In the morning River woke with a fresh bout of morning sickness. She had rushed to the bathroom- Her eyes watered because of the irritation in her gut. If only Faria was here, she would have taken care of her personally. She really missed Faria and her absence was disturbing. She had to know where Faria had gone. Mia too was disturbed.
She called Hunter and apprised him of the situation.
“Faria didn’t tell you where she was going?” he asked, bewildered. “No, and that is quite unlike her.”
“That is! She had never been this careless. Honestly, I don’t like this attitude if hers! I don’t like it when omegas disrespect my decision and all I had asked her was to look after you,” he growled. “I am going to ask Asher to take care of it!”
“Hunter, don’t be so angry,” River said in a soft voice. “Maybe she is taking some time off. Maybe there is something we don’t know and she doesn’t want to share.-
“There can be a number of ‘maybe’ but it doesn’t justify that she leaves you just like that! Where are other servants? In fact, I am going to ask Berta to be with you in the meantime!” Hunter sounded too angry to be convinced. He cut the call and River sighed.
Her husband was too overprotective about her and his pup who was growing in her belly. With a smile she rubbed her belly and said, -Your daddy is too protective about you. I am jealous.” She let out a small larch
Once she had brushed and rinsed her mouth, she decided to call the servants and enquire about Faria. At first, she thought she would go to Min’s room but it was only 6 AM and so she thought against it. Mia usually woke up late at 8 AM and then always rushed into getting dressed. A smile came to her lips when she thought how Mkt always rushed to dress up for school.
“Thank you, Berta,” River said. “I am hungryr “Oh, can I bring something for you?” Berta asked.
“No. No. I will go to the dining room. Ask every servant to be present m the room. I will be asking about Faria.”
Berta tensed. “Luna, Faria hasn’t returned and we all are worried about her.”
A furrow formed on her forehead. “Even I am worried about her,” River replied with a ragged breath.
In the dining room, all the servants lined up against the walls. They all seemed to be extremely tense. They were glancing at each other when River came.
As she sat at the table, two of them rushed to serve her with fresh pineapple juice and fruit salad. ‘River sipped her juice as she peered at the servants. “Did anyone of you sec Faria before she left?”
One of them, Nate, stepped in the front and said, “I saw her. She was in the castle and was busy with instructing the chef to make the right dinner for you. She sounded worried and muttered under her breath how you were not eating properly for the pup who would be the heir of the Dark Moon pack.”
River’s throat bobbed. Faria was too dedicated to her. “Anything else?” she asked.
“No, Luna…”
“Did anyone see her late in the night?”
There was a general murmur and shrugs of not knowing where she was. When River assessed them all, she said, “Okay! You all can go.”
As soon as she dismissed all of them, Berta said, “Luna, Lady Rosalie wants to see you. She’s been calling Butler Hans from last hour to talk to you. Though he keeps making one or the other excuse, he is getting irritated. “What should I tell him?”
River’s brows furrowed. Her last encounter with Rosalie had been so bad that she didn’t want to see her face. But she never anticipated that she would trouble her staff as well. “You can ask her to come but tell her that I don’t have more than ten minutes.”
Berta bowed. “Yes, Luna.” She hurried outside the dining hail, leaving River with just two servants. It was 6:45 M. River thought of going to Mia’s room and checking upon her, but she decided that she would go at 8 AM. She finished her breakfast soon and by the time she was going back to her room, the butler announced that Lady Rosalie was there to see her.
“Berta:. River said. “Stay with me.” “Yes Luna.”
River went to the main hail where she saw that Rosalie was sitting on a couch. “Luna!” she said and got up to bow to her.
River was surprised by the way she showed respect but she masked her surprise immediately. “So what is it that you have come to see me this time, Rosalie?”
Rosalie let out a shaky breath. “Thank you for seeing me. It is very urgent.” She looked at Berta. “Can we have a private audience?”
“Berta is like family,” River replied. “You can speak in front of her.” She didn’t want to be alone with Rosalie.
Grimacing, Rosalie dug the tote that she was carrying and took an envelope out. In a low sad voice she said, “Please see these photos. This is the last thing that Natalie gave me and I didn’t want them to show you. But that day you rebuffed me. I just wanted to clear my name.”
River clenched her teeth. So this was Rosalie’s latest drama. “Thank you, Rosalie. Please keep them on the table. I will see them when I have time.”
Rosalie jerked her head back in surprise. “But these are—” she paused. “I mean—” she paused again. “Okay, suits you!” she shrugged. She new that River was dismissing her. “But before I leave, I have to tell you that there arc no other copies of these photos. Natalie had deleted them all.”
“Okay,” River gave her a clipped answer.
Rosalie pursed her lips. “I am sorry that you have such a bad impression of me. but the truth hurts. It is better that you know the oruth.”
River narrowed her eyes. “I have to go Rosalie. If that is all, you may leave.
Rosalie blinked her eyes at River’s rudeness. She bowed without saying another word and left.
River looked at her watch. It was 7:15 AM. She went back to her room where Berta prepared a hot water bath for her. River had kept the envelope on the table and was debating whether she should see the photos or not. She was about to open the envelope when Berta said, “Your bath is ready, Luna.”
River closed her eyes and let out a rough exhale. “I will see these after I take a bath.” She didn’t want to sour her mood and she knew that the photos would do just that. She went to take a bath and when she returned, she was feeling so much better. Berta was ready with her clothes. River wore a long cotton shift dress and walked to the table to see the photos. “You can leave, Berta,” she said as she pulled them out.
The photos were… explosive! The clock struck 8 AM.
