Axel and Den left the room and closed the door behind them to give Be and Arnold some space. "Arnold," Be cried out to him.


    She was at a loss for words, as it did not seem appropriate tofort him or talk about Asher.


    The brief silence felt like a lifetime.


    "I''m sorry, Be." Keeping his head down, Arnold allowed tears to trickle down his cheeks.


    Be shook her head andforted him. "Arnold, don''t put the me on yourself. You don''t need to apologize to anyone.N?vel(D)ra/ma.Org exclusive ? material.


    "You simply fell in love with Ash. There isn''t anything wrong with loving someone."


    "It''s all my fault."


    Arnold hung his head low like a sinner, his fighting spirit gone. "Aunt M is right. I destroyed Ash. Everything wouldn''t have happened if I had taken her advice. I''m unforgivable, Be. I was selfish. I''d rather take the fall for everything than put Ash through this. I want everything to go back to how it was. But it''s toote."


    Be felt a lump in her throat.


    First things first, Asher was not destroyed.


    Yet now, Arnold was a wreck.


    "I contacted a good friend here. He''s a well-known expert in the neurology field, too. I trust his work and ethics. Chairman Thompson can seek medical attention with him. He''s as good a doctor as I am." Be''s chest tightened. "What about you, Arnold? What are you going to do?"


    "I''m going back to Meridan."


    Arnold smiled wryly. "I don''t think I''ming back."


    "No way! If you leave, what about Ash?"


    Be grabbed Arnold''s arm desperately. "Since you love Ash, you should know the kind of person he is. How did he react when your rtionship made headlines? He took all the me so that you wouldn''t face any usation, criticism, or hurt. Even at the cost of disgrace, he shielded you from harm."


    Arnold slowly lifted his head and met Be''s sparkling gaze.


    The pain numbed his senses.


    "Don''t you get it? Ash put up a fight to be with you."


    Be''s fingers clutched tightly around hisb coat. "If you walk away now, what''s the point of your rtionship? What''s the point of Ash''s sacrifice? You risked a beating and tumed your back on the Larson family to be with Ash. Is that the oue you want for your determination and struggles? Are you happy with it? Is that what you want?"


    "No!" Atst, Arnold broke down in tears. "But Be, so what if I''m not happy with it? Is there a ce in the world forus? Can your father ept us? Can your family? I''m willing to live without anything, but Ash can''t. He deserves happiness. Otherwise, I wish we never met."


    "There is one thing that will make Ash happy." Be looked into Arnold''s eyes and said, "That''s you staying by his side, no matter what." The words stuck with Arnold.


    He hunched down and sank to the ground, his arms pressing down on the cold floor until his veins showed. "I told Ash I wouldn''t mind being his unseen lover. Titles mean nothing to me. All I want is to stand by him, nothing else."


    "It''s different now. Your rtionship''s out."


    Be got down in front of him and smiled with a tilted head. "You''re not an unseen lover now. You''re Ash''s partner. Don''t you like that?"


    Arnold looked up and blushed. "I-I''m a guy."


    "I''m not blind. I can see that you''re a guy, but you''re the only man for Ash. I don''t want anyone else to be my brother-inw."


    Be opened her arms to hold him, her palm patting his back. "Oh, Arnold. Let your worries wash away."


    Arnold pressed his lips together. Try as he may, but the moving tears rolled down his cheeks.


    "Be?"


    Justin''s husky voice came from outside the door.


    Be settled Arnold down before getting up to open the door.


    "What''s the matter, Justin?" Be and Justin drew close and held hands.


    Justin looked around the room before putting his arm around her back and speaking in hushed tones, "The Larsons are here. They drove into the hospital''s basement parking lot."