The Forbidden Fruit | 46

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Arabella's POV

"Thank you," I mumbled to my chauffeur as he ushered me out of the limousine and onto the pavement. I took my bags from him and trekked up the stoned pathway to the brown doors that stood tall before my head.

I didn't bother knocking and pushed the doors, revealing the grand hall before me. The chauffeur closed the door behind me and I sighed deeply as I sauntered towards the special staircase that led to my room.

Wow, I haven't seen anyone in a month and no one came to greet me at the door on Thanksgiving? Such hospitality. With a roll of my eyes I sashayed down the hallway and towards my room, the door was slightly open and I frowned before pushing it opens, expecting to find someone on the bed but no one was there except for a red box wrapped in a white bow.

I frowned deeply and closed the door behind me before setting my bag onto the floor and sauntering towards my bed. "Who in the world," I muttered to myself as I plucked the card off the box and flipped it open. It read; I saw this dress and thought of you so I purchased it with all my love to see you wear it before my eyes. Put this on for dinner in at 5, it would mean the world to me to see you in such elegance because that's what princesses are made to wear. . .xoxo

"Who the hell. . ." I trailed off as I placed the card down onto the bed and unravelled the bow. I hesitantly opened the box and peered down at the vibrant red cloth staring back at me. Picking it out of the box I let it unravel before my eyes before letting out a gasp. I remember this dress, a model wore it on a runway show that I recalled watching but I can't put my finger on it.

It was a strapped red dress, the top half was laced material with a split coming down the middle where my breast is supposed to be and stopping at my waist flowing down was all cloth material with two splits at either end of it, the middle left purposely to cover my body but the splits are meant to show off my legs. At the bottom of the box were white stilettos and I grabbed it, staring down at the bejewelled foot of the shoe, wondering where the hell this person could purchase this.

Who left this!? All it says is Xoxo.

I shook my head and stood up, smiling at the dress like a freaking maniac before I ripped my clothes off of me and made my way towards my bathroom to take a shower.

After showering I did my makeup, something light and not dramatic since it was only going to be my family attending this thanksgiving. I thought the dress was a little extra too but were the Smith's, extra should be our middle name.

After I did my makeup in accordance with my dress I slipped it on, sighing as the soft material grazed against my skin and wrapped around my body so elegantly. I stuck on foot out from the slit that ran down the dress and smirked if only Tyler could see me.

With that thought in mind, I grabbed my phone and made my way towards the mirror. I quickly snapped a clean photo and sent it to Tyler. Now it was time to face the family, well I mean my father and his godforsaken wife and kids, hooray what I blessed thanksgiving this will be.

I placed my phone on the bed and slipped on my stilettos before exiting my room. I passed by my father's study to see if he was there but he was nowhere to be seen, neither in the study nor his room. I guess everyone was already in the dining room.

I slowly made my way down the stairs, realizing that the house was eerily quiet. If everyone was supposed to be here why is it this quiet!? "Miss Smith I was looking everywhere for you, it is time to go," Harold exclaimed, he was the family driver.

"Where are we going, Harold?" I asked.

He smiled, his head cocking sideways in confusion as he stared back at me, "well to the Marks of course miss Smith, where else would we possibly go."

~ ~ ~

The white mansion loomed before me and somehow I felt as if it were cursing me softly, taunting actually because the pit in my stomach was growing stronger by the second. What business do we have with the Marks? Especially on a family day like thanksgiving. It's supposed to be with family, not old acquaintances and bosses.

"Harold, are my parents in there?" I asked. He nodded his head and led me towards the white doubled doors before giving me a comforting smile. "Everyone is here miss Smith, do not worry." With that, he turned his attention to the door and rapped onto it. After a few seconds, a young woman opened the door, her eyes met Harold and she smiled before stepping out of the way and allowing us to enter.

"You must be Arabella. God, you really are a sight." She muttered as her big eyes examined me. I frowned deeply and handed Harold my coat as my eyes trailed over the grand hall we now stood in. Where is my father?

"Ah Arabella, thank you for coming. Thank you Harold for getting her here safely and little Marks, your father is requesting your assistance." My father exclaimed as he ushered the girl away who sent me one last glance before disappearing behind glass doors.

I turned towards my father confusedly, frowning deeply at the look of his face, it was deathly pale, not like the usual tan that he's always had. He appeared more exhausted than ever, and despite the obvious makeup on his face, you could still see the bags under his eyes.

