A little knock on the door was enough to wake her up, she was never a heavy sleeper but these days this activity was rather exhausting than to relax.

"Miss Isla!" a soft voice followed by another knock put her out of her thoughts.

"Yes Martha, please come in" she answered while trying to get up.

"Good morning miss Isla! Madam wanted to know if you would like to have breakfast here or with them at the table? "

Martha asked the usual question politely.

"I will have breakfast with mother and father, please tell them that I would join in few minutes." lifting the blanket from herself she said ready to leave the comforting bed.

"Miss would you like me to help you get ready? You look very exhausted." watching her condition, Martha quickly came to her side to support her in standing.

"Thank you, Martha, but I am alright, it's just a little lack of sleep but I will take rest afterwards" she said energetically or at least she tried to.

"Alright miss, I will inform master and madam right away" she said obediently and walked towards the door but before she could reach to it, door opened showing Mrs. Freya, Isla's mother. Isla had her back towards the door as she was going to washroom to fresh up, so she didn't know.

"Madam! I was just coming to give miss Isla's message that she would join you at the table in a while." seeing the madam, Martha quickly spoke fear and nervousness was evident in her voice. Hearing that Isla also turned to greet her mother.

"It's quite alright Martha, I just wanted to come see my darling baby," she informed to Martha then turned her full attention to Isla,

"How are you feeling today my dear?" before Isla could speak, Mrs. Freya said smiling warmly while pulling her in a soft hug.

"Good morning to you too mother, and I am very well today, " Isla replied her hugging her back.

"I am glad to hear that and also I wanted to let you know that your father just received an urgent call and he already started his breakfast as he would be leaving early so I thought we should have our breakfast together in your room" what do you say ? Mrs. Freya said sweetly tucking a loose strand of her hear behind her ear.

"That would be lovely mother." she said smiling happily.

"Alright then you go get ready and I will prepare our breakfast" she left after releasing her from embrace and placing a soft kiss on her forehead. Isla smiled to herself, this gesture made her very happy but no matter how much time had passed, it was quite foreign to her, not that she mind it but it was still very difficult to believe that it was reality and not one of her wishful dreams as there were so many times when she desperately wished for this love and warmth.

Flashback

"Miss Isla! Please come down to have breakfast, master and madam are waiting."

Martha pleaded again for the 10th time. She felt a little guilty for making things difficult for Martha as being her nanny , she would also be a target of Mrs. Freya's anger but there was nothing she could do even if she tried to, she was having a very bad headache and she was not able to keep her head straight and eating together would only increase it which she did not want to.

"I am sorry Martha! please tell mother and father that I am not feeling well today I cannot join them for breakfast." She said rubbing her forehead trying to ease the throbbing pain.

"But miss! I did convey your unwell state however Madam said....." Martha tried to convince but her sentence was cut in between by a huge bang on the door followed by raging Mrs. Freya. Seeing her angry mother, Isla quickly greeted her.

"Good morning mother! and I was hoping if you could excuse me for not joining you and father for breakfast. I am not feeling well today."

"How many times do I have to repeat myself for you to understand? Why must you always test my patience " she shouted at her only daughter.

"Mother please I am…..

"Enough with the excuses Isla! do you think I am stupid enough to not know that you are trying to avoid Isaac and humiliate us in front of him?

"Not at all mother! I am truly very tired as you know I just finished my last exam yesterday and" she tried to speak but Mrs. Freya did not let her complete.

"Yesterday you declined his invitation to dinner for the same reason, you already had a full night of sleep and rested well, now you listen to me very clearly young lady, get yourself ready and come down immediately, don't embarrass us more than you already have, is that cleared ?" she said without giving Isla any chance to speak.

At that time, she understood it would been more convenient to just join them. At least it would have saved her from this episode, constant glare and cold words from her mother till the end of breakfast. What was she thinking? Did she think her opinion would have mattered to them? Or her choice was important? It left her thinking that if they ever thought of her as human instead of a doll who would only nod at their master's command.

"Yes mother" was only thing Isla could manage to say while struggling to push her tears back.

Hearing her desired response, Mrs. Freya turned to Martha.

"Martha assist her in dressing Properly" she ordered emphasizing on properly and left the room.

End of flashback

"Miss please let me help you, I would love to take care of you" her thoughts were cut in between with Martha's voice who was asking very eagerly. She sighed and nodded in agreement thinking it would be a good thing as these days she was feeling exhausted beyond words not that she would ever mind anyway. She walked towards the washroom caressing her baby bump lovingly and smiled, yes it was worth it.