Chapter 3 This is Where it Ends

The crowd pressed in around her, but Arabella barely felt them.

Everything sounded distant-like she was underwater.

Cameras flashed. Voices shouted. Her name echoed again and again.

But her mind was somewhere else entirely... stuck on the thought of bringing shame to what Victor cherished most-the Sterling name.

Her fingers trembled at her sides, cold despite the heat of the crowd.

A faint ringing filled her ears. Her heart thudded unevenly, like it couldn't decide whether to keep going or give up.

For once, she wondered, "How have I ever offended Serena?"

For Adrian and Catherine, she could fathom their hatred. It came from the company shares Victor had used to force Adrian into the marriage. And subsequently, his death.

But Serena was different. Yes, Arabella had loved him first, but he'd chosen Serena. He'd always chosen Serena

So why? Why was she bent on humiliating Arabella at every chance she got?

Arabella wanted to scream. She wanted to run... to just disappear.

But she couldn't move. Couldn't speak. Couldn't even breathe.

"Please stop!" Serena's voice cut through the chaos like a sword, bringing momentary silence to the room and snapping Arabella out of her daze.

Serena locked eyes with Catherine, whispering something between them.

Then she walked up to Adrian on the podium, gently rubbing his clenched fist. "Don't worry, Adrian. I've got you," she whispered.

"On behalf of the entire Sterling Group, I apologise for the disruption," she began, her voice calm, commanding, and convincing.

"I know there have been a lot of whispers surrounding us," she paused, linking hands with Adrian, who looked like he was barely recovering from the shock. "Especially since we've never publicly talked about our child."

She swept her gaze around the room before letting it land on Arabella, who was still trembling with fear. "Adrian and I had Axel through surrogacy, and Arabella helped us carry him."

Her words sounded so certain that Arabella doubted herself for a moment.

Then a reporter asked, "So why is Ms. Arabella claiming him as her son?"

Serena looked up at Adrian, who was already looking down at her, unsure of what she was planning.

She then looked at Catherine, exchanging a slight nod, before turning back to the reporters.

"It is with utmost regret that I announce Arabella Sterling has been mentally unstable for a while now."

Blood drained from Arabella's face as she clenched her dress tightly.

She looked up at them, and their gazes were already fixed on her.

The initial shock on Adrian's face vanished the moment he caught Arabella's gaze.

One corner of Serena's mouth lifted in a mocking curl, as if daring Arabella to correct her.

Murmurs erupted within the crowd-some critical, others filled with sympathy.

Reporters immediately followed with questions.

"Is this true?"

"Mr. Sterling, can you say a word about this?"

Arabella looked up at Adrian, her eyes filled with hope.

Maybe... just maybe he would say something in her favour.

But before he could open his mouth, a feminine voice cut in.

"Serena is right."

Catherine wheeled toward Arabella, drawing everyone's attention.

"After causing such a terrible accident that destroyed our family forever, Arabella has become more and more delusional by the day."

She looked directly at Arabella as she added, "Anything to steal the inheritance from its rightful owner."

The flashes intensified, as did the questions.

Everyone knew about the accident, but the accusations that followed were wild, adding fuel to the tension in the room.

"Mrs. Sterling, what do you mean by that?"

"How did it happen?"

Serena stepped forward, positioning herself just behind Catherine's wheelchair.

"Why don't you ask the gold digger who is trying so hard to seduce her own 'brother' and marry into the family that raised her?"

"Or better still," she paused, the curl on her lips unmistakable as she glanced from Arabella to the child beside her.

Arabella's eyes widened as she immediately understood what Serena was about to do.

"No... not Axel. Don't drag him into this..." her heart pounded violently

But her pleas fell on deaf ears.

"...ask my son who his real mother is."

Camera flashes exploded as attention turned back to Arabella and Axel.

Reporters shouted over one another.

"Ms. Sterling, how long have you been ill?"

"Young Sterling, can you tell us who your mom is?"

"Are you seducing your brother?"

The questions were endless, but no one seemed to care.

Arabella pulled Axel close, shielding his face from the flashing lights.

She was lost, barely gasping for air. The only thing stopping her from breaking down was the child in her arms.

Just as she felt herself about to collapse, Axel wiggled free from her grip.

Arabella's breath went shallow, her lips trembling as she tried to hold him back, but he moved away.

His eyes were red with tears as he stood amid the crowd. This was nothing a five-year-old should have to endure, yet none of the adults around him seemed to care.

"Axie," Serena called gently, though the smile on her face was strained and brittle.

His hands curled into the sleeves of his jacket, fingers disappearing as if he wanted to hide them, before he ran to Serena and wrapped his arms around her.

"That woman is crazy. She is not my mom," he said quickly, glancing over his shoulder.

Arabella felt the words strike her chest; sharp, precise, right where it hurt most.

The murmurs around the room faded into distant noise.

For a moment, she didn't move. Didn't breathe. Her body went still the way it did when something inside her cracked and she couldn't afford to let it show.

It was one thing for him to favour Serena at home, but to denounce her in public? She never thought she would live to see this day.

"Do you have no shame?"

"Are you after the company?"

The questions were cruel, the murmurs accusatory-and she stood in the middle of it all.

The noise overwhelmed her, her legs too weak to keep her standing.

Just as she started to lose her balance, Adrian's voice cut through the chaos.

"Enough!"

And it stopped.

The questions, the noise, the flashes- all fell into silence as Adrian pushed through the crowd and stopped in front of Arabella.

A glimmer of hope sparked in her eyes.

Maybe he was going to help her. Tell everyone she wasn't crazy, that Axel was their child.

"Adrian..."

Adrian turned sharply, lifting Axel into his arms before facing the crowd.

"I do not want to see pictures of my son or..." he paused, glancing over his shoulder, "...Arabella outside of this room." His voice was sharp and commanding. "This is our family's business, which I do not wish to make public."

Gavin Bush, Adrian's personal assistant, immediately stepped forward to address the crowd, though his eyes lingered on Arabella's trembling form for a moment longer than necessary.

Adrian then walked back to Arabella, leaning in close, his voice dropping to a whisper.

"This is where it ends, Arabella."

His tone was calm, but it sent a chill down her spine.

As she watched the two most important people in her life walk away, Arabella's vision blurred.

The floor tilted.

And then she was falling.

The sound of her body hitting marble echoed through the hall.

Adrian paused mid-stride. For one brief moment, his shoulders tensed.

He glanced back.

Their eyes met.

Then he tightened his grip on Axel and walked out.

And Arabella, lying on the cold floor surrounded by strangers and cameras, finally understood.

He was never going to save her.