Chapter 214 The Wolf is Lonely
Flora's eyes held a trace of melancholy. "Alex is like a lone wolf, always coming and going alone. He has so many friends, but he's always kept people at arm's length. Not one of us has ever gotten close to his heart. A lone wolf might be strong, but that doesn't mean he's not lonely."
Arabella started to explain. "I..."
Her heart ached for Alexander's loneliness, but she couldn't give him the peace he needed.
Flora cut her off with a smile. "You're the only woman who's ever gotten close to Alex. All these years, I've tried countless times to become like you, but I always failed. Arabella, you're special to him. I'm not jealous of you—I envy you. And I'm grateful you're by his side. Otherwise, he'd be completely alone." She patted Arabella's shoulder. "That's all I wanted to say. You're the woman Alex has chosen, so I'll use everything I have to protect you and make sure no one hurts you. Alright, let's go back out."
She turned away, hiding the loneliness and heartbreak in her eyes.
Arabella stood there in a daze. She realized she didn't really understand Alexander, at least not as well as Flora did.
The Alexander she knew was gentle, considerate, easygoing—someone who got along with everyone. She'd always thought that was who he was.
But Flora's words today made her see another layer.
If he was really that easy to get along with, how could he have fought his way out of the FitzRoy family single-handedly to become the head of the FitzRoy Group? How could he control the entire company without any threats to his position?
Flora was right, he was powerful. And powerful people were always lonely.
He just hid his other side from her so he could match the kind of person she liked.
Like today, when he'd wanted to deal with Tiffany but didn't want her to come along because he was afraid his methods would scare her.
Arabella's heart filled with guilt. She claimed to care about him, but she didn't even know what he was really like inside.
She enjoyed all his kindness while backing away from it at the same time. How was that any different from being a user?
He'd done so much for her, and she wouldn't even take one small step forward...
Arabella wrestled with herself. She felt she should accept Alexander, stand shoulder to shoulder with him, so his future wouldn't be so lonely.
But when she thought about all the difficulties she'd face after accepting him, she shrank back again. An internal battle raged within her.
This wasn't a choice she could make casually. She took a deep breath, pushing those thoughts aside, and walked out of the billiards room.
Alexander looked at her with concern. "Arabella, are you okay?"
Flora had come out earlier, and he'd thought Arabella was being bullied. He'd tried to rush in to find her, but Flora had stopped him.
Flora wouldn't tell him what was going on, and she mysteriously said to let Arabella stay inside quietly for a bit—maybe she'd figure things out.
He'd waited outside with a mixture of hope and worry.
Finally she'd emerged, but the confusion on her face made him anxious.
Arabella looked at his face, then gave him the first genuine smile she'd worn in a long time. "I'm fine."
That smile struck straight to Alexander's heart. He felt unusually nervous, trying hard not to show it. "Then let's go home."
"Okay."
When Alexander slipped his arm around her waist, she didn't pull away.
Alexander's heart soared. He vaguely sensed that something had changed, though he couldn't say what. Finally, he shot Flora an appreciative look.
He didn't know what Flora had said to Arabella, but she'd done well. He'd make sure she got a bonus.
Flora watched their retreating figures thoughtfully, her eyes tinged with loss.
Blake, being his usual annoying self, said, "What's wrong? Does it hurt to see Alex and Arabella so lovey-dovey? Why don't you go find someone to date? Don't they say the best way to forget an old love is to find a new one?"
Flora looked away, but not before shooting him a disdainful glance. "Bullshit. When you truly love someone, how could you bear to forget them? Even if he's with someone else, I wouldn't choose to forget."
Blake rubbed his nose. "I don't know if I should call you devoted or stubborn."
"It's called loyalty! What the hell would you know?"
Meanwhile, at Frank's downtown villa, Tiffany grabbed onto Frank's clothes. "Frank, I really didn't mean to. Please don't go, okay? Don't be angry with me."
Frank's eyes showed internal struggle. "Tiffany, just rest here. No one will bother you. I... I need some time to think."
Tiffany didn't dare let him leave. She held on tightly. "I know you're upset that I like Alex. But I don't really like him—I just admired him a bit. I don't know what I was thinking, doing something like that. Frank, I know I was wrong. I'll be good to you from now on."
