Husband With Benefits
Chapter 334: Ian’s Guilt

Chapter 334: Ian’s Guilt

As Nora’s car glided to a stop in front of the Frost building, she spotted Demetri standing at the entrance. The car had barely stopped, when Demetri charged forward and quickly pulled her into his arms, hugging her closely. Nora closed her eyes and let herself hug him back, his embrace reminding her that she was still alive and able to be with him. She could feel him trembling and knew that he’d been as scared as her. They’d almost lost each other too many times.

Finally, Demetri stepped back and quickly held her hand, causing her to wince. Noticing her scraped knees and scratches on her palms, Demetri instinctively let go of her hand before asking in concern," You’re hurt. Why didn’t you say so?"

He turned to glare at the driver, as if ready to fire him for not reporting her injuries and Nora quickly tugged at his sleeve, offering him a reassuring smile," These are just a few minor scrapes. I’m fine."

Demetri’s look as he stared at Nora suggested that he did not think they were a few minor scrapes and he quickly tried to tug her to his office where he could properly dress her wounds. However, Nora resisted and turned to look at Isabella who still sat in the car, with her head between her knees, trying to breathe deeply.

"Ian is..."

As Demetri was about to explain, Ian passed by them in a gust of wind as he murmured to Nora," Thank God, the two of you are safe." and walked around the car towards Isabella’s side.

Seeing that her friend was now in safe hands, she followed Demetri into the building.

Once inside, she tried to question Demetri but he simple pulled her into another hug, kissing her forehead repeatedly. Once in the office, he silently pushed her onto the sofa and got to the task of wiping her wounds with antiseptic wipes.

Nora felt her throat close as she looked at his silent form as he avoided her gaze. "It could have been a freak accident, you know. Maybe the driver was drunk or lost control of the car..."

His jaw clenched, letting her know that he heard her, but he said nothing, applying the medicine next.

"Maybe it wasn’t..."

"It was Arabelle, Nora. I know it. We’ve been taking so many precautions but she was still able to almost get to you. I feel as if I should lock you in the house and not let you out, until she is handled. I should have done that, even if you’d hated me for locking you up. I should have told you about her instead of"

"Hey! I could never hate you." Nora quickly caught his face between her fingers and caressed his cheek," Demetri, I know you could never have been able to keep me locked up. Something was bound to happen even if you’d told me about her so don’t beat yourself up. That car came out of nowhere. Even if I’d known about Arabelle, I wouldn’t have been any better prepared."

"I know. But what if..."

"No what ifs. They are all invalid, okay? Where’s Gabe?"

"On his way."

Nora nodded and quickly stood up, letting Demetri sit on the couch before climbing onto his lap," Then let’s take a moment for ourselves."

***

Isabella sat in the back seat of the car, her eyes wide and unblinking, still reeling from the near miss of the accident. As Ian opened the car door, he realized that the girl seemed to be in shock. Gently, he moved towards her, taking hold of Isabella’s trembling hands. She jerked at the simple touch and almost fell off her seat before she looked up to see Ian with glassy and haunted eyes.

"Bella, are you alright?" he asked, his voice filled with concern.

She managed a nod, but her lips quivered as she tried to form words. "I-I’m fine, just... just a bit shaken," she stammered, her voice barely audible. " I was fine. And we were safe but now, that car..."

Ian’s expression softened as he sensed her vulnerability. Without hesitation, he helped her out of the car, his grip on her hands reassuring. However, as Isabella attempted to stand on her own, her knees betrayed her, threatening to buckle beneath her weight. Panic flickered across her face, but before she could hit the ground, Ian swiftly scooped her up in his arms, cradling her against his chest.

"Easy there, Bella," Ian murmured, his voice a comforting whisper. He settled her back into the car, sliding in beside her, making sure to keep holding her hand as he quickly pulled her into a comforting embrace.

All emotions that she’d held back, seemed to come in full force as the floodgates opened up. She buried her face in his chest, her shoulders shaking as silent tears rolled down her cheeks, wetting the fabric of Ian’s shirt.

Ian tightened his hold on her, a silent gesture of support. "It’s okay, Bella. Let it out," he encouraged, his voice a soothing balm. His fingers traced comforting circles on her back as she clung to him.

As Isabella wept, Ian felt his heart move. It made him realize that if something had happened to this lively girl, he would not have been able to forgive himself for putting her in harm’s way. Slowly, he hugged her tighter, hoping that this would not turn into a nightmare for her.

The evening sky hung heavy with the remnants of twilight as Isabella sat in the back seat of the car, her eyes wide and unblinking, still reeling from the near miss of the accident. The distant hum of traffic seemed muffled as she struggled to control her erratic breathing. The sudden jolt had left her trembling, her hands gripping the edge of the seat as if it were the only anchor in a sea of chaos.

Ian, sensing her distress, moved towards her with a worried furrow in his brow. He reached out, gently taking hold of Isabella’s trembling hands. "Bella, are you alright?" he asked, his voice filled with concern.

Isabella turned her gaze towards Ian, her eyes glassy and haunted. She managed a nod, but her lips quivered as she tried to form words. "I-I’m fine, just... just a bit shaken," she stammered, her voice barely audible.

Ian’s expression softened as he sensed her vulnerability. Without hesitation, he helped her out of the car, his grip on her hands reassuring. However, as Isabella attempted to stand on her own, her knees betrayed her, threatening to buckle beneath her weight. Panic flickered across her face, but before she could hit the ground, Ian swiftly scooped her up in his arms, cradling her in a bridal hold.

"Easy there, Bella," Ian murmured, his voice a comforting whisper. He settled her back into the car, sliding in beside her, never letting go of her hands. The interior of the car cocooned them in a momentary sanctuary from the outside world.

Isabella, now seated beside Ian, felt the warmth of his embrace and the safety of his presence. She buried her face in his chest, her shoulders shaking as the floodgates of held-back emotions burst open. Silent tears rolled down her cheeks, wetting the fabric of Ian’s shirt.

Ian tightened his hold on her, a silent gesture of support. "It’s okay, Bella. Let it out," he encouraged, his voice a soothing balm. His fingers traced comforting circles on her back as she clung to him, the weight of the harrowing experience finally catching up to her.

As Isabella wept, the car became a haven of solace, shielded from the outside world. The soft hum of the engine and the rhythmic sound of Isabella’s uneven breathing filled the space between them. Ian, understanding the need for silence, offered a steady presence, his own emotions hidden behind a facade of strength.

After a while, as Isabella’s sobs began to subside, she pulled back slightly from Ian’s chest. Tear-streaked eyes met his, and in that unspoken exchange, something seemed to shift between them.

"Thank you," she whispered, her voice still carrying the remnants of vulnerability and something more.

Ian nodded, his eyes softening. "Anytime, Bella."

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