Axel and Declan left the room and closed the door behind them to give Bella and Arnold some space.
“Arnold,” Bella cried out to him.
She was at a loss for words, as it did not seem appropriate to comfort him or talk about Asher.
The brief silence felt like a lifetime.
“I’m sorry, Bella.” Keeping his head down, Arnold allowed tears to trickle down his cheeks.
Bella shook her head and comforted him. “Arnold, don’t put the blame on yourself. You don’t need to apologize to anyone.
“You simply fell in love with Ash. There isn’t anything wrong with loving someone.”
“It’s all my fault.”
Arnold hung his head low like a sinner, his fighting spirit gone. “Aunt Mila is right. I destroyed Ash. Everything wouldn’t have happened if I had taken her advice. I’m unforgivable, Bella. I was selfish. I’d rather take the fall for everything than put Ash through this. I want everything to go back to how it was. But it’s too late.”
Bella felt a lump in her throat.
First things first, Asher was not destroyed.
Yet now, Arnold was a wreck.
“I contacted a good friend here. He’s a well-known expert in the neurology field, too. I trust his work and ethics. Chairman Thompson can seek medical attention with him. He’s as good a doctor as I am.”
Bella’s chest tightened. “What about you, Arnold? What are you going to do?”
“I’m going back to Meridan.”
Arnold smiled wryly. “I don’t think I’m coming back.”
“No way! If you leave, what about Ash?”
Bella grabbed Arnold’s arm desperately. “Since you love Ash, you should know the kind of person he is. How did he react when your relationship made headlines? He took all the blame so that you wouldn’t face any accusation, criticism, or hurt. Even at the cost of disgrace, he shielded you from harm.”
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