Chapter 22 Arabelle
Arabelle
Idon’t know why I thought Florian would listen to me.
Despite the beautiful ring on my finger, we’re still strangers.
I’m his wife in name only, despite the intimacy we’ve been experiencing lately.
To me, it’s more than sex, and we actually have a connection.
I thought that maybe, just maybe, his feelings for me were getting stronger like mine are for him.
Obviously, I misread what we shared. I linked our intimacy with feelings, and now, I realize they are not the same thing.
He and his father are on a collision course headed straight for disaster, and I don’t know if Florian will survive it.
Truthfully, I want nothing to do with it.
I want us to build this relationship so we both can have a life that isn’t full of misery.
So, I thought he’d at least put me first since, according to him, he wants this to be a real marriage.
According to him, he’s wanted me for a long time.
But, of course, he didn’t put me ahead of his vendetta.
Even when I gave him the choice of staying or leaving, he chose for me to go, which stung a little.
“Are you all right?” Dale asks.
My eyes fill with tears as I shake my head, standing next to the only person I can call a friend. “I don’t know why I thought this would be easy, Dale. This is the hardest thing I’ve ever had to do.”
With his arm around my shoulder, he pulls me into a warm embrace.
When I left Florian’s home, which is now our home, Dale was the first person who came to mind.
Although I’ve distanced myself from Dale because of his feelings for me, I have no one else to turn to.
I can’t rely on my sisters because they would probably be happy to learn I’m going through this, or they’ll tell me to suck it up and get over it because I’m lucky to even be married to the great Florian Larsson.
My father would only be worried about how it affected him.
So, I don’t regret not reaching out to them.
“You always see the best in people, sweetheart. So, you thought you could be yourself, and everything else would fall into place. But Florian is a different kind of man. A man you didn’t quite prepare yourself for.”
“So, you’re telling me I’m an idiot?”
I sure as hell feel like an idiot.
“No, you’re not an idiot, Arabelle. You’re just too kind sometimes, especially when it comes to your family. Do you feel like you’re in danger?” Dale asks.
Unfortunately, I don’t have an answer to that question. It’s not as simple as black and white. Florian and his father walk in the gray, which makes everything difficult to answer.
“Not entirely,” I say. “At times it feels like I’m living a fairytale. He’s sweet. Attentive. He makes me feel like a queen. Then there are times I understand why they call him Beast.”
“Has he hurt you?” Dale asks, his voice dripping with anger.
“Of course not!” I shout, offended that he would think Florian would harm me, or that I would stay with someone who physically harmed me. “He wouldn’t hurt me, Dale. Not intentionally anyway.”
Dale rests his elbows on his knees and exhales. “Arabelle, why did you come here? To me, it seems as though you have developed feelings for him, and he hasn’t hurt you. So, why are you not with your husband?”
“I gave him an ultimatum, and I thought he’d choose me.”
“And he didn’t?”
I let out a sigh. “He didn’t.”
Dale leans back in the chair. “And what ultimatum did you give him?”
“Stop fighting with his father, or give me some time to sort out what I need to do.”
“And he gave you time?”
“He did. But I thought he would pick me and stop this shit with his father.”
“You don’t know what’s actually transpired between them?”
“I don’t, but it still stings that the man I married let me walk out the door. He didn’t even try to stop me, Dale.”
“Men don’t do well with ultimatums, love. Maybe what he’s trying to handle with his father, he needs to do not only for you, but for him. I know very little about Florian and his father, but from what I hear, his father is a real piece of work.”
“I don’t know anything about his father, either. Florian refuses to talk about him, but I believe he’s not a nice man because of how Florian reacts anytime Olan’s name is mentioned.”
“And there has to be a reason for that,” Dale reasoned.
“I jumped the gun, didn’t I?”
Dale laughs. “I would say so, but I think you expected what anyone would in your position. You expected your spouse to put you first, and that’s okay, Belle.
Don’t beat yourself up over it. But you also have to remember your relationship is very different from most people’s.
It’s not the typical relationship. Now, don’t get me wrong.
I’m not a fan of Florian’s for reasons you already know, but I want you to be happy, and even though you had this little misstep, you seem to be very happy with him. ”
I understand that completely. This is a marriage with no love involved, even though I can admit things are rapidly changing between us, at least on my end. I have to give him some grace. I can’t have things the way I want them immediately.
“You’re right.”
“I am most of the time,” he says, and I nudge him.
“Thank you for meeting with me,” I say, and he smiles. “I hope I didn’t ruin any plans you have.”
“Anytime, sweetheart. Anytime.”
“So, what’s been up with you?” I ask, changing the subject.
I have to stop thinking about Florian. Nothing is going to change when it comes to him and his father. So, there’s no use in my dwelling over it. I’ll make things right between us once I go back home.
The moment Dale’s face lights up with a smile, I immediately know why.
“You met someone, didn’t you?” I ask, and he nods. “Oh my god, Dale! That’s wonderful.”
It makes me happy that my friend found someone who will treat him like he deserves.
“She’s wonderful, Belle.”
“Tell me all about her, then.”
“First, thank you for not letting me confuse my love for you with true love.”
My smile is uncontrollable.
“You always told me there was someone out there for me,” he continues. “And for a long time, I believed it was you, but when I met Aurora, it was instant. And I knew she was it for me.”
“I’m so happy for you, Dale. When do I get to meet her?”
“As a matter of fact, she’s coming to town during your next performance. She’s a huge fan of yours.”
“A fan of mine?”
It’s always a surprise to hear someone is a fan. I’m just a girl who loves to dance. Nothing more, nothing less.
