章節 32: Calling off the wedding (32)

Zane woke feeling wonderful after dreaming of his life with Bella. Now he just hoped that it could come true.

Today he planned to work from home and While Bella was reading he called his Father.

"Father, I did it." Zane said.

"Did what?" He could tell by the sound his father was dealing with paperwork while talking to him.

"I got Bella's heart. She has agreed to marry me." Zane said.

"Is that what you really want?"

"Yes, She makes me want to be a better man. Like grandmother did for grandfather."

"Son that was just a tale. That story about your grandfather love story was made up. Your grandfather came from a very wealthy family and your grandmother was forced into marriage with him. They only had me because they needed a successor. I had you for the same reason and you and Heather will have one.. so on so."

"I won't marry anyone but Bella."

"If you won't see reason then you'll force my hand. I was willing to give you the month to get her out of your system. You will agree to the marriage arrangement with Heather or Bella and her family will be destroyed by me."

Zane was shocked he had never heard his father talk like that before.

He needed to think. He looked in on Bella her nose stuck in a book.

◇◇◇♡♡♡◇◇◇DUMMLING AND THE THREE FEATHERS cont:

At the same time Dummling appeared with his beautiful carpet, which he presented to the King, who was very much surprised, and said-- "By rights the throne should be for my youngest son."

But when the two brothers heard this, they gave the old King no rest, saying-- "How is it possible that Dummling, who is not at all wise, could control the affairs of an important kingdom? Make some other condition, we beg of you!"

"Well," agreed the father, "the one who brings me the most magnificent ring shall succeed to my throne," and once more he took his sons outside the Palace.

Then, again, he blew three feathers into the air to show the direction each one should go; whereupon the two elder sons went east and west, but Dummling's flew straight up, and fell close by the trap-door.

Then the youngest son descended the steps as before, and upon seeing the large toad he talked with her, and told her what he desired.

So the big box was brought, and out of it the toad handed him a ring which was of so exquisite a workmanship that no goldsmith's could equal it.

Meanwhile the two elder brothers made fun of the idea of Dummling searching for a ring, and they decided to take no needless trouble themselves.

Therefore, finding an old iron ring belonging to some harness, they took that to the King. Dummling was there before them with his valuable ring, and immediately upon his showing it, the father declared that in justice the kingdom should be his.

In spite of this, however, the two elder sons worried the poor King into appointing one test further, before bestowing his kingdom, and the King, giving way, announced that the one who brought home the most beautiful woman should inherit the crown. Then Dummling again descended to the large toad and made known to her that he wished to find the most beautiful woman alive.

"The most beautiful woman is not always at hand," said the toad, "however, you shall have her."

Then she gave to him a scooped-out turnip to which half a dozen little mice were attached. The young man regarded this a trifle despondently, for it had no great resemblance to what he was seeking.

"What can I make of this?" he asked.

"Only place in it one of my young toads," replied the large toad, "and then you can decide how to use it." From the young toads around the old toad, the young man seized one at hazard, and placed it in the scooped-out turnip, but hardly was it there when the most astounding change occurred, for the toad was transformed into a wondrously lovely maiden, the turnip became an elegant carriage, and the six mice were turned into handsome horses.

The young man kissed the maiden and drove off to bring her to the King. Not long afterwards the two brothers arrived.

In the same way, as the twice before, they had taken no trouble about the matter, but had picked up the first passable looking peasant woman whom they had happened to meet.

After glancing at the three, the King said: "Without doubt, at my death the kingdom will be Dummling's."

Once more the brothers loudly expressed their discontent, and gave the King no peace, declaring-- "It is impossible for us to agree to Dummling becoming ruler of the kingdom," and they insisted that the women should be required to spring through a hoop which was suspended from the ceiling in the centre of the hall, thinking to themselves "Now, certainly our peasants will get the best of it, they are active and sturdy, but that fragile lady will kill herself if she jumps."

To this, again, the King consented, and the peasants were first given trial. They sprang through the hoop, indeed, but so clumsily that they fell, breaking their arms and legs. Upon which the lovely lady whom Dummling had brought home, leapt through as lightly as a fawn, and this put an end to all contention. So the crown came to Dummling, who lived long, and ruled his people temperately and justly.

◇◇◇♡♡♡◇◇◇

Bella had just finished her story when her sister arrived. She had many magazines and supply books to look through.

Zane asked, "Bella can we speak before you start in here?"

Bella smiling followed him to the study. When he turned she seen the sorrow on his face.

"Would you stay with me if my family ruined yours?" He asked.

"I don't understand." Bella walked to him and took his hand.

"If I marry you my father will ruin your family. He will make them suffer. He will only leave them be if I choose to marry Heather."

"I see... I am being made to choose between you and my family."

"No, I will make the choice. Bella go home The card your sister has keep. Use it till you are back on your feet. Know this my heart will only belong to you."

Bella walked out grabbing her bag. Betty lets go. The wedding is off. Betty grabbed her things and followed Bella.

Zane then went wild, tearing the place apart. He drank every bottle of liquor nothing, nothing would dull the pain he felt right now.

His phone rang and did not stop until he smashed it. If his family wanted a Beast they would get a Beast.