Chapter 186 His Sincerity
Seeing Alexander's expression darken,Rachel felt triumph flash through her eyes.
She knew—the more powerful the man, the more possessive he was about women. Someone from Alexander's elite background would never tolerate a wife who was calculating and fickle.
Maybe he was swept up in the moment and married a divorced woman like Arabella, but he definitely wouldn't forgive her after learning about her manipulative nature.
Rachel felt certain she could plant seeds of doubt in Alexander's mind.
Did Arabella really think she could play dirty behind my back and ruin my engagement? Did she still desire the life of being a rich man's wife? What delusion.
But the scene she'd imagined—Alexander loosing his temper and interrogating Arabella—never happened. He didn't even look at her, just told the driver to drive on.
Watching the window slowly rise, Rachel panicked, pounding on the glass. "Mr. FitzRoy, don't you believe what I'm saying? I can guarantee—even her marriage to you was calculated! She schemed to trap you!"
The window stopped halfway up.
Rachel's heart leaped. She was about to embellish her lies about Arabella when Alexander's icy gaze landed on her. His lips curved slightly, his tone dripping with sarcasm. "You think I'd mind her plotting against me? No. I wish she would scheme against me."
If only that were true; Arabella didn't stoop to underhanded tactics.
After learning his identity, her first instinct had been to run.
Alexander was already frustrated about that. Now with Rachel showing up to stir trouble, his mood was even worse. Impatience crept into his voice. "Ms. Watson, if you don't have anything better to do, maybe go help your brother deal with his company problems. I think he really needs you right now."
The car forcefully shook off Rachel's hand and drove away.
Rachel stood frozen in disbelief.
What did Alexander just say? Arabella being with him wasn't her doing—it was what he desperately wanted. How was that possible for someone of his status?
And that last comment—it was practically an admission that the Watson family's recent string of disasters was his doing.
RacheRachel was in a turmoil of emotions—jealous of Arabella, furious at Alexander's arrogance, and worried about the family company. Arabella, whom they'd looked down on, was living the dream now. By comparison, being dumped by the Green family made Rachel look like a complete joke.
She clenched her fists tight, biting her lower lip.
She wasn't willing to accept this. She really, truly wasn't! Why did Arabella get everything?
In the car, Alexander looked at Arabella, his voice gentle. "If you think she was too much just now, I can—"
Before he could finish, Arabella shook her head. "No need."
She'd been silent since Rachel started her performance. Even with Rachel badmouthing her to her face, she hadn't said a word in her own defense.
Of course she knew what Alexander was offering.
She'd suffered too many injustice in the past. Back then,being angry meant she still cared. Now? She didn't care anymore. Anthony, Rachel—let them do whatever they wanted.
Rachel's awkward performance today didn't even interest her enough to engage with. People who believed in her would believe her. Those who didn't—no amount of explaining would help.
But somehow, she felt oddly certain Alexander wouldn't be swayed by Rachel's manipulation.
Was it trust in his character, or... had she fallen back into the trap of being blinded by love?
Arabella couldn't tell.
Alexander wasn't surprised by her answer.
If she'd agreed resentfully, he'd actually have been more worried.
Not caring meant she'd truly let it go.
Besides, her personality was naturally gentle. She wasn't capable of doing anything too extreme.
That was fine. He could do it for her.
Thinking about Rachel's malicious intentions just now made him feel disgusted.
Not wanting to continue that topic, he changed direction. "How come you're not worried about buying something for Grandma today?"
Usually when he took her to see his grandmother, she'd anxiously prepare gifts. The better Chloe treated her, the more carefully she prepared.
Today she hadn't mentioned it once.
Arabella was honest in her explanation. "Before, I didn't know about your status and position. I arrogantly used my own standards to buy gifts. Looking back now, those things weren't what people of your class would eat or use. Not knowing before was one thing, but now that I do, giving ordinary things would be disrespectful to her."
She sighed before continuing. "But honestly, the things your class uses—I can't afford them, I don't have the right shopping channels, and I don't have connections I trust. So I just didn't prepare anything."
When she'd been with Anthony, she'd let him take her shopping for gifts to win Jennifer's favor.
Every time, Anthony had taken her—either to some obscure collector's shop or famous antique stores and jewelry chains.
Anthony had familiar salespeople and friends at those places, so he didn't worry about getting ripped off.
He'd helped her buy all kinds of jewelry and collectibles worth hundreds of thousands of dollars.
All charged to her card.
Those shopping trips had completely shocked Arabella's worldview.
Now, facing this situation again, after much deliberation, she'd chosen passive resistance.
Not only did she have no one to guide her and couldn't find appropriate gifts, but even if she could think of something, spending one or two hundred thousand on some inconspicuous little present was beyond what she could handle.
Besides, the FitzRoy family was so much more powerful than the Watsons. What Jennifer might appreciate, Chloe might not even notice.
Alexander raised an eyebrow, surprised by her passive avoidance. It also made him a bit anxious—this impenetrable attitude of hers looked a lot like someone who'd given up completely.
Arabella's next words confirmed his guess.
She folded her hands in her lap, staring at them as she spoke after much internal debate. "I'll return everything I received from your family when I get home. Alex, I consider you a friend, so I'm being honest—I don't want to face those difficult situations again. Two people with incompatible backgrounds can't make it to the end. The gap in values will wear away all the feelings.
"I know using Chloe as an excuse this time was your way of buying time, but Chloe's been very kind to me, and I don't want to hurt her. So I agreed to visit her with you, but this is the last time. After this, you explain to her yourself. I hope you'll cooperate with a quick, dignified divorce. That way we won't have wasted... our friendship."
