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Unit VIII
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2023-07-04 02:16:26"Hana call us as soon as you land," Ava said holding her daughter tightly.
"Haha, I would," Arabella said holding her mother tightly.Up until this moment, she had thought that going away from her mother was the best decision she had made after deciding on what to study, but at the moment she felt that leaving her mom was not going to be okay at all. Her mother was overbearing but she knew she only did it in her best interest. Now Arabella did not care how many times her mother repeated a statement she only wanted to hold her tightly till she could not again."Mom, can I also say goodbye?" Seraphina asked.Ava reluctantly pulled from her daughter and gently rubbed her face and allowed Seraphina to say goodbye."Ane(elder sister in Japanese), I would miss you," Arabella said holding on to her sister.Leaving home was scarier than she thought it would be."Ara be good and call often and be good to Aunty Everly," Seraphina said.Since they lost their dad both girls grew closer to each other and became inseparable."Make sure you come back with a man for Mom's dreams to finally come through," Seraphina said whispering in her sister's ears."I hope you get married before me Sera" Arabella whispered back into her ear.Both girls giggle and spent a little more time hugging."Go see grandma, she misses you," Arabella said pulling apart.When Seraphina clocked twenty-three years old she had a falling out with her grandmother because she had refused to marry and refused all the blind dates they set up for her.Her grandmother had a hard time believing that a young girl would rather have a career than have tiny human beings popped out of her and this alone made her angry at Seraphina.Whenever Seraphina visited grandmother treated her quote poorly which made Seraphina feel bad. Seraphina stopped going there altogether."It's my one wish," Arabella said when she saw the uncomfortable expression on her sister's face.The small family learned to live and do the little things for each other because they learned that a person can leave within the blink of an eye."I would do it but only because you asked" Seraphina responded kissing her sister's cheek."Thank you" Arabella responded kissing her sister back."I better get going," she said planting a kiss on her mother's cheek.Tears flowed from her mother's face. She hurriedly cleaned it as she watched her daughter about to leave her for a foreign land."Remember what I said, Mom. No one died so no crying"All the ladies froze a little at the sound of the word died but they all nodded and gave a last hug before Arabella wheeled away her bag to get checked in.Related chapters
A Step Closer to Love Unit IX
During the whole twelve-hour connecting flight from Japan to Crescent Bay, Arabella read the books she had prepared. She studied English and Literary Studies and did a small degree in book editing. She was going to become a book editor at a publishing start-up company at Crescent Bay. As soon as she landed at the International airport at Crescent Bay she put a call to her mother to let her know she had landed safely. She knew that her mother would be worried and constantly check the time and her phone to ensure her daughter was safe. "Oh Ara, have you gotten to Crescent Bay?" Ava asked as soon as she put the call to her ears. "Yes, Mom I am fine and well," Arabella said. "Have you seen Everly?" Ava asked. "No Mom, I have not been able to call her to tell her that I arrived. I just called to tell you I have gotten here safe and sound and that I love and miss you" Arabella said. Ava felt a hot tear roll down her cheek. She still felt uncomfortable letting her little girl out of he
Last Updated : 2023-07-04A Step Closer to Love Unit X
Kieran had been a young boy who ending puberty did not do well. His face was filled with enough pimples for three faces. He was tall and lanky and thin. His parents had money and that was the only thing that made the other popular kids hang out with him. The only thing that stood out was his blue eyes. Other kids in the neighborhood always called him the blue-eyed boy. Looking at Kieran now he was not the boy he used to be. Kieran was now a man after all. Thirty-four years of age was not a joke after all. He had matured beyond his days and it did him well. The pimples had disappeared and he was looking well-built and muscular. His face looked chiseled and his blue eyes showed through as he spoke and left a smile. Arabella could the coldness that radiated out of his words. "Welcome to Crescent Bay" sounded like "Welcome to your hell" "Thank you," Arabella said with an unsure tone. She did not feel welcome but she was thought good manners and she needed to thank him. "Shall we" Ever
Last Updated : 2023-07-05A Step Closer to Love Unit XI
