Victor's remorse was palpable, and as he dropped his hands, his shoulders slumped slightly. He apologized again and again, expressing his regret and despair over the situation they now found themselves in. Belle wanted to console him, to ease the turmoil within him, but his rejection had left her cold.

With an almost mechanical gesture, she raised a hand to silence him, a sharp motion that echoed with her frustration. She stomped her foot on the carpet, a gesture that, under different circumstances, might have intrigued her with the absence of sound that followed. But now, she was too consumed by her emotions to consider such curiosities.

"You shouldn't have, but I am glad at least that you're being honest with me at last," she said, her tone flat, her lips threatened to pull downwards as she fought back tears. She wrapped her arms around herself, a futile attempt to ward off the overwhelming feeling of isolation that threatened to swallow her whole.

"And you needn't apologize, husband," she added, this last said with her voice taking on a razor-sharp iciness. "All things that can be very easily rectified."her tone clipped and final.