Chapter 172 See Molly One Last Time
Cassidy walked to the entryway and pulled a circular button from a drawer. She turned back to Anthony with a smile, madness flickering in her eyes, then pressed it.
Anthony had been watching her closely, expecting her to leverage Molly's safety for more money. He was actually surprised she'd been so cooperative.
Then everything went to hell.
A sharp CRACK came from the window, followed by Molly's scream—growing fainter, fainter, until finally: THUD.
Anthony's face went rigid. He lunged for the window. The rope that had held Molly was severed, swinging empty.
Molly was gone.
He leaned out as far as he dared. Thirty-eight floors was too high to see clearly—just a small dark shape below, surrounded by spreading red.
People were already gathering on the ground. Some trying to help, others calling ambulances, someone running for building management...
Fury exploded through Anthony. He whirled around to confront Cassidy—
The door slammed shut.
She'd run.
Anthony grabbed a throw pillow and hurled it across the room, rage consuming him. He'd been played. Cassidy had actually outmaneuvered him.
Without hesitation, he dialed 911. "There's been a murder on the 38th floor. I witnessed it myself!"
He hung up, spitting a curse. He'd underestimated Cassidy. The woman had lost her mind completely.
To spite him, she'd killed Molly and left him at the scene. If he hadn't reacted fast, if he'd chased after her instead of calling the police immediately, they would've pegged him as a fleeing murderer.
Even with the call made, clearing his name would be a nightmare.
She'd trapped him completely.
But there was no way in hell he'd let Cassidy get away with this. He immediately called Leo, ordering him to pull surveillance footage and track her escape route.
That bitch dared to scheme against him? He'd make sure she had nowhere to bury her bones. He'd grind her to dust.
---
Arabella knew none of this. After changing course and heading straight to work, she'd thrown herself into her tasks with single-minded focus.
At lunch, she called Daisy and arranged to meet after work.
When quitting time came, Arabella didn't stay late. She walked out, hailed a cab, and headed to their meeting spot.
She'd been looking rough these past couple days from poor sleep, but somehow Daisy looked even worse.
"Did you pull an all-nighter?" Arabella stared at Daisy's dark circles in amazement.
Like Arabella, Daisy was over twenty-five and religious about early bedtimes—no late nights.
She couldn't remember the last time she'd seen Daisy with panda eyes.
Daisy glanced at her, looking slightly guilty as she averted her gaze. "You don't look so hot yourself."
Arabella smiled wryly. "I have a reason."
"So do I," Daisy said with a shrug.
Once they sat down, Arabella started pulling things from her bag.
THUNK. A bank card.
THUNK. Another bank card.
THUNK. A third bank card.
THUNK. A property deed.
THUNK. An unconditional gift agreement.
Daisy's eyes followed each item, her jaw dropping. "You said on the phone you had something to tell me. You bought a house? Is money tight? I've got some savings—want me to spot you?"
She knew Arabella had come into some money after the divorce. Knew she'd been planning to buy her own place. Houses in Majestic City were expensive. What seemed like a lot might not stretch far enough.
Plus, Arabella clearly looked stressed. Daisy assumed she needed to borrow money.
Instead, Arabella said quietly, "No. Alex's family gave me a house."
Daisy's eyes went huge.
"Since it was purchased after marriage, only my name's on the deed. Plus there's a notarized gift agreement. Literally gifted to me alone."
Daisy glanced at the three bank cards. "And those?"
"Met his family yesterday. His uncle gave sixty thousand. His second uncle gave three hundred eighty thousand. His dad gave six million."
Daisy's jaw practically hit the floor.
She'd already scanned the property deed. A new development in downtown Majestic City.
Given local real estate prices, this place had to be worth at least twenty million dollars.
She couldn't help marveling, "You netted almost thirty million in one night? Damn, girl!"
Arabella looked miserable. "Don't tease me. I'm freaking out about taking this much money from people. Sure, we're married on paper, but our actual relationship is... complicated. Plus I can't even have kids. I can't accept rewards for nothing."
Daisy paused. "His family..."
She'd assumed that if Alexander had his family giving money and property, he must have revealed his true identity. But from Arabella's tone, she still didn't know?
Arabella thought she was asking about Alexander's background. "His dad runs an appraisal studio. His uncles own small businesses. But their money is their money. I'm basically a stranger—keeping this much makes me nervous."
Daisy blinked. "You two... after that one time, have you... you know?"
Arabella's cheeks flushed, tension radiating through her. Despite her embarrassment, she didn't hide anything from her best friend. "No."
Daisy's eyes went wide in disbelief. "Girl! It's been a week! Either he's got incredible self-control or something's seriously wrong with him."
Arabella laughed helplessly. "It's not like that. That first time was an accident. It's not just him—I'm all mixed up too. We can't just casually..."
She couldn't finish, just sighed. "Seriously, I've been a mess. Getting the cards and the house yesterday made it worse."
Daisy looked exasperated. "You already slept together—what's there to agonize about? I don't understand what game you two are playing. You like him, he likes you, you've broken down the last barrier between you. Isn't that a good thing?"
Arabella shot her a look. "You think I don't know whether he likes me? He used to like men. Even now, he swings both ways. If I want him to love me, I need to have something special to offer. But look at me—I'm completely ordinary. Why would he like me? Because I'm divorced? Because I'm older?"
"Anthony really did a number on you," Daisy said irritably. "Destroyed all your confidence. Listen: you're a Majestic City native, an only child, pretty, smart, good at your job, sweet personality. Kind and warm but not a pushover. If you hadn't wasted those years on that asshole, you'd be living the dream."
