Chapter 112 Cassidy is Kidnapped
Arabella was just mentioning it casually. The night wind was cold anyway, and they were outdoors—it was totally normal to smell something wrong.
So when Alexander said he hadn't smelled anything, she put the whole thing out of her mind. But Alexander took it to heart. Glancing at Arabella beside him, completely oblivious to any danger, he stopped walking and smiled casually. "You go on up. I need to make a call."
Arabella replied offhandedly, "Working this late, huh?"
Alexander just smiled. Arabella didn't think much of it—salespeople being on call 24/7 was pretty normal. She was exhausted and waved goodbye to Alexander before heading upstairs.
Alexander watched her figure disappear into the elevator, then walked to an inconspicuous shadowy spot and called Roy. Roy picked up quickly. His voice carried traces of sleepiness but was alert. "Mr. FitzRoy? What's going on this late?"
Alexander's expression was cold, his voice emotionless. "Anthony just came to my current neighborhood. Contact the police and see if they can make an exception to check the surveillance footage along his route. He reeked of blood—I suspect he just did something. Maybe we can follow the trail and find some leads."
Roy's voice became much more alert, his tone serious. "Got it. I'll look into it right away."
Alexander said, "Thanks. After you handle this, take a couple days off."
Roy sounded pleasantly surprised. "Thank you, Mr. FitzRoy!"
Alexander hung up and looked toward the area outside the complex. From his angle, he could see where Anthony had parked. Anthony was still there, leaning against his car door, smoking with a cold expression, his gaze fixed on the direction where he and Arabella had left, lost in thought.
Alexander stared at Anthony coldly for a while, then turned and went upstairs. Just a sewer rat. Didn't know how to cherish what he had when he had it, lost it without realizing he should regret it, and now kept showing up in front of Arabella trying to get attention. Truly disgusting.
But Arabella wasn't the type to go back to her ex. Especially with him standing guard nearby, serving as a contrast to that scumbag—the more frequently Anthony appeared, the more Arabella would be repulsed by him.
No attitude, no action, and still wanting to win Arabella back? What did he think she was, a recycling center? He wouldn't allow it, much less tolerate such a thing happening.
Alexander stayed outside for a while. When he went back, he thought Arabella would already be asleep, but when he quietly pushed open the bedroom door, he saw the bedside lamp still on. Arabella was leaning against the headboard, frowning as if deep in thought. The warm yellow light bathed her, making her look gentle and serene.
Alexander's gaze uncontrollably swept over her shoulders. Her pajamas were white with red cherry trim—a lace camisole that made her exposed skin glow. Her shoulders were small and rounded, making him want to grip them firmly in his hands.
Alexander quietly took a deep breath, his fists clenching and unclenching at his sides. His Adam's apple bobbed as he closed his eyes briefly. When he opened them again, his blue eyes had returned to their usual calm.
He asked gently, "Why aren't you asleep yet?"
Arabella snapped back to reality as if waking from a dream, smiling. "Couldn't fall asleep."
Alexander sat on the edge of the bed. "Still worried about Molly?"
Arabella nodded, then shook her head. Today at the hospital, Molly's injuries had looked severe. Anthony said Jennifer had beaten her—she wasn't surprised at all. It was exactly the kind of thing Jennifer would do.
Molly wouldn't have an easy time with the Watson family. She probably wouldn't lose her life, but she'd definitely be beaten and scolded daily. That child had big ambitions and would use any means necessary, but she was only ten years old.
She wanted to leave the mountains, wanted to choose the Watson family who could give her more opportunities. You couldn't say she was wrong, but stabbing Arabella in the back was really low. Yet you couldn't say she was wrong either—she was just showing human nature.
Arabella was silent for a long time before saying, "Whatever. Either way, it has nothing to do with me."
Alexander looked at her for a moment. "If you're worried about her, you could find a chance to see her, talk to her. If she's truly repentant, you could help her like you helped Becky."
Arabella laughed after hearing this and shook her head without thinking. "It's not necessary." She felt wistful, but that didn't mean she'd be a saint.
Alexander smiled too. He was even less of a saint, but seeing her genuinely upset, he'd made the suggestion. He could handle any consequences, let her do whatever made her happy. But if she refused, that was fine too—whatever she wanted.
