Best Friend, Escape, Her Begging

The third year Benjamin and I were married to the Beaumont sisters, their old flame came back.
At a family dinner, Benjamins wife, Stella, slapped him across the face for defending the guy.
When I found him, half his face was swollen and his eyes were bloodshot.
Noah, I cant take this anymore. She hit mefor him! he choked out. I want a divorce. What about you?
I thought of how Clarissa had grown colder and colder since Tristan Davenport returned, of all the nights she hadn't come home. A bitter smile touched my lips.
If youre leaving, Im leaving. Well go together.
We planned our escape for weeks, and finally, we boarded a flight abroad, having told no one. But as I settled into my seat, I looked up and met the icy gaze of my wife, Clarissa Beaumont.
We were dragged off the plane and locked in a dark room in the Beaumont estate to reflect. As I wracked my brain trying to figure out where our plan went wrong, Benjamins voice, small and weak, cut through the silence.
Sorry, Noah I did it for your own good.

1
I stared at my best friend, Benjamin Shaw, my mind blank.
What do you mean?
Benjamin was already afraid of the dark, and my flat, emotionless question was the final straw. He swallowed hard and finally confessed.
Just dont get mad, okay? he whispered. Clarissa runs the entire Beaumont corporation. Shes sharp as a damn razor. She knew we were up to something for ages! The day we left for the airport, I opened my door, suitcase in hand, and she was just standing there. Waiting for me.
You know how terrified I am of your wife, especially when she gets that look on her face. The second she started questioning me, I couldnt even think of a lie. I just told her everything.
I never would have guessed. Our escape was foiled by a traitor in our midst.
A firestorm of anger roared inside me, but one look at the genuine fear and apology written all over Benjamins face, and it fizzled out. I couldnt stay mad at him.
It was just exhausting.
I rubbed the bridge of my nose and forced my voice to soften. Then why didnt you tell me on the way to the airport? If we knew she was onto us, we could have canceled the plan, thrown her off the scent, and tried again later. Now she has us right where she wants us.
At the mention of that, Benjamins own anger flared.
Its all Clarissas fault! he seethed. I thought, even if she stopped us, shed only take you back. I never thought shed care about me leaving! Im not her husband!
What a wonderfully simple way of thinking.
That was the thing about my best friend. He had a heart of gold, but sometimes his logic was so simple it bordered on idiotic.
The Beaumont sisters had lost their mother young. Clarissa, as the eldest, had practically raised Stella. Of course she wouldnt let him just walk away, not after he made such a scene at dinner a few days ago. If he disappeared right after that, what would people say?
I sighed and closed my eyes, hiding my fatigue. I had put so much work into planning this escape.
Benjamin watched my face, not daring to speak. Then, he threw an arm around my shoulders.
Noah, dont be mad, please? I was thinking of you, I swear. Before I told her, I thought about it. Clarissas always been good to you, hasnt she? Gives you anything you want. If you really left with me, wed have to struggle for a long, long time. I couldnt stand to see you suffer. I figured if you stayed with her, at least youd be safe.
He paused, his expression turning bitter.
Besides Stella definitely doesnt want me anymore. Im sure Clarissa told her our plan the second she knew. And lookStella didn't even try to stop me. She didnt care that I was leaving. It doesnt matter if you run or not, but for me its real. She doesnt love me anymore.
Seeing his pain, the last of my anger evaporated. I pulled him into a hug, about to offer some comfort when the door to the room was kicked open.
Stella stood in the doorway, her face a thundercloud.
Benjamin Shaw, youve really grown a backbone, havent you? she sneered. A man who gets lost five blocks from his own house dares to run away from home? Who gave you the nerve? So I slapped you. Weve fought plenty of times growing up. Is it really that big of a deal?

