Chapter 351 She Is the Only One He Has Ever Had

Chapter 351 She Is the Only One He Has Ever Had

Everyone saw Chloe's silence and understood - she wasn't going to get involved.

If Chloe wouldn't step in, what were their chances of walking out of here unscathed?

Unless they actually agreed to Alexander's conditions.

No one had expected that bringing Chloe along to pressure Alexander would end up backfiring on them.

Now they weren't even hoping to get more during the property division - they'd be satisfied just to get out in one piece.

As long as they could keep their current assets.

If word got out that they were getting two million dollars a month in allowance from their nephew, how could they ever show their faces again?

In the entire private room, there was nothing but the sound of breathing.

Until Iris looked at Arabella and called out, "Arabella."

Arabella had never seen anything like this. She'd been holding her breath, scared out of her wits. She thought she was just an accessory on Alexander's arm today, never expecting Iris to suddenly turn to her.

It made her heart skip a beat.

But she remembered she was Mrs. FitzRoy in public. No matter how limited her experience, she couldn't embarrass Alex.

So her expression didn't change. She smiled politely, "Yes?"

Iris was secretly alarmed. She'd thought Arabella would be the weakest point of entry, but hadn't expected her to be so composed.

Still, Arabella was the only person in this room who might make Alexander change his mind.

Iris's face showed a bitter smile. She said, "Arabella, Alexander has misunderstood us, but you must know best - we didn't do those things. We're family. Alexander wants to push us to the edge of the family. Forget about how outsiders will laugh at the FitzRoy family - just think about Grandma. At her age, seeing us tearing each other apart, how can she live out her remaining years in peace?"

Arabella didn't understand all the stakes involved. Alexander hadn't discussed these matters with her before. As a woman who grew up in an ordinary family, she couldn't see through these things right now.

But she understood one thing - Alex wouldn't do this for no reason. Since he'd made this decision, as his wife, she should stand with him.

Because she trusted him.

What's more, if what Alex said was true, Iris had instructed Cherry to do something that nearly harmed her child.

There was no way she could help Iris.

Iris' current friendliness and weakness were only because she was the loser. If their roles were reversed, Iris definitely wouldn't leave her any way out.

So Arabella still said politely, "This is Alex's decision. I support him."

Rather than stay neutral, Arabella openly stood on the opposite side from them.

Alexander's lips curved slightly upward. "Neil, Robert, I'm giving you one hour to think it over. Freedom or assets - your choice."

With that, he stood up, took Arabella's hand, and said gently, "I'll take you and Grandma home first."

Arabella nodded. Alexander looked at Chloe again, "Grandma, let's go."

Chloe sat there without moving. Alexander just waited quietly. Arabella didn't know if this counted as another form of power play, until three minutes later, Chloe finally stood up.

Neil and Magnolia, Robert and Serena, Craven and Iris - all of them showed expressions of panic.

"Mom!"

"Grandma!"

Chloe sighed and slowly looked around at everyone in the room. She said slowly, "I'm old. Your affairs - I can't manage them, and I don't want to anymore. Neil, Robert, you thought Alex was a cat, but he's a tiger. If you want to control him, you have to pay the price."

With that, she turned and walked out.

The people in the room looked at each other.

Alexander led Arabella out of the private room. After just a few steps, Arabella heard the sound of things being smashed inside, and someone angrily shouting, "This is too much!"

Arabella paused, instinctively looking up at Alexander, but saw his expression was normal, showing no sign of anything unusual.

She hesitated, then still held his hand.

Alexander seemed very happy and squeezed her hand back.

Chloe walked slowly ahead. Even when getting in the car, she didn't look at them once.

Arabella asked quietly, "Alex, is Grandma angry?"

She didn't even get in Alexander's car, but sat in Roy's car instead.

Alexander smiled and reassured her, "It's fine. Grandma understands what's at stake, so it's not a big problem."

So Chloe really was angry.

Arabella felt a bit anxious. Thinking that Alexander had gotten into this situation with his uncles because of her, and had made Chloe unhappy, she felt uneasy.

"Alex..."

Alexander saw right away what she was thinking. He smiled and said, "This isn't about you. I'm just using this as an excuse. Something this big - I wouldn't make this decision just for you. Grandma understands that. She won't blame you."

