No More Picking Up His Pieces Chapter 03

No More Picking Up His Pieces Chapter 03 Don’t Beg Her Back
By the time Arabella dragged her suitcase through the gates of the Kingston mansion, the wind in the courtyard had begun to pick up.

It was late, but the lights at the entrance still blazed against the night.

Arabella carried her bag in one hand and pulled her suitcase with the other, walking so fast it was as if slowing down for even a second might cost her the resolve to keep going.

Footsteps followed almost at once, quick and heavy. She knew who it was without turning around.

Maxwell caught up and grabbed the suitcase handle. “Arabella.”

Her grip tightened. “Let go.”

Maxwell had rushed after her, and his breathing had not quite settled, but he still kept his voice low. “How long are you planning to keep this up tonight?”

She turned to him and let out a sudden laugh. “You chased me all the way out here just to say that?”

He held her gaze, his expression grim. “Come back inside with me.”

“Back inside?” Arabella tilted her head. “So your family can decide how to use me to clean up this mess?”

A muscle jumped in Maxwell’s jaw. “Do you have to put it like that?”

“Yes.” She nodded. “You all made it ugly first. I don’t owe you a nicer version.”

Maxwell’s face went livid, but his hand stayed locked around the suitcase handle.

Arabella looked down at his grip, then let go without warning. Before he could react, she stepped closer, closing the distance between them.

She was close enough for him to catch the faint trace of sandalwood still lingering in her hair.

Arabella looked up at him, her voice light and cool. “Maxwell, are you really that afraid I’ll leave tonight?”

His throat worked once. “I’m scared you’ll do something crazy.”

Arabella gave a short laugh. “Fine. Then watch.”

As soon as the words left her mouth, she lifted her foot and kicked the suitcase hard.

The suitcase shot forward and slammed into the courtyard gate with a bang, startling the staff on night duty near the entrance.

Maxwell’s voice turned sharp. “Arabella.”

Her eyes were still red, but her smile was almost bright. “There. That’s crazy.”

She turned toward the gate, but Maxwell strode after her and yanked her back.

Arabella’s shoulder jerked, and she crashed into his chest. She instinctively tried to push him away, but Maxwell tightened his arms around her, holding her firmly in place.

“Have you had enough?” His voice was low, the anger in it unmistakable. Pressed close against her, his chest rose and fell against hers.

Arabella went still in his arms for a split second. Then her anger surged even hotter. “Let me go.”

She raised a hand and clawed at him, her nails scraping down the side of his neck and leaving three vivid red marks.

Maxwell drew in a sharp breath but didn’t loosen his hold. “Do that again.”

Arabella looked up at him, so angry that tears burned in her eyes. “What, are you going to throw me over your shoulder and drag me back inside?”

Maxwell said nothing, and that silence was answer enough.

Arabella let out a disbelieving laugh. “You actually would.”

Maxwell held her gaze, barely keeping his frustration in check. “I’m not letting you walk away like this tonight.”

“And what gives you the right?”

“You’re not thinking clearly.”

Arabella nodded slowly and looked at him. “Right. I’m not thinking clearly. You’re the clearheaded one here.

“Clearheaded enough to lend out the bridal jewelry set, to let your family tell me to keep my mouth shut, and now to stand here blocking my way.”

Arabella stopped there, her gaze dropping to his collar as if something had caught her eye. The scratches on his neck had already started to show, red and stark against his skin.

She stared at the marks for two seconds before the corner of her mouth lifted slightly. “You look better like this than you did in the living room.”

Maxwell’s brows drew together. “What are you getting at now?”

She lifted a hand and lightly touched the red marks on his neck. “At least you look alive.”

Maxwell’s breath caught, and the hand around her arm went rigid.

For a moment, the anger in Arabella’s chest twisted into something bitter and sharp.

She used to tease him like this, standing close on purpose, speaking near his ear on purpose, just to watch him fight to keep control.

But that was before, and the thought wiped the smile from her face. She raised both hands and shoved him away.

Maxwell hadn’t braced himself this time, so he stumbled back half a step. Meanwhile, Arabella seized the chance and grabbed her suitcase again.