2
They were childhood sweethearts, and their fights always devolved into dredging up the past.
Sure enough, Benjamin shot to his feet, incensed.
You think what happened then is the same as what happened the other night? We were kids! That was just messing around!
Stellas eye twitched. She crossed her arms, her expression flat.
Right. Messing around. When we were nine, you pulled my chair out from under me as I stood up to answer a question in class. I hit my head on the desk behind me and got a concussion. When we were thirteen, you tied my shoelaces together while I was asleep. I fell, broke my leg, and spent New Years in the hospital. If all of that was just messing around in your eyes, then after all these years, a single slap seems pretty damn fair, dont you think?
This kind of bickering was their normal.
Watching them, I felt an unexpected pang of envy.
Benjamin was speechless, his face turning cold as he struggled to catch his breath.
No matter what, you hit me for another man, he said, his voice low and hard. I will remember that, Stella. Even if I cant leave today, this marriage is over.
Anyone who knew him understood: as long as he was yelling and fighting, it wasnt serious. But when he went quiet, when he lost the energy to argue thats when you knew his heart was truly broken.
Stella realized the gravity of the situation. She knew she couldnt talk him down easily. Her expression finally turned serious.
She sighed and turned to me.
Noah, dont just stand there watching the show. Youre the one who really needs to think about what youve done. Benjamin and I have our issues to sort out, but my sister has respected you for the three years youve been married. Shes given you all the dignity a husband in our world could ask for. You shouldn't have gotten involved in his drama.
Benjamin blinked, now looking at me too.
Yeah, Noah, I never asked. Why did you want to leave with me? I always thought Clarissa treated you with respect. She never embarrassed you in public, always gave you your space. Not like me
He shot a glare at Stella and huffed.
I had no choice but to leave!
I flinched and looked down, a bitter smile on my face.
Yes. Respect.
Everyone could see it, even someone as dense as Benjamin.
Clarissa had only ever shown me respect.
I used to think that for someone as cold as her, respect and dignity were all she had to give.
But after Tristan Davenport came back, I learned that she was capable of love, too.

3
Unlike Benjamin and Stella, who had grown up together, Clarissa and I were nothing more than a business arrangement.
At first, I told myself her detached personality was a result of running the Beaumont empire for so long. That, combined with a loveless arranged marriage, made her coolness toward me seem normal.
But three years in, I often wondered if it was more than just coolness. It was an almost complete absence.
We were husband and wife, but aside from obligatory family dinners and polite morning and evening greetings, we barely spoke. If I ever tried to show a little more concern, she would shut me down.
I dont like needy men.
Dont do unnecessary things.
If it werent for her father pressuring us for an heir, I doubt we would have been intimate more than five times a month. And even then, it was like she was completing a task assigned by her elders. The moment it was over, she would pull away without a trace of lingering affection and head for the shower.
I never felt an ounce of passion from her.
If Benjamin hadn't been there, living in the same house, I think the loneliness would have driven me mad.
I knew she wouldnt change for me, so I tried to change for her, forcing myself to accept her coldness.
Until Tristan came back.
I watched her face carefully the day she got his call.
Longing, joy, resentment, stubbornness.
It was the first time I had ever seen such a complex storm of emotion on Clarissas eternally frosty face. And in that moment, I knew how wrong I had been.
The day Tristan returned was my birthday.
I had swallowed my pride and begged her for days to spend it with me, to act like a normal couple in lovea walk, a movie, a candlelit dinner.
But after that call, she didnt even glance at me again.
As she rushed out the door, she threw a careless line over her shoulder.
Something urgent came up at the office. Ill take you out when I get back.
I clung to that promise. I put on my best suit and waited. And waited.
I knew that Clarissa never broke a promise.
But I sat there, watching the sun climb high in the sky and then sink below the horizon, and my heart sank with it, piece by piece, into a dark abyss.
At three in the morning, I stared at the long list of rejected calls on my phone and dialed her number one more time.
This is your last chance, Clarissa, I thought. One more rejection, and Im done.
But this time, the call connected.
I froze, a thousand emotions rushing to my lips, leaving me speechless. Before I could say a word, I heard it from the other end of the line.
A soft, intimate gasp.
Then another, more heated and intense.
And finally, her voice, a breathy, tender whisper I had never heard before.
Kiss me.
It was nothing like she was with me.
She didn't have to say another word. I understood everything.
And my heart turned to ash.
She wasn't a frozen lake, after all. She just wouldn't create waves for me.

