Chapter 217 Arabella, I Just Need a Chance
Marilyn really had changed. She was in the kitchen making ravioli by herself. When Arabella tried to step in and help, Marilyn simply waved her away with a warm smile.
"You rest, honey. Your body's different now that you're pregnant—you need to be careful. Go talk to your dad instead. He hasn't seen you in two weeks. He misses you."
In the past, Marilyn would've made Arabella do all the housework. Now she wouldn't even let her help cook.
The sudden change felt almost unreal.
In the living room, Daniel was showing Becky his collection of CDs. When he noticed Arabella lingering nearby, he glanced up casually.
“If Mom doesn’t want you helping, then don’t help. Why are you trying so hard to do chores?”
Arabella shot him a sharp look. "Watch your tone."
Daniel was still cocky as ever. "What's wrong with my tone? You really expect me to suddenly be respectful when you—"
He stopped mid-sentence when Arabella raised an eyebrow and smiled at him meaningfully. Remembering the certain "leverage" she had over him, he rubbed his nose awkwardly and swallowed the rest of his words.
He was trying to show he cared. But saying it directly would be way too embarrassing.
---
Alexander was playing chess with Percy in the living room.
Suddenly, Percy's phone rang. He glanced at the caller ID, and his face went pale. He grabbed the phone and stood. "Alex, excuse me for a minute. I need to take this."
Alexander nodded. "Of course."
Percy braced himself against the sofa and hauled himself up, dragging his still-recovering legs toward the bedroom.
Arabella noticed the strange look on his face and frowned, following behind him. "Dad, who is it? Did you piss someone off?"
"Don't be ridiculous!" Percy snapped, glaring at her. . "Do I look like the type to make enemies?"
"Go away—this is important!"
With that, he shut the bedroom door right in her face.
Arabella stood there, completely puzzled. Why so secretive?
If he hadn't pissed someone off, then what? could he possibly have a mistress or something?
That would be a disaster. Marilyn had only just begun to change for the better. Things were finally improving. If her father was having an affair now, all hell would break loose.
Then another thought crossed her mind. Maybe Marilyn had suddenly become nicer because she suspected something and was trying to win him back?
Arabella's mind spiraled. She shook her head and sighed, giving up on the whole train of thought. Her brain was clearly overthinking things.
Alexander came over and wrapped an arm around her waist, guiding her back to the sofa. "Your dad's a grown man. He's allowed to have privacy. Let it go."
Honestly, Alexander had also noticed Percy’s strange reaction to the call. But as the younger generation, he understood the need for boundaries.
After a pause, something occurred to him. "Your dad's not getting scammed, is he?"
Arabella waved that off quickly. "No way. He gave me all his money to hold onto last time."
Her father had said it was for her to have security, but Arabella had left it untouched—basically just safeguarding it for him.
Alexander relaxed. "Then it's fine. Here, drink some water."
---
Inside the bedroom, Percy sat on the edge of the bed, staring at the phone still buzzing in his hand. After a long moment of hesitation, he answered.
"We agreed, didn't we? No calls unless it's absolutely necessary. So what's going on now?"
The voice on the other end sounded terrified. "Percy, I wouldn't call if it wasn't serious. Someone's investigating me. I'm terrified. We've been hiding for so many years—do you think they're finally closing in on us?"
Percy's face went white. "Investigating you? Why would they investigate you now? It's been years. This should all be in the past. Why would they suddenly come after you?"
The other person sighed heavily. "I don't know, Percy. But if they find me, you won't be safe either. I was thinking—maybe I could come stay with you for a few days? That way we can buy ourselves more time."
Percy hesitated. "If you come here and they track you down, what then? I've got my daughter and her husband here. A whole family. If they really find us..."
He couldn't finish the sentence. Just thinking about the consequences made him shudder.
The voice on the phone sighed again. "Percy, I'm not trying to make this hard on you. I'm thinking about the bigger picture here. If I don't hide, they'll find me. And if they do, I don't know if I can hold up under interrogation. What if I crack and give you up? They've probably already traced all my known connections. If I hide with someone I'm obviously associated with, they'll find me eventually. But you and I—we have no visible connection. Even if they investigate, they won't trace me to you. Don't you see?"
Percy thought about it. That... actually made sense.
"When were you thinking of coming? And how long would you need to stay?"
"I was thinking the day after tomorrow. Just until things cool down. You think I want to trouble you like this?"
Percy closed his eyes briefly.
“All right.”
Because really, what choice did he have? They were in this together. If the other person went down, Percy would go down too.
He hung up and sat on the bed, gripping his phone. His hands trembled slightly.
After a moment, his gaze drifted to a photo frame on the desk. A family of three, all smiling sweetly.
