Husband With Benefits
Chapter 368: A Set Up

Chapter 368: A Set Up

"Are you getting in, or do you want me to drive off, leaving you here alone?" Arabelle’s impatient voice sliced through the tension like a blade, while the only sound that echoed in around them was the hum of the engine.

Gabe stood frozen, disbelief flooding his senses as he stared into the back seat of the car. How had Arabelle managed to reach Nora? The layers of security they’d meticulously set up seemed impenetrable. His mind raced, trying to make sense of the unthinkable breach.

As he looked into her eyes, he felt a shiver down his spine. He could feel the weight of her ultimatum hanging in the air.

His heart pounded in his chest, the gravity of the situation sinking in. "Arabelle, how did you—"

"Questions later," she interrupted, a dangerous edge to her tone. "Now, decide."

Gabe hesitated, his gaze shifting between Arabelle and an unconscious Nora in the backseat.

"Arabelle, just give me a moment to—"

"Moments are a luxury we don’t have," she snapped, her impatience palpable. "Get in or stay out, Gabe. The clock is ticking."

Gabe took a deep breath, the weight of the situation settling on his shoulders. With a final glance at Arabelle, he stepped into the car, the door closing with a definitive thud. The engine roared to life, as the car raced out of the estate.

"Arabelle, slow down." Gabe reached for the dashboard to stabilise himself as Arabelle drove out recklessly, casting a worried glance at Nora who was still unconscious.

In reply, Arabelle gripped the steering wheel with white-knuckled intensity, her foot pressed firmly on the accelerator. The empty road stretched endlessly, and the only sounds were the tires screeching against the asphalt.

"Ari, please slow down! You’re driving too fast!" Gabe pleaded softly, trying to place a calming hand on Arabelle’s arm, who quickly swatted at his hand angrily," Don’t touch me. And don’t call me by that weaklings name! I am Arabella not some Ari. Arabelle gets everything she wants while Ari! She only craves for you. Disgusting."

Arabelle’s gaze remained fixed ahead, her wild eyes reflecting a mixture of fear and desperation. Her breaths came in ragged gasps, and her chest heaved as if trying to outrun the chaos inside her mind.

"Ari pines for you all day as if you are oxygeb! It is sickening! She wants to be with you forever and ever. Even now, she is whining in my head, askign me to calm down! How dare she! How dare she give control of me to you?", she accused, her voice rising in hysteria, as she narrowly avoided an oncoming car from the opposite direction.

Gabe’s brows furrowed and he tried to think quickly, "Arabelle, no one can control you. Most certainly not me. You know me, don’t you? Just slow down and pull over. Let’s talk? Can we not do that?"

However, Arabelle’s eyes darted around as she drove recklessly," No. That Ari, she wants to be with you forever. Doesn’t she? And you promised her to never her. Don’t worry then. I will make it happen! After today, Ari, you and me, we will be together forever."

Gabe had an ominuous feeling in his stomach! Dam* it! He’d been prepared for a similar outcome. Knew of the struggle that had been ongoing in Arabelle’s mind. Her other personality, Ari, had already warned him that Arabelle was going to do something sinister. But how did Arabelle get Nora and why did Ari not know this or warn him of it?

He needed to get Ari to the fore somehow. Only then would Arabelle be controlled.

"I don’t care if we die together Arabelle. But why do you need Nora?"

Arabelle laughed at that," I was waiting for it. Are you concerned about Nora’s dying? Are you saying that we should die together but let Nora live? You care about her more than us?"

Gabe sensed something wrong with the words and chose the next words carefully," I love you and care about you more than anyone and anything. But Nora is innocent. Your anger should be directed towards me only..."

Unhinged laughter escaped her as she said, "Do you know something Gabe? You believe that the most powerful feeling in the world is love. Don’t you?"

Gabe nodded as he kept an eye on the road. Thankfully, other than the passing truck, they had not had any other oncoming traffic. And she was slowing down so maybe he just needed to keep talking to her. But before he could say more, she continued," But you are wrong you know. The most powerful emotion is hate. Let me explain it to you... See, I hate Demetri. As much as you might try to talk me into not hating me, it won’t work. I will keep on hating him."

"However, Ari loves you so much. And all I had to do was put it in her head that you did not love her as much as you cared for Nora. And see, she doubted your love for her and kept quiet about Nora.A few carefully chosen words and love crumbled while hate won."

"Ari. Listen to me carefully. I love you. Only you. Please come and listen to me. I love you, Ari. Don’t doubt that."

Arabelle’s laughter echoed through the car, a chilling sound that underscored the complexity of the situation. "You think you can just summon Ari whenever you want? She’s not your puppet. I control her, not you."

Gabe glanced at the rearview mirror, noticing a subtle movement from the backseat. Nora was stirring, her eyelids fluttering as she began to regain consciousness.

Keeping his voice steady, he tried to continue to talk to her, urging her,"Arabelle, please listen. We can find a solution together. We can work through this without anyone getting hurt."

"No, Gabe. It’s too late for that. Ari wants her time with you, and I’m not going to deny her that pleasure. So, this time, Ari and Arabelle, both are going to win. The only one to lose in this game will be Demetri, as it should be."

Read lat𝙚st chapters at fre(𝒆)NovelFire.com Only