Chapter 4 Who's the real victim

Grandpa Sinclair sat in his study smoking his pipe angrily.

His butler entered his study and bowed "Sir, I don't think you should smoke, because of your health," the butler said sincerely.

"Don't, that man is .... I warned him not to hurt my granddaughter". He hit his hand on the table, trembling angrily.

"I think it's a contract marriage" the butler said and moved closer to grandpa Sinclair to protect him Incase he flair up.

"Why won't I know? Arabella was hurt after that fool Enzo left her. I should know my granddaughter" he said.

The butler was shocked to his bone. So he did not decline his daughter having a contract marriage.

"Do you think it's healthy to have a contract marriage?" the butler questioned.

"Arabella loves that fool" he replied. The butler sighed.

"What should we do" the butler asked grandpa Sinclair.

"I know what to do" grandpa Sinclair said with a smirk. The butler moved away from him. Who could guess what was going through this old man's head?

The butler walked out of the study and met Eliza standing at the door.

"Miss Thompson" the butler bowed, Eliza looked at the door, ignoring the butler, "grandpa Sinclair is not ready to talk to anyone". The butler blocked the door.

" He thinks I'm here for his property", Eliza mocked.

Catherine and Eliza are the daughters of grandpa Sinclair's only daughter.

Arabella Sinclair is the daughter of grandpa Sinclair's son. So she's the rightful owner of the Sinclair property.

Grandpa Sinclair gave twenty percent of the family shares to Catherine and Eliza.

The Sinclair family own seventy-five percent, Arabella should be the owner of the remaining fifty-five percent, but grandpa Sinclair is not ready to give her the company without her getting married.

He wants her to have a family of her own. But it seems the man is not ready to show her love.

Grandpa Sinclair was worried, but he had plans to teach the fool a lesson.

Arabella walked out of her office with Kelly and James. Jake had no choice but to follow her.

He entered the car, and sat beside Arabella looking a little ashamed.

Arabella noticed this and smiled, "Do you think I'll hold you responsible?" she asked. He looked at her, unsure of what to say.

"I'm sorry for judging you wrongly, I was just angry" he looked down in embarrassment.

Arabella looked at him, he was not that bad. Once in love, he's ready to do anything for his love.

But he's not ready to give his heart to her, and she's not in a hurry to get that. She'll get that slowly.

Jake and Arabella go to a chic boutique to select attire for the company's anniversary.

As they browsed, Jake spotted Emily across the store. Her eyes met his with mixed emotions. A mixture of surprise and sorrow.

Before he could react, Arabella noticed too. She stormed over to Emily, her voice rising in anger.

"Are you following us around? How dare you show your face after what you've done" Arabella shouted, her voice sharp and cutting.

Everyone in the boutique turned and stared at Emily. The mistress.

"Can't believe she still has the guts to show her face here."

"Is she not scared of the gods' wrath?"

"So shameless", the people in the boutique gossiped.

Emily flinched, looking hurt and embarrassed. Jake felt a surge of protectiveness rise within him.

Despite Arabella's presence, he couldn't bear to see Emily humiliated like that.

He rushed over to Arabella's side, placing a gentle but firm hand on her arm.

Arabella turned to him in confusion, pain flashing in her eyes. "Jake, she deserves to know what she did wrong", Arabella explained.

She never expected Jake to be like this outside. Did he care about his reputation at all?

Jake shook his head, his heart heavy. "Maybe, but this isn't the way, I can't do this".

He looked back at Emily, who stood there, tears welling in her eyes. Jake knows he shouldn't be doing this because of the people here, but he can't control it.

He turned to Arabella. "We've talked about this". He made his decision clear to Arabella.

Arabella stood there unsure of what she was feeling. Everyone was shocked at what was happening.

Is Arabella the third party? Did she come between them because of her money? Then Emily is the real victim, not Arabella.

