75. Fear of lioness!
Author's POV
Arabella looked at the broken mirror and took a deep breath. She herself has never seen her this much out of control.
The engagement has taken a toll on her sanity, she just can't watch his name getting paired up with anyone else.
Nothing can be changed now, she has also confessed her feelings and reason of separating from them. She also knows that she can't be angry with them for long and can already feel herself melting but she is not going to accept them until they give her dignity back. There are rumours that she is warming their bed so she won't let them touch her until they declare that she is more than that and she means something to them.
She freshened up and went downstairs for a breakfast. Knight brothers looked at her as she descended stairs in her bodyguard suit and the deep frown.
They were still stunned by her angry form.
"You should have stayed in the room, your legs are injured."
Arthur said worriedly.
Arabella looked at him pointedly.
"Open your mouth only when you want me to kill someone."
Steven almost choked on his juice and Rose bit her lower lip to hold on her laugh. Thankfully no one else was there yet. It was just five of them. Oliver looked at Arthur with raised eyebrows.
"Arabella, come! Sit beside me."
Rose called her to sit between her and Steven.
Brothers looked at her impatiently when she sat beside Steven.
Oliver opened his mouth to oppose but Arthur grabbed his hand and stopped him.
"We are already grilled today, don't fuel the fire."
He whispered.
"How's your feet?"
Steven tried to break the awkward silent.
Other members joined them at the same time.
"Better!"
Arabella replied while filling her plate.
"You should eat citrus fruits, it helps to heal the wound sooner."
Steven suggested.
"You two are already getting along."
Rose chuckled.
"Arabella, if he bothers you too much then tell me... He is too talkative."
"Only around beautiful people."
Steven smiled charmingly at Arabella and she smiled at his relaxed nature. He was somehow like Julie.
"Are you into martial arts too."
She asked curiously. He is too bulky and puffed up for quick movements but he also looks younger than Knight brothers.
"Yes! Let's play a match when you are well... It will be fun!"
He sounded excited.
Julie looked at brothers and they both were scowling and glaring at Steven. Clearly irritated by his closeness with Arabella.
"Can we do that, Chief?"
He asked Arthur.
Arthur gave him fake smile.
"If you wish to break your bones then who the hell am I to stop you, go ahead!"
He mocked.
"No, no... They seem to get along well, I don't think Arabella is going to hurt her new friend..."
April's comment made everyone scowl.
"She is famous for failing her missions because of feelings, isn't it?"
Arabella could feel the bubble erupting in her lava of anger which was just settling down. April just invited an insult for her.
"I have killed my own best friend, if you want me to put that fact in your little head."
She replied and all eyes snapped at Arabella, no one expected her to reply sharply.
"And few days ago I have broken jaw of my ex friend who is your current gossip partner so I would suggest you to not fuck around me with your dumb comments if you want your jaw in place..."
Julie burst out laughing but covered her laugh with cough and drank water.
"Today ambience is so spicy, I am loving it."
April scowled offended.
"Are you going to let her talk to me like this? I am your fiance and it means I am her boss too."
Oliver cleared his throat and rubbed his forehead.
"Rabbit shouldn't mess with wounded lioness, April... Stop targeting Arabella."
"Julit right, I am loving this breakfast."
Rose smiled naughtily. She enjoying the way Arabella was talking today. She wanted to see her like this.
And calling Steven here has already started showing effect.
Arabella was focusing on her breakfast when the maid who usually cleans her bed came towards her.
"Ma'am, what to do with the broken bed?"
All eyes again snapped at her when they heard 'broken bed'.
"Broken bed?"
Garry frowned as it's his responsibility to look after the maintainance of the mansion. Rose also raised her eyebrows amused.
"I broke it, Garry."
Arabella confessed and amused faces got neutral.
"You can deduct the amount from my salary for broken bed and bathroom mirror."
Garry looked at Arthur and Oliver confused.
"Chief?"
He waited for his permission.
"Chief and Sir both has seen me doing it, they are aligned..."