Arabella knew what she was trying to do, but she couldn't believe it. She knew herself. She genuinely didn't think she had anything special.
"Forget it. That's not why I asked you out." Arabella pushed the cards and deed forward. "Should I really keep these?"
She obviously didn't want to. Taking this much from people without earning it went against everything she'd been taught.
"What's Mr. FitzRoy's take?" Daisy asked.
Arabella thought back to last night, recounting faithfully. "He said the house and money are mine because I'm his wife, not compensation for having kids. He told me to keep them without worry. And he said..." She faltered slightly. "He wants to spend his life with me."
Her voice grew smaller on that last part. She quickly added, "But probably not in that way. He just wants to fulfill his marital responsibilities."
Daisy couldn't take it anymore. She rolled her eyes hard.
She'd thought the problem was on Alexander's side. Turned out her best friend was a complete blockhead too.
The man had spelled it out, given her a house and millions of dollars, and Arabella couldn't even entertain the possibility that his feelings were real?
God. Having a brain was useful. Too bad her best friend didn't seem to have one. She'd been all heart with Anthony—total romance brain. Now with Alexander, no brain at all.
Though Daisy understood. Anyone who'd given everything and ended up with that kind of marriage would have some trauma. Arabella was scared, afraid to hope. It made sense.
But damn, Daisy was frustrated for both of them.
"I think when Alexander said that, he meant he genuinely wants to build a life with you. Whether the money stays with you or him doesn't really matter." Daisy wracked her brain for the right words. "Besides, you're not some schemer. If things don't work out later, you can just give it back."
Internally, Daisy was screaming: Alexander, I'm doing my best here! I'm literally selling my soul to help lock down Arabella for you—you better not screw this up!
Arabella still hesitated, though honestly she didn't have many options. She'd tried returning the cards and deed to Alexander yesterday. He wouldn't take them.
Today's meeting with Daisy was supposedly to get advice, but when the giver himself refused to take things back, what could anyone suggest?
At least Daisy's words eased her anxiety somewhat. Yeah, she'd keep them for now. If something happened later, she could return everything untouched.
Daisy's phone rang. She glanced at it, hit decline, and flipped it face-down.
Arabella asked curiously, "Who keeps calling? That's like the fourth time."
Every time it rang, Daisy declined. Smooth, practiced, clearly annoyed. Obviously not someone she wanted to talk to.
Noting the panda eyes, Arabella made a bold guess. "Do you have a situation?"
She'd never seen Daisy this bothered by anyone. Even her unreliable, cheating father only got declined twice before she'd pick up out of obligation.
This caller had been rejected four or five times already.
Daisy's eyes flashed. "What situation? You know me—I'm focused on acting and getting famous. Men are completely off the table!"
Something felt off about that response. Arabella was about to press when her own phone rang. Unknown number.
She answered. "Hello?"
"Arabella. It's me." Anthony's exhausted voice came through. "Molly's dead. Do you want to come to the hospital to see her one last time?"
Arabella's spine went rigid. She froze completely, breathing going ragged. "Molly... is dead? Cassidy actually... killed Molly? I called you! How could you let her..."
She couldn't finish, emotions churning.
When Cassidy had called this morning threatening to kill Molly, Arabella had thought it was just that—a threat. It was a human life. No matter how crazy Cassidy was, she wouldn't actually commit murder, right?
Murder meant prison!
That's why she'd hesitated halfway there, called Anthony, then put the whole thing out of her mind.
She never imagined that in just half a day, Molly would actually... die.
Anthony hadn't stopped it.
"Cassidy lost it. She threw Molly out a window herself. Thirty-eighth floor. Died on impact." Anthony's voice carried guilt. "I'm sorry, Arabella. I couldn't stop her in time."
Arabella said nothing, her hand trembling around the phone. All she could think was: If she'd known this would happen... if she'd gone herself, would things be different?
Anthony's voice came again. "Arabella, I know you and Molly had years of history. This news must be devastating. But if you have time, I hope you'll come say goodbye. Tonight... they're sending her to be cremated."
Arabella stopped listening. Expression blank, she lowered the phone and ended the call.
Daisy saw her eyes reddening. "What's wrong?"
"Molly's dead." Arabella's voice shook. "Cassidy called this morning saying she'd kill Molly if I didn't come. I thought she was bluffing. I called Anthony, then dropped it. But she actually... she really..."
Daisy immediately grabbed her hands. "This is not your fault. This is Anthony's mess from two-timing. This is Cassidy having a breakdown. Don't you dare blame yourself."
She knew her friend too well. Knew exactly how Arabella's mind worked.
Arabella did feel guilty. The news of Molly's death felt like a boulder dropped on her chest, crushing her.
If Cassidy hadn't called this morning, maybe this wouldn't hurt so much. But she had received that call. She'd known Cassidy planned to hurt Molly. And she'd done nothing...
"I..." Arabella closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and stood. "I need to go to the hospital."
Daisy immediately stood too. "I'm coming with you."
Gratitude flooded through Arabella. She nodded. "Okay."
On the way, Arabella sent Alexander a WhatsApp explaining about Molly and that she was heading to the hospital with Daisy.
She just didn't want him worrying when she didn't come home. Figured she should let him know. She didn't expect him to call the second the message went through.
"Which hospital?" His deep voice came through before she could even speak.
No matter the situation, his voice always had this steadying quality. Arabella took a breath and gave him the address.
Alexander seemed to consider for a moment. "I've got something to finish up here. I'll meet you there in half an hour."
"No, you don't have to," Arabella protested quickly. "Daisy's with me. You handle your work..."
"It's fine. I've got time." Alexander's gentle tone left no room for argument. "Wait for me. I'll be there."