I pull the blankets to her chin, watching as she settles in. The old book found in my grandma’s attic creaks with dust. “In a land far, far away was a village. Small thing it was. In this village, there was a girl… a quite _aloof_ girl. She absolutely adored reading—she did it whenever she could. Her name, was Belle.”

“Girls in the village were jealous of Belle’s beauty, for she was considered one of the prettiest girls in the land. Belle had one specific secret admirer, Gaston. She did not favor him whatsoever.”

“One night, her father gets trapped! By an ugly beast, hidden away in the dark, deep depths of a forest. Belle, of course, runs out to save him,” I say. “She makes a deal. She will stay prisoner there in exchange for the release of her father. Reluctantly, the beast agrees.”

“Little did Belle know… the beast was cursed! Yes, cursed. He had to make someone truly love his beastly form before the enchanting rose petals fell. Or he would stay a beast forever.” I turn to show the picture to her, watching her intent eyes scanning every detail.

I turn the page, instinctively reading ahead before reading aloud. I’m bewildered.

“Belle did not end up loving him—in fact, she despised him. His temper, his anger, his violence. The last petal fell to the pedestal, marking the end of his 21st year and sealing his cursed fate forever.” My eyebrows furrowed together.

“The beast, angry at himself and her, kicks her out. Belle immediately runs back home, hugging her father with every ounce of strength and love. ‘It was terrifying!’ Belle exclaims in horror.”

“But, her father did not look sympathetic. Rather… guilty. ‘What is it, father?’ Belle asks upon seeing his troubled expression. ‘You are to marry Gaston.’” My sentence falters off.

“‘What?’ Belle asks, confused. Her father did not worry, did not care. And it was only then had she realized, no one came to save her. No one even bothered to try. Belle backed away from her father egregiously.”

“On the day of their wedding, Belle stares into his longing eyes, full of love and lust. Belle cannot bring herself to meet her fathers’ eyes in the crowd.”

“When their lips connect, it was only then, Belle had realized the biggest mistake she had ever made was never giving the beast a chance.”

_This wasn’t the story I remembered._