Chapter 1
The sky was serene as Arabella stared blankly out of the airplane window. Her long, wavy brown hair rested gently on her slender shoulders, giving her an effortless elegance even in her silence.
"The weather is so calm today," she murmured, attempting a faint smile that didn't quite reach her eyes.
After fifteen years, she was returning to her homeland—not to rekindle the life she left behind, but to fulfill her grandfather's dying wish: to marry Jacob Senclair. Her once–best friend. Now a stranger. A man tied to her past as tightly as he was tied to her future, both of them bound to protect the empire their families had built.
When the plane finally touched the ground, passengers hurried out, eager to start their day. But Arabella remained still, her gaze fixed on the floor. For the second time that day, she felt hollow—an ache that made it difficult to move. It was as if taking a single step forward meant crossing a threshold she could never return from.
She drew in a long, steady breath, gathering every ounce of courage she had spent fifteen years trying to build.
"I am here. There is no turning back now."
With that, Arabella rose and walked with quiet determination, leaving the airport behind. And then—finally—she smiled. A familiar face stood waiting beside a sleek black car.
Iris waved, her beauty striking despite the seriousness she always carried. In her mid-20s, composed and capable, Iris was more than just Arabella's secretary; she was the only person Arabella entrusted with everything.
"How was your flight?" Iris asked, attempting a smile of her own.
"You don't have to force yourself to smile just to lift my mood," Arabella laughed softly. She knew Iris never liked smiling for show.
"Sorry. I tried my best to make it look natural," Iris replied, letting her face slide back into its usual seriousness.
They entered the car, Iris taking the driver's seat as she always did.
"The mansion has been well cared for, and your things are already arranged. Is there anything else you want me to prepare for you?" she asked in her steady, composed tone.
"Hmm… none for now," Arabella answered, her gaze drifting out the window. Thoughts tangled in her mind as the city passed by—familiar yet foreign after all these years.
"Everything has changed," she whispered, barely loud enough for Iris to hear.
"Are you okay?" Iris asked gently.
"Honestly? I don't really know." Arabella's eyes stayed fixed on the scenery. Normally, she spoke with clarity, confidence—an intelligence sharpened by years of preparation under her grandfather's guidance. But now, for the first time, she found herself wordless.
Iris glanced at her through the rearview mirror. She knew exactly what weighed on Arabella's mind: her impending marriage to Jacob Senclair. Fifteen years apart, and now they were bound to meet again. Arabella had prepared for this moment for so long, yet Iris couldn't help worrying.
"Do you think you're ready to see him again?" Iris asked, softening her tone for her sake.
Arabella froze. Her eyes fell to her lap, her breath catching as nerves tightened in her chest. Even after all this time, the thought of Jacob stirred something deep inside her—something fragile.
"This marriage is purely political," she said finally, voice steady but soft. "Whatever history I have with Jacob… it's long buried. I can't let that connection get in the way of my plans."
Iris felt oddly relieved hearing her resolve. She had witnessed Arabella's relentless dedication, her years of discipline. She couldn't bear the thought of Jacob unraveling all of that.
As the car approached the Hayes mansion, tears gathered in Arabella's eyes. Memories flooded in at the sight of the elegant white walls—still glowing as brightly as they had in her childhood. Ivy curled around each corner of the mansion, its vines tracing years of growth she never witnessed.
"I'm back," she whispered in her heart.
When the car stopped, the front doors opened and several old servants stepped out, their faces lighting up at her arrival. Loyal caretakers of the Hayes estate, they had watched over the mansion ever since Arabella and her grandfather moved abroad. Now, seeing her grown and graceful, they could hardly contain their joy.
"Miss Arabella, we missed you so much!" Leon, the gardener, called out. He had tended the estate since she was a toddler—back when little Arabella used to pluck all of his roses.
"Mr. Leon, it's been a long time. I'm happy to see you again," Arabella said with a soft laugh, swallowing her rising emotion.
Linda, the mansion's cook, burst into tears. She had once prepared all of Arabella's favorite meals, fussing over her like a doting aunt.
Arabella held herself together—until she heard the voice she had missed the most.
"Bella, you've come home," came Mrs. Maude's weak, gentle call.
The woman who had cared for her since she was a baby. Her second mother.
Arabella broke. Tears spilled freely as she rushed forward, taking Mrs. Maude's wrinkled hands, her heart aching at the sight of her aged face. The weight of time hit her all at once.
"Thank you… thank you for coming back," Mrs. Maude whispered, crying as she pulled Arabella into a trembling embrace.
Arabella clung to her tightly, letting the years they lost finally fall between them.
…
The sky was now pitch-black, yet Arabella continued wandering the halls of the old mansion. She moved slowly, touching every corner, every piece of furniture, every photograph she passed. With each memory she brushed against, she felt her grandfather's absence settle heavier on her chest. He had died two years ago, back in Spain. He never got to return home… never got to witness her upcoming wedding.
Aside from Iris and the trusted servants, she had no family left. Mr. Sebastian Senclair—Jacob's father—still cared for her like his own daughter, but the years apart had stretched the bond that once felt unbreakable.
