Chapter 213 Sacrifice Friendship to Protect Her
Frank's body trembled.
Not just because he'd understood Alexander's warning, but because he knew that this time, he couldn't protect Tiffany. It was confirmed that Tiffany had done this. Whatever her reasons, Alex wouldn't let it go. Alex was dead serious.
He and Blake, though they called themselves Alex's friends, understood the gulf between them. Alex chose to treat them as friends, and so they could be his friends. But if anyone crossed him, he wouldn't show the slightest mercy.
Tiffany's body began shaking too.
She never expected things to fall apart so fast, leaving her no time to prepare. From analyzing the glass contents to pulling up surveillance footage—that Flora woman beside Alexander was terrifying.
She knew that if she didn't come up with something fast, she might not make it through today. Her future with Frank would be over... no, she might not have any future at all.
At that thought, Tiffany dropped to her knees with a thud, crying. "Alex, I'm sorry. I know I was wrong. I just... I just liked you. I wanted to be with you. I was jealous seeing how gentle and caring you were with Arabella. I lost my head for a moment. I'll never do it again. I'll... I'll live a good life with Frank. Please, just let me go this once!"
Next to her, Frank felt like he’d been hit by lightning.
"You... you like Alex?"
Tiffany's heart sank. Now she'd really pushed herself into a corner—she'd offended Alexander and pushed Frank away. Her plan had completely backfired.
But there was no other option now. She could only explain it this way. She understood Frank's feelings for her clearly enough—he was just a lapdog, easy to manipulate. But with Alexander, she needed to be at her absolute sharpest.
"Frank, I'm sorry. I just lost my head for a moment..."
Tiffany sobbed, tears streaming down her face in a way that tore at Frank's heart.
This was the first woman he'd ever loved. His whole heart had fallen for her. He'd thought that with his cousin dead, he finally had a chance. He never imagined that she liked Alex. And out of jealousy, she'd nearly hurt Arabella!
How could he bear this?
Tiffany cried and begged him to forgive her. A sense of helplessness washed over him. What could he do? He still loved her. He couldn't just abandon her.
"Alex," Frank's voice was hoarse, his gaze pleading as he looked at Alexander. "Tiffany lost her head for a moment... please, let her go this once. I promise there won't be a next time."
Saying those words took everything he had.
No one knew better than he did what Tiffany would face if he didn't stand up for her. She might not even survive. Similarly, he knew exactly what he would lose by protecting her.
Alexander's blue eyes were cold as he looked at Frank steadily.
"Do you know what you're saying?"
Frank's face was ashen. He said with difficulty, "I know, Alex. I cherish our friendship, but I can't just watch Tiffany... I'm sorry, Alex!"
Alexander stared at him for a long time before finally speaking. "Take her and get out. Don't let me see either of you again."
Frank let out a heavy breath of relief and said gratefully, "Thank you, Alex. I'll take her away right now. I won't let her come back to Majestic City."
He helped Tiffany to her feet, his eyes slightly red as they walked out.
Starting today, he'd completely lost his friends.
The Murphy family's current success was entirely thanks to Alex's support. But starting today, that support would be gone. He'd have to figure out the family's future on his own.
In the private room, Blake was still trying to process everything. He looked at Alexander hesitantly. "Alex, are you really going to... with Frank..."
Alexander looked at the open beer bottle beside him—the one Frank had toasted with earlier.
After a long moment, he said in a low voice, "He chose to protect Tiffany. This was inevitable."
Frank had traded their decade-long brotherhood for Tiffany's safety. But that was all he'd get. From now on, they were strangers. Alexander wouldn't spare them another glance.
Blake sighed. "Frank's such a fool. How could that kind of woman be worth giving up everything for..."
Flora scoffed from the side. "You're the naive one. That Tiffany has serious skills. If I didn't know Frank had known her for so long, I'd think she came out of one of those training programs."
"Training programs?" Blake looked surprised. "What training programs? How old is she? Is she still in school?"
"I call you stupid and you still won't admit it. You really are stupid. You don't know about those socialite training classes?" Flora looked at him with disdain. "Every gesture, every move—it’s all trained to seduce men. They learn how to hook men, how to manipulate rich guys, how to package themselves as socialites and make men obsessed with them."
Blake was shocked. "There's really such a thing? That's terrifying—targeting rich men like that."
Flora shrugged noncommittally. "Those women should really target you. With your IQ, you'd be wrapped around their finger in seconds."