The people in the boutique gossiped. Kelly moved closer to Jake. "Sir, you can't leave our madam here". He tried to talk sense into his head, but Jake was blinded.

He felt sorry for Arabella. He wouldn't lie, but Emily was also a victim.

With that, he walked over to Emily, leaving Arabella standing there in the boutique, a mixture of shock and resignation on her face.

He walked out of the boutique with Emily. Emily was shivering and crying at the same time.

"No go back to her Jake, she's your wife". Emily cried. Jake hugged her tightly. He wants to protect her.

Catherine looked at Jake and Emily from her car and smiled.

"Arabella will know the pain of losing her love for the second time" she smirked.

" Emily is such a good actress, she should get an award if she acts really well" she smiled.

Emily acted really naturally. What a pity! Catherine drove off.

Grandpa Sinclair threw away his tab. "These reporters need to be sued."

His butler looked at the news and sighed, what's this? Obviously, Arabella and Jake got married, but how did Arabella become the third party?

Those hungry old shareholders would have a reason to vote against Arabella. Is she stupid?

Jake is the stupid one, he should get some guys to go beat the hell out of him.

"Call Arabella" grandpa Sinclair yelled angrily. It was obvious he wanted to scold her. He so much cherished Arabella, but scolding her? The butler felt sorry for her.

Arabella sat on the bed and curled up sadly. James and Kelly looked at her and sighed.

" You're Arabella Sinclair, you should give up on Jake" Kelly said angrily. It was two hours and Jake didn't call to check on her.

"Kelly, I thought even if he doesn't love me at least he'll care" she cried painfully. Kelly's eyes started welling in tears.

James stood trying his best not to cry because he had to console both ladies.

"I've lost twice. I'm destined to die alone", she questioned Kelly. Kelly shook her head.

"No, you haven't found your Mr right, okay" Kelly wasn't sure, but she just had to console her.

Jake read the news and sighed. He looked at Evans, who was ignoring him. " I didn't know it would affect her company's shares", Jake tried to explain.

"She's not picking her calls", Evans gritted his teeth. "I'll go to opals garden to check up on her" he took the car key from the bed.

"Evans, Emily is a victim too. She was wrong about falling in love with Mark, but she realizes her mistake now", Jake said.

Evans laughed. Anyone would think Jake had been hypnotized.

"Do your wish, I'm going to check up on Arabella because she's a victim too. She knows nothing about it but why is she the one suffering", Evans yelled.

Jake clenched his fist. Arabella is a victim, but she's rich, but if Emily loses everything she'll be nothing. She's the most pitiful victim.

" You're not saying anything? Well, I hope Emily dumped you again. Fool!" He yelled and walked out.

Jake sat down on the bed. Yes, Arabella knows nothing about his stupid love life with Emily. She shouldn't suffer.

He got up and opened the door, he had to go check up on her when his phone rang.

He picked up his call without thinking twice when he saw the caller.

" Hello director Falon" Jake was scared of the outcome. This is his first movie, and it's really a black stain on his career.

"Let's continue shooting after you sort this out" he hung up.

Jake sighed softly, at least he still had a chance. He needs to clear this up quickly.

He went to the car park and entered his car. Arabella's face at the boutique replayed in his head. He warned her not to fall in love with him.

Such a gullible woman. Now she's facing the consequences.

Little snow looked at Emily in disgust. She can't do anything because she's scared. She wished she could tell Jake about her selfishness.

"I got invited to the Sinclair family party", Emily laughed. She thought Catherine thought highly of her and invited her.

But who would have thought Grandpa Sinclair wanted to see the pest disturbing his favorite granddaughter?

Emily picked a dress for that day. She was really happy. She knows how to play her cards really well.

Grandpa Sinclair sighed after thirty minutes. " Are you sure she'll be fine", he asked the butler.

He was scared something would happen to his favorite granddaughter. He wants her to be fine.

" Get the car ready, I need to go to Opals Garden" he declared. He walked out of the house with the assistance of his stick.

