Chapter 92 Complying
Highly impacted by what happened that night, Arabella was in a daze, questioning her choices now.
Once, just for once, she wanted him to love her properly. To feel his warmth, his love, his affection, she wanted her husband.
Was it too much to ask?
Nonetheless, to feel the outside air, she followed Helena’s offer.
But, after what happened, Arabella no longer wanted to do something extreme.
Helena offered to take Arabella on an outing, spend some pleasant time together- too much to William’s discontent.
“Hah, can’t stop your sister? Can you?” Arabella teased but he held her elbow in a firm grip.
“I don’t know what you two are planning but you can’t do a single thing,” He spoke as calmly as possible.
“And besides, do you not trust my promise?”
“It’s hard to trust you now, William, your list of lies and manipulations is long,”
“So you will do whatever Helena says? Even if it’s wrong?”
She challenged, “Why don’t we find out?”
“Fine then, keep whining, I will see for how long you will,”
Scoffed, released her, taking a seat, he watched her get ready, eyes keenly studying the twinkling expression, curling his hand in a fist as if he was controlling himself.
She saw his discontent and smirked, “Angry?”
“Too much,”
“Too bad, you can’t do anything about it,”
“You think?”
He arched an eyebrow challengingly, wiping Arabella’s victorious expression.
Rolling her eyes, she applied her lipstick, “Whatever,”
He knew this too, his heart was never convinced separating his shadow from her.
He needs her as a possession locked in his room.
She completed his ‘collection’, her disappearance would not only ruin the set he created- it would imprint a hollowness in his soul.
He made incredible efforts to make her his, how could he possibly fathom about freeing her?
Not anymore.
“Take care,” He muttered when Helena came as he bid them goodbye before going back to work as well.
Going out with Helena served as a reprieve from the constant darkness that chained Arabella. It eased the weight which was suffocating her.
Taking a walk in the park, having ice-cream and lunch outside, they were indulging their time together but soon it was time to complete Helena’s suggestion.
“Are you sure about this, Helena?”
“Yes, let's see his limits. Are you an exception or just some ‘thing’ he will punish for not obeying his demands?”
“I am scared, I shouldn’t be... this extreme, don’t you think so?”
Arabella could feel her heart pounding, dreadful of the consequences but if there was one way to grasp her redemption, she had to.
“You want to see or not?” Helena asked sternly.
“I do… but… I-”
Biting the inside of her cheek, she didn’t know why but the idea of ‘ruining’ William sounded unsavory.
Such a thing never crossed her ever.
“I can’t-”
“Do you love him?” ‘When did I stop?’
Arabella didn’t reply. She couldn’t.
Taking a deep breath, gathering her posture, Arabella forced a smile, “I will see what I can do,”
“Good,”
Exchanging a nod, Helena called William, “Hello, William, yeah, I am dropping her at your office, I have some work,”
After informing William, she dropped her at his workplace, the Grayson empire. The ravishing building induced a sense of inferiority in Arabella.
Her mind shut down, she knew William built this place with every inch of his effort, he poured his intense energy into reaching this place.
‘And to shake the pillars of something he built wholeheartedly will be… right?’ She questioned herself.
‘Wouldn’t that be too extreme?’
“Okay, here goes nothing,”
Sighing, she shook her head and walked inside the opulent empire where working had been a dream for many people.
And she entered it as Madam.
“Welcome, Ma’am, I am Jenn, Mr. Grayson informed me about your arrival.”
“Where is William?”
She trailed off, taken aback when William wasn’t here because she expected him to come.
“He is busy in a meeting. You can wait in his cabin. He will be there soon. Please come with me,”
“Where is the meeting room,”
“End of the left corridor on the 37th floor,”
“I see.”
Without questioning, Arabella went with Jenn, entering his majestic cabin.
“Please come in, Mrs. Grayson,”
Her jaw dropped, scanning the eye-catching cabin, no less than a throne room.
“That’s his cabin?”
“Yes,” Jenn giggled, “Since Mr. Grayson reached the top with endless hardwork, he wants to show it as well. Befitting for a king, isn’t it?”
Arabella hummed in agreement but if it was during her madness phase, she would have said- “He is a King,”
… And she realized she even said those words.
Her eyes widened. Considering it romantic, Jenn chuckled.
“If you need anything, dial 000 for reception, okay?”
“Okay, thank you,”
When Jenn was gone, Arabella checked his cabin thoroughly, from the chandelier to the bookshelf with psychological books, the vases with sweet scent of flowers.
Coming closer, looking over the desk, she saw he set her images which she had no idea he clicked as his wallpaper.
Tilting her head, she inspected further, an unknowing smile coming and saw an app was open on the second computer.
Intrigued, when she opened it.
“What the-” Her smile got replaced with a grimace, “That motherfu-”
She greeted the deadly sight where she saw cameras set up in their home. Arabella thought it was everywhere but there were three.
Entrance. Lounge. Kitchen.
Sighing when it wasn’t in the bedroom, she studies their location so she could shatter them under her feet the moment she gets home.
“Tsk, Helena is right,”
Hissing under her breaths, she decided to test him and furiously went to the meeting room.
Although her hands were cold, heart throbbing against her ribcage but gathering her remaining courage, she barged inside the room.
Ready to make a fool of herself if it would worsen his condition or hurt him.
“Supply-chain has-”
“STOP LYING!”
Yelling, she slammed her hands on the table, gaining attention at her unforeseen arrival.
“Hmm?”
Lifting his gaze from the screen, William simply glaring with a warning to not disturb him.
“Stop lying to me and everyone, dammit! I am so done with your acting! With your damn fakeness!"
She continued nonetheless, screaming, loud enough for everyone to hear as they gasped.
“How does it feel to manipulate your brother’s girlfriend and make her marry you!?”
She felt daring and pointed her finger at him contemptuously.
Everyone exchanged glances at the unpredictable news, turning to William who released a long exhale of frustration.
“What? What is she saying?”
“YOU ARE A FUCKING LIAR WHO DOESN’T CARE ABOUT ANYONE BUT HIMSELF! I HATE YOU! YOU ARE THE WORST!”
Punching the table, she screamed, tears glistening but clearing his throat, he rose from his seat.
“Just a second, gentlemen,”
Walking towards her, she could feel a coldness bursting but upholding her façade she glared and opened her mouth to scream again.
“YOU-”
But, before her mind could apprehend or rebel, he smoothly snaked his hand around her waist, yanking her body into his, raking his fingers on her locked and pulled her in a kiss!