When he came back, his handsome face was extremely gloomy. In a cold voice he asked, "You did that
on purpose, didn't you?"Alrabella was shocked. "Did what?"
"Chloe tried to commit suicide. What did you say to her?"
Alrabella's heart was roaring. A few seconds later, she regained her voice. "I didn't know she was
Chloe. She said she was your sister, so I thought she was your cousin. I just said you were showering."Reginard stared at her coldly and silently, then pulled open the wardrobe door. He took out clothes
and started getting dressed.Fully dressed, he strode out.
Hearing the commotion, Lord Reginard came out and asked, "Where are you two going so late?"
Reginard said in a low voice, "I have something to deal with."
"What might that be?"
"Chloe's hospitalized, I'm going to see how she is."
Lord Reginard called towards the guest room, "Alrabella, go with him!"
The old lord's word was law.
Alrabella could not defy him. "Yes, Grandfather." She quickly got dressed and left with Reginard.
After driving through an intersection, Alrabella said, "You can drop me off at any hotel along the
way."Reginard's hands gripped the steering wheel tightly, eyes fixed straight ahead. "Come now, you can
explain things to Chloe."Alrabella's heart instantly grew heavy.
Although mild-mannered and averse to arguments, she still had her principles.
This wasn't her fault at all, what was there to explain?
Sensing her displeasure, Reginard freed a hand to gently ruffle her hair, his tone gentle as he
said, "Chloe has severe depression. Just oblige me this once."An hour later, the two arrived at Chloe's hospital room.
She had just gotten her stomach pumped and lay weakly in bed, complexion ghastly pale. Her hair was
disheveled, and her body under the blanket appeared shrunken and frail.When Alrabella first clearly saw Roxley's appearance, she was completely stunned.
Alrabella gazed upon Chloe's palm-sized, pale face, so alike his own.
She could not specify exactly where the resemblance lay, only that at a glance they appeared
uncannily similar.One would have to look more closely to distinguish them.
Upon delicate discernment,
Chloe was the dainty version, with arched brows, a slight frown between them, petite nostrils, and
cherry lips. Her features had a glass-like fragility.By comparison, Alrabella exuded an air of serenity and composure, as well as a resilience ingrained
in her bones.Only now did Alrabella realize she had been a stand-in of sorts for Chloe.
She gave a wry smile.
No wonder three years ago he had agreed to the marriage after but a single glance at her - the
reason lay here."Reginard, you've come," Chloe's mother Olivia Jones greeted him with a strained voice.
When her gaze swept over Alrabella however, it was less than friendly.
Reginard gave a slight nod in response.
Olivia went to the bedside and gently patted Chloe's shoulder. "Chloe, Reginard's here to see you."
Chloe slowly opened her eyes, her gaze passing over Alrabella's face without much surprise.
As if she had long known of their similar appearance.
Tearfully she looked at Reginard, her voice weak and feeble. "Brother Reginard, I didn't try to
commit suicide. I just couldn't sleep and took too many sleeping pills. Mom overreacted, insisting on bringing me here." It's so late, and I've troubled you and Alrabella to make the trip here. I'm truly sorry."Olivia reproached in a choked voice, "Just a few pills you took? You swallowed half the bottle! If
I hadn't discovered in time, you would have..."She covered her mouth, sobbing.
Reginard went to sit by the bedside.
He gazed down at Chloe, his tone carrying a hint of reproach as he said, "Don't do anything so
foolish again, do you understand?""I understand," Chloe pouted, blinking away her tears as she nodded meekly, the picture of obedient
frailty.Reginard took a handkerchief and carefully dabbed away the tears from the corners of her eyes, his
actions as gentle as if handling the most precious porcelain.He looked at her with a gaze as tender as water, full of compassion.
Alrabella watched numbly.
Three years married, and he had never been so tender with her.
This was likely the difference between love and lack of it.
Even though Chloe had abandoned him at his most difficult time, he still loved her.
Perhaps for some men, no other woman's devotion mattered except that of the one who tormented him.
She felt as if a fishbone was lodged in her throat.
Alrabella could bear it no longer. "You two chat, I'm leaving first."
Hearing her words, Reginard glanced back at her, his expression extremely bland. "Explain things to
Chloe before you go."Alrabella took a deep breath and said, "Miss Chloe, Reginard and I were only pretending to..."
