Husband With Benefits
Chapter 343: Apology

Chapter 343: Apology

Ian stood at the door, wearing an expression that mirrored a guilty defendant facing a stern judge - an apt comparison, given the circumstances. Just as he was about to press the doorbell once more, he hesitated as the door swung open, revealing Gabe’s fatigued and worn-out countenance.

Their eyes locked in a silent exchange, both brothers maintaining an unspoken standoff. Gabe arched an eyebrow in inquiry, prompting Ian to lift the bottle in his hand. "I come bearing an apology."

A subtle flicker of sadness faded from Gabe’s face as he quipped, "Macallan?" A wry smile played on his lips. "That’s quite an expensive apology."

Ian nervously chuckled, a sheepish grin surfacing. "Well, I figured a standard apology wouldn’t cut it this time."

Gabe’s expression softened, and he stepped aside, gesturing for Ian to enter. With a hint of vulnerability, he spoke, "You were not wrong, Ian. I know that."

Ian shrugged nonchalantly and walked inside. "Hmm. I know that too. But you are older, so I have to be the one to apologize." His tone was light, a mix of jest and sincerity.

Gabe chuckled at Ian’s remark, appreciating the attempt at levity. As Ian settled into the living room, Gabe joined him and Ian continued, "I overreacted and for that I’m sorry."

Placing two crystal glasses in front of Ian, Gabe sat opposite his brother, and sighed, "But I’m grateful for what you did. I think I needed that reminder, with everything that took place. I’ve taken all of you for granted for too long."

Ian smiled," I’ll take that white limited-edition Ferrari you got last year as my apology."

Gabe’s eyebrows shot up in mock surprise, and a chuckle escaped his lips. "A white Ferrari, huh? Setting the bar high, aren’t we? Opportunist bastar*. You have it."

A look of shared understanding passed between them as a peaceful silence reigned, the two of them sipping their whiskey silently. Gabe stared at the amber liquid in his glass and another sigh escaped him as he cast a melancholy look at Ian.

"You think I should go apologize to Demetri and Nora as well?"

Ian snickered," You’ll go bankrupt..."

Gabe laughed at that and hummed in agreement. Of course, he needed to apologize but he just did not have it in him at this point of time. There were feelings and things to be resolved before he would be able to face Demetri.

"So? Did you succeed?" Ian asked Gabe after the latter remained quite for some time.

"Succeed?"

"You went looking for Arabelle right? Any luck?"

Gabe paused. Dare he tell Ian that while he’d not met Arabelle, he’d seen her mother. And the offer that she’d proposed or even the news she’d just sent. He knew he should, but he dare not. If Ian knew these things, he would not sit around and wait for him to keep things under control but take action into his own hands. And that might...

Ian clicked his fingers in front of Gabe when he failed to answer, "What are you thinking?"

Gabe was startled out of his thoughts, and he quickly shook his head," Its nothing. It was a dead end.

Ian stared at Gabe who avoided his gaze and looked into his drink as if it held the answers of every question in the world and sighed," Gabe? You’re going to start lying now?"

Gabe shook his head," You’re too astute, flappy. I hated that as a kid as well."

Ian smiled at the childhood nickname but continued to wait for Gabe to open up. ’Flappy’ was short for unflappable and it’d been so long since he’d been called that, it felt nice to think back to their childhood.

Finally, Gabe gave in and sighed," Arabelle was not there. Her mother on the other hand..."

Ian raised an eyebrow at that. Mrs Winthrop? She’d been a pain for a while now. The lady was their grandfather’s Goddaughter for all intents and purposes, but she’d never even come to pay her respects to the old man after he passed away and used him only to meet her own demands.

"What did the old woman have to say?"

"She implied that Arabelle was pining for me and that if I needed to get to her then..."

"What did she want?"

"It doesn’t matter, Ian. What she wanted. I came away from there before she could propose anything."

Ian nodded and Gabe silently looked away. He was lying again. He knew exactly what the lady wanted but he was unwilling to even speak of it. Gabe wondered why he did not tell the truth to Ian. That she wanted him to help her get rid of Demon. But somehow he felt ashamed of this. Never had he ever considered that he would end up in this situation.

He heard Ian murmur absently that she would not let go things so easily since she had Arabelle, but he had no strength left to talk or discuss these things. He understood the truth. Since Lady Winthrop had contacted him, she would not let go easily. She’d already messaged him with an invitation for a meeting and like the fool he was, he’d already been considering it.

"Ian? Do you think there is a possibility that... Arabelle is..."

Ian looked up at that, the hopefulness in Gabe’s voice alarming him. Cautiously, he stared at his brother, "Gabe... you think that Arabelle has not been affected by her mother again?"

"I don’t know Gabe. According to the doctors, the biggest reason for her switching personalities was the tumor pressing on the nerve in her brain and her mother’s influence. The tumor is gone and she’d been stable all this time so... I was hoping..."

Ian stood up and walked to Gabe, keeping his cynical thoughts to himself," Only time will tell Gabe. We can only hope for the best..."

Gabe’s shoulders slumped, a heavy sigh escaping him. "I just wanted her to be free from all of this, Ian. I wanted her to have a chance at a relatively normal life."

This 𝓬ontent is taken from f(r)eeweb(n)ovel.𝒄𝒐𝙢

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