41. The Father!

Author's POV

Damian's eyes paused on the possessive hold they had on girl. They let her go when he asked them question and got up.

"Dad"

Oliver tried to hide the nervousness.

Arabella quickly stepped back from Knights, nervous that he might ask her something.

"She was about to fall, we caught her."

Arthur replied.

Damian looked at their drained faces.

"Really? I have never seen you two doing something so collaboratively..."

He raised his eyebrows mockingly while standing in front of them. He turned towards Arabella who was standing there nervously.

"Is that true, child? Were they helping you?"

He questioned.

She gulped and looked behind him, towards knight brothers.

They nodded at her, telling her to say yes.

Damian noticed it but didn't say anything.

"Yes, Mr. Knight."

She mumbled timidly.

Damian looked at his sons.

"You___"

Arabella froze when she saw Rose coming downstairs, thinking that now she will question her just like her husband did. Damian will definitely tell her about whatever he saw.

Rose ignored her presence and looked at men.

"Did I missed something?"

She frowned, noticing tension on their faces.

Damian smiled and eased the tension instantly.

"Nothing, just men's talk..."

Arabella sighed in relief when Damian covered up, she wasn't expecting that. But brothers know that his father always cover up the situation in front of Rose because her ways are more rough.

"Okay, let's go for a breakfast."

She ordered but looked at Arthur's eye.

"You still didn't treat it? Are you waiting to lose your eye?"

She scolded.

"No, I was just going to do it."

Arthur touched his swollen eye.

"Don't touch it."

She scolded again and grabbed the ointment. Arabella looked at her as she carefully treated her son's eye.

"Oliver."

She glared at him.

"If I saw you aiming for delicate parts again then next time you will stand in front of me in fighting ground."

Oliver looked away madly.

"I didn't do anything... He moved his head."

"Really?"

Arthur raised his eyebrows challengingly.

"Enough!"

Damian scolded them.

"Whatever is going on between you two, fix it before Christmas celebration."

Rose was done with Arthur and tried to treat Oliver but he moved his head away.

"I am fine!"

Rose sighed and stepped back.

"You don't want it from me then fine..."

She looked at Arabella.

"Treat your boss..."

Arabella looked at her flabbergasted after unexpected order.

"Uhh?"

She quickly nodded and hurriedly tried to grab the box but spilled it on the table because of nervousness.

Rose stood there while shaking her head at her clumsiness.

She looked at Damian and he rubbed his forehead with a sigh.

"Relax, do it in your way."

Oliver assured her when he noticed that she is nervous.

Arabella finally grabbed the cotton and stood in front of him. Her hands were shaking as all eyes were on her. Oliver stood there silently when she gently applied medicine on his busted lips.

Arthur's insides were burning in jealousy while looking at them. He scowled and walked away which made Oliver's lips turn into small smirk.

Arabella quickly finished her task and hurriedly ran towards the kitchen.

Arabella didn't come out to serve them and Cami didn't ask for help as she looked nervous.

She was sitting in the kitchen when they were having breakfast, suddenly Oliver entered and she looked at him.

"Sir?"

"Kitten, what's wrong?"

He stood beside her and she hugged his waist. He wrapped his arms around her and rubbed her back.

"Why are you so scared?"

She broke the hug and looked at him sadly.

"I think your mother hates me..."

He frowned and sat beside her.

"Why?"

She rested her head on his chest.

"I messed up... Everything goes wrong when I am around her... I spilled juice on her and now that medicine situation... God! I am so dumb..."

"It's not like that, kitten... Mom doesn't hate you... She doesn't invest her emotions like that... If you think you messed up then just go to her and apologize..."

He caressed her head.

"No!"

She shook her head horrified.

"I can't even stand in front of her... Talking to her is so difficult."

Oliver chuckled.

"She is a human, she not going to eat you... She might look strict but she is soft from inside... You made us your friends, now it's time to make her too... You can do it."

She huffed.

"I'll try!"

Still thinking how difficult it's going to be to impress Rose and win her trust.

"I have to go now."

He kissed her forehead and walked out.

Arabella saw Knight brothers leaving after breakfast. She was cleaning the living room when Damian came out of his study.

"Arabella, can you get black coffee for me?"

She nodded.

"Okay, Mr. Knight!"

She quickly made coffee for him and went to his study. He was sitting where Arthur sits.

"Your coffee!"

She placed it in front of him.

He looked up at her and smiled.

"Thanks!"

She gave him small smile back.

"Sit down!"

He ordered and her smile fade.

She hesitated but sat down.

"Relax, I am feeling bored so I just want to have a chitchat with someone... My wife is too strict, she beats me if I try to disturb her."

She laughed when he said that and he chuckled, finally making her comfortable.

"Are you scared of her too?"

Damian smiled at her naive question.

"More than anything"

He said dramatically and she laughed more, knowing that he is joking.

"So, Arabella. Tell me about yourself... And why this job?"

She told him about Orphanage and Matilda.

"That's so brave of you to handle the situation... But how was your first meeting with Arthur and Oliver?"

She gulped when he asked that. Her first meeting with Oliver wasn't good.

"It was good..."

She lied and he noticed it, it was fueling his doubt.

"Child, you can be free with me. I'll help you, no matter what... Getting involved with mafia men can be exhausting and you might feel trapped. You are just like my Rosa... I'll be straightforward here. Are they hurting you in any way?"

He questioned, the way his sons behave around the girl was something new for him.

She shook her head nervously.

"No!"

"Do they force you to do anything which you don't want to?"

He asked again.

"No"

She replied again.

"Do you feel that you are stuck between them?"

He asked and she paused. Yes, she does feel that like and after today's fight, the feeling has fuelled.

Damian noticed her pause and understood.

"One last question, Arabella... How old are you?"

She stays in Orphanage and he was scared that she is a minor.

"Seventeen!"

She replied fiddling with her fingers.

Damian closed his eyes and cursed silently.

"But everything is fine, Mr. Damian.... They don't hurt me... They are good to me... I don't know what you are thinking but we are just good friends."

"Sure!"

He forced a smile.

"That's it, Arabella... You can continue your work."

She nodded and walked out. Damian gritted when she left.

"Friends! Poor girl, doesn't know their intentions. It's time to play small game. They need to know who's is the father here."