Mafia Billionaire’s Forlorn Wife
Chapter 32

Arabella

The wine slithers down my throat like a drowsy serpent as I sit by the fireplace, snuggled up on this couch that is the only thing that belongs to me in this house while I stare at the words printed on another one of my favourite books currently sitting in my lap.

Rhys’ black AmEx sits on the coffee table in front of me but I have made no move towards using it like he asked me to in his office.

I don’t want his stupid money when I earn plenty of it myself. I don’t need anything of his.

Except his love. You do want that.

Yeah, I want it but I don’t need it! And SHUT UP!

My eyes widen as I realise that there are two voices currently bickering in my head and that is when I put the glass of wine down on the coffee table, realising that perhaps I have had enough.

I look up at the flatscreen but somehow the characters on the screen are moving too slowly and their lips are moving but I’m unable to decipher what they’re saying.

Woah…

My head spins slightly and I rest my head back against the couch, realising the fact that perhaps, finishing up two bottles of decades old wine all by myself was not a good idea.

“You’ve seem to have had your fun.”

A voice chimes from somewhere around me and I sit up straight but immediately feel my b***d rushing to my head and that creates a few black spots in front of my eyes.

“God?” I utter out, looking up and around to find the source of the voice.

That is when two midnight blue eyes— mind you, attached to a very handsome face— clash with mine as a gorgeous smirk lines his lips, “no, sweetheart, just your husband.”

I blink up at him, “Rhys…hi…how’s it going?” I try giving him a smile but I probably look like a clown with my teeth on display and my eyes blinking profusely. “Why am I seeing two of you?” I mutter in a confused daze.

“Okay, you’ve clearly had enough.” He says and then he takes me in his arms which makes his woodsy scent flush into my lungs as I close my eyes shut and just breathe him in for a moment.

I grin, “mhmm, you always smell so nice.” I whisper looking at him with a billion dollar smile on my lips as he picks me up in his big strong arms and that makes my head swirl a little, “you’re strong.” I mumble.

And I swear I see a smile gracing his lips but I could be hallucinating things at this point.

He lets out a chuckle before he sits down on the couch that he claims to hate so much with me pressed against his chest as I get comfortable in his lap.

“Why do you only love me when I’m drunk?” I mutter out the question before I have the time to think it over.

Well, it’s out there now.

“Who says I love you?” He asks giving me a lopsided grin which tells me that he simply is not taking me seriously.

I pout, staring at him with narrowed eyes, “you said you loved me when I was dancing goofily to lighten your mood after our visit to the Sahara club that one time.” I remind him flicking off the hair from my shoulders as I stare at him with complete concentration, trying my best to stop my head from spinning.

“Well, that was before.” He says with a shrug, looking away as his hands rest around my waist and his thumb is currently grazing the bare skin of my waist.

I am wearing one of my sleeping sets of silk shorts and camisole and right now, all of a sudden even these clothes feel too heavy on my skin.

My entire body is prickling with the familiar electricity that lightens me up whenever I am this close with Rhys, and I don’t know about him but my head is currently flushed with unholy ideas.

“Before what?” I mumble, looking at him and trying to memorise every angle of his face.

I take in his midnight blue eyes so full of anger and poorly sheathed longing, I take in the strong set of his jaw as he purses his lips together and I resist the urge of prying them open with my tongue, I take in his stubble that just has me itching to run my nails through it, gently caress his cheeks with my palms the way I always do whenever he k****s me.

Gods, why does my entire body feels like someone has set me on fire?

Rhys meets my eyes once again and that is when I can swear that I hear his breathing hitch in his throat.

But that is probably my imagination.

Why would Rhys Mikhailov feel anything for me?

Right?

Rhys

I almost choke on my own breath the moment I meet Arabella’s eyes again and realise the look of pure love and devotion in her orbs, I see the desire printed clearly on her face, and guilt strikes my heart sharply because of what I have done before coming here.

|2 hours ago|

I am almost done with work today and it is time for me to return home again when I hear the sound of heels clacking outside in my office suite.

I huff, shaking my head, thinking that it’s probably Arabella once again as I walk out of my office space and enter the seating area where I mostly entertain more intimate clients or even friends of mine, “really, what have you come here again for?” I mutter opening the door before stopping in my tracks when I find Amelia standing in front of me.

She looks surprised, “why so sour, darling?”

