Husband With Benefits-Chapter 889: Gone

"Where is she?"

The moment Rafe returned behind the stage, his heart pounded in his chest as he frantically searched for Arabelle. He had only caught a fleeting glimpse of her when she peered over the curtain, but even that brief sight was enough to tell him how deeply affected she was. No wonder she had repeatedly warned him that he would not be happy marrying her, that their union would be short-lived.

And the attack must have proven her right. Yet now, she was nowhere to be found. Turning to his PR head, who still stood there in stunned silence, Rafe asked sharply, "Where is she?"

"Who?" the man asked, his confusion evident. Rafe’s tone sharpened further. "Where is my wife? She was here just a minute ago."

"That woman ran away." A man from the side spoke up, his words slicing through the air like a dagger. Rafe whipped his head around to face him. How dare he refer to Arabelle with such a demeaning term? Without hesitation, Rafe marched toward the man and seized his collar. "Who do you think you are referring to? Have you forgotten—’that’ woman is my wife?"

Before the confrontation could escalate further, Markus came sprinting toward them, his expression urgent. "Your Highness. Her Highness is safe. She is with your brother."

Hearing her addressed properly seemed to momentarily calm Rafe, and with a sharp glare at the man still struggling beneath his grasp, Rafe released his hold and nodded in response. Without another word, he turned to leave. However, just as he had taken a few steps forward, Markus swiftly stepped into his path, blocking his way. His urgency was clear as he quickly guided Rafe toward a private room.

"Sir, you need to see this as well," Markus said, his voice low and tense. "Things are going to keep getting messier, it seems.

"Markus. I need to get to her. She needs me," Rafe said urgently, his voice tight with desperation. But Markus shook his head solemnly and responded, "You’re right, sir. She does need you. But right now, more than ever, she needs you to be here. No one but you can stand by her and defend her in front of everyone. If you disappear from the public eye now, things will only spiral further out of control. More people will come forward to attack her, and the damage could become irreparable."

Rafe clenched his jaw, struggling to contain his frustration. He knew Markus was right, but the thought of Arabelle being alone right now tore at his heart. Before he could argue further, Markus pressed a tablet into his hands.

"You need to attend the urgent council meeting that has been arranged," Markus said firmly. "Victor is behind all of this."

Rafe pushed a hand through his disheveled hair, his frustration evident as he scanned the details on the screen. His eyes flicked over the pages, the gravity of the situation sinking in with each word. With a heavy sigh, he lowered the tablet, his shoulders slumping in defeat. There was no escape from this—no matter how much he longed to be with Arabelle, his duty to protect her demanded his presence elsewhere.

"Make arrangements to get there. Give me a minute. I am sure I saw Gabe Frost in the crowd outside. Let me talk to him for a moment."

He had barely uttered the words when the door to the private room swung open, and Gabe stepped in, his tall frame filling the doorway as he directly blocked Rafe’s path. The intensity in his expression was undeniable—anger radiated from him, his jaw clenched tightly as if ready to explode. "Who is behind all this? You can tell me now, or I will find out my way."

Rafe grimaced, acknowledging the storm brewing. It was clear Gabriel Frost was prepared to go on a rampage at a moment’s notice. "It’s someone coveting the throne," Rafe admitted slowly, almost apologetically,"My cousin—Victor."

Gabe gave a slow nod, but his focus quickly shifted as his attention was captured by the information on the tablet. He snatched it from Rafe’s hands and began reading through the reports and updates with sharp, calculating eyes. "And this? Is this going to be in the news next?" he asked, his tone demanding.

Rafe let out a heavy sigh and gave a resigned nod. "Yes. This is the agenda of where I’m heading now."

"I’ll kill him." With that declaration, Gabe was already on the move to make true on his words. And he would. He had protected his family from everything not so that any tom, dick and harry could come out to attack them.

But Rafe’s voice stopped him. "Mr. Frost."

Gabe paused mid-step, his scowl deepening as he turned back to face Rafe. "What?"

Rafe inhaled slowly, his expression serious. "I know you’re capable of protecting and avenging Arabelle. But I’d like to handle this myself."

Gabe’s eyes narrowed as he processed Rafe’s request. It didn’t take a genius to understand what Rafe wanted. He wanted to be the one to stand by Arabelle, to shield her from harm and take responsibility for her well-being—always. Gabe’s initial instinct was to refuse, to remind Rafe how this was his fault for putting her in this position in the first place. But then he paused.

Rafael Ignis had been just as blindsided by the news as he had been, yet here he stood—defending Arabelle with calm resolve in front of the entire media and his own people. Rafael had earned the right to handle this. At least for now.

Gabe gave a sharp nod as he sent the man a considering nod. "Alright. I’ll give you a chance. Handle this well, or I’ll step in."

Rafe exhaled the breath he had been holding and offered a slight, grateful smile. "Thank you. May I also request that you go to Arabelle now? I don’t want her to be alone."

Gabe’s expression softened slightly. "Of course. I’ll take care of her."