Husband With Benefits-Chapter 550: Fall

Autumn was distracted and sleepy. As she moved around the pots and pans, putting everything back in its place, she just couldn’t concentrate. She could hear the voices coming from the room upstairs and knew she should not worry.

Gabriel Frost was very perceptive. He had deliberately left the door to Arabelle’s room open so she wouldn’t worry. And yet, she could not relax. It made her feel odd, to think of living with a man, she barely knew. But she could recognise his laugh, for sure. The man had a hearty laugh and with the way he seemed to be eating at Arabelle’s pretend restaurant, a hearty imagination for food. He’d kept her busy making all sorts of things in her pretend kitchen, much to her enjoyment.

Suddenly, the doorbell rang, breaking her thoughts. Autumn wiped her hands on a towel and walked to the door, checking to see who it could be. No one visited her usually. Whoever it was, after attending to them, she was going to sleep. The one good thing about having someone she trusted living with her was that she did not have to wait for a sitter or go to leave her to Mrs N’s place. She could catch a nap right here...

Her thoughts crashed when she opened the door to see the man standing at the door. "Pierce."

The man stared at her and suddenly, his presence, which would have comforted her in the past, made her feel uneasy. Cautiously, she stepped out and closed the door behind her,"What do you want?"

"Aren’t you going to invite me inside? I came to talk to you. Clarify things."

Autumn frowned and shook her head," No. We have nothing to talk about."

"Yes. We do. Autumn, I need to apologize and explain things. I.. I really didn’t plan all this with Bianca. Things just turned out that way."

Autumn crossed her arms, her eyes narrowing. "And you think an apology will fix everything? That it will erase the hurt and confusion you caused? Also, what exactly do you mean by ’things happened’? Did you suddenly wake up in church and find yourself saying ’I do’? You are the one who two timed me, so why don’t you just accept that and leave me alone."

Pierce winced, taking a deep breath. "I know it sounds bad, but Bianca’s family and my family pressured me. There were business deals and expectations. I didn’t have a choice. It is why mum tried told you to sign over this house to me. Our business needed the money. When you refused, she had no choice but to accept their offer. There was also your reputation. It would not have helped us much so.. I had to make a sacrifice. But I miss you already, Autumn."

Autumn stared. Did he really think that explaining these things would make her forget that he had deliberately tried to humiliate her... When he saw that she remianed quiet, he continued eagerly, "We can still be together. We can see each other in secret while I work on getting a divorce."

Autumn stared at him, her eyes wide with disbelief before she let out a sarcastic laugh. "Wow, Pierce. That’s some plan. So, let me get this straight. You want me to be your secret mistress while you sort out your ’complicated’ life with Bianca? How romantic. You must think very highly of yourself if you believe I’d even consider that."

"Autumn, please," Pierce implored, stepping closer. "I love you and you love me. We can make this work, just until I can fix things."

"And what happens while you fix things. My so- called reputation is already a problem with you. I already have many tags attached to my name, but you want me to solidify the home breaker tag? Your way of showing love is truly unique. Pierce, stop thinking of yourself for a moment and wake up."

"Autumn, can you please try to understand? I am telling you all this will be a secret, so naturally no one in the town will know about us. So how would they put label on you?"

"Understand? Pierce, I understand perfectly. You made your bed with Bianca, now lie in it. I deserve better. Goodbye, Pierce. Don’t come here again."

Pierce reached out then, trying to pull her into an embrace. Autumn stiffened. She wanted to reject his hug, yet a part of her still hurt. She could see it in his eyes—he really had expected her to forgive him. Just what sort of fool did he think she was?

"Autumn, please," he murmured imploringly again, his arms moving to encircle her.

She stepped back quickly, putting distance between them. "No, Pierce." She couldn’t accept his hug. She could not encourage any rumors and she’d already seen a few people passing through

But her attempt at putting some distance failed as he simply followed her step and moved forward, closing the gap she had created. Panic surged within her, her breath quickening as she glanced around for any means of escape, cursing herself for closing the door. If she hadn’t, she wouldn’t have been trapped like this.

"Just let me hold you once, Autumn. Once you’ve felt me again, you won’t be so cold."

She shook her head vehemently, " No.. Pierce..."

Even as she prepared to scream, while she felt Pierce stepping closer, the door behind her suddenly moved. With all her weight on the door, she lost her balance and a gasp escaped her as she found herself tumbling backwards.

"In her flailing attempt to catch herself, her hand flew up and smacked Pierce squarely on the jaw. He grunted and stepped away in disbelief, rubbing his jaw with a wince while she fell back against a solid chest."

An arm wrapped securely around her waist just in time, his hand pressing gently against her stomach, just under her breast, to steady her. She felt the warmth of his touch through her thin shirt, his firm hold both comforting and electrifying as she looked up at the man who had caught her.