"Dad, are you okay? You look sick." I mumbled in concern as I enveloped him in a hug. "I'm okay sweetie just didn't get any sleep last night. Now come on, everyone is in the dining room." I didn't get to drill him any further as he linked our hands and tugged me towards the dining room bustling with life.

As we slid through the threshold I took in the scene before me. The dining room was grand, a glass table as tall as this house sat in the middle, food: baked chicken, buttered bread, salad, pie, anything I could think of sat atop the white cloth.

The glass chandelier that hung above the table brightened the room with its luminescent lights and the white pastel walls added to the vibrant feel that I got as soon as I entered. At the table sat Tessa and Nessa, my mother, Ryan and Tony Marks, the little girl who greeted me at the door, my father's wife and an older man that I was not acquainted with.

Why are we all here?

"Miss Smith, you made it!" Ryan's charming smile slid across his lips and I can't deny that his smile was contagious. I smiled back a bit nervously and watched as he sauntered towards me, he unbuttoned his maroon coat and let it fall against his side, revealing his white dress shirt that hugged his torso tightly.

He outstretched his hand towards mine and I placed my palm in his. He brought my hand up to his lips and placed a kiss against it, his oceanic blue eyes trained on mine and for a second it was like his gaze put me in a trance. He smiled and tugged me closer towards him and I gasped as my chest slammed against his.

He lowered his lips to my ears and whispered, "thank you for wearing the dress, I knew it would fit you perfectly." I parted my lips in shock, stammering as he pulled away and winked before sauntering back to the table. My father's hand laid softly on my back as he led me towards the chair beside Ryan and I frowned deeply.

Why the hell was I sitting beside him?!

"Mom, what the hell are we doing here!" I whisper yelled at my mother who sat across me beside Tony Marks who was currently lost in a conversation with my father. She smiled softly, something lingered behind her eyes but I couldn't put my finger onto what the problem was.

And then the feeling was back, the churning in my stomach. What the hell was that!?

"Don't worry, and you look, beautiful dear." She whispered before Tony snapped his head towards me at the sound of my voice.

"Arabella Smith! It's lovely to meet you again dear, how are you?" Tony smiled sweetly from across me. "Uh–good I guess, if you don't mind me asking, why is my family here? No one will answer me." I asked. He adjusted his tie and leaned back against the chair before turning his attention to the man I didn't recognize. Guess another person is about to ignore me.

Why am I the only clueless one here!? "Ah, father! You remember miss Arabella Smith, don't you? She is quite eager to know why she is here, why don't you reassure the young lady that everything is fine?" He said as the man approached me. I peered up at him, gulping at the non-welcoming look on his face.

He seemed like the businessman no one wanted to accompany themselves with, the kind of man that doesn't take any jokes yet still he was incredibly handsome much like his sons but his presence was strong as if he had a demanding spirit that was not to be tested.

In smaller words, this man was incredibly hot yet frightening in a way not even Tyler could touch. "Arabella, it is nice to finally meet you once again, you have grown to become such a beautiful young lady, seems your parents raised you right too. Don't fear darling, tonight is the night we bound our families together. All of us will be one, you will become one of us and us one of you." His voice boomed loudly, not like he shouted but just the base that it held.

My eyes widened as he adjusted the sleeves of his suit and flashed me a smile that seemed more like one to settle my tension but only made me tenser than I initially was.

I didn't get to question him longer as he made his way to the head of the table and sat down on the chair. My father sat beside him, his wife next to him obviously checking out Mr Marks here much to my father's dismay.

If only I could go across that table and rip her head off I would.

As everyone settled at the table, the sound of glasses clinging against one another settled down the noise. I turned towards Mr. Marks who was currently standing at the head of the table, a glass of champagne in one hand and a fork in the other.

"Goodnight everyone, my dearest friends the Smiths and my wonderful sons, Ryan and Mark. I welcome this family into our home tonight to finally bound us all together, for years we have sought out this day, the day we finally become united and call each other family. Welcome Arabella Smith, the bell of the ball and Ryan Marks, my proud son, tonight is your night."

Tonight is our night? What does that mean? It's thanksgiving for crying out loud it's everyone's night.

I turned my head towards Ryan who placed his hand over mine and squeezed it tightly. Too caught up in my confusion I didn't even take it out of his grip as he intertwined our fingers. I snapped my head towards my mother who didn't meet my gaze and instead found interest in the table cloth and then my father who stared dead in my eye, his face stoic.

"Tonight we celebrate Ryan and Arabella as they take one another's hand in marriage."

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