Saying this felt like a knife through her heart. But some things needed to be said when they needed to be said, dealt with when they needed dealing with. She didn't want to struggle and complain after getting in too deep.
Hearing these words, the anxiety Alexander had been carrying suddenly settled into certainty.
That feeling was probably—the heart he'd been holding in suspense had finally given up hope. Now he could be sure. She really did mind his background. She really was running away.
But he'd never been someone who gave up easily. Especially not when it came to someone he'd thought about and loved for over a decade.
He'd schemed and maneuvered to trick her to his side, trick her into marriage, all for the day when the truth came out and he'd have enough leverage to keep her. In other words, for today.
Thank god for divorce cooling-off periods. As long as he could stall, this marriage would never end.
"If I told you I'd love you forever right now, you probably wouldn't believe me," Alexander said, looking at the woman beside him. "But I can sign a prenuptial agreement with you."
Hearing those four words—prenuptial agreement—Arabella's heart trembled slightly.
Those words didn't bring back good memories for her.
Once, to be with Anthony, she'd signed a prenuptial agreement per Jennifer's demands. Everything of Anthony's had nothing to do with her. She'd even accepted that during the marriage, Anthony's annual income would be listed as one dollar.
She'd done it for love. Dove in headfirst.
And now... Alexander wanted her to sign this too.
Sure enough, rich people all used the same risk-avoidance tactics.
She was immensely grateful she hadn't gotten in too deep. This time, she had the courage and clarity to refuse.
"I don't—" she started, but Alexander cut her off.
He looked at her, his gaze sincere. "The prenup would state that I'm transferring all my assets to your name—including companies I fully control, investment properties, cash, stocks, dividends, everything.
"During the marriage, if I cheat—including emotional affairs—if I'm abusive, including emotional abuse, any situation that's unfavorable to you—if we get to the point of divorce, I leave with nothing.
"They say controlling a man's money is like controlling his life, right? If even that can't give you security, I can also hand over the companies for you to manage while I step back."
Arabella couldn't help but stare wide-eyed. Her mouth opened, but she didn't know what to say.
The words coming out of his mouth were clearly English, but they were so absurd she couldn't comprehend them.
The prenup he was describing—he was transferring all his assets to her name? If they divorced someday, he'd leave with nothing?
How could that possibly be real?
Perhaps the doubt in Arabella's eyes was too obvious. Alexander laughed quietly, looking at her with genuine sincerity. "I'm just showing you my commitment, my willingness to give you everything. That's my sincerity. Actually, right after we got married, I already made some changes to my assets. Arabella, your current net worth..."
He paused, seeming to calculate. "Conservatively, it's already over five billion dollars."
Arabella jumped, instinctively shifting backward, frowning. "Are you messing with me?"
All her savings added up to less than two hundred thousand. If she had five billion, wouldn't she know it?
"Most of it's real estate. I set up a separate card in your name for rental income. There's also stocks and dividends—that income is long-term too, kept on another card. I'll get you both cards later."
Arabella still couldn't process this information. Were rich people really this reckless?
This didn't match her understanding of wealthy people at all.
She opened her mouth, asking with difficulty, "Why would you do this?"
Alexander clasped his hands together, leaning forward slightly. After a few seconds of silence, he said, "Even though I'm confident about my feelings for you and confident I'll protect you, life is unpredictable. If something happens to me someday, I'm afraid you'll end up in a difficult situation like before. I don't want you to ever be desperate again with nowhere to turn."
Arabella stared at him blankly, forgetting how to react for a moment.
In this instant, she truly felt the sincerity of Alexander's love for her.
Both wealthy men—Anthony had been afraid she'd take his assets, guarding against her before and during marriage. Alexander, after marriage, had transferred part of his fortune to her name simply because he worried that if something happened to him and he couldn't protect her anymore, he wanted her to have something to rely on.
Arabella's emotions were complicated. She was touched, happy, wanted to cry.
But she was also clear-headed.
"Thank you for everything you've done for me." Her voice was soft. "You never mentioned any of this before. I had no idea you'd done so much."
Alexander paused. Just a portion of his assets—did that count as doing so much for her?
But he didn't explain, only saying, "Can we talk about it now? All your concerns about being with me—we can figure out solutions together, see if we can work them out."
"Transfer those assets back to your name." Arabella smiled bitterly. "You know I don't like using money to prove everything. Money, for me—as long as I have enough, I'm fine. I have the ability to earn money. An ordinary life is enough to satisfy me."
She didn't answer Alexander's question. Just as he was about to press further, the car slowly came to a stop.
They'd arrived at Chloe's residential complex.
Getting out of the car, Arabella looked at the run-down building and surroundings, still finding them familiar. Alexander's earlier explanation had planted a seed of doubt. "This is where you lived as a kid?"
According to his story, they were childhood friends. Though she'd forgotten most of it, if they'd lived this close as children, her home should have been nearby too.
But from her earliest memories, they'd always lived in her father's work-assigned housing, several blocks away from here.
Alexander looked at her deeply and nodded. "Yeah. We lived here before."
Arabella asked, confused, "But my family was always several blocks away. I don't remember ever moving."
Alexander's hands clenched at his sides. After a moment, he said, "Maybe you did move but forgot."
Arabella didn't notice anything off about him. She decided to ask her father about it later.
The two walked into the shabby building one after the other, soon reaching the door.
Alexander knocked. Before long, Chloe came to open it, automatically ignoring her grandson as always, looking straight at Arabella with delight. "Arabella, come in quick! Look at the treasure I saved for you!"
She pulled Arabella inside, not even sparing a glance for Alexander standing at the door.
Alexander was long used to this. He shook his head helplessly and followed them in, closing the door behind him.