His smile was very understanding. Watching him, Arabella's heart began racing, making her feel uncomfortable all over. Her earlier internal struggle disappeared completely. She quickly burrowed under the thin blanket and said stiffly, "Let's sleep."
Alexander's voice was low. "Alright."
He turned off the bedside lamp, glanced at her with a smile, then lay down on the floor.
In the darkness, Arabella's mind was full of that smile. The man's eyes had been gentle, full of warmth—that look seemed to contain so many things, making her heart tremble.
The more she tried to forget and fall asleep quickly, the clearer it became. Arabella's palms were sweating. She shivered with shock and fear. God, what was she thinking? He liked men.
No matter how confused she got, she knew there could never be anything with a man who could never like women. She didn't want to fall into another torturous relationship.
Even if she looked for someone in the future, she hoped to find someone considerate, warm, with mutual respect and support—not a man who could never put his heart with her. She'd had enough of that lesson with Cassidy.
All the heat in Arabella's body cooled down. She'd been so confused just now. Alexander's gentleness was just his personality—this gentleness wasn't specifically for her. How could she be so foolish?
Thinking this way, Arabella gradually fell asleep.
Alexander turned over, propping his head up on his side to look at the woman on the bed. She was lying on her side with her back to him, the thin blanket covering her curvaceous form. Her neck and shoulders were exposed, adding endless allure to the boundless night.
A dark glint flashed in Alexander's eyes, his lower abdomen instantly tightening. He sighed softly and forced himself to look away. He seemed to have overestimated his willpower. Sleeping in the same room every day from now on would truly be a huge challenge.
Meanwhile, outside the complex, Anthony finished his third cigarette and finally felt the overwhelming hostility in his heart calm down somewhat. He turned and got in his car, quickly driving away.
But he didn't notice that not far behind his car, an ordinary white car had also been parked for a long time.
In the car, Cassidy watched Anthony's figure get into his car and drive away. Her hands were tightly clenched together, her nails almost digging into her palms. Her lips trembled as tears fell uncontrollably. She bit her teeth hard, her heart full of resentment and unwillingness.
In the afternoon, Anthony had asked her to stay with Molly, but after Molly's surgery, he never came back. When she called, no one answered. She really wanted to patch things up with him, so she personally made dinner and brought it to his company, but no one was there.
When she asked Leo, he was evasive, which made her suspicious. She knew Arabella lived in this complex—she'd seen all the information Anthony had gathered before. On a whim, she'd driven here. Before coming, she'd thought she was being too paranoid. No matter what, Anthony wouldn't go back to his ex—a woman he'd already gotten tired of and thrown away, was he really that pathetic?
But seeing him call Arabella down with her own eyes, then standing there for so long after Arabella left, she knew—he really was that pathetic!
She'd spent the whole afternoon looking for him, putting her heart into making him dinner, hoping to improve their relationship, but he came to find his ex-wife instead!
Tony, how could you do this to me!
Cassidy's fingers were white from gripping so hard, her teeth nearly shattering. What was so good about that bitch Arabella? Why? She'd clearly won!
She wouldn't give up, absolutely not. She'd use any means necessary to defend her marriage. Anyone who dared to interfere would die!
Cassidy glared hatefully toward the complex, her face cold as she prepared to start the car and leave. Just then, several cars suddenly shot out from nearby with screeching brakes, then stopped around her.
Black-clad men got out of the cars. The leader carried a hammer and walked straight to her car, raising the hammer to smash her windshield.
It all happened so fast. Cassidy screamed as she watched them shatter the glass, reach in to unlock the car, then open the door and drag her out.
She was terrified. "Who are you? What do you want? Money? I'll give you money—however much you want!"
The men ignored her, grabbing her and shoving her toward a van.
Cassidy struggled desperately. "Do you know who I am? You can't afford to mess with my husband! If you want money, I can give you lots and lots..."
But no one listened. She was pushed into the van, then had something stuffed in her mouth and a black bag pulled over her head.
Cassidy struggled uselessly, unable to make a sound, her hands and feet bound. In this moment, despair filled her heart. They... weren't after money... So what should she do... Who wanted to harm her? Being taken away like this, would she even survive?
