Chapter 4 Wrong Assurance

After she left, he moved closer with a furrowed brow and a mysterious expression.

“Luke? Is this what I am thinking?”

“It is exactly what you are thinking, William.” Luke nodded with an abashed face.

“I am sorry, I know you told me to focus on career first but I.. couldn’t bring myself to stop...,”

That experience of falling in love and holding the desire to have her was new for Luke and he loved it.

He prayed his brother would understand.

“I see,”  William paused.

“I hope you are not angry, William,”

Losing in deep ponderings but soon sighed, forcing a faint smile as he gave his shoulder a soft pat before walking away,

“Bless you.”

For the time being, William controlled himself and his emotions and decided to focus solely on the wedding.

He must, else seeing them will drive him insane yet it was hard, extremely hard to ignore the couple under the same roof, testing his barely existing patience.

‘I shouldn’t have returned, stopping, controlling, understanding, none of it exists for me,”

“Tsk, I will lose my mind here,”

Cursing, he decided to get some fresh air at night, being alone in the room was worsening his state.

To his content, he found Arabella on the rooftop, staring at the moon with a deep fondness, imagining the day her and Luke will marry.

And the man who was unable to disregard her from his mind, stared at her with the same mesmerization.

“How angelic…” He whispered to himself, leaning on the wall against his shoulder.

Control?

What was that?

It never lived for him ever since he latched his heart to her domain. He would willingly halt time and locked his eyes secretly on her for hours.

‘Look at me this way too for once.’

He prayed, holding a desire he knew which might not be fulfilled… ever.

She was unknowingly sending unquenchable yearning to his core. He had no idea what this woman was doing to him but whatever it was, he absolutely adored it.

He let her intoxicate him without her recognition.

After satisfying his heart, he called her in a low, softer voice, “Imagining about my brother?”

She shivered when William’s tone came, recalling the events that distressed her, she slowly turned to him.

Again, no eye-contact.

“When did you come? I- I will go-”

Moving back quickly, she turned to leave but in a split second, his tall and toned body was before her, immobilizing her to find him standing too close to her.

“Why are you in a rush to run away whenever I come?” He asked in a husky tone, holding a gentle expression, he closed their gap.

“Do I scare you, Arabella?”

Her breaths were becoming rough, holding her shirt from the front while pressing herself against the railing.

“Or you are deliberately avoiding me?”

She nodded beautifully, “If I am being honest, both,”

It sent a satisfactory shiver down his spine, indulging in merest two seconds of being alone with her which he regarded as a blessing.

“Really?”

He raised an eyebrow, the unfathomable smirk not leaving his thick lips.

Lowering her gaze, she continued, “Yeah, you know Luke… he is possessive, he doesn’t let me.. Plus.. You look… intimidating now. You have changed, a lot, William.”

At her innocent reply, he couldn’t help but to chuckle, darkly. Her heart skipped a beat at the sound and to enhance her startle, he also held the railing with one hand.

“Maybe because I have-” Whispering dangerously, he leaned forward, to the point his shadow was combined with her, stopping right at her ears, "-Become dangerous,"

Stiffening the girl who failed to comprehend what must be going through his mind.

“I-I  should go.”

Mumbling, she was about to leave his proximity which he couldn’t allow to happen. He questioned unwillingly, just to make her stop.

“Are you sure Luke is devoted to you as much as you are, Arabella?”

“Yes. I trust him. Did he say anything to you?” She asked softly, stopping instantly.

“Not yet but I get the hints and I doubt if he would even tell me. Although I don’t see reasons for him to hide in the first place.”

Leaning against the railing and folding his arms at his chest, making his ripped muscles visible, he shrugged.

“Unless he is not serious,”

Wrapping her around his manipulative talks, his smirk grew when she expressed dismal, shaking her head in denial.

“No, no, that’s not it. I.. I told him not to, I am not comfortable,” She lied, defending her lover.

“I see…”

Biting her cheeks, she averted her gaze, rethinking about Luke’s words and they all said William knew Luke better than anyone.

She had blind trust, still it scared her for a second.

What if…?

“What happened? Where are you lost?” He called, snapping his fingers to get her attention.

“N-Nothing… I am just sad that Helena is leaving.”

“I agree but it shouldn’t be a problem for you. We have business in London too, soon you can be with her all you want.”

William replied nonchalantly, her face shone with a delightful anticipation, mouth gaping from elation.

“Really?!” She asked excitedly, the thought of coming to their home was enough to exhilarate her.

“Of course, Arabella. Do not be saddened. You are going to enter our home in the end after all,” He declared, lifting her mood.

Her heart skipped a beat, an unknown grin with a blush adorned her features. The words she wanted to hear desperately were spoken by him.

Just, not in the context she thought.

She failed to understand the hidden meaning behind his malevolent words and smiled purely that made William smirk vilely.

“Thank you, William, you have truly lessened a lot of stress for me,”

“Have a peaceful sleep then,”

“You too,”

Failing to notice the shining malice in his eyes, she looked down and walked away happily and he watched her with his desire growing wild by each passing second.

She left as he couldn’t help but to stare at her traces, serving as a fuel to his need.

With his hand over his heart, he leaned as his eyes darkened.

‘Of course you will come to this household… as mine.’

Those days where his soul used to tremble upon thinking of his brother’s anguish for stealing his lover were gone.

He had burned the paths of return. He came determined this time, he came with intentions to make her his.

Even if it would make him the most hated and selfish person ever…