Her throat choked up and she could not continue. She turned and walked away.
This was the first time she had defied Reginard.
It was also the first time she had lost composure before him.
After the door closed, Chloe said to Reginard, "Hurry and go after Alrabella, she seems angry."
Reginard was silent a moment. "It's fine, she won't be angry."
"Then her temper really is quite good," Chloe said faintly. "I didn't expect Sister Alrabella to
have such a nice disposition, so gentle and graceful, not at all like someone from a small village. I'd thought she wasn't suited to you."Reginard felt somewhat uncomfortable hearing this. "Although she grew up in a small village, her
mother and grandmother were teachers, and grandfather was an antique book and painting restorer at a museum before retiring, so they were quite scholarly.""I see, that makes sense."
The two suddenly had nothing more to say.
After a brief silence, Chloe carefully probed, "Sister Alrabella is so pretty, and has such a good
temper too. You must love her a lot, right?"Reginard lowered his head to look at his phone, distracted. Hearing her words, he glanced up and
asked, "What did you say just now?"Disappointment flashed in Chloe's eyes. "You should still take Alrabella home. It's late now, not
safe for a lady alone."Reginard stood up. "I'll take her back, then come see you again."
Chloe said softly, "Then go quickly."
Reginard left.
Watching his departing back, Chloe's gaze darkened slightly.
By the time Reginard found Alrabella, she was nearly at the hospital gates.
Her slender, upright figure seemed ephemeral in the biting spring wind, beautiful as bamboo in an
ink painting.Reginard quickened his pace to catch up to her.
The two walked shoulder to shoulder without speaking, silent as the pitch black night.
Alrabella turned a corner, about to hail a taxi at the roadside.
Reginald grabbed Arabella's wrist and pulled her towards the car park."Get in the car."Reginald took a card out of his bag and shoved it into the pocket of Arabella's coat, "I was out of order tonight, this is a bit of compensation. The password's your birthday."Arabella felt somewhat humiliated.In his eyes, she was someone who could be easily fobbed off with money. He wouldn't even bother to sweet talk her.He only sweet talks Chloe.Arabella reached into her pocket to take the card out.Reginald put his hand over hers, his tone low and brooking no argument, "Keep it. Apart from money, I've got nothing else to give you."Arabella felt as though her heart was stuffed with sand, abrasively uncomfortable.What she had always wanted was never his money.They were halfway through their journey.Reginald received a phone call from his grandmother: "Are you ignoring what I said? Get back here immediately.""Nearly home," Reginald replied flatly and then rang off.Back at the Tho
Arabella estimated that the car had been driving for a long time before finally coming to a stop.She was taken to an old and dilapidated tower.Climbing the stairs to the fourth floor.The door opened, and in the center of the room was a large red table with a safe on top.A man approached, opened the safe, and retrieved a painting.The painting was approximately one and a half meters long, very ancient, severely damaged, having lost much of its original imagery, requiring extensive restoration.Arabella carefully examined the painting. Its style was remarkably beautiful and bold.In the foreground, rugged mountain peaks stood tall, majestic and magnificent, contrasting sharply with the eternal rocks against the vast azure sky. In the distance, rolling green hills undulated under nature's brush, their treetops adorned with the golden and crimson hues of autumn, decorating the slopes. Nestled in a secluded canyon shrouded in silver mist, faintly visible thatched stone houses evoked
The dog in the yard continued to bark incessantly.In the chaos, the bald man saw an opportunity to escape but was surrounded by the police and pinned to the floor. The painting was taken from his hands, and handcuffs were placed on him.Arabella's hands still gripped the window frame as she stared blankly at Reginald, who held a gun.It had been three years since they got married, and she had no idea he could shoot, let alone with such precision.In that moment of crisis just now, if his shot had been a little faster, slower, or off-target, it could have caused her fatal harm.Reginald tossed aside the gun and walked over, lifting her from the windowsill into his arms.He delicately tended to the wound on her neck.He held Arabella tightly against his chest, gently rubbing her pale, terrified face with his icy fingertips, asking tenderly, "Scared out of your wits?"Arabella nodded weakly in affirmation.Just moments ago, she felt death closing in, narrowly escaping its clutches. Her
