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Arabella followed the RN, and with every step she took closer to Maddux, her ed what her heart refused to acceptthat not all fairy tales ended happily ever after

Chapter 22

Maddux shifted ined to as he waited to be released and to see Arabella Over the course of the past few hours since being taken into the eency roo his laceration cleaned and stitched up and getting through the long, arduous process with the FBI agents who’d wanted his state continually reminded by hospital staff that Arabella wasn’t iht and deal with all the other bullshit first Not an easy feat when he was a ht when he asked for it

As soon as one of the nurses told Maddux she was going to get his discharge papers in order, he finally did the one thing he’d been dreading and called his sister He’d opted for Te earlier this evening, and quite frankly, Maddux wasn’t in the mood to deal with his brother or the fact that he’d been the catalyst who’d put Arabella in harm’s way Maddux had calh he’d kept the details vague—and that he was at the hospital and was fine, but now needed a ride home His car was still at the house where Gavin had taken Arabella, and Maddux would have one of his security guys go and pick it up later

He’d heard the worry in his sister’s voice, but she wasn’t one to fall apart or have aand steady in the face of any kind of adversity, and she’d be grateful that Maddux was still alive, nothe positive in everything

As for HunterMaddux wasn’t sure what to expect of his brother these days, but asforward to the conversation to cos down and tell theation he’d started years ago on Theodore, Gavin, and Addingwell Financial He was certain they’d both be relieved to know that Theodore and Gavin were already behind bars and would likely remain there

“He’s right in here,” Maddux heard a woht before the

RN led Arabella into his room “It’ll be about fifteen ed”

“Thank you,” Arabella said softly, and as soon as she saw Maddux, a combination of relief and worry etched her beautiful features as she walked over to the side of his bed

The skirt and blouse she’d worn to work that day rinkled and disheveled, her hair was tousled around her head, and she had dark ses beneath her eyes Her face was pale, and he hated that she’d had to endure the stress and scare of everything Gavin had put her through that evening But she was alive, unharmed, and in one piece, and that’s all Maddux cared about

And because he did care about Arabella and only wanted the best for her, he kneas going to have to let her go, notheher father away, probably for the rest of his life, was soive hirow to hate him or resent him, and could he really blame her when he’d been the one to destroy her life in one fell swoop?

He clenched his jaw Honestly, the whole situation had been destined for heartbreak froe for her father’s debt Maddux had wanted Arabella and all that sweet innocence, and because of his own selfish desires, he’d put her in a daunting situation a woman like her never should have been exposed to It didn’t matter that she’d found a way to make him smile more than he had in years Or how he looked forward to watching her huh his security cahter than it had since before his parents had died

How funny was it that his greatest enehter had been the one to penetrate all those walls, tear down his e with her? Love Commitment The possibility of a future

Except she was never meant to be his Their entwined pasts and fate had made certain of that

“Hey,” he said, his voice sounding and feeling like sandpaper in his throat as she stopped beside his bed