Chapter 8 Find Arabella

Adrian woke up with a splitting headache as he rubbed his palm through his face before slowly opening his eyes.

He lay awake on the bed in the private bedroom within his office.

Bottles of booze lay on the floor by the bed as he had spent the past two days since Arabella left getting drunk and just being utterly miserable.

"Mr. Sterling." Gavin's voice came through the door. "The fraud case meeting is early tomorrow. You still haven't touched the files."

Adrian groaned, sitting up. "I'll handle it overnight."

He stretched his aching muscles, even though he'd barely done any strenuous work to get him so tired.

It felt like his mind was in a fog as he couldn't tell what was weighing him down.

Maybe he missed her?

He scoffed at the idea, dismissing it as fast as it came.

But when his phone buzzed and he picked it up, he realized the last thing he was staring at before he dozed off was an old picture of Arabella.

"Fuck!" He groaned.

As much as he hated it, he found himself staring at the picture a little too long again.

It was the picture he'd taken of her on her college graduation day.

Her smile was bright, open. She looked so young there, sunlight catching in her hair, joy radiating from her face...a smile that had slowly disappeared from her face over the years.

It shouldn't have surprised him to see how much of her brightness had dimmed over the years, but somehow it did.

As if he could pretend he didn't know what he did to drain the light from her eyes...what he did to tighten her smile into something cautious, then erased it altogether.

He suddenly slipped the phone into his pocket, inhaling sharply as he forced himself not to think too deeply into how he treated her over the years.

He wasn't looking for redemption. In fact he did everything just to make her leave. Forever.

But now that she was gone, why did it suddenly hurt?

He stood up and walked towards the large window overlooking the city from the 4th floor.

"You better live a good life, Petals." He mumbled partially to himself and partially to the wind that blew a lone tear down his cheek.

His phone buzzed again in his pocket, jolting him back as he quickly wiped off the tear and reached for it.

Another missed call from Serena among several other notifications.

He typed a short text, "Let's talk in the office tomorrow. I have an important case to prepare for. Take care of Axel."

He made to clear the notification bar, but something caught her attention.

An "Important" email from an unfamiliar sender.

The name caught his attention and he eventually opened it.

The email was brief, straightforward.

***

Hi,

This is an urgent reminder that the contents of your vault at EverGuard Secure Storage are scheduled for release. Please collect your items before 11:59 PM today, or arrange payment for an extension to avoid the items being discarded.

Thank you for your immediate attention.

Best regards...

***

He arched a brow in confusion because he'd never used the company's services before.

Surprisingly, this wasn't their first email.

When he checked the CC, he realized the message was forwarded to both him and his father.

His hands tightened around his phone as he realized his father might have included his email in the contact info.

He checked his phone.

6:30pm.

He sucked in a deep breath as he walked out of the bedroom to start reviewing his case file.

But as the hour went by, he couldn't stop himself from thinking about the email.

"What could be in the safe?" his mind constantly questioned.

When he checked the time again, 8:47pm. Less than four hours before the deadline.

He grabbed his jacket and car key, giving into his curiosity as he drove off.

When he arrived at the office, he was made to fill a few paperworks and a small fee before they handed over the key to him.

"Let us know if you wish for an extension," The vault operator said as she walked away after showing Adrian to the vault.

Adrian was hesitant, taking a few seconds to brace himself.

His relationship with his father had strained ever since the news of Arabella's pregnancy.

He felt like he was a disappointment. A sick perv who preyed on his own 'sister.'

And when his father forced the marriage, he thought it was just damage control. After all, his Dad cherished the family name a lot.

He stopped looking into his Dad's eyes since then...avoided him even.

And suddenly he was dead. Adrian felt guilty.

He needed closure. And maybe this was it.

Eventually, he opened the vault.

A bunch of files laid tired inside the vault. It'd been years, but they looked neat and perfectly in good shape.

Adrian's hand trembled around the edges of the paper as he held them.

'What are these?'

He wasn't sure what he was going to find, but he braced himself for disappointment.

He sat up on the floor to support his numb legs, his back relaxing on the vault as he finally opened the file.

By the third page, hot tears were already blurring his vision.

Inside the file were detailed documents on a secret case his Dad has been working on.

The Wrongful Arrest of Isabella Greene.

Arabella's real mother.

His heart thudded wildly in his chest.

All the secret meetings with Arabella, the lengthy phone calls, the hushed conversation that made his mom believe Arabella had been scheming for the company shares were nothing but innocent case readings?

His Dad was just trying to find her family?

When he got to the last page, it was Arabella's adoption nullification papers.

The date...Adrian's eyes widened.

His Dad had actually nullified her adoption three months before the one night stand? Before his secret feeling even became public debate. Why?

A note fell and with much hesitation, he picked it up reading through it.

***

Damn! I died before I could discuss this with you?

***

As he read the first line, a lone tear trickled down his eyes.

This line alone meant he was anticipating his death. But why? Could it not be a simple accident as they had always thought? Or was it just instinct?

***

I must have been a terrible father not to notice how you look at her. I saw your diary, son. You're not sick. I'd say you're brave even. Loving someone 'forbidden' is never easy. I'm sorry for making you feel that way. So I have nullified her adoption. She's not your sister anymore.

I just feel horrible that you don't find me worthy enough to open up to. You used to tell me everything. How did we become like this?

That aside, can you do me a favour? Look into this case file. It might lead to a dead end, but that innocent girl deserves to know her family if they are still alive.

Just be discreet. The people behind this case might be more dangerous than I anticipated.

Promise me you will protect her at all costs, but drop the case if it gets too risky.

No matter what, you will always be my son. I love you.

***

Adrian curled into his fetal position, each line hitting with the slow, sick weight of a punch he never saw coming.

It should have felt like relief-proof that he wasn't a disappointment to his father.

But all Adrian felt was pain. A raw, twisting ache that settled under his ribs, refusing to loosen.

For over five years, he'd hurt Arabella for his own guilt. Covered it up by calling her a gold digger. And now even tore an innocent mother and child apart just to hide his own shame.

And now his father just told him he wasn't wrong for loving her.

The guilt was instant and suffocating. He'd let his father down horribly.

But maybe he still had a chance. To redeem himself. To get Arabella back. To create their happy family. The one his father always envisioned.

He hurriedly grabbed his phone and dialed Gavin's number.

It rang once. Twice.

"Find Arabella." His voice shook but his resolve was firm. "I don't care what it takes. Find her. NOW."