Arabella's POVI stood in the lobby, pacing, with my eyes never leaving the clock on the wall. Ten minutes had passed, but it felt more like ten hours. I tried to keep my mind busy, but I could feel the stares from the staff around me. I was uncomfortable. I had never been alone in my suite. Asher was always by my side. Now it felt like I was all alone.Then, I saw the door to Asher's office swing open, and Williams stormed out, as he slammed the door shut behind him. His face was red with anger, his movements quick and sharp. I froze, as he stared at me, I tried pretending that I was looking for something inside my spot, but he seemed to be walking towards my distractions. I wanted to turn and leave, find some excuse to walk away, but my legs wouldn’t move. He was in front of me in seconds.Before I could react, he grabbed my arm. His grip was firm, his fingers digging deep into my skin. I flinched, trying to pull away, but he wouldn’t let go. I avoided his eyes, staring at the floor
Asher's POVI stood there, unable to answer her question. Did I even want her in my life? I had been with her because of the benefit of being with her, and now that I had it, I still wanted her. I don't know why but I still wanted to be by her side. And to make things more complicated, she was pregnant with my child. I was going to be a father. It was a role I had never imagined for myself. I stared at her, struggling to find the right words. I cared about her, but was that enough? Enough to be a father to her child? I had already married her, wasn't that enough?I noticed her face pale, her eyes fluttering shut. Before I could fully grasp what was happening, she was falling to the ground. "Arabella!" I shouted, rushing forward just close enough to catch her just in time, my arms holding her body so tight, it was so fragile. I looked at her, she was unconscious, her body heavy in my arms, I tried feeling her heartbeat was faint, was she dead? That was the first thought that came to m
Arabella POV Two weeks later After the hospital incident, a lot of things had changed between me and Asher. I felt a sense of relief as I was being pampered in ways I never thought possible. Asher was attentive, always making sure I had everything I needed, but there was one thing he never really brought up, the baby. Whenever I mentioned it, he’d change the subject or give a quick nod, but he never actually talked about it. It was hard not to feel uncomfortable about his reaction, but I told myself it was fine. He just needed time. My belly hadn’t started showing yet, so I wasn’t in any rush to force him into conversations he wasn’t ready for.As I packed the last of my clothes into the suitcase, I heard the horn outside. Asher was waiting for me in the car, handling some business on his laptop while I finished getting ready. I zipped up the luggage and glanced at myself in the mirror, running a hand over my still-flat stomach. It was strange, knowing there was life growing inside
Ashers POVThe moment I saw Arlo standing there, I felt a surge of anger run through me. That bastard had the nerve to show up here, of all places and what the hell was he doing here, after what he had done company. I clenched my fists, trying to keep myself from losing control right there in front of everyone. The media was there staring at me as if they were expecting a scandal from the famous Asher who had never ceased to give them headlines and the last thing I wanted now was for my name to be in the news once again which would destroy the thin line Blackhood Suites was standing on.I excused myself from Arabella, muttering something about needing a moment, and walked past Arlo, locking eyes with him as I said beneath my breath, "Follow me." Without waiting for a response, I headed toward the men's restroom, hearing his footsteps trailing behind.Once we got inside, there were still a couple of men finishing up. As I waited I could see how tense I was and more angry as I stared at
Arabella's POVAs we headed to the room, the decoration of the room was superb, classic, and also elegant, it took me by surprise. Without saying a word, I made my way to the bed, my legs were already feeling weak and I could barely keep my eyes open. The car ride had been long and very exhausting, the whole trip made me car-sick. All I could think of now was how much I needed to rest.The moment my body touched the bed, I felt so relaxed, the bee was very soft, and the texture of the bed was exactly what my hair needed. I closed my eyes for a moment, just feeling the softness of the bed. Asher was still standing near the window, he seemed zoned out. Just staring at nothing in particular. “What’s wrong?” I asked.I waited for him to respond, but he didn’t turn around. He just stood there, his shoulders stiff. “Nothing,” he said, the word coming out in a low mumble.I knew that wasn’t true. Asher wasn’t one to wear his emotions on his sleeve, but I had learned to read him well enou
Arabella pov"You're getting married next week, so prepare," he said casually, as if discussing the weather and not the fate of my entire life.I stared at him, shocked, while finding it hard to process his words. "Married? How? Why? Next week?". I asked, trying to make sense to all that he had saidHe continued eating while ignoring my questions, and then he said"Pass the sauce, this meal is bland."I tried to play calm, as I passed him the sauce. This was what he always did, taking up decisions about my life, without bothering to let me have a say in it, i turned to my mom, hoping for an explanation from her, but her lips were set in a thin, disapproving line, which wasn't shocking as she was against me questioning my father's decisions.After a few minutes of silence and no explanation from anyone, I summoned courage and I asked again, trying to sound polite. "But why am I getting married so soon? I haven't even had a chance to—" Before I could say another word, my mother's sha
Arabella POVThe days seemed to roll over quickly, after much preparations, today was finally the day my parents have been waiting for, the day I had dreaded, the day I will be getting married, the marriage was kept in a lowkey, as it was a request from the groom's family. I looked in the mirror and saw that I looked very elegant, and the dress did look good on me. The thoughts of what my husband would look like came into my mind, as I haven't met with him physically, he had been busy lately according to my dad. The idea of my future husband filled me with a sense of dread, a heavy burden I couldn't ignore. I struggled to imagine what he would be like - kind or cruel, supportive or controlling? What kind of life would we build together? Despite the arranged marriage being a necessity, a glimmer of hope flickered within me, longing for it to succeed, if only to escape this suffocating house, where I felt trapped and caged.Just as these thoughts swirled in my mind, my mom's voice int
Asher’s POVI felt irritated at my first glance at her, her overly made-up face and vacant expression which seemed more like a lifeless barbie doll than a living person who is capable of making her own decisions. She barely said a word to me. Scarlett, on the other hand, had a strong personality that drew me in, her independence and had a mind of her own always left me in shock , these were the qualities I admired and longed for in a partner. She didn't take crap from anyone and always looked out for her own interestsIf I had a choice, I would have chosen Scarlett over the girl my father had arranged for me to marry. But my father had other plans, forcing me to marry his friend's daughter in exchange for control over the prestigious Black Hood SuiteThe thought of losing the suite, which was my legacy and lifeblood, was unbearableI reluctantly agreed to the contract, aware that it was a business arrangement rather than a love match The arrangement was clear: the Black Hood Su