Husband With Benefits-Chapter 33: A Jewel

Arabella found her chance to spend time with Demetri when they left the store. As they walked out of the mall, she spotted a small shop and quickly placed her hand on Demetri’s arm. "Demetri, it is Great Uncle’s birthday soon and I have been thinking about what to get for him."

"Look at that storefront. They have antique Golconda diamonds. Maybe I could buy something like that for him? He likes collecting those thick rings with stones, doesn’t he? And I know it will be difficult for you to make time for me again, so please come there with me. It will only take a few moments, and I am sure no one will mind. Please? For Great Uncle?"

Demetri sighed but gave in. He had already avoided her as much as he could and was about to pass her on to his brothers. With this gift for their grandfather, she could not voice any valid complaints. With a nod, he indicated that she should move towards the jewellery store. freewёbnoνel.com

Inside, the saleswoman was ready with her pitch as soon as they were seated. "Ma’am, as you may know, the Golconda diamonds are known for their higher degree of transparency. We have only two pieces in the Golconda diamonds at the moment... This is an 80-carat pale blue tablet diamond set-up..."

"Demetri, don’t you think Great Uncle would love this?"

Demetri looked down dispassionately at the ring and shrugged his shoulders. Assuming that to be a positive, she beamed and ordered the salesperson to pack it up for her.

She turned to Demetri, once again expecting him to offer to pay, but the man had already moved on, his eyes fixed on another display. She looked at the beautiful diamond necklace in the transparent case that he was looking at and quickly made her decision. There was no woman in Demetri’s life, and if he was looking at a necklace, then it would be for her.

Demetri had never been very expressive with words, but his actions had always spoken loud and clear. He hadn’t forgotten that she shared her birthday with Great Uncle Elijah. Her ruse had worked perfectly. He was already looking for a gift for her. She would not be responsible for ruining his surprise for her.

She quickly slipped away to give him a chance to complete the purchase. At the same time, the saleswoman took her chance and approached the silent man, ready to begin her pitch. "Sir, this is the Heart of Light diamond..."

Demetri raised his hand to silence the woman and spoke, "This necklace and that bracelet, second from the right."

As the woman blinked at the order and looked at the black card extended towards her, she quickly realized that today was the best day of her life. Three exclusively crafted pieces! Wow!

"I’ll hand these two to Madam right away..."

"Send them here," Demetri instead ordered, writing down the address on a piece of paper and handing it to the saleswoman.

With both individuals having accomplished what they needed to, Demetri and Arabelle stepped out. Arabelle had already discreetly peeked and noticed the empty case on the way back and sighed.

She had chosen a blue dress for her birthday party, but Demetri had chosen the necklace with the pale pink tear-shaped diamonds. She would have to change her dress. But that was alright. Anything for him.

Smiling brightly at him, she said, "Shopping makes me ravenous. So, Demetri, what have the brothers planned? Are we having a hotpot or barbecue, or something else?"

At the mall’s entrance, Demetri opened the car door for Arabelle before answering, " ’We’ are having nothing. You are having Japanese with the boys."

Before Arabelle could even understand that she had been effectively abandoned, Demetri had already driven away.

Disappointed but also excited about the gift that Demetri had arranged for her, Arabelle quickly resolved to win over her brothers-in-law. Anyone who knew Demetri would know that he placed a high value on his brothers, and she knew that if they all liked her, it would be a point in her favor when he was ready to announce their marriage.

However, Arabelle was once again set for disappointment as Ian, Seb, and Lucien had all been called away. She gave a strained smile to Gabriel, who had been a witness to Demetri’s behavior towards her last night and today.

As expected, Gabriel raised a mocking brow at Arabelle when she sat down. "I thought Demon was accompanying you?"

"Yes. He was. But he had to leave for some office work..."

Gabriel’s smile turned mocking, and he sighed, "You call yourself his fiancée, and you do not even know that Demon does not work on Saturdays?"

"You are lying. Everyone knows Demon is a workaholic." Arabelle scoffed.

"And everyone knows that Demon does not work on Saturdays, as he takes time off for personal reasons, personal reasons which are of course unknown to everyone."

However, instead of feeling sad, she triumphantly pointed out, "Then it is an even bigger statement of his care for me that he took time out for me to take me shopping."

"Delusional," Gabriel pointed out, saying nothing more. What Arabelle did not know was that they had all been ordered by Demon to organize this luncheon so that he would be able to leave earlier. Seeing that Arabelle had delayed her arrival, the others had found this chance to escape, leaving him alone with the girl. He did not mind being with Arabelle, but her insistence on pretending to be the love of Demetri’s life had already gotten on his nerves.

And he hated that even though Demon clearly despised her, he would bend to their grandfather’s will, leaving Arabelle with hope every time she was able to get some alone time with him.

He wondered if he should confront Demon but knew that there was no point. What would he even say to him? Demon had shown time and again his disinterest. Finally, as the food was brought to the table, Gabriel thought of the girl who was probably with Demon. In the picture on the phone and at his house.

Could it be true that Demon had a girlfriend that they knew nothing about? A girl who had been able to penetrate his locked heart and make a place for herself? And just like Arabelle, he too held a glimmer of delusional hope. For only if he completely broke her heart would he be able to help her mend it.