Arabella replied straightforwardly.
Arthur cleared his throat and nodded at Garry. He was now lowkey scared to open his mouth in front of Arabella because she is too wild today.
"I'll get the new bed for you..."
Garry dialled number but she stopped him.
"No need! I don't want bed, I'll sleep on the floor... It's a part of my training."
She demanded and Garry again looked at Arthur.
Arthur gave him a nod.
"After a week, order bed for her. Right now don't say anything."
Steven cleared his throat.
"Guys, after breakfast come out in the garden..."
"For?"
Rose questioned.
"It's Damian uncle's birthday so I want to gift him a video compilation where everyone is sharing their special moments with him."
He explained.
"Mom and Dad is already here."
Everyone gathered in the garden and everyone did their task one by one, now it was Jackson and Isabella's turn.
"Issa, come!"
Rose asked her to stand beside Jackson.
Isabella stepped forward but Jackson stepped back.
"Dad?"
Steven's smile faded. He has rarely seen his parents getting well and it always breaks his heart.
Jackson shook his head.
"Let her do it first..."
Isabella looked at Jackson with sad face but smiled at Steven awkwardly.
"Dad, please!"
Steven requested him.
Jackson sighed and stood beside Isabella. Rose put his hand on Isabella's waist and stepped aside.
Arabella saw how similar Rose and Isabella look. It's like they are the same person if it's not for Rose's bold and Isabella's elegant dressing style.
Steven smiled when he saw his parents together and recorded their video.
"What's wrong with them?"
Arabella asked Julie, knowing she knows all the gossip.
Julie cleared her throat to share the intresting story.
"You know Jackson, he was into Rose but she was in love with Damian so Jackson couldn't get her. Poor guy must be heartbroken but then he met Rose's evil sister, Isabella! She is a good person now but few people still hate her for whatever she did to Damian and Rose... People says that Jackson was drawn to Isabella because she looks just like Rose but he was also aware that she is a trouble... Something must have happened between them when Jackson was drunk. Isabella was pregnant and no one knew who was the father. Jackson was training Steven along with Knights and few years later he learnt that Steven is his son. Isabella hid the truth from everyone... Jackson was mad, he felt betrayed. But Rose talked to him and convinced him to marry Isabella for Steven. Jackson didn't want his son to grow up without his parents so agreed... They got married but it looks like even after years they are struggling to trust each other."
"She loves him!"
Arabella saw how Isabella was smiling under Jackson's touch.
"It's in her eyes."
But her smile dropped when Jackson walked away once the shooting was done.
"Jackson!"
Rose called him. He turned around and sighed.
"Coffee?"
Jackson knew that she won't let him go.
"Whisky?"
"Not in the morning."
She made him sit.
"It's been years, what's the use of this dry behaviour?"
"You think it's easy to forget?"
Jackson frowned.
"My son was roaming around me and I wasn't even aware that he is mine... I lost years of my fatherhood."
"You didn't! Jackson you can't deny the fact that you were helping Isabella when she was pregnant. Steven was legit in your arms while growing up. You have loved him more than anything... I know Isabella's side, she thought that you love me and that's why she didn't try to ruin your life with her secret, you know that she was already on the bad side after whatever happened between her and me. She was scared to tell you the truth."
Rose tried to make him understand.
"That's the problem, Rose. She assumes things. She always assumes and never communicate... You think I have never tried to close the distance between us? She thinks I am with her because she looks like you and everytime we fight because of that..."
He rubbed his face frustrated.
"See, I love her and somewhere I understand her situation but she doesn't."
"For Steven, you two have to understand each other... Steven deserve good life and happy memories with his parents. He is such a jolly child, don't ruin it for him."
Rose looked at Steven who was making everyone laugh.
"I love her, Rose... I do but she always brings you between us."
Jackson sighed and walked away.
"Why this love drama never ends?"
Rose huffed.
"Here my sister and there my sons... What do I do to bring these people together?"