He and Arabella's father had built the HaySen Group together from the ground up. Their families were the foundation of the empire that now led the country's business landscape. Because of that deep connection, Jacob and Arabella grew up intertwined, inseparable—best friends in a world shaped by family legacy.
Until the accident.
The terrible tragedy that took the lives of Arabella's parents and Jacob's mother changed everything. After that day, Jacob changed too. He became distant, cold, unreadable. He distanced himself from Arabella, treating her like a stranger. No one knew why.
Her grandfather, fearing for her safety, took her abroad and hid her from the people he suspected were behind the accident. Knowing his time was limited, he trained Arabella relentlessly—teaching her independence, intellect, and strategy, shaping her into someone capable of protecting herself when the time came to return.
The night grew deeper, yet sleep refused to touch her. Tomorrow she would meet Jacob again… to discuss the wedding.
"Nervous about tomorrow?" Iris asked softly from behind, tablet and papers in hand.
Arabella kept her eyes on the chandelier above her. "No… just thinking about how this place feels smaller now. It used to feel enormous when I was a child."
Iris sat beside her and handed her the documents. "That's because you grew. Big things don't stay big forever."
"What do you have for me?" Arabella asked, flipping through the pages.
"The list of the company's shareholders. Those who stayed loyal to your father… and those who didn't."
"Did my uncle finally convince them to vote Jacob out as CEO?" Arabella's brows furrowed.
Carlos Hayes—her father's cousin. Her father had pitied him once, gifting him a mere one percent of the company. Over the years, through manipulation and corruption, he turned it into a position of power.
"The voting is next month. Mr. Senclair hopes this marriage will change people's minds," Iris said.
"Go through their backgrounds. Find out what my uncle is holding against them—enough to make them obey him." Arabella handed the papers back and stood up.
"I'll pick you up at eight tomorrow," Iris said as she gathered her things.
"You're not staying here tonight?" Arabella asked, trying to mimic Iris' serious expression.
"No." Iris didn't even blink.
Arabella laughed. "So serious."
"Good night, Bella." Iris left, heading back to her apartment.
At the Senclair Family Mansion
The next day, Arabella's car stopped in front of the Senclair mansion, but she didn't immediately get out. She sat quietly, taking in the sight of the place where she and Jacob had once played, talked, and dreamed. Memories flickered in her mind like soft flashes of light.
She inhaled deeply and opened the door. A gentle breeze brushed through her hair, sending her long, wavy brown strands dancing behind her. The sunlight touched her skin, illuminating its pale softness.
"I'll call you," she said to Iris.
She stepped out, but Iris called her name. "Bella."
Arabella paused and turned, offering Iris a calm, reassuring smile—the kind that said she could handle this. That she wasn't afraid.
A rare smile touched Iris' lips. They had been together long enough to speak without words. And in that moment, Iris knew Jacob wouldn't be able to shake her.
Once the car drove away, Arabella walked toward the entrance. A familiar figure stood waiting—Theodore, the Senclairs' head butler. In his sixties now, but still carrying the composed and dignified aura of a man born to serve a high-status family.
"Ms. Arabella, welcome," he greeted.
Arabella returned the smile. "Mr. Theodore, you're still here."
He had once played with her and Jacob, teaching them chess during long afternoons. His eyes softened with pride as he looked at her—grown, graceful, elegant.
"Please head to the old patio. The Senclairs will be joining you shortly," he said, doing his best to remain composed during their reunion.
"Thank you, Mr. Theodore."
She stepped inside, walking toward the patio, when the old portraits along the walls caught her attention. Family portraits… her parents standing beside Jacob's parents… even pictures of herself and Jacob when they were young. Everyone smiling. Everyone whole.
She was still staring when the sharp rise of voices interrupted her thoughts. Arguing—coming from the old library. She recognized Mr. Senclair's voice, but the other one…
She didn't intend to eavesdrop, but her feet carried her forward. At the library door, she tried to stay hidden, listening closely.
"Father, is there a way to change your mind?"
The moment she heard the voice, her chest tightened. Jacob.
"So… he doesn't want this marriage," she thought, her heart giving a painful squeeze. She knew the arrangement was political—but hearing his rejection still stung.
Mr. Senclair's voice rose, firm and angry. "This marriage was arranged long ago by her grandfather and me. It's our way of honoring your uncle Samuel—to give Arabella a family."
"There are other ways to honor him. Father, I've been with Mia for two years. I can't just abandon her."
Arabella's eyes widened slightly. Right. Mia. Iris had mentioned they were together.
Mia, the adoptive daughter of Arabella's uncle, instructed to get close to Jacob the moment he became CEO. She wasn't with him for love—but Jacob didn't know that.
"This marriage will happen," Mr. Senclair said sharply. "If you refuse, step down from your position."
Jacob fell silent. He had sacrificed so much to earn that role. He couldn't afford to lose it.
Quietly, Arabella stepped back and slipped away before either of them discovered her listening. She walked to the old patio and sat down, staring blankly ahead, her mind replaying every word she had heard.
Whether Jacob wanted the marriage or not didn't matter to her. What mattered was stopping her uncle from stealing the legacy her parents had built.
"Don't worry, Jacob," she thought, burying whatever emotions she once held for him. "After I secure the company's safety, we'll divorce."