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Arabella started walking.
The beast stilled.
Closer and closer—-
What the hell—-
Arabella stopped right in front of the mirror.
The beast almost reared back.
She knew.
And almost as if she heard him, Arabella whispered, “Yes, I know.” A smile wobbled on her lips. “I’m not an idiot. And I have watched movies with old castles in it.” As she spoke, she slowly moved towards the mirror—-
Towards it.
The beast.
Something inside the beast started to painfully crack, and by the time Arabella came to a stop, mere inches away, it was only then the beast realized the pain was coming from its heart –
The beast watched Arabella placed one trembling hand on the mirror’s cold pane.
Its heart ached, more so than before—-
From the other side, the beast slowly placed its clawed hand on the mirror, its large palm swallowing her small one.
Because for better or worse, the beast’s heart had now found its other half, and from here on its heart would beat for Arabella.
“You’re there, aren’t you?” she whispered.
“Yes.” And the beast’s heart ached even more as it saw her long lashes sweep down like dark fans against her skin, just before a solitary tear tracked down one pale cheek.
Her eyes opened, and she sent him a teary smile. “All t-this time.” Her voice shook. “You’ve been so close all this time.” She couldn’t help but move her fingers across the mirror, couldn’t help wondering if she was able to trace his face this way. “Do you see me clearly through this?”
“Yes.”
The answer had her drawing back a little, Arabella suddenly feeling self-conscious.
When the palest of blushes washed over her cheeks, the beast shook its head. “Do not be shy.”
Instantly defensive, Arabella lied, “I’m not.” But then there was the softest chuckle, and she blushed harder.
“You will always be beautiful to me.”
“H-ha!” And because she knew he was really good at having the last word, she pre-empted him, saying irritably, “And stop using your charm on me. It’s not going to work this time.”
“Will it not?”
Aurélien’s voice was husky and with the faintest note of teasing, and her breath caught. It was Arabella’s first time to hear the billionaire speak so, and oh, how her heart skipped a beat at the sound. And then it kept skipping and skipping, until her throat began to tighten, and that was when she realized—-
The beast noticed something flicker in Arabella’s caramel brown eyes. “What is it?”
She said simply, “I need to see you.”
Silence.
“I know you have your reasons…” She found her hiding her hands behind her back as she spoke, not wanting the billionaire to see how it had started shaking. “But I just need to see you.”
But still there was nothing from Aurélien, and her hands started to perspire.
“Please, Aurélien.”
The beast expelled its breath in a harsh hiss. “You don’t know what you are asking for, ma belle.”
“But please—-”
“It is simply not the right time. Not just yet—-”
“Why?” When he didn’t answer right away, she asked uncertainly, “Is it because of the attack? Did it leave you scarred—-”
The beast cut her off with a humorless laugh. “The only scars that day left me with are those that cannot be seen.”
“Then why—-”
“Enough, Arabella.”
The weariness in his voice made her feel guilty, but she couldn’t make herself back away. She knew in her heart that whatever happened, she had to see this to the end, for better or for worse.
“Please, Aurélien. Trust me. Let me see you. Whatever – however – you look like, it wouldn’t matter to me. I’m not that shallow—-”
A hoarse laugh. “Are you not, truly?”
“Try me,” she said fiercely. Silence once again greeted her, and Arabella spun away from the mirror in a fit of frustration. “It can’t be like this the entire time, Aurélien. This is not normal—-”
“Normal is overrated,” the beast said grimly.
She whirled to face the mirror again, crying out, “Normal is necessary here, now, between the two of us. Stop hiding behind the mirror and show yourself.” Frustration at his refusal to budge seethed inside of Arabella, straining her temper, and she heard herself demand hotly, “Don’t you see how unfair this is?” Deep inside, she knew she was being childish, lashing out because she was unable to get what she wanted, but she didn’t care. “All this time, you’re the only one who sees me, watching me from behind that damn mirror—-”
The beast shook its head. “Calm down.”
“How do I even know you’re not watching me while I undress myself—-”
The beast knew it should be busy soothing her concerns away, but suddenly all it could see was the way Arabella’s bountiful breasts were heaving as she flew into a rage.
“And what about when I’m taking a bath?” Arabella planted her hands on her hips as she turned to face the mirror again. “Have you nothing to say for yourself?”
The beast heard her fine, but her heaving bosom unfortunately still had its gaze arrested.