After I finished my story, Benjamins eyes were red.
Noah, why didnt you ever tell me any of this? I had no idea you were going through so much. If I had known, I swear, even if Clarissa had skinned me alive today, I wouldnt have told her our plan!
Stella listened in silence, then hesitated. Noah, my sister, she
Benjamin cut her off, his voice raw. Get out! Both of you sisters are cut from the same rotten cloth!
He shoved Stella out of the room.
Turning back, he saw the lingering bitterness on my face and pulled me into another tight hug.
Were a real pair, you and me. Brothers in misery.
I let out a quiet sigh.
If this marriage was a mistake, then it was time to cut my losses.
I forced myself to rally, managing a weak smile.
Its okay. Well get another chance. This time we failed, so well just try again. But next time, I warned, you are not allowed to sell me out.

4
At dinner, Benjamin and I were finally released.
A number of Beaumont family elders were present, and to my surprise, so was Tristan.
Of all the younger generation present, I was, by birthright, the least qualified to marry Clarissa. Our marriage was a formality, a way for the Beaumonts to repay a debt to my family, the Vances, for helping them in their early days. It was less a merger and more a favor, a way to elevate my familys standing.
Because of this, my father-in-law, Marcus Beaumont, held me in the lowest regard.
Hed heard about our escape attempt. With Benjamin, he was merely patronizing, a few light scoldings. But when his gaze fell on me, his entire demeanor shifted, his voice dripping with sarcasm.
Benjamin was genuinely hurt, so a little tantrum is understandable. But you, Noah Vance, as the eldest son-in-law, you should have been talking sense into him, not joining in on the foolishness. Utterly classless. Cant you use your brain? Its a disgrace.
I wasnt being foolish. And since everyone was here, it was the perfect time to clear the air.
I shot a cool glance at Tristan and was about to speak.
But he beat me to it, his voice smooth and warm.
Marcus, please dont be angry. I bear some of the blame for this misunderstanding. I came today specifically to explain. The day I returned, I accidentally answered a call on Clarissas phone from an unsaved number. The person on the other end hung up without saying a word. Thinking back, it must have been Noah. I imagine he must have gotten the wrong idea, which led to all this.
He smiled gently, but his eyes held a glint of challenge.
I forced the corner of my mouth up. So? I said, my face a mask. Whats your explanation? What were the two of you doing that day?
He chuckled, feigning innocence. I had just gotten back to the country. I missed Clarissa terribly, so we were just catching up.
Catching up? Was that what he called a conversation that consisted of nothing but breathless gasps?
I let out a cold laugh, ready to expose the truth.
But Clarissa finally had enough. If youre going to cause a scene, you can leave, she said, her voice low and dangerous.
She wasnt looking at anyone, as if warning the entire table. But I could feel her gaze on me from the corner of her eye.
She was warning me.
But I had been perfectly composed since I sat down, having said only one thing. Who was really causing the scene here?
A bitter pill lodged in my throat. It took all my strength to keep the tears from falling.
Benjamin saw my distress and secretly squeezed my hand under the table.
Say the word, he whispered. You start the fight, Ill jump in. We married sisters for a reason, right? So we could have a united front against unreasonable in-laws and useless wives. Im still scared of Clarissa, but for you, Ill fight.
I managed a weak, sad smile and shook my head.
Let it go.
I had no hope for this family anymore.
Clarissas outburst silenced the table for a moment. But it wasnt long before Marcus started up again.
Some people just have no class, he muttered, loud enough for everyone to hear. I always preferred Tristan, to be honest. But my late wife insisted on repaying your familys kindness. What could I do? Im sure if Tristan had married one of my daughters, he wouldnt be throwing a fit over some baseless rumor. He wouldnt cause such an embarrassing spectacle.
He fixed his glare on me. Noah, since you married up, you need to learn your place. In our world, a woman cant be expected to have only one man in her life. Whether its true or not, you have to be tolerant. Do you understand? You cant have your cake and eat it too.
His tone was so condescending, as if my marriage to Clarissa was an act of his charity.
Benjamin, with his famously short fuse, had been simmering for a while. The screech of his chair scraping back was loud in the silence as he shot to his feet.
But before he could say a word, Stella and I grabbed his wrists from either side, holding him down.
I shook my head, too tired to even smile. There was no point in arguing. If I still held any hope for this family, for Clarissa, maybe I would have fought back.
But my mind was already made up. I was leaving. Fighting with them now was utterly meaningless.

