“What did they say to you?”
“Who?” I try to sound as normal as possible. Managing to keep my voice steady, I breathe as easy as I can.
“What did they say to make you leave me?”
My steps falter, my ribs constricting my lungs and heart. The crux of his question is that it doesn’t matter what I say, he’ll hurt. And I don’t have it in me to cut him any deeper.
If that’s even possible.
“I need to know.”
“Why?” The lilt of my voice at the end is a dead giveaway that I’m anxious over what to say.
“Because,” he answers dryly. “I need to know what needs to be done.”
Peeking through the crack in the door, I search the sitting area.
My heart hammers the longer I look without finding anything.
“Belles!” Flinching at the irate edge of his voice, my gaze meets another.
Shit.
Angry blue eyes meet mine, and I can’t hide.
“I need to go.”
“What? No!”
“Christo—”
“You don’t leave that fucking hotel.”
“I-I have to go.”
“Arabella, I swear if you leave…”
Opening the door, I step out. I’m shivering just from the look he’s giving me.
“Arabella!”
Taking a deep breath, I try to slow my pounding heart and to swallow down the lump in my throat before I say anything else.
“I have to go, cariño. I’ll see you when you get back. Okay?”
Christopher doesn’t miss a beat though. “What’s going on?”
“I love you.”
“Belles? Arabella!”
Ending the call without replying, I stand as tall as I can manage. After last night, I knew this was coming. I just didn’t realise it would be this soon.
“What are you doing here?”
“What do you think?”
Fuck.