Chapter 175 Broken Peace
Luke and Peach reunited in the studies and the feeling of their togetherness was felt through the very air of the mansion.
William and Arabella sat on the stairs. A comfortable silence between them, registering the power of the moment.
"He did it," William whispered, his voice thick with a strange mix of relief and pride.
"I spent so long trying to protect him, thinking he was too fragile for this world. But look at him. He’s grown further than I ever expected."
“You must be so proud.” She hummed in agreement, her eyes devotionally locked on him.
“Hmm. I am.” He nodded, a beautiful smile adorning his lips, “But there is also another person I am more proud of.”
She blinked, confused. "Who?"
“You.”
He turned his gaze to Arabella, his expression crumbling into a vulnerable yet being completely safe in her shadows. He reached out, his thumb tracing the line of her jaw.
"You... you’re still here. After my obsession, the door, the threats... you didn't run, you didn’t leave me once…” He paused, eyes lowering with hesitation followed by a dejection and cracked voice.
“I don't deserve this, Bella. I don't deserve a second of your loyalty after what I have put you through."
Arabella didn't look away. She leaned into his touch, her eyes reflecting the glow of the hall lights, softened by the grief she had been carrying all this time.
"Even Luke has finally fallen for his bride," she said softly, her voice a gentle challenge, kissing his palm.
"He stopped fighting the ghost of the past and looked at the woman right in front of him. When will you do the same, William?"
William froze. Her question penetrated his chest and the instant desire to return the comfort arose.
"I told you I will stay. I will do everything for you until my last breath. I will be your shield and your sanctuary.”
Leaning down, she pressed her forehead against shoulder weakly, “When will your heart melt for me, William?”
William looked down for the next few seconds. Eventually, his fingers intertwined with hers, staring into the nothingness. After a devilishly long period, William decided to unshackle his tongue and share his feelings.
“You… you were the first person to notice me.”
He started hesitantly, nervousness filling him as the confession he had kept on the tip of his tongue finally spilling out. The box of his feelings began to open.
“Who saw through my smiles. You knew my likes, my dislikes, you stayed. You are everywhere in my memory, Bella. My biggest supporter.” He whispered desperately, a beautiful smile adorning him when those moments flashed in his mind.
“When did you start feeling this way?” She asked softly, making him look at her, “Because as far as I remember, you told Helana I am your sister-like.”
His jaw dropped, pulling back instantly with the counter, “You were sixteen when Helena asked me that!” Then, let out a huff of laughter, “I didn’t want to go to jail.”
She started realising he was right according to that time. As an adult himself, he couldn’t possibly think about a 16 year old teenager romantically.
Relaxing, he shook his head and placed his hand over her shoulder, pressing her into his chest to share the warmth.
“To me, It all started on your eighteenth birthday. When you cried on my chest, I had never felt this powerful before.”
"You weren't there when I cut the cake," she murmured, poking his chest, the memory still stinging. "It broke my heart."
“I saw that explicitly.” He chuckled huskily, keeping his grip on her firm.
“That is why I clicked that picture and hung it in our room. As the marking of the moment I started to fall for you.”
‘Though it all shattered when you said yes to Luke’ was silently added. Neither of them wanted to break the rhythm of the moment and didn’t mention it.
“How romantic.” Arabella giggled, looking up at the man with an inexplicable amount of adornation shining in her eyes
He raised his brows, “And you?”
“Huh?”
“When did you fall for me?”
She smirked, pressing herself harder into him, “When do you think?”
“Hmm. When I acted nicely when we got married.”
She laughed.
“What? Am I wrong? Come on, Bella, tell me now.” He whined and after tormenting him with the answer, her lips finally parted to tell the truth.
“When I was–”
Earlier That Hour.
Liyah heard about the guards, the taste of defeat turning her insane. The grip she had on them began to fade, her power was losing.
“No.. I won’t let it…”
She reached for the sleek landline on her desk. Her fingers were steady, her heart as cold as a winter grave.
She had one card left to play– the card that would destroy William’s life, his marriage, and his soul. Her only option left.
She dialed a direct line, her voice dropping into a tone of practiced, shivering grief.
"Hello? Central Police Department?"
She paused, a single, fake tear rolling down her cheek as a cruel smile twitched at the corner of her mouth.
"I would like to report a crime. A cold case that has haunted my family for too long."
She leaned back into the shadows, her eyes gleaming with a feral light, uncaring of the consequences.
"I would like to report a murder.” She paused, faking a sobbing.
“The murder of my husband... and I have the evidence to prove that my nephew, William Grayson, was the one who stabbed him."
PRESENTLY,
Come on, Bella, tell me now.”
“When I was–”
Before she could confess, the front door opened, followed by some cops, shattering the mellow feeling of their moment. Luke and Peach also arrived to hear.
They both stood up instantly, Arabella was confused while William took a deep breath ‘This is it’ He thought in utter defeat.
“We apologize for the intrusion but we have an arrest warrant against Mr. William Grayson.” The Officer enunciated, stepping forward, holding a handcuff.
Arabella asked strongly, “Arrest warrant? What for?”
"For the murder of his uncle. Stabbed to death when the suspect was seventeen. He has been a fugitive from this charge ever since."