Chapter 4: Raina

Eight months in, Arabella had reclaimed three more properties and launched a successful investment firm. People began talking about Arabella Ashford, the rising business prodigy with ice in her veins and fire in her strategy.

Late one night, after a particularly brutal negotiation that ended in her favor, she returned to find Adrian waiting in her penthouse with champagne.

"You were magnificent today," he said, handing her a glass.

"I learned from the best." Arabella set down the glass and moved closer. "Adrian, I—"

He kissed her before she could finish.

It was nothing like Everett's calculated kisses. This one felt like fire and desperation and months of tension finally breaking. Arabella's hands fisted in his shirt, pulling him closer as he backed her against the wall.

When they broke apart, both breathing hard, Adrian rested his forehead against hers.

"Fuck…you don't know how long I have wanted to do that. How long I’ve dreamt of tasting you." he admitted.

"Really?"

"Haven't I been obvious enough? You know I wanted you right from the start,” he said as he rubbed his hands softly on her cheek. “I just wanted you to be ready first.”

"I– I don't know if I'm ready,” she started looking intently into his eyes. “I just know I want you. I want you more than anything right now.”

Adrian smiled before he grabbed her, smashing his lips against hers. Gradually, their clothes fell off from their bodies, hands roaming everywhere. And soon their soft moans filled the room as they slowly made love to each other.

Ten months in, Arabella was now completely unrecognisable but only to the people who knew her before. The people who had seen how she started. Her name now filled every corporate lips, as her excellent performance stood up for her when she was not present.

Arabella stood in her corner office one evening, reviewing contracts, when Adrian entered without knocking. There was something different in his expression. Nervous, which she'd never seen before.

"I need to tell you something," he said.

"What's wrong?"

"Nothing's wrong. Everything's..." He ran a hand through his hair. "I've watched you transform this past year. You're brilliant, ruthless when necessary, compassionate when it matters. And somewhere along the way, I fell completely in love with you."

Arabella's breath caught.

"I know your focus is Raina. I know you're still healing from what Everett did. But I can't keep pretending this is just business between us anymore."

"It stopped being just business months ago," Arabella whispered.

Adrian crossed the room in three strides and kissed her like he was drowning and she was air. They barely made it to the couch before clothes started coming off, months of restraint shattering completely.

Later, tangled together with the city lights glowing through the windows, Adrian's fingers traced patterns on her bare shoulder.

"Stay with me," he murmured. "Not just tonight. Always."

Arabella turned to face him, her heart full in a way she'd forgotten was possible. "Always."

Twelve months in, Arabella reclaimed the last of her mother's major assets, and soon the Ashford empire was whole again.

That evening, Adrian arrived at her office with champagne and something else… a small velvet box.

Arabella's heart stopped.

"This past year, you've become the most formidable person I know," Adrian said, dropping to one knee. "I want to spend my life helping you build yours. Arabella Ashford, will you marry me?"

She thought of Everett's proposal three years ago, built on lies and manipulation. This was different. This was real. This was a man who'd seen her at her absolute worst and helped her become her absolute best.

"Yes," she whispered. Then louder: "Yes."

Adrian slid the emerald ring onto her finger and stood, pulling her into a kiss that promised everything.

That night, they celebrated in her penthouse. Adrian's hands worshipped every inch of her skin as if memorizing it, and Arabella gave herself over completely to the man who'd saved her life and taught her how to reclaim it.

"I love you," she gasped as he moved inside her, their bodies perfectly in sync.

"I love you too," Adrian murmured against her neck. "Always."

Afterward, wrapped in his arms with her engagement ring catching the moonlight, Arabella felt something she hadn't felt in over a year.

Hope.

Three days later, that hope shattered.

Arabella was in bed with Adrian, his arm draped possessively around her waist as dawn crept through the windows, when her phone buzzed on the nightstand.

Everett Quinn - Incoming Call

She stared at the screen, her entire body tensing.

"Maybe you should answer" Adrian murmured sleepily. “He's been calling non stop all evening.

But she didn't. The call went to voicemail.

“He doesn't deserve an ounce of my attention,” she seethed. “Not anymore.” She snuggled info Adrian's side, feeling his warmth in her own body.

Then the phone rang again.

And again. And again

"What does he want?" Arabella whispered.

"You don't have to answer it if you don't want to.”

But throughout that day, the calls continued. Everett. Then Lilian. Then her father Richard. Then her stepsister Vanessa.

And before evening, she had about 50 missed calls from them all.

"They're desperate about something," Adrian said as they reviewed the call log. "Maybe it’s something that's really important. You sure you don't want to answer it?”

Arabella nodded, but unease coiled in her stomach.

Day two brought thirty more calls. Voicemails she deleted without listening to.

Day three brought desperation.

It was late evening. Arabella lay in Adrian's arms, both of them naked and sated from making love, when her phone rang for the forty-seventh time.

Everett Quinn - Incoming Call

"Something's wrong," Arabella said quietly.

Adrian's arm tightened around her. "Whatever it is, you're strong enough now to face it."

Arabella's hand trembled as she reached for the phone.

"What do you want, Everett?" Her voice was ice.

"Arabella." His voice cracked, and she'd never heard him sound like that. Terrified and desperate. "Please. I know I have no right to ask, I know what we did was unforgivable, but…"

"Then don't ask."

"It's Raina." The name stopped Arabella's heart. "She's... God, Arabella, she's dying."

The phone nearly slipped from her fingers. Adrian sat up immediately, his hand on her shoulder.

"What?" she whispered.

"She has a rare blood disease. We've tried everything, every donor, every treatment, every specialist in the country. Nothing's working. The doctors say..." His voice broke completely. "They say only a biological parent's blood might save her. Please, Arabella. I'm begging you.”