“Why does that always surprise you?” he asks. “Don’t you know that you’re Arabelle Williamson, one of the top ballerinas of our time?”
I roll my eyes. “Whatever. Anyway, make sure you let me know for sure when she’s in town because I want to meet her. So, bring her backstage. I’ll make sure I set it up.”
“She’ll love that, Belle. I appreciate it.”
“Anytime, Dale.”
“So, what are you going to do about Florian?” he asks, moving the conversation back to Florian.
“I guess I’m going home with my tail between my legs to apologize.”
I have to swallow my pride. I can’t expect him to put me first when he doesn’t even love me.
It’s unrealistic of me to expect him to change his life just because I want him to, considering we haven’t been married for long.
I shouldn’t have given him that ultimatum, although I believe whatever is going on with his father will affect me.
We need to have a serious conversation.
“Florian!” I take my coat off as I move through the foyer. “Florian! Are you here? We need to talk!”
“So, you’re her?” a voice says that’s not my husband’s or any of the staff as soon as I step into the living room. “So, you’re the one who took him from me?”
I stop in my tracks. “Excuse me? How did you get in here?”
She rises from the couch and approaches me, just as beautiful as her pictures. Her silky blonde hair extends past her breasts, nearly brushing her slender waist. I almost take a step back from the intense hatred in the arctic blue eyes staring back at me. I believe he said her name is Addie.
“You heard me,” she sneers, ignoring my question. “You took him from me.”
“I’m not sure who you are or what you’re talking about, but you need to leave my home. Now!”
“Your home?” Her frown deepens as she looks around the living room. “You know, for as long as I’ve been with Florian, I knew nothing of this place. He always took me to his penthouse. Anyway, if it wasn’t for your father, I wouldn’t have known to find you here.”
How in the hell did my father know about this place?
“My father?” I ask. “And how do you know my father?”
“How I know him isn’t important. He just gave me a little insight into a clause in that contract you signed for Florian. But I wasn’t expecting you.”
The infidelity clause.
That’s when I take a close look at her clothes and what she’s wearing. The dress she’s wearing barely reaches past her ass and clings to her body like a second skin. She’s beautiful, but the way she’s dressed, she was definitely here to seduce my husband.
“Anyway, this place isn’t quite up to my taste. Where’s the gold trimming, the expensive artwork? The fur rugs?” With pinched brows and a look of disgust, she continues to survey my home. “Florian can do a lot better than this monstrosity, and he can do a lot better than you.”
It’s not up to her taste, but it’s definitely up to mine. I can’t help but feel like he designed the entire estate with me in mind, and I take offense to her statement about our home and about me.
Situated on Mecox Bay, the luxurious home offers over forty-five thousand square feet of living space and is nestled on its own charming cul-de-sac.
It has five bedrooms and six bathrooms, along with two very large fireplaces, stone countertops, and both marble and hardwood flooring throughout the entire mansion.
While it’s a little large and extravagant for just the two of us, it’s absolutely perfect in my eyes.
“What does he see in you?” she asks, scanning my figure before locking onto my face. “You’re just…normal.”
I can see the hate she has for me in her eyes. I have to figure out a way to get out of here.
“Well, that’s something you’ll have to ask Florian. Right now, I’ve got some things to take care of. So, if you’d like, you can wait here for him.”
As I turn on my heels, the sharp pain of her nails digging into my arm jolts me to a stop. I whip around, pulling my arm from her grip. My heart pounds in my chest when I come face-to-face with the cold, steel barrel of a gun.
Slowly, I raise my hands, taking a small step away, trying to put some distance between us.
Maybe I can run?
“Put the gun down.”
“I can’t do that,” she says, her eyes wild with fury. “He won’t answer any of my calls, and I’ve done everything to get his attention. So, if he wants to save you, he’ll have to come to me.”
My mind immediately went to Hugo, but he’s not expecting her. However, she doesn’t know that. Maybe the threat will get her to change her mind about whatever she has planned.
“You won’t get out of here alive.”
“Then you’ll die along with me. Head to the door. And don’t try anything. It will mess up my plans if I have to shoot you now.”
She pushes me toward the door, and I don’t resist. She’s crazy, and I have no doubt in my mind that she will kill me if I don’t comply.
“You don’t have to do this.”
She laughs, but her laughter is devoid of any joy or amusement, sending a chilling sensation through me. “Yes, I do have to do this, Arabelle. Like I said, he’ll come for you. Then, I can kill you, and we’ll live happily ever after.”
As soon as I open the door, I expect Hugo to make an appearance. When he does, he doesn’t have time to say anything or pull his gun because immediately, her gun goes off.
“Hugo!” Horrified, I scream as I watch blood collect around his limp body on the concrete.
“Get in the car!” she shouts, pushing me from behind. “Now!”
I can’t tear my eyes away from Hugo as he fights to catch his breath. “Hugo! Please!”
“Get in the fucking car!” she screams, diverting my attention from the man I’ve grown fond of.
“Please let him be all right,” I mumble.
“You need to be more worried about yourself. You have three seconds to get in the damn car, or you’ll join your friend sooner than I’d like.”
Without hesitating any further, I enter the car from the passenger side. “You drive,” she commands, and I maneuver over the center console to the driver’s seat. “Now go!”
I start the engine and drive down the driveway.
She keeps the gun pointed at me.
“You still have time to stop this because you won’t get away with this,” I say, making sure to keep my eyes on the road.
“Maybe I won’t, but if I can’t have him, then neither will you.”
I inhale deeply and exhale, allowing her words to sink in. Florian will come for me. I know he will. But I hope he’s prepared for me not to make it out of this alive. I realize I also have to accept this.