Husband With Benefits

"Where is she?"

The moment Rafe returned behind the stage, his heart pounded in his chest as he frantically searched for Arabelle. He had only caught a fleeting glimpse of her when she peered over the curtain, but even that brief sight was enough to tell him how deeply affected she was. No wonder she had repeatedly warned him that he would not be happy marrying her, that their union would be short-lived.

And the attack must have proven her right. Yet now, she was nowhere to be found. Turning to his PR head, who still stood there in stunned silence, Rafe asked sharply, "Where is she?"

"Who?" the man asked, his confusion evident. Rafe’s tone sharpened further. "Where is my wife? She was here just a minute ago."

"That woman ran away." A man from the side spoke up, his words slicing through the air like a dagger. Rafe whipped his head around to face him. How dare he refer to Arabelle with such a demeaning term? Without hesitation, Rafe marched toward the man and seized his collar. "Who do you think you are referring to? Have you forgotten—’that’ woman is my wife?"

Before the confrontation could escalate further, Markus came sprinting toward them, his expression urgent. "Your Highness. Her Highness is safe. She is with your brother."

Hearing her addressed properly seemed to momentarily calm Rafe, and with a sharp glare at the man still struggling beneath his grasp, Rafe released his hold and nodded in response. Without another word, he turned to leave. However, just as he had taken a few steps forward, Markus swiftly stepped into his path, blocking his way. His urgency was clear as he quickly guided Rafe toward a private room.

"Sir, you need to see this as well," Markus said, his voice low and tense. "Things are going to keep getting messier, it seems.

"Markus. I need to get to her. She needs me," Rafe said urgently, his voice tight with desperation. But Markus shook his head solemnly and responded, "You’re right, sir. She does need you. But right now, more than ever, she needs you to be here. No one but you can stand by her and defend her in front of everyone. If you disappear from the public eye now, things will only spiral further out of control. More people will come forward to attack her, and the damage could become irreparable."

Rafe clenched his jaw, struggling to contain his frustration. He knew Markus was right, but the thought of Arabelle being alone right now tore at his heart. Before he could argue further, Markus pressed a tablet into his hands.

"You need to attend the urgent council meeting that has been arranged," Markus said firmly. "Victor is behind all of this."

Rafe pushed a hand through his disheveled hair, his frustration evident as he scanned the details on the screen. His eyes flicked over the pages, the gravity of the situation sinking in with each word. With a heavy sigh, he lowered the tablet, his shoulders slumping in defeat. There was no escape from this—no matter how much he longed to be with Arabelle, his duty to protect her demanded his presence elsewhere.