B E L L A || ✔️✔️

45 || Reunion

Arabella

In the quiet of the hospital room, time seemed to stretch endlessly, each moment a precious gift as we savored our reunion. The rhythmic beeping of the monitors provided a steady backdrop to our conversation, punctuating the silence with a comforting sense of continuity.

Eventually, as the initial rush of emotion began to ebb, Jace spoke, his voice a soothing melody in the stillness.

"I thought I'd lost you," he murmured, his words tinged with a mixture of relief and lingering fear. "When I saw you in that café, I couldn't believe it was really you."

I nodded, my throat tight with unshed tears. "I didn't recognize you at first," I admitted, my voice barely above a whisper. "But when I realized, I... I couldn't believe it either."

Jace squeezed my hand gently, a silent reassurance that he was here, that we were together, and that nothing else mattered in that moment.

"I called my friend in the police," he continued, his gaze never leaving mine. "He contacted the French authorities, and they were able to track down the café and find you."

I blinked back tears at his words, overwhelmed by the thought of the lengths he had gone to in order to find me. "Thank you," I whispered, my voice thick with emotion. "I don't know what I would have done without you. But what about-"

"He's been arrested for several charges including kidnapping, assault and assault on a minor."

I couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief.

Our conversation was interrupted by the arrival of a doctor, his expression serious as he delivered the results of my examination. As he spoke, detailing the extent of my injuries, a sense of numbness washed over me, the reality of what I had endured finally sinking in.

But even as I processed the news, one thought burned brightly in my mind—a determination to seek justice, to ensure that my father paid for his crimes and that no one else would suffer at his hands.

As the doctor left the room, leaving us alone once more, Jace turned to me, his eyes filled with a mixture of concern and determination.

"What now?" he asked, his voice gentle yet resolute.

I met his gaze, my own resolve firm. "I'm going to make sure he is put away for good," I declared, my voice steady despite the turmoil raging within me.

With Jace by my side, I knew that together, we would face whatever challenges lay ahead, drawing strength from each other as we embarked on the long road to healing and justice.

After the doctor left, Jace and I sat in a comfortable silence, each lost in our own thoughts. But as the minutes ticked by, anticipation began to build within me—an overwhelming desire to see my friends, to feel their embrace and hear their voices once more.

Squeezing Jace's hand, I spoke softly. "Can you... can you call them? I want to see them."

A smile tugged at the corners of Jace's lips, and he nodded, reaching for his phone. With practiced ease, he dialed Noah's number, then Sophia's, then Kayden's, his fingers flying over the screen in rapid succession.

It wasn't long before the room was filled with the sound of cheerful voices, each one a familiar melody that warmed my heart. Tears welled in my eyes as I spoke to them, feeling their love and support wash over me like a gentle tide.

And then, as if on cue, they began to arrive—Noah, Sophia, and Kayden, their faces alight with joy as they burst through the door, their footsteps echoing in the quiet room.

I couldn't help but smile as they enveloped me in a group hug, their laughter mingling with my own as we clung to each other, united once more after so long apart. Each embrace was a testament to the strength of our bond, a reminder that no matter what had happened, we were still a family—a family forged not by blood, but by love and shared experiences.

But amidst the joyful chaos, one figure stood out—Delilah, her eyes shining with unshed tears as she approached. Without a word, she enveloped me in a tight embrace, her arms a comforting embrace that chased away the lingering shadows of doubt and fear.

I held onto her tightly, drinking in the warmth of her presence, the familiarity of her touch. In that moment, surrounded by the people I loved most in the world, I knew that everything would be okay—that no matter what lay ahead, we would face it together, as a family, bound by a love that could withstand even the darkest of storms.

As the joyful reunion with my friends and sister continued, Sophia pulled me aside, her expression somber.

"Arabella, there's something you need to know," she began, her voice tinged with urgency.

I furrowed my brow, my heart skipping a beat at the seriousness in her tone. "What is it, Sophia? What's wrong?"

Sophia took a deep breath, her gaze steady as she met my eyes. "It's about Jess," she said quietly. "She... she was arrested."

My stomach churned at the news, a wave of disbelief washing over me. "Arrested? But why?"

Sophia hesitated, her expression pained. "It turns out she was the one who tipped off your dad about your plans to escape," she explained, her voice barely above a whisper. "She... she was working with him all along. That time when she said she went to that alcohol rehab...she was actually going to see your father...."

I felt as though the ground had been pulled out from under me, the shock of betrayal leaving me reeling. Jess, my first friend, the person I had trusted with my deepest secrets—how could she have done this to me?

But before I could process the full weight of Sophia's words, she continued, her voice trembling with emotion. "And there's more," she added. "Aaron, your father's accomplice—he was arrested too. They found evidence linking him to the kidnapping, the stalking, the threats..."

A surge of relief washed over me at the news, mingled with a sense of vindication. For so long, Aaron had been a shadowy figure, lurking in the background, his presence a constant source of fear and uncertainty. But now, knowing that he was behind bars, I felt a glimmer of hope flicker to life within me.

Sophia reached out and took my hand, her touch a grounding presence amidst the turmoil of emotions swirling inside me. "I know this must be a lot to take in," she said softly. "But you're safe now, Arabella. And we're here for you, no matter what."

Tears pricked at the corners of my eyes as I squeezed Sophia's hand, overwhelmed by the depth of her compassion and support. In that moment, surrounded by the love of my friends and family, I knew that no matter what challenges lay ahead, we would face them together, stronger and more united than ever before.

But now I had one last thing to do.

I needed to finish this.

Once and for all.