5
After dinner, Clarissa and I returned to our room.
Since Tristans return, she had started staying out all night. Soon, it became days at a time. We were husband and wife, but thinking back, aside from being caught at the airport today, we hadnt seen each other in nearly two weeks.
Now, being alone with her in the same room felt suffocatingly strange and awkward.
I couldn't stand the oppressive atmosphere. I silently tried to walk past her to the bathroom.
But she grabbed my arm, her voice heavy.
In the Beaumont family, we dont divorce. We have widows. Now that were married, its for life. You cant run away. I dont want this to happen again. Do you understand?
Her grip was painfully tight, as if she was truly afraid I would flee again, as if she could physically restrain me from leaving.
But on what grounds?
No divorce, only widows.
It should have been a vow of loyalty, but between us, loyalty had only ever been a shackle for me. When had that word ever constrained her?
A sarcastic smile twisted my lips.
In that case, if I insist on a divorce, would you die for me?
She frowned, not answering my question. You know thats not what I meant. Tristan and I are in the past
Enough! I cut her off, my face cold. I dont want to fight with you, and I dont care about your past. Lets lets just go back to how things were before.
Without another look at her, I escaped into the bathroom.
The warm water sluicing over my body brought a sliver of clarity to my mind.
Her words had given me an idea.
Simply running away would always leave loose ends.
But death death was final.
If the only way out was to be a widower, then I would die for her.

6
The next day, the Beaumont sisters left for their respective businesses, and Benjamin and I finally had a chance to talk.
When he heard about the no divorce, only widows rule, he exploded.
Are the Beaumonts all brain-dead? What century is this? How can they have such a backward, idiotic rule? What did all the men who married into this family do when their marriages fell apart? Did they all jump off a building?
No way, I cant accept that. The only way Im leaving Stella is if we have a duel to the death on the interstate!
I thought for a moment, then said quietly, Actually thats not a bad idea.
Benjamin froze, grabbing my shoulders. Noah, dont! Get a grip! Dont throw your life away for a marriage that isnt worth it!
I sighed, half-amused, and steadied him.
What are you talking about? I meant, if divorce and running away wont work, we can fake our deaths to get out.
But jumping off a building is too risky and hard to fake. How about the ocean? Were both strong swimmers.
The moment he realized there was a way out, Benjamins eyes lit up.
The ocean is boring! If were going to do this, lets go big! Lets blow up this damn mansion! What do you think?
I blinked. What?
He looked around the sprawling villa, a mix of nostalgia and hatred in his eyes.
This house is old. Its filled with memories of me and Stella growing up. Thats the only reason we didnt buy a new place when we got married. But now I hate these memories. I dont want to take them with me, and I sure as hell dont want to leave them for her. So, lets just burn it all down.
I hadnt realized how much he had come to resent Stella because of her old flame. I wasnt part of their childhood, so I didnt know the history between the three of them. But it must have been painful. He didnt want to talk about it, and I didnt need to ask.
I pushed aside my stray thoughts and considered his idea. It wasnt bad. An explosion would take care of the problem of needing bodies.
I refined the plan, then looked at him seriously.
Ive confirmed it. Clarissa is leaving for a business trip tonight and will be gone for at least a week. The day after tomorrow, Stella is going to a friends birthday party in the countryside and wont be home that night. Thats our only chance.
Ill find a way to send all the staff out so no one gets hurt. The only thing Im worried about is you. This time, you cant make any mistakes. Understood?
Benjamin gripped my hands, his expression just as solemn.
Deal.

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