Husband With Benefits
Chapter 344: A Negotiation

Chapter 344: A Negotiation

Elena Winthrop savored the delicate notes of her wine, a subtle smile playing on her lips as she patiently awaited Gabe’s inevitable response. It would not be surprising to her that Gabe would knowingly step into the intricately laid trap she had set. Just then, her phone beeped and her smile widened as she looked at her phone with the reply that he’d just sent.

Elena’s assistant observed her expression with a mix of curiosity and awe, unable to contain the question that lingered in the air. "Has he agreed, madam? And how did you know he would agree?"

Elena’s smile widened, a glint of satisfaction in her eyes. "It’s all thanks to Elijah Frost, my dear. My godfather was a man driven by sentiment, instilling in his progeny an unwavering commitment to family. Love and loyalty were paramount in his teachings. Gabe Frost has cherished my Arabelle for over a decade, and his loyalty to her is unwavering. Even if he harbors suspicions about her or questions my motives, his loyalty will lead him here like a devoted dog, wagging his tail."

"But how will you convince him?"

"I won’t have to. Arabelle will do it. Call her caretaker here."

A little while later, the assistant returned with Arabelle’s caretaker, an older woman who limped in with a hesitant expression," You asked for me, Madam?"

"How is Arabelle doing now?" Elena asked, her face a perfect combination of motherly concern and more.

The lady hesitated before answering," She is calm most of the time. And always calling for Gabe Frost. And when her other personality returns, she is mostly violent and not able to understand much."

"And her physical state?"

This time the woman gave an even more hesitant reply," Its..."

***

The door swung open, and Gabe entered the small, dimly lit private room, his gaze fixed and determined. Without missing a beat, he cut through, "Let’s get to the point, Mrs Winthrop."

Elena, seated with a glass of wine in hand, arched an elegant eyebrow, her smile undeterred. "Gabe, my dear, manners first. A simple greeting to your mother-in-law wouldn’t hurt," she replied with a subtle insistence.

Gabe’s jaw tightened, his eyes narrowing in response to her request and what she’d referred to herself as. He stood his ground, a silent standoff unfolding between them.

The tension between them escalated, a palpable standoff unfolding in the confined space.

Breaking the silence with a calculated calmness, Elena invited him, "Have a seat, Gabe."

Without uttering a word, Gabe complied, choosing a chair on the opposite side of the room, purposefully maintaining a distance that did not go unnoticed by Elena. She couldn’t help but chuckle mirthlessly at the unspoken standoff.

Once settled, Elena shifted the conversation, "Have you given any thought to my proposition from our last encounter?"

Gabe, his jaw still subtly clenched, met her gaze firmly, "I’ve made it abundantly clear—I won’t jeopardize my family, not even for Arabelle. The sole reason I find myself in this room is your promise of information regarding her."

Elena leaned back, her eyes assessing Gabe’s unwavering stance, "I am a businesswoman, Gabe. Information comes at a cost, and I’m not inclined to offer anything, even details about my daughter, without receiving something in return."

Gabe said nothing at that as well.

Elena clucked her tongue in a display of mild disapproval. "You really are quite unwilling, Gabe. If I didn’t know you so well, I might have thought you were unconcerned about my Arabelle’s condition. She’s remarkably stable these days, you know. She frequently mentions you, holds you in her thoughts, and it seems she has managed to erase any trace of your brother and his wife from her memory."

Despite her ridiculous attempts to provoke a reaction, Gabe stoically maintained his silence. Unfazed, she continued to smile languidly, her gaze unwavering as she reached for her phone and placed it purposefully on the table. Without missing a beat, her assistant stepped forward, picked up the phone, and carried it across the room to Gabe.

As Gabe’s gaze shifted to the screen, a flood of memories surged through him. The display showcased Arabelle seated by a sunlit window, a serene smile gracing her features as she ate her food.

Elena leaned forward and continued," You see her. She’s always talking about going for strolls with you and how you used to sit with her on the porch, reading to her."

Gabe stared at the screen and the girl laughing and talking, a lump in his throat. She was his Achilles’ heel. Why? Why had she not reverted to her old self. He’d loved her like that but at least it would have been easier to take action against her if she’d been hell bent on harming Demon and Nora.

"Gabe, it is clear from your eyes how much you love her. I am also not unaware of the sacrifices you’ve made for her in all this time. Ask yourself, are you not willing to make a final sacrifice?"

Just as Elena said this, Arabelle’s sweet voice sounded from the phone," When can I go back to my Gabe aunty? I miss him a lot."

Gabe’s emotions wrestled within him, torn between the desire to reconnect with those cherished moments and the realization that the past was irretrievable. The screen flickered, capturing Arabelle in a moment of quiet reflection, her eyes mirroring the wistfulness that echoed in Gabe’s own heart.

Closing his eyes, Gabe sighed deeply," What do you want?"

"Its not much, Gabe. And remember before you say anything, remember that whatever you do, you will do it for Arabelle and your little child that she is carrying."

Gabe’s eyes widened in shock, his features frozen in disbelief. The revelation hit him like a sudden storm, leaving him momentarily speechless. The room seemed to close in as the weight of the unseen future pressed upon him. Arabelle was pregnant?

Elena showed a smile of triumph as she watched his expression. She now had him exactly where she wanted, under her control. "A small sacrifice for the sake of your unborn child and the woman you’ve always cherished. Your loyalty is commendable, Gabe. It is now time to prove it."

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