She turned to Alexander. "But someone like Alex—I doubt anyone but Arabella could land him. Plenty of women have thrown themselves at him before, and I've never seen him smile at any of them." She sighed dramatically. "Not even me."
She looked like her charms had nowhere to land, which made Blake laugh in scorn. "Someone like you? You annoy me just looking at you. Manipulate Alex? Dream on."
"Are you fucking asking for it?" Flora was furious. She grabbed a beer bottle from the table and hurled it at him. It shattered on the floor with a crash. "Disrespect me one more time and I'll slash your face!"
Blake narrowly dodged the bottle, looking pained. "Alex, look at her! I just stated some facts and she's acting like a rabid cat. How am I supposed to talk to her?"
Flora warned him, "Shut your stupid mouth!"
Alexander ignored them both and headed toward the café area.
The sofa was too comfortable—Arabella had curled up and fallen asleep. She was covered with the blanket he'd brought earlier, her whole body tucked inside. She looked tiny and delicate, her soft hair scattered across her shoulders, a few strands tangled around her pert nose and pink lips.
Just looking at her made Alexander's chest feel full, stirring a protective urge to pull her into his arms.
Arabella wasn't sleeping soundly. Sensing someone watching her, she slowly opened her eyes and found herself staring into a pair of deeply affectionate blue ones.
Her heartbeat quickened involuntarily. She quickly tried to shake off the feeling, pushing aside the blanket as she sat up. "All done?"
Before she could finish speaking, Alexander cupped the back of her head and kissed her.
Arabella let out a soft gasp. Half‑asleep, her mind couldn’t hold onto reason. The moment Alexander came close, she lost all sense of reason and let him take what he wanted.
After a long while, the kiss ended. They were both breathing hard. Arabella's clothes were disheveled, Alexander's hand having slipped under her top to cup her breast.
Realizing their position, Arabella pulled back slightly, swatting at his hand. "Take it out!"
"Sorry," Alexander withdrew his hand, his expression sincere. "I got carried away. Couldn't control myself."
Since he'd apologized, Arabella couldn't very well make a fuss. Her face red, she made a small sound of acknowledgment.
Alexander extended his hand toward her. "Come on, let's get up. Time to go home."
Arabella didn't dare take his hand. She pushed herself up from the sofa on her own. Just as she was about to put on her shoes, Alexander had already crouched down and was slipping them onto her feet.
Arabella felt flustered. With his status, how could he be doing this for her...
Alexander explained naturally, "Didn't the doctor say? Since you're pregnant, you should avoid bending over as much as possible."
Arabella was confused. "Did the doctor say that?"
She didn't remember it at all.
Alexander's expression remained calm. "Yes, he did."
Well then. Arabella figured her pregnancy must be making her forgetful—she couldn't even remember what the doctor had said.
Alexander took her hand and led her out, asking as they walked, "Did you hear any noise from in there earlier?"
Arabella shook her head. "The soundproofing's pretty good."
Alexander smiled. "Good."
When they emerged, Flora was still roughhousing with Blake. Arabella watched Flora with interest. Flora was beautiful and dressed provocatively, but underneath she was surprisingly playful. Right now her dress was hiked up to her thighs as she grappled with Blake without a care in the world.
Blake saw Alexander and Arabella emerge. "Alex, Arabella, you guys leaving?"
Alexander nodded. "You two keep playing."
Flora flipped off Blake in one smooth motion, unhurriedly pulling her dress back down from her thighs. She fixed her hair, instantly returning to her seductive, glamorous appearance.
She smiled artfully at Alexander. "Alex, I'd like to say a few words to Arabella."
Alexander gave her a warning look.
Flora said, "Don't you trust me? I really just want to talk to Arabella for a moment. Nothing else."
Arabella looked at her, already having a vague idea of what Flora wanted to say. She didn't refuse. "Okay."
Alexander shot Flora another warning glance, then pointed to the billiards room nearby. "Talk in there."
The billiards room had no door. Flora didn't mind. She walked inside, and once Arabella followed, she spoke. "Alex really loves you."
Her expression seemed normal, but her voice carried a hint of bitterness.
Arabella said, "I know."
Flora smiled slightly. "Promise me you'll love him well."
Arabella froze, looking at her in surprise.
She'd thought Flora had pulled her aside to give her a hard time. She never expected to hear something like that.
Flora's lips curved. "You look shocked. Did you think I was going to make things difficult for you?"
Seeing Arabella's expression, Flora knew she'd guessed right. She said helplessly, "Don't look at me through colored lenses, okay? When I love a man, I only want him to be happy. If he's happy, I'm at peace."