As Kieran pulled into the driveway of the Spice Symphony, Everly put off her seat belt and opened the door. She stood outside with the door open. "Ara, are you sure you don't have anything special you want to eat?" Everly asked. "I am good, thank you for asking," Arabella said. She had promised her mother she would be on her best behavior. If it were her mother all up in her business while we were reading her book she would be raining fire all over her. "I would be back," Everly said closing the door and moving. The car fell silent as Arabella focused on her book and Kieran pulled out his phone to scroll through his Instagram. Everly spent quite a very long time before coming back. "As usual it was packed. I got a spicy pulled pork sandwich and a pizza" Everly said opening the door and sitting with the pizza box and nylon containing the pulled pork sandwich. "I hope you like them?" oh I forgot to ask do you have any allergies you developed?" Everly added realizing she forgot to
Last Updated : 2023-07-05A Step Closer to Love Unit XII
Arabella wanted to go tell her mom and sister about how she got there. She especially wanted to tell her sister about the young boy who left for college the same day her dad died and how now he was a huge hunk to be admired. She would not leave out how rude he was to her all through the journey from the airport to his mansion. She knew that it would take up all her time so she decided to send her mom a message promising to call her when she was fully rested. Her sister's message on the other hand was an assurance to call later and go deep into the happenings of the day. The incident with their father had drawn the girls together as they learned the importance of family and how the family would rarely let you down. Seraphina who was excited for gossip sent an affirmative message that she would be available to talk whenever she was ready. Arabella took a quick warm water shower and dried herself before going downstairs to meet the old couple. Arabella met Everly at the foot of the st
Last Updated : 2023-07-07A Step Closer to Love Unit XIII
Ethan walked in to see Everly still holding the hand of Arabella. "I did not know our guest had arrived. Everly why did you not call me when she came?" Ethan said. "Because you hate it when I disturb you when you are playing your games," Everly said. When they arrived she went to tell her husband that Arabella had arrived but she met him playing his favorite video game. Ethan retired almost six years ago and ever since then, he devoted his time and energy to playing video games. He only came out of the game room whenever it was mealtime. Everly could not understand but he seemed to never miss mealtime and was always on point. A perfect example is just now, she was yet to call him to join them for dinner but he had come out without fail. How was he doing it? "Why would you say that darling?" Ethan said with a guilty smile across his face. "Ara, I'm so glad you are here, finally another person to keep me company with these men in this house. I have a husband but I have to talk to
Last Updated : 2023-07-07A Step Closer to Love Unit XIV
Arabella finished her meal and helped with clearing the dishes. She wanted to wash them when Everly came out to meet her. "Oh don't worry Gracie would take care of it" Everly said snatching the gloves out of her hand. "Have a good rest. You have to go to work tomorrow morning" Everly said. "Okay, then Mrs. Sterling. Thank you for the meal and the warm welcome" Arabella said bowing her head. "No need to thank me. I'm happy to have someone to call a daughter and also call me Everly" she said holding her. "It feels weird to call you by your first name" Arabella confessed.If her mom heard about it she was going to have her head. She would never dare call the adults in her family by their names. "I insist" Everly said. "Now run along" she added pushing Arabella towards the direction of the stairs. "Ara, I forgot to mention this" Everly said which made Arabella stop in her tracks and turn back. "What is it?" Arabella asked. For some reason that she couldn't pinpoint, she knew she
Last Updated : 2023-07-08A Step Closer to Love Unit XV
"Kieran Kieran?" Seraphina said multiple times trying to remember. "The scruffy-looking blue eyes boy that lived next door?" Arabella said in a question form. "You mean Mrs. Sterling's son?" Seraphina asked. She knew her sister had a very peculiar way of explaining things but this particular one made her laugh. "Yeah him," Arabella said. "You know you could have asked me if I remember Mrs. Sterling's son?" Seraphina asked her. "Whatever," Arabella said dismissing her sister's criticism. "What about him?" Seraphina asked. She was always ready for tea. "He turned to be a beautiful blue-eyed man. If I had met him outside I would think of him as a beautiful hunk" Arabella said dreamily. "Your book fantasies playing out again?" Seraphina asked. "I wish I took a picture so I could show you," Arabella said. "You would jump at an opportunity to date him" Arabella knew Seraphina. She has been in and out of relationships but never settled with any of them. In all the time she starte
Last Updated : 2023-07-08A Step Closer to Love Unit XVI
