Chapter 123 Attempt No 2
Humming to himself, William was working in the lounge at midnight, looking forward to her next trick.
Liyah was into a deep slumber, confirming she won’t be interrupted today.
Arabella decided on a different approach for Attempt Number Two: the Devoted Wife.
She walked to their personal bar and mixed a whiskey and soda, making it exactly the way she knew he liked it.
Two ice cubes, a specific brand of soda, and a heavy pour.
“Here. Just the way you like it,”
She presented the glass to him with both hands, her expression earnest and worried as she sat on his lap, curling into his arm.
He took the glass and placed it aside, engrossed on his file.
“Am I not distracting now?” She asked in his ears, feeling his shiver, moving her fingers across his veins, leading to his chest.
“You are,” He sighed, taking a sip of the drink, not lifting his eyes, “But will that make you get up and leave?”
For a moment, a tiny spark of hope ignited in her chest.
“No,” She giggled, poking his cheek but holding her wrist with a stern look, he darted his eyes towards her, wiping her amusement.
“Don't you see how tiring this is?” William asked, trying to sound weary, frowning.
She blinked innocently, “What?”
“This performance of the dutiful, loving wife. Isn’t that shameful?” He asked strictly, sinking her heart.
Her excitement faded, lips ended up quivering due to being scolded for her sincere efforts.
“What is wrong with this? What did I do wrong?”
Holding his neck to support herself on his lap, her face inclined with his, making a disappointed face, praying he won’t burst at her.
He growled, “You only want to play this role when Luke and Peach’s happiness reminds you of what we don’t have.”
Rolling his eyes, he pushed her off from him, pricking a tear in her eyes when her effort ended in failure. Curling her hand in a powerless fist, her eyes narrowed in desperation when he continued.
“I am exhausted, Arabella.” He rubbed his temples, his exhaustion evident, “You are making me exhausted,”
“William-” She tried to call him in a broken tone, closing their gap.
“Exhausted by your relentless attempts to pretend we are something we are not.” He hissed, pointing his finger at her to stay right there and not make another attempt to seduce him.
Making an almost crying face when he refused her advances, a tear fell on her cheek, losing her posture.
“What is wrong in desiring something that should be good for us? Am I not allowed to make decisions for us?”
“No.”
His eyes averted briefly, wiping her tears with his thumb as he finished his drink in one go.
“I decide, I make the decisions,” He enunciated coldly in the end. Dismissing the talk.
Her mouth opened to justify but soon she noticed something strange. His knuckles were covering his mouth, his voice was shaking, like he was controlling himself.
… And a smirk.
Before she could confirm her thoughts, he flicked her forehead hard, dragging her out of her thoughts.
“Ow!”
“And that-” William chuckled, the dark clouds vanishing from his face to reveal a triumphant, wicked grin.
“-Was attempt number Two. Fail. You really need to work on your emotional resilience, Darling.”
Her mouth was left hanging, consuming a few moments to comprehend the scenario and asked in a screech-like voice.
“You… you were acting?”
“I should get the award of the best manipulator, shouldn’t I?” He ran a hand through his hair, looking insufferably proud of himself.
“I almost had myself convinced.”
“I….”
Her gloom converted into wrath. She grabbed the empty whiskey glass and hurled it. William let out a very un-masculine gasp and ducked just in time.
“I HATE YOU, ASSHOLE!”
“Hey, it could have hit me!” He gasped, covering his head with steady retreating steps to avoid being punched or assaulted.
“Do you want to go to our honeymoon or my funeral?”
He tried to crack a joke to balance the thick air but she stood up on the couch, trying to find something to throw at him.
“Out of my sight before I throw another one!”
“Okay, okay! I am going!”
William didn't wait for a second projectile. He bolted toward the steps to their room, laughing all the way that enhanced her wrath to a higher level.
Arabella stood on the cushions, chest heaving, clutching a decorative pillow like a grenade. He had crushed her spirit, mocked her efforts, and made her cry- all for a joke.
“You…” She panted, “You are still laughing asshole!” And she sprinted after him with fumes emitting from her.
“I am sorry, Darling, I am sorry!” William gasped.
Failing to jump out of the way when she threw the cushions right at his face, causing him to lose his balance and fall on the ground.
Still managing to scurry away, William and Arabella paced around the hall when she targeted him with her slippers next.
"You are so dead, William!"
“What is-”
"Dead and single!" She yelled.
Her voice echoed in the dead silent hall and threw her slipper which William dodged by ducking and it flew across the hall, landing on a certain old-aged woman.
The laughter died. The silence in the room became heavy. With embarrassed wide eyes, they both exchanged glances.
Liyah stood with a hanging jaw.
The disgrace from the slipper shut her down in order to comprehend her surroundings and when she did, her rage burst uncontrollably.
“HAVE YOU BOTH LOST YOUR MINDS AT THIS HOUR!?”
They both flinched. She took a predatory step forward, her eyes fixed on the whiskey glass shattered near the wall.
"Auntie, it was just-" William started.
"SILENCE!" she shrieked, pointing a trembling finger at the door.
"You will clean this mess with your bare hands! Do you understand!?”
“Y-Yes, Ma’am,”
They whispered in unison, nodding frantically like obedient kids when she turned away and slammed the doors of her room shut.
Arabella and William stared at the empty doorway for five full seconds. Arabella was blinking to regain her senses.
"I think," She whispered, a faint, trembling smile coming, "I actually knocked the evil out of her for a second."
“Knocked? I think I saw the devil reviving for a second,”
"Shut up," Arabella hissed, though she was struggling not to laugh.
"Pick up my mop, jester. You are the one cleaning the floor. I am going to bed." She ordered.
His mouth gaped, "What? Alone? It was a joint crime,"
"It was your performance, not mine, Mr. Manipulator,"
She closed the bedroom door, leaning against it as her heart finally slowed down. She had failed again, but she felt a strange, electric buzz in her veins.
William was playing a dangerous game, but he had forgotten one thing- her determination was unbreakable.
"Attempt Number Three," She whispered to the empty room, her eyes gleaming with a dark, playful promise.
"Is going to be a masterpiece."