A New Beginning

Chapter 10: The Love of a Strong Willed Woman

Back at the palace, Clarisse walked in through the front door, and memories just came flooding back to her brain. Memories of Rupert and herself, Joseph and herself dancing all those graceful dances in the ballroom, and memories of her sons, running and playing and growing up. Then she remembered that one fateful night that Philippe had his car crash. She cried over her baby for weeks, and Joseph was there to comfort and console her. He was always there to comfort her. He always knew how to make her smile that gorgeous, pearly white, perfect smile, he knew how to make her laugh, cry, and hurt. Right now, she was feeling a little of all those emotions.

How could the man she once loved come back into her life and seriously injure the man she now loved. If Rupert loved her so much, how could he not tell she was happy with Joseph and he needed to just leave the family alone?

"Do I really love Joseph or do I just feel sorry for him? Do I really love Rupert or do I just miss him?" She asked herself.

"No, I can't be loving Rupert like I love Joseph. That's just preposterous. Joseph and I are happily married and no one can take that away. I love Joseph with all my heart,"

She kept telling herself.

"Nobody will ruin that for me, not even the former King of Genovia!"

Clarisse exclaimed to herself. She walked up the steps and walked into her bedroom to find another awful sight she hadn't expected. Justin and Rupert.

"What are you two doing here?"

Clarisse yelled while Rupert walked up behind her and put his hand over her mouth.

"I will do what I want with you, as will Justin. If you scream, I will make sure Joseph doesn't make it out of this coma. Do you understand me, Risse?"

Clarisse scowled at his nickname for her. Then she nodded her head, in fear of what would happen to Joseph if she didn't. Rupert took her in his arms and threw her on the bed. He kissed her forcefully and then pulled up her skirt.

"Just as I remember you, darling."

That night, Clarisse was hit, bit, and kissed, all by the two men she hated the most in the world. It was hard for her to believe that only a few short years ago, the man who did all these terrible things to her was her husband. What did she ever see in him? Why did she ever agree to marry and have his children?

After the two men did what they wanted, they left, and Clarisse got up and went to the bathroom. She pulled up her skirt and saw the bruises and scratch marks already starting to form. She went over to the toilet and emptied her stomach in the bowl. She couldn't stand the thought of Joseph ever seeing what happened. She got ready for a bath and started to run the water. Then she heard the phone ring.

"Hello…Yes, this is she…What?...Alright, I will be there as soon as possible, thank you doctor."

Clarisse hung up the phone and telephoned the security desk and told Shades that she needed to get to the hospital as soon as possible, it was about Joseph.

When she got to the hospital, she saw in the waiting room that Charlotte, Mia, Shades, and some more of the palace staff had all gathered around each other in a corner of the room. They all had sad, melancholy frowns on their faces. Amelia was even crying.

"What has happened?"

"Grandma, it doesn't look good…"

Clarisse saw the doctor walking into the waiting room and she prepared herself for the worst. As she sat down in the chair beside Charlotte, she could feel her world spiraling downward all in a few short moments.

"Queen Clarisse, I am sorry to tell you this…"

CLIFFHANGER! That would be chapter 10! I hope y'all aren't too mad at me for the cliffhanger. Hahaha. Please hit the little review button for me, if you don't mind. Thanks. More to come soon.