Hundred and seventy-eight

After Arabella's tears subsided, Sandro guided her to the sofa, offering a cup of water. He watched as she drank slowly, only finishing half the glass instead of the whole cup he expected.

Placing her hands in front of her, she sighed and looked up at him. "Will you stand watching me all day?" she asked.

"I need to know you're not planning anything drastic. I don't know if you have a knife on you," he explained, scanning the room and spotting a knife on the vanity table. He took it, slipping it into his pocket.

"I don't know your next move. Perhaps you want to hang yourself, which would be easier for you since I am barely in this room."

"I tried that, but I couldn't go through with it," Arabella replied.

Sandro scowled, a vein ticking in his jaw. "Why do you make this hard for me?"

"What?" she asked.

"I am trying my best to help you, Arabella, but all I can see right now is..."

"I never asked for your help in the first place!" she snapped, jumping to her feet.

"Would you prefer I watc