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The epiphany hit hi sense into him as his brother and sister stepped out onto the terrace to join hi that Arabella walking aas for the best It wasn’t for the best It was, quite possibly, the worst mistake he’d ever made

“What’s with that frown on your face?” Te her head at him curiously “Is the discussion you asked us up here for that bad?”

“No” Maddux crossed his arms over his chest and shook his head “I just realized what a dumb ass I am”

Hunter snickered “You just realized that? I could have given you that news flash years ago”

Wanting to be civil, Maddux refrained, just barely, fro off his brother because he had set himself up for that reply

A spark of optim

isaze “Dare I hope that this du to do with Arabella and the fact that you’re miserable without her?”

Maddux grimaced at this sister’s too accurate observation “Is it that obvious?”

“To me, yes,” she said with a soft, affectionate ses in you while she was here Despite everything with her father, you seemed incredibly fond of Arabella”

Maddux didn’t want to get into his feelings about Arabella with either of his siblings, especially when it was beco fond of Arabella was a veryin and around his heart “Yes, my moment of clarity has to do with Arabella,” he ad, especially Hunter, balked at what Maddux was insinuating “But before we get to that conversation, there’s so I need to tell you both”

Teed ahead “I went to my lawyer and had him transfer all of Theodore’s assets to Arabella I know I didn’t run it by either of you, but the decision wasn’t up for debate The papers are done and just need to be delivered to Arabella for her signature, and then everything will be in her nas” Maddux would be out threeoff Theodore’s debt, but that had been his choice, not Arabella’s, and that money didn’t matter to him Arabella did

His sister reached out and gently touched his ar to do,” she said

Hunter nodded soleree She doesn’t deserve to suffer for her father’s offenses”

Relief swept through Maddux He’d been unsure about Hunter’s reaction, but it was clear that his brother was trying tothe papers to Arabella to ho in his power to persuade her to be his

Always a rorinned happily and clasped her hands against her chest “I knew this day would happen eventually I knew so and chip away at all those hard edges you’ve built around your heart And I’lad that woruff, and you need cal she’s not going to back down from your occasional surly attitude, either”