They Called Me Heartless So Reborn I Watched Them Self Destruct novel Chapter 175

Chapter 175: 175- I Owed Him

Arabella:

I didn’t know what was wrong with me.

Since morning, tears had been running down my face, and all I’d done was wipe my eyes and nose with tissues. I wasn’t even crying. At least, I didn’t think I was. But every time I thought I’d finally stopped, my eyes filled up again.

Lucien had an important meeting to attend, but he hadn’t left my side. He’d already sent Bradley a message asking him to handle things for now. I felt bad about keeping him here, but I couldn’t bring myself to ask him to leave, either.

He pushed his sleeve up, exposing the black ink winding around his muscular forearm.

“Arabella, can you please tell me what’s going on?” he asked, sitting beside me on the bed. “You’ve been upset since we came back yesterday. Why won’t you tell me what happened?”

I shook my head and reached for another tissue. What was I supposed to tell him? I didn’t even know where to begin.

I didn’t want to leave this room. I didn’t want to face Maya and answer her questions. I certainly didn’t want to see the Queen, not when I was already considering accepting her ridiculous offer.

If I could, I would have flown somewhere far away, where nobody knew me or cared who my parents were.

“Darling.” Lucien gently moved my hair away from my face. “Whatever it is, you can trust me. You know that, right?” The muscles in his tattooed arm flexed as he leaned forward to kiss my lips.

“I know,” I said, wiping my running nose.

“Then talk to me. I can’t help you if you won’t tell me what’s bothering you.”

I closed my eyes for a moment. He was right. I trusted him. But how could I explain something I hadn’t even come to terms with myself?

And then there was the Queen’s offer.

I opened my eyes and looked at him. “Lucien, wh… what if… if… I drop the investigation?”

He went quiet. For a few seconds, he simply looked at me, as though he was trying to understand where that question had come from.

“You want to stop investigating Anika’s murder?” he asked me quietly.

When I nodded, he sighed and leaned back slightly. “Alright. Then we’ll stop.”

I blinked at him. “Just like that?”

“Just like that.”

“But Lucien…”

“Arabella, if this investigation is making you this miserable, I don’t want you doing it anymore.” I sat there, completely taken aback.

Was it really that easy? He had been so determined to find his sister’s killer, and now he was willing to drop everything simply because I asked?

“Aren’t you going to ask me why?” I asked quietly.

“Do you want to tell me?” I looked down at the tissue in my hands.

“Not yet.” Another tear slipped down my cheek when I closed my eyes.

“Then I won’t force you.” He cupped my face in both hands, making me look at him. “Listen to me, Arabella. Nothing is more important to me than you. Not this investigation, not anything else. We’ll do things your way, alright?”

“Anika was my sister, and I loved her.” His voice grew gentler. “That hasn’t changed. But I won’t make you suffer just to find the person who killed her.”

I didn’t know what to say.

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