Chapter 218 Feelings Should Be Mutual
Arabella couldn't look at him. She couldn't face those deep blue eyes—the affection in them made it hard to say no..
She couldn't remember what she said. All she remembered was Alexander eventually pulling her back upstairs by the hand.
Becky and Daniel were having the time of their lives. When Arabella told her it was time to go home, Becky complained, "Ms. Bourbon, I'm not done playing yet! Can't we just stay the night?"
Arabella didn't know whether to laugh or cry. The old house was tiny—just three small bedrooms. Daniel had one, Percy and Marilyn had another, and only Arabella's old room was empty.
There was no way to fit herself, Alexander, and Becky.
In the end, since Becky absolutely refused to leave, they let her stay on her own. They agreed to pick her up the next day, and Arabella headed home with Alexander.
In the car, Alexander focused on driving. He'd said he didn't care about her answer, but of course he cared. He'd been anxious ever since his confession.
Arabella was anxious too. She felt like she couldn't bear the weight of Alexander's deep, profound love. Her heart was buzzing with anticipation.
She was afraid of making an irrational decision on impulse, so she decided to give herself a couple days to cool off. When she calmed down, she'd think it through.
So on the drive home, neither of them spoke. There was a bit of awkwardness in the silence.
They arrived home quickly. Two awkward people sharing one space—every movement felt stiff and uncomfortable. Arabella fled to the bedroom and lay down, touching her still-flat stomach.
She couldn't feel any sign of the two little lives growing inside. It still felt unreal.
When Alexander came to bed, she rolled over to face him. "You should pause whatever you've been doing. If I say yes to you, it'll be because I'm ready to face everything alongside you—not because you threw everything away to come to me. A good relationship should be mutual. Both people moving toward each other."
She paused, then added, "If I ultimately don't have the courage to stand beside you, that's my problem. And if something else happens down the road, I'll run away again. How many times are you going to sacrifice everything for me?"
Alexander hadn't expected her to bring this up right before bed. He propped himself up on one elbow. "I'm willing to."
"But I'm not." Arabella shook her head. "You're such an exceptional person. I can't be selfish and hold you back. Even if we can't be together, I want you to soar like an eagle—not clip your own wings."
Alexander's lips curved slightly. "So what you're saying is, you won't let me come to you. I have to wait until you figure it out on your own?"
Arabella nodded.
Alexander shook his head. "Not happening."
Arabella blinked. "Why not?"
Alexander smiled. "Because I love you."
Because I love you, I won't watch you struggle through this alone. I have to come to you.
Because I love you, I'll give up everything to choose you. If loving you means losing everything, I won't hesitate.
He didn't say those words out loud, but Arabella heard them anyway.
She knew there was no convincing him. She gave up and closed her mouth.
Alexander pressed a gentle kiss to her forehead. "Either way, I'm happy you're thinking of me. Like you said, not accepting it is my problem. But you—you're good."
He turned off the bedside lamp. Arabella rolled over, turning her back to him, staring at the wall in the darkness. Tears slipped down her cheeks without permission.
What was so special about her that made him willing to risk everything to be with her?
She was just an ordinary woman who'd barely managed to escape one failed marriage and keep going.
Average looks, average body. She was nothing special. Why did she deserve such a good man?
How could she possibly be worthy?
---
At Frank's apartment.
Tiffany poured two glasses of red wine, handing one to Frank. He accepted it with a complicated expression. "You didn't have to go to the trouble. I'll just sit for a minute and go."
Tiffany smiled demurely and sat beside him, turning to look at the fireworks outside the window. "Stay a while. It's pretty boring being here alone."
Frank glanced at her instinctively.
"I don't have any family," Tiffany said. "That house I used to live in—going back just meant a cold, empty room. I hated it there. Your place is cold too, but at least there are traces of you here. It feels a little warmer."
She pulled the blanket tighter around herself.
That's when Frank finally noticed the apartment had no heat on. He was only wearing a dress shirt, and his hands were freezing. He'd just been too lost in his own memories to realize.
He stood, frowning. "Why isn't the heat on?"
He walked to the thermostat, about to turn it on, when Tiffany said softly, "Don't. I don't like the heat."
Frank turned to look at her, confused. "Why not?"
Tiffany smiled bitterly, staring at the wine in her hand as she swirled it slowly. "Because I feel like someone like me doesn't deserve any warmth. It's like punishing myself. I always thought that if my body stayed cold, maybe God would reward me with something warm. A companion. Or someone to hold me."
