Husband With Benefits
Chapter 194: Worry

Chapter 194: Worry

Gabe’s heart raced frantically as he searched the entire farm for Arabelle. Where could she have gone? The worry for her safety mingled with the growing anxiety that she’d returned to her former self.

He’d already every corner of the farm and every inch of the scrawling land looking for some sign of her. She’d been fine when they’d fallen asleep last night. And then, when she’d bid him goodbye to go for her daily strolls. Could she have spotted something on the way that might have triggered her?

Gabe ran a hand through his hair, his guilt eating at him. He really had done something thoughtless. Arabelle wanted a normal relationship with him and instead of being in such a relationship with her, he’d been trying to keep things platonic. And now he was left here wondering if he’d made a mistake in not being with her.

The surveillance videos showed her to have walked towards this area and he could not help but wonder why she would go here. This was the furthest from their house and mostly avoided due to the wilderness. Could she have encountered something here?

Worried, he raced towards the tall grassed, calling out her name as he did.

As his mind raced with thoughts of guilt and worry and his voice turned almost hoarse with shouting, his phone buzzed in his pocket. Irritated, he pulled it out, ready to dismiss any call that wasn’t about finding Arabelle. However, the caller ID revealed it was Ian.

Pausing, his finger hovered over the screen, knowing that would definitely recognize something was wrong as soon as he heard him. Decisively he declined the call and cut through the grass calling out her name.

As he walked a bit further, his phone continued to ring persistently. Worried that something might have happened, he answered the call with an irritated," Ian, what is it? I am in the middle of something."

Before he could disconnect the call, Ian announced without any ado," G, Demon and Nora are missing. They were on a yacht and were supposed to return today. Someone attacked the yacht. Nora was kidnapped and there is no news about Demetri. We are on our way to country N to look for them. I’ve sent you the file."

Gabe’s heart sank further. The news about his missing brother and the possibility of Arabelle being involved in his disappearance flooded his thoughts. He struggled to maintain composure as his mind veered between worry for Demetri and Nora and his anxiety about Arabelle.

On the one hand, he denied without a doubt that Arabelle could not have been involved in this. She was so far away from country N and she could not have known where Demetri and Nora were. But on the other hand, his fear that she was quite capable of orchestrating something like that made him feel paralysed. She’d been missing for a few hours now. Was it possible that Arabelle had played him from the beginning and taken this chance to sabotage him?

Gabe fell to his knees, feeling crushed under the weight of his own guilt. If something were to happen to Demetri or Nora because of Arabelle, he would not be able to forgive himself.

Shaking his head, he tried to move quickly. His guilt would not help him in rushing to join the search party. And if Arabelle was involved in this incident, the path ahead of him would be painful but also clear. Just as he had made the decision, he heard a faint noise.

Gabe turned to see Arabelle emerging from the edge of the property, her expression a mix of confusion and fear. Relief washed over him even as the turmoil within him persisted. Quickly, he called out Arabelle’s name.

He watched as she paused, stunned before a smile washed over her face. Quickly, she ran to him, jumping into his arms as she sighed," Gabe! I was so scared! I was chased by a wild buffalo and then I got lost! Thank the Lord you are here."

Gabe hugged her close, even as he felt her tremble all over.

"Are you hurt?" he asked, scanning her for any signs of injury.

Arabelle shook her head, still catching her breath. "No, just scared. I didn’t expect a wild buffalo to come charging out of nowhere."

Gabe couldn’t help but chuckle, though the worry still lingered in his eyes. "Well, you’re safe now. Let’s get you back home."

Once they reached the farmhouse, Gabe made sure Arabelle was settled on the couch with a warm blanket.

"I’ll get you something to eat," he said, trying to hide the concern in his voice.

As he prepared a meal, Gabe’s mind was still racing with thoughts about the call from Ian. He couldn’t shake off the worry for Demetri and Nora and the unsettling news about the attack on the yacht. Yet, he pushed those thoughts aside for the moment, focusing on caring for Arabelle.

After ensuring she had eaten and was comfortable, Gabe walked her to their bedroom. He tucked her into bed, a gentle smile on his face.

"I need to go away for work for a few days but I’ll be back soon. You rest and take it easy, alright?" Gabe spoke softly.

Arabelle pouted, her eyes reflecting a mix of fear and reluctance. "Work? Can’t you stay with me? I was so scared, Gabe."

"I know, love. But I need to take care of something. I promise I’ll be back before you know it."

As Gabe stepped outside the bedroom, he pulled out his phone. "Listen carefully," Gabe instructed. "I need you to comb through the tall wild grasses around the property. Look for anything unusual or untoward. Keep a close eye on the surroundings. Check for any signs of someone visiting or trying to use the place. Use the Dogs. Also, keep a close eye on Arabella."

As Gabe ventured into the unknown territory, the weight of responsibility pressed heavily on him.

Foll𝑜w current novels on fre(e)w𝒆bnovel

Search the lightnovelworld.cc website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.