True Heiress Returns to Her Unemployed Rich Family (Arabella) novel Chapter 658

"And I wouldn't be?" Lucas shot back, irritation clear in his voice. Being looked down on was the last thing he needed right now.

Brielle blinked at him, caught off guard. "Why would you say that?"

"Arabella just went through something terrifying, and she's still shaken up. Shouldn't you be there for her?" What kind of boyfriend did that make him?

"You think I don't want to be?" Lucas was tempted to grab Brielle by the shoulders and shake her. She had a real talent for hitting a nerve—always zeroing in on the exact spot that hurt the most.

Of course he wanted to comfort Arabella. But... it didn't feel like she needed him right now.

Besides, Matthew had been the one to save her. Matthew had gotten hurt protecting her.

What right did Lucas have to step in and act like the hero?

Seeing Lucas looking like he was about to lose it, Brielle tilted her head in confusion. "Wait... are you beating yourself up because you couldn't help Arabella?"

His whole mood seemed off, like he was carrying a weight.

"Hey." She reached out and patted his shoulder. "Don't be so hard on yourself. You had no way of knowing. If you'd been there, you would've done the same thing."

Lucas stayed quiet for a long moment, then finally shook his head. "Let's just go."

There were some things he simply couldn't change, no matter how much he wanted to.

But after everything that happened today, he couldn't shake the bitter, aching feeling in his chest.

Watching him look so defeated, Brielle suddenly felt a pang of sympathy. She sighed softly. "Yeah, no wonder you're upset. Your girlfriend gets kidnapped, and you can't even go comfort her afterward."

She paused, then added in a lighter tone, trying to lift his spirits, "But don't worry too much. Once Arabella drops Matthew off, she'll head home. You can see her then."

Lucas shot her an annoyed look. "What are you even talking about?"

"I didn't say anything wrong," Brielle muttered under her breath. "Why are you being so rude?"

"I'm serious—don't start with nonsense," Lucas warned, his expression tightening.

Brielle shoved him back, exasperated. "You know what? You're impossible. Forget it, I'm done here."

Then she turned and stormed off.

What a jerk. Try to be nice and this is the thanks I got.

"Yell at me? Why me? What did I even do? I was just trying to help!" She kept grumbling to herself as she marched away.

Lucas watched her go, frustration simmering inside him, before he finally turned and left, feeling completely drained.

*****

Over at Stewart Manor, Arabella walked Matthew to the front door.

"Well..." Arabella instinctively glanced toward Matthew, trying to catch his eye. Can't you see what Robert is hinting at? Say something.

Matthew acted as though he had no idea what she meant and didn't respond at all.

With no other choice, Arabella took a breath and decided to clear the air. "Robert, actually, there's something we've been meaning to talk to you about when the time was right. I guess now is as good a time as any."

"Something about you two?" Robert's eyebrows lifted with clear interest.

Were they finally going to make things official?

Just as Arabella opened her mouth to explain, Matthew spoke up first. "Grandpa, here's the situation. A while back, we invested in that pharmaceutical startup, and the growth potential is looking really strong. We're planning another round of expansion now. Currently, we're exploring the acquisition of a few small to mid-sized specialty drug manufacturers..."

As Matthew continued laying out details of the acquisition strategy—plans that sounded well-developed, though Arabella had never heard a word about them—she could only stare in surprise.

Robert's expression shifted, a hint of disappointment showing. "This is what you wanted to tell me?"

"Yes," Matthew replied calmly. "What else would it be?"

"Since when do you run your company decisions by me?" Robert grumbled, not hiding his dissatisfaction.

"Normally I wouldn't, but since you were aware of our initial move into pharmaceuticals, I thought you should be kept in the loop," Matthew explained evenly.

Robert could only shoot him a frustrated look. "Hmph."