Husband With Benefits

By the time Kael pulled up in front of her apartment, Arabelle had managed to steady herself, her emotions no longer threatening to spiral out of control. She was grateful for one small mercy: that she hadn’t yet moved in with His Highness, Prince Rafael Ignis. If she had, where would she have gone tonight to nurse her wounds? The thought brought a small, bitter comfort. At least she still had her own space—a sanctuary to retreat to when everything else felt like it was crumbling.

Murmuring a quiet word of thanks, she stepped out of the car without giving Kael a chance to speak. She wasn’t ready for words, not from him, not from anyone. Her mind was too crowded, swirling with thoughts and emotions she hadn’t fully sorted through. Tonight had been a night of revelations—painful ones that left her questioning herself.

The most significant realization? She had fallen for Rafael Ignis, and deeply so. Over the past month, despite her best efforts to stay on guard, she had let herself become enchanted by him. And that was entirely on her. She should have known better, should have seen the danger coming.

In hindsight, it wasn’t entirely surprising. She had admired him long before they’d spent any real time together, following his work from the moment Dora began dating Kael. She’d built up an image of him in her mind—one based on his reputation, his achievements and the changes he had fought hard for. And later, during their limited but meaningful interactions, she’d come to see him as more than just the prince everyone revered. Rafael Ignis was genuine, layered, flawed in ways that made him seem real, even approachable.

He reminded her of Gabe in some ways—someone who had made mistakes, paid for them, and emerged stronger, carrying the scars but also the wisdom. How could she not fall for someone like that?

But the walk from the car to her apartment brought a different revelation, one that struck her with just as much force as her heartbreak: anger. Beneath the ache in her chest, she felt the sharp sting of indignation, simmering just below the surface. Yes, she had made mistakes. She should have told him the entirety of her past—she’d had countless opportunities to do so. When he spoke of his own past, about the damage he’d caused Kael and the others, it had been a perfect opening to share her own story. And yet, she hadn’t.

Why? Because she’d been ashamed, or so she thought at the time. She had been afraid of how he would see her, of how the past might change the way he looked at her. But now, after hearing his words—that he was ashamed of her—everything had shifted.