Husband With Benefits-Chapter 601: Gabe’s Home

It was a hotel. She was sure of that. As Autumn walked into Gabe’s house, she felt a sense of disappointment. She was sure she would be able to find some more about Gabe once she went to his home. Maybe catch a glimpse of his dead wife. But here she was, in a place that looked like a luxurious hotel. There was nothing here to say that this is where someone lived.

As she walked Gabe walk into a room, that he’d told her he would prepare for her, she sighed. Why had she made that bet with Nora. Now she was caught. The woman had warned her that she should question Gabe about Arabelle. But she was scared.

If only her little sister had come here as well. But no, she’d found Caius and Dora and agreed for a sleepover as if they were best of friends. The little girl had practically invited herself. For a moment, she’d felt uneasy about sending her to Lucien Frost’s home where the kids were staying but then, she’d realized that her sister was safe among the Frosts. They were a protective lot.

Of course, Lucien assuring her that they had a separate kids room with cameras that she could access was enough to satisfy her as well.

Gabe returned then and she almost jumped," I’ve out fresh beddings and aired the room a bit. You can go take a rest. We’ll return tomorrow then..."

Autumn watched him go towards another room and gulped, trying to gather her courage.

"Gabe?" She watched as he stopped and turned around. "About Arabelle..."

Gabe walked to her then and held her reassuringly, his hands on her shoulders," Autumn, Arabelle is going to be fine. But if you’re still worried, we can go get her."

Autumn shook her head. She’d meant to ask about his wife... Trying to find a way to gently broach the subject, she looked around and blurted out," You have a beautiful house. Was it decorated by your wife."

She watched the visible change. It was like turning off a switch. Just now, he’d been gentle and warm and now he looked colder than ice.

"No. My wife, had never been here. We used to live in a different country, then."

"Different country? But why?"

"Why do you want to know?" Gabe asked, his posture stiff as a board.

Autumn wanted to give up then, as she felt a shiver of fear. This was probably the look that those who opposed him received. It scared her. And yet, she remembered that she needed to know. So she raised her chin and answered," I’m curious."

"Curiosity can be dangerous," Gabe replied, his tone sharp. He took another step back, "My wife and I had our reasons for living abroad. It’s not something I wish to discuss."

" I know her name was Arabelle." Autumn blurted out. She didn’t know what else to say. And she didn’t understand why she felt this urgency to know about that woman. The one he loved. She’d seen first-hand, the camaradarie between the brothers. And knew that none of them would choose to live away if they could be together. But Gabe had chosen to live away with his wife.

Gabe’s eyes darkened, and his expression turned steely. He stepped closer to Autumn, his voice low and menacing. "Who told you about Arabelle?" he demanded, his grip on her shoulders tighten this time, scaring her and almost hurting her. "Was it one of the girls?"

Autumn’s heart raced, and she opened her mouth to respond, but before she could, Gabe’s eyes narrowed. "No, wait. You knew this before we came here. That’s why you were behaving differently on the way here, weren’t you?"

Autumn took a step back, trying to put some distance between them. "Gabe, please, I just wanted to understand—"

"Understand what?" Gabe interrupted, his voice rising. "That part of my life is over. It’s none of your business... Who told you about her?"

Autumn winced then. His grip had now tightened painfully and she whispered," Gregory Savoy." She felt the urge to flee now, scared that Gabe would hurt her.

But she failed to realize that Gabe had already let go of her shoulders the moment she winced and was even now standing there as horrified as her, feeling guilty for hurting her.

Before she could escape, Gabe quickly held her against his chest, as he murmured," I’m sorry for just now, Autumn."

"I’m sorry for just now, Autumn," Gabe repeated, his voice softer, filled with regret. He released her slightly, giving her space but not letting her go completely. "I didn’t mean to scare you or hurt you. It’s just... Arabelle is a very sensitive topic for me."

Autumn stood frozen. Though she’d been scared of the outburst, it gave her an insight on just how much he was hurting. She knew then that she needed to give up. She wouldn’t hurt him or question him again.

So, she sighed," Its...I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have...You must be hurting..."

"Autumn." His voice had her looking up at him and she looked up at him then. She saw the pain in his eyes and blinked, her guilt and remorse over powering her.

But then he turned and walked away, without looking back. It was only as he reached the door to the other room that he paused," Arabelle was not right in the head. She was obsessed with Demetri and being with him, making her a danger to Demetri and Nora, so I had to keep her away... Autumn...the reason I don’t want to talk about her is not because I loved her too much... It is because it reminds me that loving her was the biggest mistake of my life. If I could turn back time and return to the past, I would have stopped loving her..."

She felt his hurt then. It was something she could barely comprehend. Without a word, she walked to him and touched his arm," Gabe..." He turned to look at her and the desolate look in his eyes seemed to burn her.

She closed the distance between them then, and cupped his face," From this moment on, you’re not allowed to love her." She didn’t know where she got the confidence to tip toe then and kiss his lips...