Arabella slept very soundly in the second half of the night. Because she needed to take Becky to school, she'd set her alarm for six in the morning and got up early to prepare. After helping Becky check everything she needed to bring to school, Alexander had finished making breakfast. Seeing her come out, he smiled slightly, his voice low. "Go wake Becky up."
His smile was gentle. Arabella remembered her nearly out-of-control heartbeat from last night, her ears heating up. They really did seem like a family of three.
She'd never experienced having the man of the house participate in family matters before. When she was with Anthony, his male chauvinism was severe—he only provided money and didn't care about anything else. Even when she was bullied, Anthony would just try to smooth things over. All the big and small household matters were entirely her responsibility.
After her marriage of convenience with Alexander, she was actually experiencing what it felt like to be taken care of. What she'd thought would be a purely transactional formal marriage was turning out to be quite fulfilling.
Even with Becky's situation, she'd never dared hope he'd help or get involved, but he'd quietly made breakfast for three and was even going to drive them to school.
For the umpteenth time, Arabella sighed—gay men really were so considerate. And for the umpteenth time, she wondered—Alexander must be a bottom, right? Being so gentle and considerate, he must be, right?
Realizing her thoughts had wandered again, Arabella quickly went to wake Becky, only to find she was already up and had even washed up.
She'd changed into the brand-new athletic wear Arabella had just bought her, standing there full of energy but also somewhat nervous.
Arabella felt both relieved and touched. This child was too well-behaved, afraid of causing her any trouble, which was heartbreaking.
"Ms. Bourbon." Becky looked at her expectantly. "Are we leaving now?"
Arabella smiled and patted her head. "It's still early. Let's eat breakfast first."
After a pause, she added casually, "You can call me Ms. Bourbon from now on."
Becky looked at her in surprise. "Really? I can call you Ms. Bourbon?"
Since being brought here, Becky had carefully maintained boundaries, afraid of displeasing Ms. Bourbon, never even daring to hope she'd be accepted.
But now, Ms. Bourbon was accepting her. She was letting her call her Ms. Bourbon.
Becky suppressed her excitement and nodded vigorously. "Ms. Bourbon, I'll definitely study hard!"
Arabella smiled and nodded.
After breakfast, Alexander drove them to school. He parked at the school entrance and got out with them.
Arabella was startled and quickly said, "You can handle your own business. Driving us here already delayed your work—I can manage on my own."
Alexander smiled gently, his voice warm but insistent. "It's the child's first day of school. It's better if we both go—the teachers won't look down on her. And the paperwork is complicated—it'll be more convenient if I come with you."
Arabella opened her mouth, momentarily at a loss for words. She mainly hadn't expected him to be so... considerate. He'd even thought about Becky's situation at school—basically making sure classmates and teachers knew she had both parents, worried she'd be treated differently if she went in alone as a single mom's kid.
And accompanying her with the paperwork... No matter how complicated the procedures were, she was a grown woman who'd weathered all kinds of storms these past few years. This little thing wouldn't stump her. But he was still willing to come with her, worried she might face some inconvenience alone.
A warm feeling surged through her heart, flowing to her limbs, and then she tried hard not to overthink it.
He'd always been this kind and gentle. He liked men, he treated her like a sister, so he was considerate and took care of her. She absolutely couldn't read more into it.
He treats you like a friend, and you want to sleep with him? That absolutely could not happen to her—it would be too ridiculous.
Arabella quietly took two deep breaths, then regained her composure and smiled at Alexander without refusing again. "Sounds good."
Mainly for Becky's sake.
Having both of them go in together made Becky happy too. She bounced along, finally looking like a proper kid.
But they'd only walked a few steps when a somewhat hesitant voice came from behind them. "...Ms. Bourbon?"
Hearing this voice, Arabella froze and turned around. Sure enough, it was Leo, Anthony's assistant.
Beside him was Molly with a backpack. Molly's injuries still hadn't healed—she had bandages on her head. Yesterday she'd looked so severely hurt, yet today she was already being sent to school?
And it was such a coincidence that she was at the same school as Becky? Hadn't Molly been at that elite private school, classmates with Naomi?
Suspicion rose in Arabella's heart as she looked at Leo warily. "What are you doing here?"