Chapter 15

Arabella's POV

I moved away for a bit, I was beginning to get sober a bit, his reaction shocked me

“ Damnit, why was I flaunting myself in front of a man who is my husband's brother?” I said under my breath as I hit my head with my hand.

“ Sorry” I muttered while I stepped back from him a little bit.

“ No need to be, you were drunk, I guess you are a little bit better , let's start heading home, it's getting late already” he said as he got up

My face flushed red in embarrassment,

“ Oh, sure, let's start heading home”. I said.

As I stood up, my head collided with his, our faces inches apart. I felt a rush of embarrassment and tried to quickly apologize, muttering a hasty "Sorry" as I attempted to leave but we bumped into each other again. And again. It was as if we were performing an awkward dance, with clumsy and uncoordinated movements.

Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, he stepped aside, his eyes crinkling at the corners as he smiled wryly trying to hide his embarrassment. "You go first," he said, his voice low . "I think that will be better to avoid bumping into each other."

“Oh, sure yeah” I said, as I left the pub, feeling so embarrassed. He followed suit.

The car drive was silent, I felt the tense silence in the car, thankfully we arrived home, I really never thought I did be glad to finally be home.

“ Are you sure you want to head inside” he asked

Of course, I didn't want to head inside, to face Asher or be reminded of him but it was better than this awkward situation.

“ Yes” I said, my head low, unable to meet his gaze, still feeling a bit tipsy.

He nodded, he got down from the car as he helped me open the door

“ About what happened this night…” he tried saying but I cut him off, I didn't want to be reminded of it.

“ Can we please forget about it, I was drunk and I didn't know what came over me, I am sincerely sorry about that, it was nothing serious?”

“ Oh sure, let's pretend as if you didn't try to kiss me,” he said angrily, as he got into the car and he zoomed off.

I was shocked by his behavior, I didn't know why he was so upset, “oh dammit, can this night get any worse”

I stood at the entrance of the house with teary eyes, I let the tears flow, I wasn't crying because of Asher, I was crying because of the embarrassment I was feeling and the fact that maybe I like Arlo, a love that might never be reciprocated

I walked to the house, I saw Asher's car, it seemed as if he was home and I saw his father's car. I knew this was not going to be nice and right now I don't need any more complications or another drama filled night, I just really wanted to rest.

I saw Miss Thompson at the parlor

“Oh poor dear,” she said when she saw me, offering me a hug, as a consolation.

it seemed as if she knew about what had happened, I trust the internet to feed people with such juicy news.

“Thanks, Miss Thompson '' I said, at least grateful for her hug, this was the only comforting, that had happened this night.

I was interrupted by the chattering of glasses at Asher's office and his father's voice, it seemed as if they were having an intense argument and I really did not care about it right now, my head was banging, I barely could feel anything apart from the banging headache.

“Can you make it stop?” Miss Thompson asked, her voice shaky, it seemed as if she was trying to hold back her tears.

“ Mr Blackhood came home two hours ago, he had been walking waiting for Asher, when Asher arrived it was nothing but banter, they had been in the study room for over thirty minutes, the noise wouldn't stop, Mr Blackhood wouldn't stop hitting Asher, Mr..” Miss Thompson tried but her words were choked with tears.

“ Mr Blackhood is throwing things at my poor Asher, I really don't know what to do” Miss Thompson said

I was amazed and shocked, either by the fact she referred to Asher as poor Asher when I was clearly the victim and not him or by the fact that she didn't bother to ask if I was okay or the fact she thought I could make this whole situation stop. I had a long day and I really did not want any stress.

“ I am really tired, Miss Thompson and I want to rest, ” I said, as I tiredly walked up the stairs, ignoring Miss Thompson's sob.

The ringing of my phone interrupted me. My phone had been ringing for the past three hours and I had not really bothered to check who it was. I checked the caller Id, it was my mom, “why was she calling this late night” I thought, as I couldn't help but panic ,she and my dad were supposed to come for the ball party which they didn't, was something wrong or had she heard the news” a lot of thoughts filled my mind as I picked up the call.

I could barely hear her, as her voice was choked with tears.

"Your...father..." She choked out the words in tears , her voice cracking with emotion.

as the sentence hung in the air, unfinished, as she burst into tears.

What was wrong with my father, I couldn't even make sense out of the words she was saying

She spoke in short, panicked gasps, her words tumbling out in a frantic jumble. "He...had a fall...the doctor...heart attack...your father..." She struggled to complete a sentence, her voice cracking with fear. "Coma...Arabella, your father is in a coma!" The words finally spilled out, accompanied by a sob.