Frank sighed softly and pushed her hands away. "Tiffany, my head's a mess right now. I'll come see you in a couple days."
With that, he closed the door and left.
Tiffany angrily kicked the door.
After a moment, she calmed herself and pulled out her phone to make a call.
"It failed. I nearly got caught in it myself. Don't contact me anymore—I can't help you again. You have no idea how terrifying that man is!"
Whatever the person on the other end said made her expression change. "You wouldn't dare!"
After a pause, she said through gritted teeth, "I'll help you one more time. But how and when we act is my call. After this, we're even!"
She hung up furiously and hurled her phone to the ground.
At Rachel's small apartment, Karl knelt before her, groveling. "Rachel, I really love you. You're the only person I've ever loved in my life. Even though I was with Faye for years, she forced me into it. She threatened to kill herself if I didn't stay with her—I had no choice. I thought that was how my life would be, but then I met you."
He said with emotion, "Rachel, I know you're upset. But I've completely cut things off with her now. I promise I'll be devoted to you from now on. Please give me another chance?"
Rachel ignored him, lazily instructing the male model behind her, "Use more pressure. My shoulders are killing me."
The model quickly increased the pressure slightly, asking ingratiatingly, "My lady, is this better?"
Rachel hummed with satisfaction. "Not bad."
Karl glared jealously at the model. He thought about what he'd heard today and said through clenched teeth, "Rachel, aren't you at odds with that Arabella woman? Faye's close with her. If I play my cards right, I can get Faye to listen to me. We could plant something on Arabella's computer, and boom—she'd be disgraced."
Rachel looked at him like he was an idiot. "You've got guts. Do you know who's backing her? The person behind her—even the Watson family doesn't dare cross them. If you mess with her, you won't even know how you died!"
Did she enjoy watching Arabella strut around? She wanted that bitch dead more than anyone. But did she dare?
The old Arabella could be pushed around however Rachel wanted, but now? She didn't dare lay a finger on her.
Rachel looked at Karl with distaste. "Is that what you came here to tell me? Now that you're done, you can get lost."
Karl panicked. "Rachel, I'm sincere about you..."
Now that Faye had dumped him, if Rachel didn't want him either, all his schemes would be for nothing!
Rachel scoffed. "Stop pretending to be devoted. You think I haven't seen men before? The moment you showed up, I could tell what you were after. Being a sugar baby isn't shameful, but you have to follow the rules. Coming after me when you had a girlfriend? You broke my rules. Do I look like I'm short on money or men? What do I need you for? I was just playing around because you were new and interesting. If you keep being shameless about it, things will get ugly. I suggest you walk out of here on your own. Don't make me use other methods."
Karl's face went ashen. He knew Rachel was ruthless.
He didn't dare push further. "Then I'm leaving."
He walked out of the apartment and the door slammed shut behind him with a bang. Karl looked at the beautiful, upscale complex and understood clearly that all his calculations had come to nothing.
He was done for. He'd schemed so carefully around Faye for so long. Everything her family had was about to be his—but then he'd stupidly run into Rachel and gotten the idea to find a sugar mama.
Rich people had too many tricks. They were nothing like Faye who was so simple and easy to fool.
Now he'd lost on both fronts. And he'd lost his job too.
Just then, the hospital called. "Hello, the patient in bed 02's fees are due. We need payment."
Karl snarled viciously, "No money! I'm not paying! Throw him out for all I care. Whoever wants to deal with him can deal with him, whether he lives or dies has nothing to do with me!"
Then he hung up.
Still unwilling to give up, he decided to try his luck at Faye's place one more time. Maybe there was still a chance?
Karl took the bus and soon arrived at Faye's residential complex. It was already past midnight. He looked up at Faye's floor—the lights were still on.
Full of hope, he went up and knocked on the door. From inside came Faye's father's voice. "Who is it?"
Karl didn't dare answer. He was afraid that if he spoke, they'd recognize his voice and refuse to open the door.
Faye's father, Harrison, heard no response. He walked to the door and looked through the peephole. Immediately his face flushed with rage. "You have the nerve to show up here? Get lost!"
After hurting his daughter so completely, the bastard still had the guts to come knocking!