, and the cold hatred in his eyes made her step back.
"And ye dinnae think I already ken what that is like, Boyd?"
He flinched.
Bella did not move.Something in her—some last vestige of the girl she'd been—demanded she speak."If ye hate me so much, I shall seek an annulment with the king so I can leave."
Boyd closed the distance between them and gripped her arm."No!There will be no annulment.I'll not allow ye to leave me, do ye hear me?"It was the first time he stood close.
"Aye, I hear ye.If it means anything to yer arrogant boorish arse, I dinnae want to see yer miserable face either, Boyd MacKinnon.I hope ye rot in a tub of hot lard and I curse the day I ever met ye!"
Boyd was surprised at her outburst, seeing a glimpse of the feisty Bella he knew and it amused him but before he could respond she pulled her arm out of his hand and stormed out of the council room.
But not before he heard her mutter, "Touch me again and I'll stab ye in thebawsack!"
Bella was done.She would not give her husband anymore ammunition to hurt her.Clearly he was not worth her time nor her memories.Abbess Bethóc had no idea what she was talking about when it came to men!
"Bella!"Boyd shouted.
"What?"she yelled back but did not turn around or stop.
"Stay out of my way.It'll be easier for both of us."
"With pleasure!"she replied.
Because she kept walking, she missed the look in Boyd's eyes.It was a strange mix of anguish, longing and amusement.
Bella walked back to the east wing, her spine straight, her head high.Boyd MacKinnon had destroyed her once.Now he was determined to destroy her again, piece by piece, day by day for no good reason.But she was not the scared timid creature she was back then.No, she had learned to adapt and grow.He was nothing but a cruel heartless monster and the sooner she realized that instead of wishing for the gentle man of the past, the better she would be.
Bella decided she would find a way again to build meaning and happiness into her life.The sisters taught her patience, and life had taught her resilience.If this was to be her lot in life, then she would make sure no one ever hurt her again.
All her life, others controlled her destiny.Her father and Bryce when they cast her out.Boyd when he rejected her and now the king when he insisted upon this farce of a marriage.But nothing was going to break her spirit.At least she had plenty of work to keep her busy, food, shelter and clothing.She would make friends in the clan and make herself useful.If there was one thing Bella had learnt to do well in the past decade it was this, not only could she survive, but she also knew how to thrive.
***
