Chapter 166 Refused To Apologize
PRESENT:
All actions have their consequences. William was facing his.
The air in the lawyer’s office was tense, the strain was deep down scaring William. The smell of old parchment and the expensive, bitter perfume Aunt Liyah wore was reviving an old scar.
She sat across from William, her hands folded neatly over her designer handbag, while her lawyer shuffled papers with a practiced, intimidating silence.
William stood in the middle of the cabin, his gaze affixed on the ground with clenched hands, hating the powerlessness.
"You have been remarkably difficult nowadays, William," Liyah said, her voice no less than a hiss, glaring at him for daring to forget his limits.
"To choose that girl over the family that raised you... it’s a stain on our name.”
William didn’t dare to lift his eyes from the ground, “I chose my wife.”
“You chose a mistake. Before me nothing else matters. Isn’t that what you have sworn that night? Where is that promise?” She faked sorrow, pinching her brows that caused William’s jaw to clench.
“You are risking everything for a low, worthless girl. Why don’t you get it!?”
"I didn't choose a 'girl,' Auntie," William said, his voice lower and steadier than it had ever been, gathering a resolve he thought he killed years ago.
"I chose my wife. And I chose myself."
Liyah’s eyes narrowed, "Don't be dramatic. I’m even willing to overlook your 'disrespect'- under one condition." She leaned forward, a cruel smile touching her lips.
"Stand up, move to the center of this room, and kneel. Apologize for your insolence, and we can go back to how things were."
In the past, William would have felt the familiar weight of obligation. He would have swallowed the disgust, lowered his gaze, and knelt just to keep the peace.
But he felt an obligation as Arabella’s husband that stiff him. He imagined Arabella- the one who had seen his scars and stayed.
William didn't move. He didn't even blink. He couldn’t permit himself to become a loser, especially now.
The weight of the silence grew. His Lawyer, Cooper, narrowed his eyes, gesturing to him to do it and settle the matter before it gets sour.
William took a deep breath, lifting his empty gaze with a newly found power.
"No," he said. The word was quiet, but it filled the room, surprising Cooper and Liyah.
Liyah’s smile dropped, "What did you say?"
"I said no. I am done being a weak man for the sake of your comfort." William enunciated, stepping back, a dangerously calm aura surrounding him.
“My comfort or yours?” Liyah hissed, slamming the purse on the table, rising from her seat furiously.
“Did you forget your sin? Do you think I can let you live with that?”
William’s lips quivered, “I have spent years repenting for my sins, Auntie. Not anymore…”
“Be careful, William, or else the truth is all it will take me to destroy your respect and this so-called family.” Liyah threatened for the last time.
William looked at the wedding ring, his fear vanishing and hardened his features, glaring back at her that hitched her breaths.
“Try me, Liyah,” He challenged, no longer in her control.
She stepped back in fear, snapping at him, “You… you… what has that woman done to you!?”
“William, watch yourself, you are making a mistake. Just settle this matter. Don’t gather useless troubles, son,” Cooper suggested softly, he knew Liyah would put him through hell. But, he was in one anyway.
“I am not gathering troubles, Uncle,” William sighed, facing their family lawyer who looked after him after his parent’s death and helped him regain all his assets.
And back to Liyah, “I am getting rid of them.”
"Keep the papers. Keep the money. You’ve lost the only thing that actually mattered." He turned his back on her gasps and walked out, his stride long and certain.
By the time he walked away, he could feel his heart pounding madly, his breaths hastening in horror. His mind was overwhelmed by a horror he didn’t expect to encounter.
‘What have I done….?’ He thought, feeling his hands shaking violently in dread of the upcoming devastation.
With his mind spinning, he didn’t think twice and drove home where Arabella was anxiously waiting for him.
By the time he stepped through their front door, the weight of what he had done, defying the woman who controlled his world, began to settle in.
William didn't turn on the lights. His heavy steps dragging that made Arabella rush to him and rub his shoulder, helping him to take a seat.
Arabella moved toward him, her silhouette soft in the shadows, "William? What happened? Is the matter settled?"
He reached out, grabbing her arms, his grip slightly too tight, desperate. Her features softened at his weakness, pulling his face to her cradle in her chest.
"You asked me for a chance, Bella," he rasped, his eyes searching hers for any sign of hesitation.
"There you go. I just burned the only bridge I had. From now on, our lives might become hell.”
“Hell with you? I don’t mind that either.” Arabella smiled, caressing the shaky man to soothe him.
“They will come for us. They will try to break me, to bankrupt us, to ruin everything."
He whispered, his forehead resting against hers, his voice dropping to a vulnerable one. His hands were cold, heart on the verge of leaping.
"Will you be able to handle it? Will you stay by my side no matter what happens... or what I have to become to protect us?"
“I promise, William, test me, my love and loyalty both.” She accepted.
He was no longer composed, the apprehension was crystal-clear, the very chance Arabella sought to prove her devotion and loyalty had arrived. Her chance to solidify her love.
"Promise me, Bella," he whimpered, refusing to let her go. "Promise me you won't leave when it gets dark."
Arabella couldn’t help but to pull back just to look at his face, a gentle smile adorning her lips, fingers tangling with his locks with an everlasting promise.
“Take my breaths away if I fail,”