The meeting didn’t unfold as Arabe had nned. Just as they entered the meeting hall, a loud bang reverberated outside, shaking the entire cave, followed by a shout.


    “Arabeaaaa!” The unmistakable voice of Sandro echoed throughout the entire cave.


    “Sandro,” Arabe winced, her gaze shifting from ze to Thalia, then to Orga, and back to ze.


    “Sandro,” ze affirmed with a nod, stepping towards her and encircling her with his arm. He felt her shiver and leaned in, asking softly, “Are you alright?”


    “I am,” Arabe muttered, but ze wasn’t entirely convinced. She was fidgeting with a button on his shirt, and he sighed, gently rubbing his palm up her arm. As much as he wanted to inquire about her well-being, he held back.


    He believed it wasn’t the right moment to broach such matters.


    “What should we do,” Arabe whispered, her eyes wide with fear, flickering back to ze.


    “We wait to see what’s going to happen,” ze replied. He was certain that making hasty decisions involving Sandro was thest thing anyone should consider.


    “I don’t want to wait!” Arabe eximed.


    “You have to,” ze insisted.


    “No, no, no…” Arabe shook her head. She couldn’t quite put a finger on why she was suddenly so frightened of Sandro. While she knew he’d eventually track her down, she hadn’t expected him so soon after her departure.


    What unsettled her most was that the attack on the cave’s structure was making headway. She could sense its protective barrier weakening.


    “Arabe!” Sandro’s roar echoed again. “Either youe out, or I’ming in to get you myself.”


    “I detest you so much,” hissed Arabe, her body trembling. “I loathe you, Sandro. Let me live my life in peace!” She vehemently expressed thest sentence.


    As if in response to Arabe’s outburst, Sandro let out a menacing growl. “That demon within you must be aborted, and I’m here to take you back. I won’t leave until you’re in my domain, where you rightfully belong!”


    “Demon?” ze’s brows furrowed. “What does that mean?”


    Arabe bit her lower lip. She hadn’t informed ze about what had transpired between Sandro and herself. She had hoped to do so after the meeting when they were alone, but then Sandro had arrived, disrupting everything as usual.


    “Be,” ze murmured, cupping her face, his eyes searching hers. “Is there something I should know?”


    Arabe shook her head, wincing as the sounds outside grew louder.


    “You should rest, mydy. We’ll handle him,” Orga suggested.


    Arabe began to shake her head, but ze interjected.


    “Let Orga handle it. I’ll assist him…”


    “No!” Arabe eximed. “Are you crazy?!”


    “What?” ze asked, confused.


    Arabe’s narrowed eyes made him wonder if he had misspoken. She was acting strangely, and he didn’t like the fear he saw in her eyes.


    “You can’t confront Sandro,” she insisted, clutching his shirt. “You can’t, ze. I won’t allow it.”


    “Why not?” ze pressed.


    “Because he’s intent on killing you. He said that!” Arabe choked out. “I can’t bear the pain of seeing you lifeless again. I can’t witness you die for a second time.”


    “Come on, have a little trust, Be.” ze chuckled. “I can handle Sandro, and he needs to be put in his ce.”


    “I won’t let you, ze!” Arabe dered. She wrapped her arms around him, resting her head on his chest. “You’re staying within the protection of this cave.”


    “Now, you’re behaving quite strangely,” ze remarked. “I can’t just stand by while they do all the work outside. That would be cowardly.”


    “It’s better to act like a coward than to risk your life,” Arabe retorted.


    ze took a deep breath and gently tried to free her arms from around him as Orga and the others moved toward the door.


    “Be, please listen…”


    “I don’t want to,” she muttered, then sniffled.


    ze felt her trembling, deepening the frown on his face.


    “Are you crying?” he asked. Then he winced as her tearful face turned toward him.


    “I’m sorry, Be. I didn’t mean to upset you like this,” ze groaned.


    His arms enveloped her, and heforted her with a soothing caress on her back as her sobs grew stronger.


    “Alright, I’m not leaving,” ze dered. “I’ll stay right here with you, and I’ll do whatever you need, even if it’s just to watch your face.”


    “You’re really staying?” Arabe asked, gently wiping the tears from her face.


    “I am,” ze confirmed. “Though I’m not entirely sure what’s happening, I trust you’ll tell me when you’re ready.”


    “I’m sorry, ze,” Arabe said, shaking her head and wiping away thest of her tears. “It was so thoughtless of me to act this way.”


    “I’m the one being a jerk,” ze admitted. He gently tilted her head so he could look into her eyes. Leaning in, he kissed the corner of her lip before giving her a reassuring smile. “me me. I never meant to make you cry. Please forgive me.”


    Arabe nodded, and then she giggled, “I forgive you.” For a fleeting moment, they held onto their position – Arabe’s arms still wrapped around him while ze tenderly caressed her and whispered sweet nothings in her ear.


    Arabe knew she’d been insensitive and emotional, even though she couldn’t pinpoint the exact reason behind her tears. She knew she had to reveal the truth.


    But how in the world was she going to do it? How could she tell him she was carrying Sandro’s child?


    A whirlwind of thoughts raced through her mind as she contemted how ze would react. Would he be angry and use her? Would he demand she remove the child while trying to assert his own im on her?


    She couldn’t tell him. Yet, she couldn’t keep it from him either.


    “As much as I hate to admit it, I agree with the bitch,” Thalia’s voice cut through Arabe’s reverie.


    Arabe let go of ze and turned to stare at Thalia.


    “Thalia,” ze murmured as she approached them.


    She had been standing at the far end of the room, observing the unfolding events since they arrived at the expansive meeting hall for the phoenixes.


    “I watched you die, Cole. I saw you dead, and now you’re willingly putting yourself in danger! Don’t you have any empathy? Even if you don’t care for anyone else, don’t you care about leaving your sister alone in this cruel world…”Exclusive content from N?velDrama.Org.


    “Thalia…” ze began, but his words were cut short.


    “You’re utterly selfish! I used to think Sandro was, but now, I’m almost forgiving him. The title of ‘most selfish man’ rightfully belongs to you, Cole. Right now, being around you makes me want to do something drastic!” Thalia stormed out of the room before ze could respond.


    “But I haven’t done anything wrong!” He eximed, running a hand through his hair.


    “You have,” Arabe gently affirmed. “And while her words were harsh, I can’t help but agree with her.”


    ze let out a frustrated groan. He grappled with the idea of being called selfish when he was only trying to protect them both. Yet, having the two people he cared about the most perceive him this way left him feeling utterly bewildered.