After Arabella had successfully confirmed that the picture of the co-CEO she saw on the company website was that of Kieran she went to bed because the next day was going to be a long one for her. It was almost past midnight when Kieran walked in. He met his mother on the couch dozing off. "Why did you wait up for me?" Kieran asked. His voice was stern. He was worried about his mother's back. She has a bad back and had to go into surgery two times now for it. She should be sleeping after all the stress she put herself into to welcome the new girl. "Why did you leave us alone when you knew that we had a guest?" Everly asked ignoring his question. "You did not possibly need me there to keep her company did you?" Kieran asked back. He knew his mother could be extra many times but this time it was simply unacceptable. What was he to be saying to her? "What would we have discussed?" he asked. "She is coming to work in your company. You know that. You could have given her advice" Eve
Last Updated : 2023-07-08
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A Step Closer to Love CCXXXIV
"I am so happy for you," Ava said as she stood with Kieran and Arabella; they had just got married, and it was truly a joyous day. Kieran had been so quick with the preparations that it took them barely two months to put everything together. "I just couldn't believe that my little one had found love," she added, tears welling in here again."Mom, you need to stop crying; seeing you cry makes me cry as well," Arabella said, blinking back the tears. Her make-up artist had retouched her make-up multiple times because she knew she was getting annoying already, but she could not control the burst of emotions flowing from her body. "Mom," Seraphina said, coming from behind and putting her hand over the shoulders of her mother. "It is a happy day; why do you keep crying? Someone, I mistake you to be mourning." "I am just thinking of how proud your father would have been to witness today.""I am sure he is watching over us from above," Arabella said, holding her mom's hand tightly."Mom, let
A Step Closer to Love CXXXIII
1 YEAR LATER Arabella was meeting Kieran after work; she had moved out because she was not comfortable with being there while dating him and had found herself a new job where she seemed to function much better. She was even on her way to write a book of her own. Kieran, who started a book publishing house solely for the money, now began to learn about this thing so he could help her out with the publication.She was glad that she had given in and tried to date him, or else she would never understand what this kind of relationship meant. Kieran was so attentive and made her feel like his entire world revolved around her. She learnt to drive and even bought her car.Sometimes she believed that he was going to propose to her because he would bring up discussions that centered around their future home, but then after that, it would be like they were back to base one. She liked base one, but she hated living all by herself. She wanted to move back in with him, and she wanted to begin havi
A Step Closer to Love CXXXII
"A trip?" Arabella asked, taking up the blanket and covering herself. "Yes, a couple's trip," he said, dropping the phone back on the table and walking to her. "What about work? Aren't you going to work again?" she asked. "Are you afraid that you would live broke?" he asked in a teasing tone."Of course I am," Arabella said before tilting her head. "I am jobless now; at least one of us needs to work so we can live a happy life," she added."You know that I do not mind you still thinking with us," Kieran said. After the trial, Arabella decided to stop working there even though Aurora was no longer there. How could she work there after everything that happened? She would be able to face her co-workers if that were the case. "I am sure I will get an offer soon from one of those companies," she said, and he sat beside her. "And you know you do not need to work again; I can take care of you and as many children as you want to have," he said with a wink. "Children?" she said flustered
A Step Closer to Love CXXXI
Arabella rolled over, and she landed right into Kieran's hands. She looked at him like it was an offence for her to do so. She peered at him and then covered her eyes with her hand. She could not believe what she had done over the night. If her mom heard she was going to give her a long lecture and then have her head afterwards. She looked at him, and she was tempted to trace her finger across his face in frustration. "Sleep so much more," she was startled to hear him talk as his mouth moved without even opening his eyes. "How long have you been awake?" She muttered, feeling shy that he had caught her staring so much that she could drill a hole into his face. "A while now," he said, his eyes framing open like a princess that was cast under a spell but was now liberated all of a sudden. He pulled her closer as he wished they could somehow get closer and maybe even mesh together. "Should we go home? Everly must be worried searching for us," Arabella murmured into his chest. He opene
