"It was love that allowed me to realize that Edieās life was more important than my own, and if the need ever arose, I would lay down my life and cease to exist," Stuart said, looking at Childe with utmost sympathy in his eyes. "You need to start living for yourself. Youāve been wearing a mask and molding yourself into the person you think your mother wants you to be. If you continue as you seem intent on doing, you will eventually pay the price," he said as his voice was getting weaker and weaker.
Childe fell silent, thinking about what Stuart said. His mind opened, undefined thoughts and emotions welled and surged through his being. He looked with an envious eye on his brother. Stuart had a pained expression on his face, and he was getting weaker by the minute.
Childe nods his head. "I understand. I hate everything about myself, but one of the biggest things I truly hated and couldnāt get over was you and what you had. Your weakness is my strength. Iāve struggled against everything. Iāve tried to contain and control everything, and life became a battleground, a constant struggle. The war is within me," he said in a somber voice.
All fell quiet. Stuartās heart was in his throat. A thin smile broadened its lines in a pose of hope. "With your mind, you can free yourself, and with your mind, you hold yourself down. The choice is yours." Then he turned around to leave.
The sight of Stuart and his white face pinched with pain was almost too much for Childe. He lowered his head as if he were ashamed. Stuart slowly opened the door, pressed the wound with his hand, but there was a good bit of blood, and the blood felt cold. He had no idea how long he was inside.
Wilson entered the room and sighed heavily, "Stuartās gone."
Childe raises his head slowly. "All this time, I believed Stuart was incapable of feeling." He looked at Wilson, and his eyes were full of tears.
Wilson tried to make Childe understand. "Weāre human, we feel. One moment weāre angry, the next moment weāre sad. We all have strengths and weaknesses."
"But itās Stuart," Childeās eyes opened wide in confusion. "For so many years, I thought Stuart was a monster, but heās just an ordinary man." His face is grim; his eyes hollowed with sadness.
Wilson looked at him and shook his head. "It isnāt Stuartās or your fault. Itās your motherās. You two grew up not knowing who each other were. As much as you wanted to destroy him, deep in your heart, you always knew you couldnāt," he said helplessly. "Stuart sacrificed his life for Edie, and thereās nothing wrong with that because he loves her," Wilson sighed.
Childe grew angry, and its color changed. "That doesnāt make any sense. How could a woman be more important than the L. N. Group or money or power?" he growled.
"Why did you give it up then?" Wilson asked.
A shiver coursed through his body. Childe begins to question himself. āWhy did I give it all up? Maybe I felt there was hope for me after all? Or did I do it because I thought Start was more qualified?ā These thoughts played in his mind.
"Sometimes, emotions can be unexplainable. You wanted Stuart to pay, but in the end, you couldnāt do it." Wilson paused to take a deep breath. "Stuart loves Edie, so he was willing to let go of the L. N. Group! It had nothing to do with money or power, and it was because of love." Then he hesitates. "Your mother only cared about power... Can you honestly say she loved you?" his voice softened. Wilson could see the pain on Childesā face, and it broke his heart.
Childe looked at Wilson and grinned weakly. "I would like to be alone. Please tell everyone not to disturb me," he said wearily. He stood up tottering, made a step or two toward the stairs, and stopped. "Take care of Annie for me. I made her a promise, and I hope I can keep it," he smiled unnaturally, and Wilson could see the look of disappointment on his face.
Back at the villa in London, the doctorās worked slowly and carefully to remove Stuartās clothes. Then the doctors began to unravel the bandage from around Stuartās stomach. Edie saw the wound for the first time and was horrified. She gasped and began to cry. Then the doctors rolled Stuart on his side, and Edie saw the marks of stripes on his back. "Heās been whipped," she cried out. She felt so helpless because there was nothing she could do to relieve his suffering. "How could the family enforce this type of punishment? They treated him like a slave," she muttered, looking around, trying to get her bearings.
Mr. Bates tried to comfort her. "Master is strong, and Heās going to be okay. You should get some rest," he said in a low voice.
"No, Iām staying until Stuart wakes up," she said determinedly. Then she clenched her hands into fists, not knowing the exact cause of her fears...
Mr. Bates looks at Edie and can see how frightened she was. "Itāll be some time before the Master wakes up. When he does, and he sees you havenāt gotten any rest, heāll blame me," he said with a concerned tone in his voice.
Edie couldnāt control her tears. They were flowing uncontrollably. "Iām so....scared," she said, her voice quivering as she spoke.
"Itās..." Mr. Bates was interrupted. They heard a different sound, a sharp click, and a moment later, they heard the door begin to open.
Madame Yates stepped inside. "Did you forget what I said," she said sternly. She checked to make sure Stuart was still breathing, and his pulse was strong. "Sounds fine," she said as she stood up. She never treated Stuart like a son, but always treated him like a subordinate. As she turned toward Edie, her stare turned into a scowl. "Come with me," she said firmly.
As Edie got up to leave, Mr. Bates gently held onto Edieās arm and said, "Madame, itās okay to talk in here," he said nervously.
With a frown, Madame gave a sniff. "In front of Stuart?" She points at him. "Do you think he will hear me?" She shakes her head. "No, follow me," she said to Edie.
Edie could see the worried expression on Mr. Batesās face and said, "Itās okay. Iāll be back shortly." She was secretly determined to deal with any punishment Madame Yates was to give her.