Peace of Mind

She was incoherent, only repeatedly calling out "Mama," as if it were the only meaningful word in the world. Tears flowed like a burst dam, instantly soaking the fabric on Lady Isabella's shoulders. The scalding wetness seeped through the layers of clothing, burning the mother's heart.

Lady Isabella held her daughter's trembling body tightly with all her might, feeling her daughter's hot tears, cold fingertips, and the real, heavy swelling in her abdomen.

Her heart felt like it was being repeatedly kneaded by an invisible hand, aching so much it felt like it was about to shatter. But she forced herself not to let her tears flow freely, and instead hugged her daughter even tighter, as if she wanted to give her all her strength, all her warmth, and all her protective instincts.

She gently patted her daughter's thin back, her movements as tender as if she were soothing a baby in swaddling clothes, her voice extremely low and soft, as if afraid of disturbing this precious moment of catharsis.

"I'm sorry, baby, I'm so sorry... It's Mommy's fault, Mommy is late, so very late..." she choked up as she whispered in her daughter's ear, her voice so gentle it could melt your heart.

"Don't be afraid, don't be afraid, Mommy's here. Mommy's here, I'm not going anywhere, I'll stay with you... It's okay, it's okay, if you want to cry, just cry it out, let all your grievances out... With Mommy here, you don't have to be afraid of anything, you don't have to hold back anything... My good child, you've suffered so much..."

Martha stood by the door, watching the heartbreaking yet incredibly precious mother and daughter embracing and weeping, and tears streamed down her face.

She kept wiping away the torrent of tears with her rough apron, but the tears flowed like a broken string of pearls, never stopping no matter how much she wiped.

She knew that these tears were not the end of her sorrow, but the beginning of breaking through that stagnant pool of despair.

The lady has arrived, and the young lady is no longer alone in facing all this cruelty.

She finally had someone she could completely let down her guard, someone she could rely on and confide in without reservation, someone who could truly shelter her from the storm and give her warmth and strength.

These tears are a release, the first step in healing, the first glimmer of light in the darkness.

Charlotte cried in her mother's arms for a long, long time.

It was as if she wanted to turn all the fear, grievances, pain, and resentment that had been building up in her heart for the past few months into tears, washing them away completely.

Lady Isabella simply held her quietly, letting her cry, occasionally gently stroking her daughter's hair with her cheek, offering the most steadfast and unspoken support.

The flames in the fireplace danced gently, casting long shadows of the mother and daughter embracing on the rough stone wall.

After a long while, Charlotte's heart-wrenching cries gradually turned into low, intermittent sobs, and her trembling slowly subsided, but she still clung tightly to her mother's arms, refusing to let go.

Lady Isabella sensed that her daughter's outburst had subsided slightly, and then gently helped her sit back down in the rocking chair.

She pulled over a small, cushioned stool and sat down in front of her daughter, still holding her daughter's cold hand tightly, as if it were a lost treasure that had been found again.

With her other hand, she pulled a clean white silk handkerchief from her sleeve and gently wiped away the crisscrossing tear tracks on her daughter's face, brushing away a few strands of golden hair stuck to her cheeks with tears.

"My child, you've suffered so much," Lady Isabella, her heart aching as she looked at her daughter's swollen, red eyes and pale, haggard face, her voice still gentle.

"I received every single word of your father's letter. I know everything... Don't be afraid, don't be afraid of anything. Mom is here and will stay with you, never leaving your side, until you give birth to your child safely and healthily, and until you both get better."

Charlotte nestled close to her mother, feeling the long-lost, reassuring warmth from her mother's palm. Listening to her mother's gentle yet firm words, the ice that had been frozen in her heart for so long seemed to melt away, cracking open a little bit of light and warmth through this unconditional maternal love and protection.

She nodded gently. Although her eyes were still red and swollen, and her voice was heavy with sobs and exhaustion, a faint light seemed to appear in her empty eyes. "Um... Mom... thank you... for coming..."

"Silly child, why are you thanking your mother?" Lady Isabella stroked her daughter's soft but somewhat dry blonde hair, her gaze sweeping over her swollen belly, where a small life, connected to her by blood, was growing, carrying her daughter's unspeakable pain and the future hope of this family.

"Don't worry, my child, no matter what happens, no matter how much wind and rain or how many schemes there are outside, you will always be the apple of my eye, my most precious baby, this child..."

She gently placed her hand on Charlotte's hand, feeling the pulse of life together. "It's a gift from heaven, the continuation of the purest and most precious bloodline of our Rochfort family. I will protect you. I swear on my life, no one will be able to hurt my daughter, or my grandson. I'll be there for you."

Her mother's promise, like a ray of warm sunshine, shone into Charlotte's gloomy heart.

Although the road ahead remains difficult, at least she is no longer facing it alone.

She leaned on her mother's shoulder, closed her eyes, and in her exhaustion, finally found a safe haven to rely on.