Arabella was soaked in the bathtub. Kelly tried to drag her out, but she couldn't. James was getting scared and worried.

" You can't hurt yourself, ma'am, he doesn't deserve it", James explained.

"I need to wash the bad luck out of my body" Arabella screamed, scrubbing her body.

Her body became red, but she continued to scrub without caring about the side effects.

The door of her bedroom burst open, all the guards in opals garden entered with Grandpa Sinclair.

Grandpa Sinclair was shocked to see his favorite granddaughter in pain.

"Arabella", he calmed down, and moved closer to her. His heart was in immense pain. He could not describe what he was feeling at that moment, but he knew he was in pain.

He hugged Arabella's cold body and wiped her tears. His eyes welled up in tears, just like when his son died too.

"Grandpa, I'm I cursed" Arabella questioned in pain. " Is that why mom and dad left me" she questioned.

Grandpa Sinclair could feel his heart squeezing. He was in tears already. He had never felt so much pain in all his life, but now he couldn't control his tears.

Arabella was a strong girl, even when her parents left her, she didn't break down to this extent.

When Enzo decided to marry his cousin Catherine, she didn't break down to this extent.

He should have noticed that she was only trying to be strong. He should have noticed that she was down already and couldn't hold on any longer.

He still handed her the company's responsibility instead of letting her enjoy her life and health slowly.

He is responsible for the pain she's going through. He will never forgive himself.

His butler was shocked and safe at the same time.

James couldn't control himself and broke down in tears. He was sad for her. He once thought she was cursed, because how would both her parents die on the same day?

But right now, James knew she was just a little girl trying to forget her pain and be strong.

"Where's Jake" grandpa Sinclair asked angrily.

"No grandpa, don't punish him. He told me, but I was blinded", Arabella explained in tears, still hugging her grandpa.

"What's wrong baby", her grandpa called her. It is since he called her that.

He stopped calling her that after her parents died so she would grow up, but who would have thought she needed that so much?

"I met him once when I went to see Eliza at her place of shooting, he only played a minor role and I fell for him. I told James to follow him and inform me of his daily routine", she said in tears, as if regretting her decision.

James hung his head down in shame. Who could have thought Jake would hurt her ? He thought Jake was a responsible man.

"I was happy when they broke up, but who would have thought he still loved her this much" she cried. Her heart was breaking. She was broke.

Grandpa Sinclair could not control his tears, he had failed to protect his favorite granddaughter.

What is money if a nobody like Jake can make his daughter this broken? What is power if his granddaughter can't find love?

He felt down because he had failed to protect his baby, but instead, he added to her responsibility by giving her the company.

"I'm ready to let him go" Arabella said and hugged her grandpa tightly, knowing he was her only protector.

Kelly choked up, she had always loved Arabella for her courage, but who would have thought she'd been keeping up for a long time?

Evans stood at the door unsure of what he felt. He sent the video to Jake. At least if he was human, he would know what to do.

He turned and left opals garden in tears. He needed to chill and take care of his emotions.

" It's not your fault baby, grandpa failed to protect you. I'll do whatever it takes to protect you. Just tell me the problem, okay", grandpa Sinclair hugged her shivering body.

" Bring her to the bedroom" he ordered. James carried Arabella to the bedroom and lay her on the bed.

Grandpa Sinclair and his butler walked out of the room with the guards. James followed, leaving Kelly to change her clothes.

"I failed in protecting that little girl" he said, and sat down.

His butler was shocked. He had never seen Grandpa Sinclair in tears. Even when he lost his son and daughter-in-law, he did not shed tears.

Arabella is the victim. It's not her fault she's in love.

"Those shareholders want to hold an impromptu meeting", grandpa Sinclair's butler was scared and worried.

"Decline it" grandpa Sinclair declared. His butler nodded, not sure what was going through his head.

Jake was in his car for minutes as he turned on the ignition to start driving, he was surrounded by darkness...is he getting killed?