Husband With Benefits
Chapter 342: Gabe’s Meeting

Chapter 342: Gabe’s Meeting

The heavy oak door creaked open slowly, revealing a dimly lit foyer adorned with antique furniture. Gabe Frost hesitated, his heart pounding, as he stepped into the small mansion he had tracked Arabelle to. He had not expected that she would be here, so close to them.

For a moment, his consciousness warned him that this could be a trap, but as always, he knew he was willing to step into any trap for Arabelle. He needed to see her truth for himself. Only then would his heart believe what his brain was telling him.

His cautious steps echoed through the entrance hall and his eyes darted around, searching for any sign of Arabelle but was met only with blank gazes of the guards standing on both sides.

As he moved deeper into the mansion, a door opened, revealing a figure in the shadows. Gabe’s breath caught as he saw the woman who came out and his lips lifted in a smile," Mrs. Winthrop."

The woman stood tall, her gaze cold and filled with hatred. The air grew colder as their eyes locked in a silent standoff as she finally spoke," Gabe Frost. Why are you here?"

Gabe answered with a question of his own," Where is she?"

"Who she?", the lady asked with an air of confusion.

"Arabelle." Gabe growled the name, irritated that the woman dared to pretend with him.

But she was determined to continue her act and teared up, " Have you lost your mind, Gabe? My Arabelle is dead? Didn’t you bring the news to me last year about her?"

Gabe clenched his hands," If you think I will be impressed with your acting, then it is useless. Where is she?"

The woman’s lips curved into a sardonic smile as she dropped the pretense. "What makes you think I have any idea where my daughter is?"

Gabe’s jaw tightened, his suspicion growing. "I traced her here. Don’t play games with me. Where is she?"

The woman’s hostile gaze met his, and for a moment, the room crackled with tension. The guards maintained their watchful stance, ready for any sign of trouble.

"Games?", she scoffed. "You think you can just barge in here and demand answers?"

Gabe’s response was a glare that mirrored her hostility. The room seemed to shrink with the intensity of their confrontation. The woman finally broke eye contact, her cold demeanor wavering for just a moment.

"Fine," she said with a dismissive wave. "Let’s talk first. But you’ll find the truth isn’t always what you expect."

Her sudden change in demeanour caught her off guard as he tried to judge what she could be upto.

She motioned towards an ornate sitting area, inviting him to take a seat. Reluctantly, he obliged, keeping a vigilant eye on the woman who had just moments ago portrayed hostility.

Seated across from each other, a palpable tension filled the room. Mrs. Winthrop, with a composed facade, began, "Gabe, I’ve seen the changes in Arabelle since she’s been with you. I hate how you took her away, but she seems happier now, and that’s something I didn’t think was possible after everything that happened."

Gabe’s eyes narrowed, distrust etched on his face. "Why the sudden change of heart? I find it hard to believe you’d offer your blessings so easily."

Mrs. Winthrop sighed, her gaze flickering between sincerity and something more elusive. "I’m a realist, Gabe. I may despise the circumstances, but I also see the positive impact you’ve had on her. My daughter was spiraling into a dark place, and you pulled her back. I can’t ignore that. I’ve seen the love she has for you. It is far different than the feelings that she had for Demetri."

Gabe leaned backward his voice low and filled with suspicion. He might be a fool in love, but he was not someone who could be fooled so easily. "What’s the catch, Mrs. Winthrop? You are not someone who hands out blessings without a motive. So, lets not talk in loops. Get to the point."

A cryptic smile played on her lips as she leaned back, crossing her legs elegantly. "Business, Gabe. Everything is a negotiation. A deal, if you will. I propose a truce of sorts. I’ll give you my blessings, and in return, you ensure Arabelle remains content."

"She had been content before you took her away from there." Gabe pointed out.

"Ahh, yes. But I meant for the long term. Her contentment is precarious and dependent on many factors. As a mother, how can I rest assured if a single step can ruin everything that can keep my daughter happy?"

Gabe’s jaw clenched as he studied her, the unease growing within him. "What do you want?"

Mrs. Winthrop’s eyes glinted with a cunning resolve. "Arabelle is my daughter, and as much as I may dislike you, I care about her well-being. I’m a businesswoman, and I understand the value of compromise. This benefits both of us and Arabelle."

With irritation, Gabe leaned forward and stood up," If you are going to continue talking in circles, I’ll be going now. I’ll find Arabelle sooner or later."

"Tsk tsk. Sit down, Gabe. No need to show me your impatience."

"Then tell me your endgame?"

"My endgame? It is the end of course. The end of the source of my daughter’s unhappiness. The threat that hangs over her every minute that she is with you."

Gabe’s mind raced, contemplating the cryptic words, his intuition warning him. The room seemed to close in around them, the mansion’s walls echoing with the whispers of secrets yet unveiled as Mrs Winthrop spoke slowly, " Get rid of Demetri and Nora. Then you can live with Arabelle happily ever after."

Gabe’s eyes blazed with fury, his face contorted with disbelief and anger. "Get rid of them?" he spat out, his voice low and seething. "You’ve got nerve suggesting something like that. I won’t harm my brother for your twisted version of a happy ending!"

The heavy oak door slammed shut behind him as he stormed out, leaving Mrs. Winthrop alone in the dimly lit room. She watched his exit with a sinister smirk, murmuring to herself, "We’ll see, Gabe Frost. Desperation can drive people to do the unimaginable."

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