64. The Hidden Care?

Author's POV

Arabella was still recovering from the news, her heart was in turmoil. Oliver marrying someone else wasn't something she was expecting to hear.

It was lunch time and as per Knight traditions of having meals with their close employees, they all were together.

Arabella was also invited but she was lost in her own thoughts still she didn't miss that April was sitting beside Oliver.

"Shit, it's hot!"

Lilly flinched when she touched the pot of soup. She is trusted hacker of Damian and is working with him since he had taken over Knight empire.

"Arabella, can you pass it to Rose?... But hold it with napkin, it's hot."

Arabella was still lost and heard only half of the thing. She grabbed the pot by bare hand and placed near Rose.

"Oh my god! What did you do? It was hot."

Lilly exclaimed and grabbed her hand.

"You burnt your hand... Shit, it's all red!"

Arabella snapped out of her thoughts and looked at her burnt hand. The burning sensations took over but not more than what her heart was feeling. She just stared at her hand blankly.

Arthur and Oliver both looked at her burnt palm but didn't react.

She looked at Oliver and then at April who was just focusing on Oliver.

"I am fine!"

She got up and walked away.

"What's wrong with her, she didn't even eat."

Lilly asked confused.

Arthur looked at Oliver and April, he understood what has happened to her.

"Call her back..."

He ordered maid.

Arabella was in her room when maid knocked on the door.

"Ma'am, Chief has ordered you to come for lunch."

She dried her wet hands and nodded.

"Coming!"

She was thinking why he called her back, he is not in that good behaviour where he would care about her appetite.

She went back and took her place, maid placed her plate in front of her and she looked at her confused. Her food was different and better than everyone, food which was rich in protein and was good for her energy.

She looked at Arthur who was already looking at her.

Everyone knew what was going on but they decided to play along.

"Are we not talking about wedding preparations, let's start."

Arthur smirked at Arabella.

Oliver glared at him and walked away without saying anything.

After sometime he went to the kitchen to grab himself a coffee and April followed him there too.

"I'll make it for you. You look stressed."

She tried to close the gap between them and Oliver looked at her.

Her face was giving Old Arabella vibes, the same innocent look which she was purposely maintaining and Oliver wasn't aware about this.

For a moment, he felt like Arabella is standing in front of him. The same old Arabella in her sunflower sweater and innocent smile.

"Kitten!"

He was in daze, not realising that he was imagining her.

April smiled when he touched her cheek but suddenly they heard glass shattering on the floor and Oliver snapped out of his daze.

They looked at the direction where glass shattered and it was none other than Arabella.

"Sorry, it slipped from my hand."

She bent down and picked the broken pieces.

Oliver stepped back from April annoyingly and walked away but smirked when he noticed how Arabella dropped the glass just because she was jealous.

"What a bad timing you have... Didn't you see that we were having personal moment?"

April snapped at Arabella.

Arabella tossed the broken glass in dustbin and turned towards her.

"No, I didn't see."

She replied staring dead in her eyes.

April scowled but then noticed hickey on her neck.

"Ohh, fuck! So it's not a rumour, it's true that Arthur was with you last night... That's why he made you stay there."

She laughed mockingly.

"Babe, what's the use of working so hard when at the end you just had to warm his bed... Seriously!"

Arabella smirked, wanting to snatch her laugh and she was going to do it.

"Their bed, not just his... Both are mine!"

She challenged and started walking away, draining all colours from April's face.

"And if you think that this is just about warming their bed then you have no idea about our connection."

"They don't care about you after whatever you did to them. They are just using you, mark my words."

April scoffed and walked away.

Arabella ignored her but she couldn't stop her words bugging her. She thought about last night, she knows that it wasn't just sex. There was so many feelings which were communicated through that. Arthur might treat her however he wants outside but he was gentle with her in bed, she wasn't any whore.

She was cleaning her guns on the terrace, thinking about Oliver's decision. The way he treats April, it was obvious that he has made that decision impulsively but still it was poking her.

Her hand was sore after burning with hot pot. She ignored it and assembled her gun.

She got up to leave but saw Arthur standing behind her. She bowed in front of him.

"Good evening, Chief."

He looked at her red hand and gently grabbed it, she watched him tossing the cap of ointment tube before applying it on her hand.

He was stern with expressions but his actions were opposite.

They were on terrace, she looked down when she heard April calling Oliver.

"Dad wants us to fix engagement date... He is coming tomorrow."

Arthur saw how Arabella was looking at April. It was obvious that she is disturbed and jealous.

"Don't kill her out of jealousy. She is from important family."

He ordered.

She looked at him and nodded.

"Okay, Chief!"

"Okay?"

He raised his eyebrows.

"Does that mean you were going to kill her?"

She shook her head and looked at them again. Her heart was clenching with unknown feeling and was turning sadder.

Arthur noticed it, he could understand how she must be feeling but what irks him is, she is not accepting it.

He stepped back from her.

"I have shared the details of next task, check your phone."

She stepped towards her phone which was on the swing but he placed his foot forward and made her stumble. Before she could fall, he pulled her back and she collided on his chest and holding him tightly.

She stayed there for a while, clutching on his shoulders and looking at Oliver with sad eyes.

Arthur let her rest on his chest. The feelings were there on both sides but unfortunately no one was ready to accept it.

Even hugs were planned like this.

April looked up and saw Arabella and Arthur hugging each other, she felt it like a slap on her face because she thought Arthur is just using her but here he is holding her in his embrace.

"Is everything fine between them?"

She made Oliver look at them with intension of creating rift between them, knowing Oliver is against sharing anything.

Oliver watched Arabella in Arthur's arms but her eyes were on him. Her eyes were asking him so many questions and he wasn't going to answer any.

He looked away from her and left.

In the night, as ordered Arabella was supposed to go with everyone for the mission. Arthur wanted her there. Knight brothers left in their cars with their bodyguards, rest of the team was in another car and Arabella was supposed to go with them.

She was about to open the car door but Ombre stopped her and sat on her place.

"Rose Ma'am wants me to attend this mission... Sorry, there is no place in car anymore..."

She smiled at her mockingly.

"Ombre, Arabella is needed there."

Lilly informed her.

"So am I, she can come in another car. Is that hard?"

Ombre shrugged.

Lilly and Julie shook their heads at her annoying reply.

"Arabella, there is no other car which is suitable for the time... Ask Rose to help you with something but be there on time, Chief doesn't like getting late."

Lilly informed and Arabella nodded.

Julie was feeling annoyed by Ombre but didn't say anything because she was upset with Arabella, still she was feeling bad that Arabella was getting humiliated like this.

Arabella watched them leaving and turned around to look for Rose but she was already watching everything while standing behind her.

"Do you have any car which can be used for rough work?"

Arabella asked.

Rose nodded and handed her the key. Arabella took the key and was about to walk towards the parking but Rose stopped her.

"It's not in the parking."

Arabella stopped and looked at her confused. She looked around and saw two cars parked near them which were fancy and not for rough work.

"These cars?"

She asked confused.

"Press the button on that key."

Rose smiled.

Arabella pressed the button and heard sound between two cars. She slowly walked towards the direction of sound and her eyebrows furrowed when she saw what Rose was giving her.