A Step Closer to Love CXXX
"Somewhere, like where?" she asked shyly, dropping her head so their eyes would not meet. "You would see," he said, lifting her head gently. "But we have to make sure that the ride ends first," he said, looking around. He had thought that they were going to have a moment there, but seeing how things turned out, he could not wait to be out of there. Finally, the ride was over, and he drove out of the amusement park to a hotel. "You brought me to a hotel?" she asked in shock as they drove into the underground parking lot. "Why?" she asked now that her tone was in a hushed whisper. "I told you we should come somewhere, and you agreed," he said as he drove by the cars looking for a place to park. "That was because I thought you said that we should go someplace nice," she muttered, looking around like they were sneaking around. "Why are you looking around like we are committing a sin?" he asked, noticing how uncomfortable she got. "It is not that...""Am I being clueless? Am I jumpin
A Step Closer to Love CCXXIX
Kieran paid the operator to let the ride go in a loop three times, and Arabella wondered why he did that."Why?" she whispered to him."To have some alone time," he replied with the same wink from earlier. She gulped down hard, wondering what he was thinking.As the ride got into the tunnel, Arabella held the hand of Kieran tightly with her eyes closed. She had no time to think of what he might have meant with the wink and statements because the ride was definitely scarier than she had expected it to be. She looked at him when she felt his firm hand hold her face and turn it to him. "Are you scared?" he asked, dropping a kiss on her lip. "Kieran," she said in a hushed whisper as she looked around. "There is no one here, and I have been waiting all day just to get that," he said before dropping his head for another kiss. She placed her hand over her mouth because he could kiss her and therefore kissed the back of her hand. He took her hand from her mouth and began to drop multiple k
A Step Closer to Love CCXXVIII
Arabella could feel Kieran's excitement for the date, and she wondered why they got so lucky. They went on every ride in the park like they had been waiting to do this. Arabella was more proud of the fact that a handsome hunk named Kieran was with her. In every line, they heard murmurs of people talking about how handsome he was. She was not letting any of that bother her because she could disagree with them; he was a beauty to behold. She did not let the nasty comments, such as those criticising his choice, get to her. He glued to her like gum on the sole of a shoe, and it must have infuriated the crowd the more because of the kinds of dirty glances she received from them. Kieran was always pushing back her hair and staring at her while holding her hand tightly and dropping random kisses on her forehead. She was shy, but she liked how he marked his terror so openly. She was on a date, and she was going to try her best not to be affected by any of that. "Should we go there?" Kieran
A Step Closer to Love CCXXVII
"Do you want to explain why you are here?" Kieran asked. Arabella had expected him to scream his lungs out, but he was wrong. Myabe's drive down has calmed him down. "It is a stupid reason; I don't want to tell you," Arabella murmured to herself. She had wanted to hear an apology so much that it felt like her self-worth depended on it. She turned her head to the side so she was looking out the window. "Look at me," Kieran said softly. "Look at me," he said again, this time turning her head with his hand gently. "I am so ashamed of myself; I don't know what I was thinking," Arabella said again. Seeing Kieran had somehow triggered something in her. It was like judging her actions without even saying anything. "Tell me, I want to know why you dressed up and left the house to come here when you should be resting.""Okay," she said as she heaved a sigh. "I wanted an apology so bad." "What?" "See, I knew you would judge me.""Ara, I am not judging you. I just want to understand what y
A Step Closer to Love CCXXVI
"Why are you laughing?" Arabella was shocked. That was not the expression she was expecting from her. "Dearest Arabella, you must think the world revolves around you," she said, leaning in that she was seated at the edge of her seat. "Why do you think I would apologize to you? I did what I did, and I would do it again and again if need be.""You are not sorry for kidnapping and assaulting me even though you ended up here?" Arabella asked. "Of course, if I had the chance to, I would do it again. Can you imagine how hard I worked? I worked hard on Kieran, and you swooped in from nowhere and decided you wanted to take him from me. Oh, please, like you deserve him," Aurora said, leaning into the chair. "If you are here to ask me for an apology, I am afraid that you have to go back without one today and that you need not expect one from me," she said, looking at her nails like she had gotten a fresh set of nails. "Arabella, I think one of the problems you have is that you seem to overra