I shake my head, making a beeline to the liquor cabinet as I pour drinks for both of us, “it’s nothing. I thought you were someone else.” I say handing her glass to her before we both flop down on the couch beside the floor to ceiling windows.

“What, you thought I was Arabella?” She asks point blank and I sigh, nodding my head. “Wait, did she come to see you today or something?” She asks incredulously.

I nod my head once again, “yeah, just before lunchtime, the conversation wasn’t something that went very well.” I shudder remembering the moments spent with her in my office today.

I wonder what she must be doing.

I haven’t checked my messages but I don’t know if she used my card to buy herself her birthday present.

Knowing her, she probably put in the deposit for the newest Birkin in order to treat herself.

Isn’t that what women like her care about?

“How could it? She has the f*****g audacity of spewing up all this bullshit and then showing up here with probably more excuses.” Amelia mutters with a scowl on her lips, “you should sue her for defamation.”

I scoff, “yes, that will get the media yo stop butting into my personal life.”

“It’s not about that!” Amelia says rolling her eyes, “it’s about showing that skank her place, and—”

“Don’t, Amelia.” I interrupt her, my voice dropping by a few octaves as I glare at her heatedly, “you did it this once but I won’t accept disrespect towards my wife from you, Amelia. Please refrain from doing so.” I tell her sharply.

No matter what Arabella has done and no matter how many people are currently talking about our marriage, I will not have anyone spewing up crap about her.

Even if the one talking s**t is my long term best friend.

Amelia looks taken aback but she nods her head quickly, “I’m sorry, Rhys.” She says giving me a regretful smile as she reaches out to place her hand on my own.

I give her a nod just when there is a knock at the door and a second later, Jeremiah steps inside.

I quirk my brow at him, “what is it?” I ask, removing my hand from underneath Amelia’s as I take a sip of the bourbon.

“Oh, the planners called and they’re asking if you’ll show up for the helicopter ride that you wanted.” He says sheepishly and I remember everything that I had planned for the night and instantly my mood sours at how big of a fool I was.

Planning all this for a woman who doesn’t even care about me.

“Tell them it’s cancelled.” I grumble, “I don’t care if it’s already been paid for.”

That’s a few grands that I am never going to see again. But who cares?

“Wait,” Amelia speaks up, looking between Jeremiah and I, “don’t tell me you were planning Arabella’s birthday?” She utters out, seemingly connecting the dots faster than I would expect.

I sigh, “I was but it’s no use anymore.” I say shaking my head before looking at Jeremiah again, “make it go away.” I order him.

“No don’t!” Amelia says abruptly as I scrunch my brows at her, wondering what the hell she wants, “let’s take that helicopter ride. I’ve been thinking of buying one for myself and I am certain whatever you have planned is of luxurious quality. I’ll get to test ride it.” She says with a smile lining her lips.

“I know what you’re trying to do.” I mutter meeting her gaze with a knowing look.

Her eyes widen slightly, “what?” She mumbles.

I smile, “you’re trying to make me feel better but don’t worry I am perfectly alright.” I tell her.

She has always been here for me.

Amelia chuckles, seemingly more relaxed than before, “yes, but I do want that test ride though.” She says sheepishly, “can we please go?” She asks with pleading eyes.

I stare at her for a moment before huffing, “alright, I’ll call Nik too, he’ll join us.” I say getting up.

“But why him?” Amelia g****s, throwing her head back against the couch.

I chuckle, “why do you always hate him so much?” I mutter before looking at Jeremiah, “tell them we’ll be there in twenty.”

My assistant quickly nods and rushes outside just as I turn to Amelia and give her my hand, “come on, it’ll be like old times, just the three of us.”

She pouts for a second before huffing and taking my hand as she stands up, “fine, but just know that I would prefer it if it was just us two.”

I laugh at that.

|End of Flashback|

The helicopter ride was mostly spent with me being a mediator between Nikolas and Amelia’s bickering and anger and it left me with a blasted headache by the time we were done.

And after dropping off Amelia because her car broke down, all I wanted was to come back home and get a good night’s sleep.

That is when I realised that my wife was still not tucked in for the night and like a moth to a flame, I was drawn to her, only to find her drinking alone on the night of her birthday.

My heart pinches in my chest as I hold Arabella in my lap, unable to stop myself from reaching out and tucking a strand of her hair behind her ear.

“Don’t trouble your pretty head about it.” I whisper softly.

She blushes in the most adorable manner, “you think that I’m pretty?” She asks dreamily.

And that is how I know that my night is far from over.