He was about to stop her when his phone rang. The night was too quiet, and the ringtone cut through it sharply. He glanced at the screen, and his expression shifted.

Arabella saw the name too. Daisy.

She stared at it, and the fight seemed to drain out of her all at once. When she looked up again, she was suddenly, unnervingly calm.

Maxwell didn’t answer. The call ended, then came in again almost immediately. Still Daisy.

The corner of Arabella’s mouth lifted slightly. “Answer it.”

He looked at her. “Come back inside with me first.”

She nodded, her voice very soft. “Answer it first. Then I’ll know who you really came out here for tonight.”

Something shifted in his eyes, but before he could speak, the phone rang for the third time. Daisy’s name lit up again, and the silence between them tightened.

Arabella looked at him, her eyes reddening again. “Go ahead. Don’t keep her waiting.”

Maxwell swallowed. His thumb hovered over the screen for a moment before he finally answered.

Arabella couldn’t make out what he was saying. She only saw him turn away, his voice dropping, his tone unexpectedly gentle.

At that moment, the last bit of fight drained out of her.

Only moments ago, Maxwell had been trying to stop her from leaving. Now he was answering that woman’s call right in front of her.

He kept telling her things weren’t as bad as she thought, but every time it mattered, he chose someone else.

Arabella had seen enough. She picked up her suitcase and turned away.

Maxwell heard the suitcase wheels rolling and spun around. “Arabella.”

She didn’t look back. She pulled the car door open and got in.

Maxwell caught up in two strides, his phone still in one hand as he braced the other against the door. “Get out.”

Arabella looked at him, exhaustion settling over her in a heavy wave. For the first time, she didn’t argue or snap back. She only asked, “Maxwell, do you really think I can’t tell who you’re choosing?”

Maxwell’s breath caught.

She didn’t wait for an answer before pulling the door shut.

The door slammed into place, forcing Maxwell to jerk his hand away. His expression went cold.

As the car pulled away, Arabella looked in the rearview mirror and saw Maxwell standing there, phone in hand, the call still connected.

*****

Half an hour later, the car stopped at the entrance to an old street. Arabella’s workshop occupied the second floor of a building.

The storefront below looked worn down. Its sign was dark, and beyond the glass door, the interior was pitch-black.

Arabella dragged her suitcase upstairs and stopped at the door, rummaging through her bag for the key.

It took her a while to find the brass one, but the moment she slid it into the lock, the door gave way. It hadn’t been locked after all.

She froze for a beat, then pushed the door open and stepped inside, flicking on the lights.

The place was cleaner than she had expected. Someone had mopped the floor, wiped down the tables, and even folded the dust cover on the workbench neatly.

Brooke rushed out from the back room, her hair a mess and a puffer jacket thrown over her pajamas. Her eyes widened when she saw Arabella’s suitcase. “Arabella, you really came?”

Arabella set the suitcase down, her voice a little hoarse. “You cleaned all this?”

Brooke nodded right away, then quickly shook her head. “I did half of it. Blake came by this afternoon and handled the rest. I was afraid you wouldn’t show up tonight.”

As she spoke, Brooke seemed to remember something, and the color drained from her face. “Oh no. I forgot to tell you first.”

Arabella glanced at her. “Tell me what?”

Brooke swallowed and carefully handed her phone over. “Kingston Group has already started putting out their version of the story.”

Her voice dropped lower. “Tomorrow morning, they’re going to release the same statement across the board, saying the bridal jewelry set wasn’t loaned out privately. They’re calling it a treasure loan exhibition for Kingston Jewelry.”

Arabella froze as she stared at the screen.

Brooke added carefully, “They’re also claiming all restoration and design rights belong to Kingston Group.”

The room sank into silence.

Arabella stayed where she was for a long moment before finally reaching out and taking the phone. She read the lines on the screen twice, then suddenly laughed. “That’s smart.”

Brooke felt a chill run through her. “Arabella, don’t smile like that. You’re freaking me out.”

Arabella looked up, her eyes almost too bright. “What are you scared of?”

She set the phone down and slowly rolled up her sleeves. “If they want to call it Kingston’s work, then tomorrow, I’ll make sure they have nothing left to exhibit.”