Frank's frown deepened as he studied her.
Tiffany drained her glass in one gulp, then smiled. "Don't look at me like that. I'm lonely. Is that so hard to understand? All these years, only those two years with you made me feel alive. Like I was actually human."
"Maybe someone like me is meant to be alone forever."
Frank suddenly strode over to her. After a long silence, he asked, "Then why did you marry my cousin?"
This was the demon that haunted him. Even after his cousin died, even after he'd gotten her back, he still couldn't let it go.
He needed an explanation.
After she dumped him, he'd groveled like a dog, thrown away every shred of dignity. And she hadn't even looked back.
He needed to know why.
If she felt lonely, if being with him made her feel human, if she wanted companionship and someone to hold her—why did she leave?
He could have given her all of that!
Tears filled Tiffany's eyes. Her voice trembled with grievance. "Because your cousin said if I didn't marry him, he'd kill you."
"What?" Frank thought he'd misheard.
Tiffany smiled bitterly. "You were just a doctor, doing what you loved in your field. How would you know what people like them are capable of? He saw you as a threat. A liability. So he wanted you dead."
Frank's breathing quickened, his voice shaking. "You left without looking back because of that?"
"What other reason could there be?" Tiffany said. "I loved you so much. I wanted you safe. I wanted to protect you in the only way I could."
A tear slid down her cheek. She laughed at herself. "Actually, the moment I agreed to marry your cousin, I knew what I'd be facing for the rest of my life... But no matter what, thank you for giving me a warm chapter in my life. Frank, after tonight, I'm leaving."
Frank's pupils constricted. "Where are you going?"
Tiffany shook her head, trying to sound carefree. "I don't know. But the world's a big place. There has to be somewhere I can belong. Who knows—if I'm lucky, maybe I'll find someone like you again. Start over."
"Impossible!" Frank grabbed her shoulders. "I won't allow it!"
He pulled Tiffany into his arms, holding her so tightly it was like he wanted to fuse her into his bones. "I won't allow it! Tiffany, you can't leave! I love you! I won't accept this!"
Tiffany choked back a sob. "But I'm not worthy of you anymore. I was your cousin's wife. I got confused and thought I had feelings for Alex. I did those things to Arabella and caused problems between you and Alex... Frank, I don't deserve your kindness. I can't stay and keep hurting you."
Frank's voice rang out, firm and resolute. "I don't care. I only want you. I'll explain everything to Alex. If he really can't accept it, then I guess our brotherhood ends here. But Tiffany, you're the woman I love. I won't give you up. Watching you walk away would be worse than killing me!"
Tiffany's eyes filled with emotion as she looked at him. "Do you really mean that? You can really still accept me? Frank, don't lie to me. I can't take another disappointment."
Frank held her tighter, shaking his head. His eyes reddened. "I would never lie to you. I love you, Tiffany. I love you!"
He kissed her passionately. Tiffany instinctively wrapped her arms around his neck, leaning back as they tumbled onto the sofa together.
As Frank lost himself in the moment, Tiffany's hazy expression gradually cleared.
Good. She hadn't lost after all.
---
The Tucker family estate.
The family had just finished their gathering, and Sawyer was heading to his car to drive back to his own place. Just as he reached the vehicle, he spotted two figures.
He froze, hardly believing his eyes. "You're..."
Caroline and Bentley saw him and lit up with recognition. "I'm Cassidy's mother, and this is her brother. You're Sawyer, right? Cassie used to talk about you all the time. It's such a shame that now she's..."
Caroline's voice broke, her eyes reddening. Bentley lowered his head, tears falling.
Sawyer's expression turned sorrowful in an instant.
Cassidy had been executed two weeks ago. She hadn't even made it to the new year.
After Cassidy's arrest, he'd exhausted every resource trying to save her.
But that kind of thing was easier said than done. She'd committed premeditated murder. Even the Tucker family couldn't extract a convicted killer from the justice system.
His father and grandfather had taken turns lecturing him, warning him not to do anything that violated the family code.
He'd been in agony, unable to understand why Cassidy had killed someone. He didn't believe a single one of the accusations thrown at her.
But he'd been powerless. All he could do was watch the woman he loved walk toward her doom.
Even though two weeks had passed, he still hadn't moved on. Tonight's dinner had been miserable—the family kept trying to set him up with people, but he had zero interest.
And now, at this moment, Cassidy's mother and brother had shown up at his door.