Chloe's smile faded. She sat down beside him, her blue eyes shimmering with a wounded glint. "Are you still mad at me? I've apologized time and again for that heartbreaking breakup message I sent to Mother. You know she sent me to Switzerland, and there were a few burly guys following me day and night." Her voice quivered. "Not being able to call you was awful. I miss you so much."Reginald's gaze softened, and he awkwardly patted her shoulder. "I know it's not your fault, dear."Chloe wiped her eyes gently with a lace handkerchief, looking up at him with pleading eyes. "Then why have you been avoiding me?"Reginald made a playful face. "The divorce isn't finalized yet. Coming here so late, people might talk."As Chloe's hand crept up his thigh, Reginald squinted his eyes. "This is going too far now. It's completely out of bounds."Chloe simply gazed at him through lowered lashes. "I don't care what people think, darling. I'm here now, so let's make the most of it, shall we?"Reginald
The card delivery driver said, "Madam, this is compensation from Mr. Reginald. The password is your birthday."Arabella smiled ruefully at the card.Money was good, of course, but sometimes giving money was a subtle insult.She pushed the card back. “Tell him I'm not lacking funds.”"Mrs. MrReginald asks that you accept this token. He bids me convey this message - seeing is not necessarily believing. Whatever decision you make, he will respect it.”“I understand.”After the man left, Arabella sat quietly for a while before tidying up to go to a nearby restaurant for luncheon.Stepping outside, she bumped into Chloe dressed all in white with a worried mien.Chloe was holding a bouquet of white roses. She said gently, “Arabella, might we have a chat?”Arabella reined in her emotions and gazed calmly at her for a few seconds. “Very well.”The two ladies proceeded to a nearby western-style restaurant.After sitting down, Chloe placed the flowers on the table, tenderly caressing the soft r
The restaurant patrons had originally been distracted by Chloe and Allison's altercation. However, upon Reginald's entrance, all eyes turned to admire this striking gentleman. His height was accentuated by the bespoke black suit that skimfully graced his frame. An air of refinement clung to him that bespoke quality and taste seldom witnessed nowadays. He compelled fascination – once glimpsed, he could not easily be ignored or dismissed from one’s notice.Upon seeing him, Chloe's eyes lit up, and she hurried over to him, choking back sobs, "Reggie!"Reginald frowned, "What are you doing here?"Chloe's eyes turned red. Pitifully, she explained, "I wanted to talk to Arabella and explain what happened last night, but before we could talk much, she insulted me, and Allison even slapped me."She pointed to her swollen cheek, pouting, "It hurts so much."Reginald glanced at Arabella, "Is what she's saying true?"Arabella laughed. She hadn't expected Reginald's love interest to be such a guy—
She grew up in the countryside of Yorkshire with her grandparents, and her favorite pastime was exploring the wild daisies, dandelions, irises, and sunflowers near their cottage.She had no affection for these exotic imported roses because they seemed too high-maintenance to enjoy.Buying so many was purely malicious.As they neared the entrance to the Treasures of Yesteryear antique shop, Arabella suddenly stopped and said, "You don't need to accompany me any further."Reginald furrowed his brow slightly. "Afraid your colleagues will see us together?""We're destined to divorce anyway, aren't we?" Her voice trembled ever so slightly, her heart quivering.The edge of this painful ordeal felt like being peeled by a dull knife.Reginald fell silent for a moment, halting his steps, wordlessly watching her retreating figure, his gaze as deep as a calm water surface.At the entrance to Treasures of Yesteryear, Arabella encountered the store manager, Cosmo Harrington.He chuckled. "Such bea
The door opened, and a person walked in. Oval-faced, with delicate and beautiful features, she was dressed in a white off-shoulder lace blouse, tucked into a tight pencil skirt, adorned with a full set of Cartier jewelry. She had her arms draped in a Chanel coat and held an Hermès handbag.It was Chloe.Upon seeing her, Reginard's expression cooled slightly. "What are you doing here?"Chloe swayed her slender waist, elegantly walking behind Reginard. She draped her arm over the back of his chair, leaned down, and her red lips almost brushed against his earlobe. "I heard Reggie was dining here, so I thought I'd come by to say hello."Reginard rubbed his ear as her warm breath made it itch. He turned his head slightly, avoiding the sensation. Seeing that she had no intention of leaving, he said casually, "Take a seat.""Thank you, dear Reginard." Chloe pulled out a chair and sat down, draping her coat over the backrest.The waiter quickly brought her a set of utensils.Reginard slid the