Arabella felt sorry for him. "In a family like this, you must be so tired?"

He hadn't even grown up in the family - he came back as an adult to take power.

That path must have been even harder.

Family affection was always mixed with interests. Even Chloe, who loved him most, had to weigh the pros and cons.

She suddenly remembered something from long ago, when she'd rejected Alexander, and what he'd said.

"Arabella, I don't want to be the 'con' you weigh and then give up."

Was it because he'd been weighed and abandoned since childhood that he was so persistent about the love he'd decided on, never letting go once he'd grasped it?

Alexander held her hand, smiling casually, "I'm used to it."

Arabella hugged him with heartache, saying softly, "From now on, you have me, you have the baby. We'll always be with you. In this world, there will always be people who love you wholeheartedly, who won't let you suffer because of their interests."

Alexander's heart shook. He looked down at her deeply, then held her tightly in his arms.

She always thought she was ordinary, with nothing worth his love. But how could she know that in this world, only she loved him wholeheartedly?

In his youth, she'd given him the most complete trust and help - the only wholehearted friendship he'd ever received in his life.

From then on, he could never forget.

Having received such friendship, how could he ever let go?

If there was one person in this world he could trust without reservation, invest all his love in, it was only her. He didn't have to worry about getting hurt.

Though Arabella didn't know what he was thinking right now, she felt his suddenly heavy emotions and hugged him tighter in response.

Soon the car stopped in front of their villa. Another car was already parked at the entrance. Roy stood by the door, holding the back door open, sweating nervously, saying something to Chloe.

Apparently making no progress, when Roy saw Alexander and Arabella return, he immediately breathed a sigh of relief. He hurried over and said awkwardly, "Mr. FitzRoy, Lady FitzRoy won't go in. She says she wants to go back to her own shabby house - she can't afford to live in your place."

Alexander's lips curved. So she was throwing a tantrum now.

He took Arabella's hand and walked over, looking at Chloe sitting unmoved in the car. He said meaningfully, "Arabella is over three months pregnant. She needs someone to take care of her long-term. I can't count on my mother, and I'm worried about the housekeepers making mistakes. We need someone in the house to oversee things. If you're not willing, Grandma, I'll just have to take Arabella to work with me every day."

Hearing this, Chloe couldn't take it anymore. She glared at him, "Nonsense! Arabella is pregnant - why are you dragging her around? Your work hours are all over the place - are you going to make Arabella suffer with you? If anything happens to the baby, I'll beat you to death!"

Alexander looked at her with a smile, "So are you coming in or not?"

Chloe's expression froze. She sat up straight again, her face cold. "I don't dare go in. You don't even respect your uncles - I'm afraid once I go in, I'll never get out again!"

Alexander's expression became serious. "Grandma, if you don't want to come in, that's fine. But they've been crossing my line for more than just a day or two. It's not like I haven't given them chances. There's no room for negotiation on this matter. I understand if you want to stand up for them, but if you insist I change my mind, I absolutely won't agree."

Chloe was so angry she couldn't speak. "You really are..."

Always leave room for maneuver - was going for the kill a tactic to use on family?

Alexander and Chloe faced off like this, one in the car and one outside, neither willing to back down.

Arabella sighed softly and said to Chloe, "Grandma, Alex isn't heartless. Have you thought that maybe the current situation is already the best outcome for the uncles?"

"If things went as they wished and they got more, they'd be even less content in the future. Getting an inch and wanting a mile feeds greed, and greed makes them want even more. When that happens and the family is fighting to the death, would that make everyone happy?"

On the way back, Alexander had explained the family matters to her and made all the stakes clear, so Arabella was now trying to persuade Chloe from her perspective.

Hearing Arabella's words, Chloe's eyes showed a hint of being moved. "Arabella, I understand what you're saying, but what Alex is doing is too extreme."

"Grandma, two million dollars a month for each of them is enough. They can't stir up trouble, but they won't be struggling either. As long as they stop trying to harm Alex, everyone can live in peace - simple and quiet. Isn't that the best choice?"

Chloe was finally persuaded by Arabella. She reached out her hand, "Arabella, help me up."

Arabella's heart lifted with joy. She quickly stepped forward to help. As Chloe got out of the car, she still glared hard at Alexander.

This boy - if he had even half of Arabella's willingness to soften, would she be this angry?