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Arabella froze.
Axel was walking toward her.
He was taller now—so much taller than she remembered. Maybe 4'7. His hair was cut in a messy fade. He wore a school uniform: sky blue shirt tucked unevenly into navy pants.
Her hands started to shake.
After five years. Five years of being apart, of being told she was crazy, of being erased from his life—her son was coming to her.
She spread her arms wide, her smile trembling.
"Axie," she whispered. "I missed you so much—"
He walked right past her.
Didn't even look at her.
Didn't pause.
Her world stopped.
The sound of her own heartbeat filled her ears, drowning out everything else.
"Arabella!"
Serena's voice; bright, artificially sweet—cut through the fog.
Arabella slowly lowered her arms. They felt heavy. Empty.
She slowly withdrew her hand.
What had she expected?
That the child who'd denounced her on live television…who'd called her crazy in front of cameras, would suddenly recognize her and run into her arms?
How stupid.
She blinked hard, forcing back the tears burning behind her eyes.
Not here. Not in front of them.
She would not give them the satisfaction of seeing her break.
"Arabella?" Serena's voice rang out, dripping with false concern. "Are you all right?"
Arabella turned slowly.
Serena stood at the base of the main staircase, one arm draped possessively over Axel's shoulders. Her smile was so wide it looked painful.
Triumphant.
"Arabella, I know this must be hard for you, but Axel still calls me—"
"Ms. Greene." Arabella's voice came out sharper than she intended, shaking despite her best efforts. "You call me Ms. Greene."
Her fingers tightened around the empty protein bottle until it crackled.
Adrian's mind was already racing.
Arabella didn't care about him anymore, that much was clear.
But she cared about Axel.
He'd seen the way she'd opened her arms. The devastation on her face when Axel walked past her.
If he could bring them together; if he could be the one to reunite mother and son, maybe she'd forgive him.
Maybe she'd give him a chance.
He pulled Axel close, ruffling the boy's hair gently.
"Come on, buddy. I'll take you to school today.”
But as he attempted to walk away, Catherine wheeled herself forward, “Adrian, you have to fire her. I don't want her anywhere near the Sterling Group.”
Adrian gestured a maid to take Axel to the car, waiting until he was out of sight before he spoke, “You run your charity foundation, Mom. I'll run the law firm.”
“Don’t forget I am still a major shareholder, Adrian. How dare you keep her here? Have you forgotten what she caused this family?” She pointed sharply, barely restraining herself.
Adrian leaned forward, jaws flexing, “You're in no position to judge anyone, Mom." Adrian's voice was low, dangerous. "For five years, you let everyone believe Arabella caused that accident. Did you lie to yourself so long you actually started believing it?”
Catherine pressed her lips together until the color drained from them.
“Adrian, please calm down…”
"And you." Adrian turned to Serena. His expression was unreadable.
"Arabella's back. Our arrangement is over. Once you're healed, you need to go home."
Serena's face went white.
"I don't want Arabella getting the wrong idea about us," he continued. "Not again.”
Serena pushed forward, her brows pinched together as a flicker of shock broke across her face.
“But—" Serena's voice cracked. "I'm the only person Axel speaks to. His therapist said…”
"I know what his therapist said.”
"Arabella is his mother. His real mother. She's back now, and I'm going to fix this."
Adrian's jaw tightened.
"I'll explain everything to Axel. And you…" His gaze at Serena turned cold. "...you've done enough damage to his mother. Consider this your chance to make amends.”
A sudden tightness caught behind Serena's ribs, her breath snagged half way in.
Adrian was really dumping her. After over a decade of her devotion, her patience, her sacrifices.
He was choosing Arabella.
"No." The word came out barely a whisper. "Adrian, please—"
But he was already walking away.
"I'll schedule a press conference to announce we're ending the engagement," Adrian said without turning around. "Your position at the firm is safe. Just let me know when you're ready."
The doors closed.
Adrian picked out his phone and dialed Gavin’s number.
"I need a favor," Adrian said the moment Gavin picked up. "And I need it done quietly.”
***
Arabella stood in the lobby, phone pressed to her ear.
"Sky blue shirt, navy pants. Find the school—I don't care how, just do it within the hour.”
“Okay, ma.” Chloe's voice came from the other side.
Just before the elevator door closed, someone quickly slipped in.
Adrian Sterling.
Arabella swallowed, her attention laser focused on her phone.
“Good morning, Ms. Greene." Adrian's tone was carefully professional.
Arabella didn't look up from her phone.
"Morning, Mr. Sterling.”
“We have a meeting at ten to go over your—"
"I know," Arabella cut him off. "I'm the one who scheduled it.”
Fortunately, the elevator picked the right time to ding.
Arabella stepped out first, heading straight towards the office they had shown her the previous day. Same floor as Adrian's.
As she approached her office, she noticed a cluster of people blocking the door.
Two electricians in hard hats. Gavin. And yellow caution tape stretched across the doorway.
Her eyes narrowed.
“What's going on here?” She asked, brows raised.
Gavin smiled politely, “Good morning, Ms. Greene.”
“This office hasn't been in use for a while so I asked the electricians to check if the electric circuit was still working, but one of the sockets exploded in the process.”
“What?” Adrian gasped dramatically from behind Arabella, pulling her back, his hands draped around her arms protectively, “Fortunately you were not in the office.”
"How did this happen?" Adrian demanded.
One of the electricians began explaining—something about old wiring, overloaded circuits—
But Arabella wasn't listening.
All she could focus on was Adrian's hands on her arms. The heat of his touch seeping through her blazer.
It made her skin crawl.
Her cheeks reddened with anger as she finally imploded, “Unhand me, Mister!” she growled, shoulders tense.
Adrian stepped back quickly. Everywhere went quiet.
Arabella took in a deep, slow breath, trying her best to stay calm before she finally spoke, “Mr. Sterling, is this how you run a company?”
“Apologies, Ms. Greene, I handed the responsibility of the office to my assistant.” Adrian said, making face gestures at Gavin.
Gavin nodded knowingly, “I’m sorry Ma. This is all my fault so I have taken measures to sort things out. It will take about a week or more to get this office fixed. In the meantime, I have prepared a new office for you.”
“Then take me there. I don't have all day.” Arabella snapped.
Gavin led them down the hall, past several doors, until he stopped at one Arabella recognized.
They stepped inside. The space was massive—floor-to-ceiling windows, leather furniture, a mahogany desk the size of a small car.
And in the corner, near the windows, a second desk had been set up. Sleek. Modern. Clearly new.
Gavin gestured to it with a professional smile.
"This will be your workspace for now, Ms. Greene."
Arabella stared. "What?”
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