He stayed in the bedroom for a few more minutes, trying to calm himself before his daughter got suspicious. Then he walked back out.
---
Dinner was already being served.
Marilyn had placed the first batch of ravioli on the table. Eight plates were arranged neatly. In the midst of juggling everything, she handed Percy some tomato sauce, cream sauce, and other condiments. "Here. Tomato sauce, cream sauce—set these out."
Alexander had lived in Majestic City for a few years, but he wasn't originally from here—he'd grown up abroad. Still, seeing those familiar sauces sauces stirred a sense of nostalgia, and his appetite immediately kicked in.
During the meal, he finished an entire plate of ravioli.
Marilyn beamed, watching him eat. "Have more, have more!"
Alexander dabbed his mouth with a napkin and smiled. "You're an excellent cook."
Marilyn beamed with pride and promptly added more ravioli to his plate.
Becky, as the only little kid in the house, was naturally pampered. She ate until her belly was round like a small drum, then ran off to play with Daniel's CDs again.
Arabella also ate way too much. By the time the television broadcast began at eight o’clock, she was already feeling stuffed.
Alexander glanced at her and smiled. "The good performances don't start for a while. Want to go for a walk?"
Arabella nodded immediately. She had eaten so much she was uncomfortable sitting still. She desperately needed to digest.
Alexander fetched her coat and helped her into it, then wrapped a fluffy scarf around her neck. Still not satisfied, he rummaged through her old room until he found a fuzzy hat.
When he finished, Arabella looked like a walking ball of fluff.
She sighed helplessly. "I'm about to turn thirty-one. This is way too cutesy."
Alexander looked at her little face peeking out from all that fuzz and thought she looked absolutely adorable. He corrected her solemnly. "Thirty-one is the prime of life!"
Arabella laughed and let him lead her outside.
---
The winter wind outside was sharp and biting. They walked slowly around the courtyard downstairs, but before long the cold began to seep into their bones.
Neon lights flickered across the streets, and brilliant fireworks exploded in the distance, lighting up the night sky.
The view was breathtaking.
But Arabella’s nose had turned ice cold.
She stamped her feet.
“Let’s go back.”
Alexander caught her hand.
Arabella stopped and turned to look at him.
His face was outlined by the glow of neon lights and fireworks behind him. The crackling of firecrackers echoed endlessly in the distance.
He looked at her quietly for a long moment.
Then he spoke.
"I want to spend my life with you. Three meals a day. Two people, four seasons. Growing old together. A lifetime, together."
Arabella's heart lurched. She stumbled back a step. "I..."
Even her breathing felt tight. "We agreed, remember? It's almost been a month. We're supposed to..."
Get divorced.
Why was he saying this now?
She had worked so hard to prepare herself emotionally. Why was he saying this now?
Alexander sighed and pulled her into his arms. Arabella's face pressed against his chest, and her freezing nose suddenly felt warm. She could hear his heartbeat—strong, steady, but racing. Every beat, she knew, was for her.
Tears threatened to spill from her eyes, but she forced them back.
Crying wasn’t good for the baby.
She was just about to say something firm, something final to make him give up for good, but Alexander spoke first.
"Arabella, I know what you're worried about. If I wasn't the FitzRoy family heir—if I didn't have such a complicated background—you wouldn't hesitate. You would say yes."
His voice was clear and resonant, like a cello. "I've thought about it over and over. Maybe the only way you'll accept me is if I let all of that go."
"I've already begun transferring some of my shares,” he continued quietly. “But the FitzRoy family's foundation run deep. I thought I could finish in a month, but it's harder than I expected. I might need a few more months, maybe half a year. But I'm afraid you won't wait that long, so I'm telling you now."
"Arabella, between the two of us, I'll never make you be the one who compromises. Just stay where you are and wait for me. Wait for me to handle everything and come to you. And this time, don't refuse me. Okay?"
Arabella couldn't believe what she was hearing. "You... you're insane."
What had she ever done to deserve a sacrifice like this?
Alexander looked at her and smiled, shaking his head. His eyes were full of tenderness. "It's not just you who hates the complications of a powerful family. I hate it too. I would rather be like my father—able to protect one person wholeheartedly. To love one person completely."
"But the FitzRoy Group was entrusted to me by my grandfather. I can let go of a lot of things, but not the company. Not yet. Because there's no one else in the family capable of taking over." He paused briefly before adding with a soft smile, “But if you don’t mind… once the baby is born, and if they show the talent… I would like to train them to take over one day.”
Arabella's mind was in complete chaos.
Alexander reached out and ruffled her head through the fuzzy hat, smiling. "You don't have to answer me now. Take all the time you need to think it over. I promise I'll never force you to do anything. Just be yourself. Leave everything else to me. All I'm asking for is a chance, Arabella. Just one chance."