Ariel raised her brow as she saw the person who attacked them in the alien costume."A cosplayer? Jesus Christ! I thought it was something special, at least," said Ariel.It seemed everyone around agreed with her because they lowered their guards. Even Dylan's men dropped their weapons.The cinema house manager started scolding the alien cosplayer man."You stupid cosplayers and pranksters, always ruining everything! What's the meaning of the stunt you just pulled?!"The cinema house manager kept shouting at the cosplayer until he grabbed him, squeezed his head, and smacked him on the floor. The manager's head hit the ground, and blood splattered all over the tarmac.Ariel held on to Dylan, terrified."Who is this monster, Dylan? Is he real? Or is this just another prank? Ah! It must be another prank. My best friend would do that."She started to walk forward, but Dylan held her hand and pulled her back to him."What do you think you're doing?""I want to talk to the cosplayer.""He's
Ariel was shocked as she watched the gory scene before her.Dylan was smashing his fist into the face of one of the attackers, and Ariel could hear the bones in his face breaking as blood splattered around."It was my brother who sent you right?! That motherfucker sent you right? Or was it Uncle Michael?! Who is it?!""Dylan."Ariel wanted to tell him that the man would not be able to tell him even if he wanted to because Dylan was not giving him any space to do anything."Talk! Can't you talk? I know it's Marcus! That fucker!"Dylan landed another punch on the man's face. This time a tooth flew out."Dylan!" Ariel ran towards him and caught him by the arm, "The man is already down! Please stop. People are already returning here. They'll see you."Dylan stopped and looked at her. He had bruises on his face and the blood of the attackers.The other attacker was lying on the floor, unconscious.Dylan's eyes softened when it fell on her and he pulled away from the man."Ariel," he said,
"Ariel?"Ariel had just finished showering and was dressing up, brushing her hair, when Dylan knocked on her door and requested to see her.She let him in, and he sat on her bed. She wondered what he was here for."I…I like your hair."Huh?Ariel looked at him in surprise. Did he like her hair? Where was this coming from? She looked at his face to ensure he was not just making fun of her. He was smiling, and he looked sincere about it.She blushed."Why…Why did you say that?""I love the way it's glittering after your shower. It's a nice shade of brown. It also smells nice too."Ariel blushed even harder."Thank you. What is it you want to say to me?""Yeah, I wanted to thank you for saving my life back there yesterday. I would have been toast if you hadn't intervened. I also appreciate how you stuck to my side when I was rushed to the hospital.""Oh, that? It's nothing. I bet the policemen would soon find those cosplayers and bring them to justice.""You still think they are cosplaye
Dylan chuckled and took the drink.Ariel sat down on the bed beside him and placed her cup on her lips. Dylan watched her as she drank her beer. She was so beautiful."You know you are not as bad as I initially thought," Ariel suddenly said."What?""You are really sweet. I like you.""Really?" Dylan asked, his eyes lighting up.He didn't know what excited him about the suggestion that she liked him despite hearing her say it before."Yeah," she replied and took another sip of her drink."Well, I like you too," he said.Ariel smiled, downing a cup of her beer."Do you mean it?" she asked, glittering her eyes seductively."I do.""You mean it?" Ariel asked again, moving closer to him. His eyes were on her smooth neck."I do."Ariel dropped her cup and gave him a quick kiss on his lips. The action surprised Dylan as he had not been expecting that at all.He wanted to say something, but she did not let him finish. Instead, Ariel grabbed his face and kissed him. Dylan was stunned at first
Today was the last day of the honeymoon. What they had planned to last for one week lasted for two weeks due to the attack.The honeymoon initially had just been protocol, so as not to raise rumors that the couple were not into each other. There were already so many rumors as it was.Yet Ariel had ended up spending time with her husband, getting to know him, getting to love him, in that it had been just like an actual honeymoon to them.Today being the last day of the honeymoon, Dylan suggested they go out together again. Paul was put in the care of Dylan's most trusted maid and the couple had left the house together.There they were, hand in hand like a couple, walking down the street and chatting happily. Many passers-by stopped to admire the gorgeous 'couple.'He told her a lot of things. And today was the day she learned how his father had died, how his mother had abandoned him as a baby, leaving him and his stepbrother with his grandmother.Ariel felt sorry for him.They were ver
After a while, Dylan and Ariel decided to go shopping. They walked around, hand in hand. Ariel wanted to buy a few things but Dylan kept adding things to it, believing it won't be enough. Ariel ended up buying a lot of things- clothes, shoes, bags, and many other things Dylan added to it. And of course, he paid with his card."You know you gave me my card, right? I can pay for myself! I haven't even spent up to 5% of the money on this card, "Ariel insisted."And I insist, Baby," Dylan said, pacifying her with a kiss. The cash register smiled at herself, seeing the young couple everyone was talking about so in love. She was so ready to tell her friends this piece of news today!After leaving the mall, with two of Dylan's bodyguards carrying all their goods, Dylan took Ariel to a hair salon.Entering the shop, Ariel was awed by its appearance. It was not an ordinary shop as it screamed luxury. Dan saw a picture of a woman with a hairdo in the salon and said to the hairdresser, pointing
The familiar walls of the European-styled mansion of Old Man Grey's residence greeted Ariel and Dylan as they walked in. Ariel walked into the mansion, arm in arm with Dylan. The maids and other workers greeted her warmly and respectfully and Ariel did not know how to respond. Especially because she had once worked alongside some of them.The last time she had been at this mansion was months ago when Dylan and she had met again for the first time in a long while.And then before that, was the day she had confronted Grandpa Grey about his grandson taking responsibility for her pregnancy.This mansion held a lot of memories for her. It also signifies a pivotal point in her life. It was at this mansion where she had met Dylan, this mansion where she had conceived Paul, this mansion where she had mistakenly outed an innocent man who was probably dead by now. A shiver ran down her spine at the memory of her overhearing the conversation Grandpa Grey had had about Tristan in that garden. It
The dinner continued. But then a young woman sitting close to Stella asked Ariel,"Where did you school?""Sorry?""I mean, now that you are a part of this family, don't we deserve to know more about you?""Yes, you do. Well…I studied at Franca High School. That's where I attended.""Franca high school? Where is that? Never heard of it. Is it outside the country?" a dark-haired man around Dylan's age asked."Oh please, Jean, school outside the country? I heard she is not from a rich family. Where do you want her to see the funds to school abroad?" the woman said and cackled.Ariel blushed. She wanted to smack this stupid bitch across the face but decided against it. She aimed to win over Dylan's family, even though they were all getting on her nerves."Funny that with all your fancy education, you still ended up the way you did, cousin," Dylan said.The woman's face reddened with annoyance."Oh? And with all of your education and studying, you ended up with that as your wife?!"What?
Ariel stood at the door of the mansion watching Dylan button up his suits again, his bodyguards waiting patiently for him by my car.He came towards her."How do I look?" he asked, smiling.She wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed his lips.He chuckled."I don't need you to say any words. Your actions have confirmed to me that you think I do look good."" Yes. Actions speak louder than words."He turned to leave to go, but Ariel held his arm and pulled him back. Then she wrapped her arms around his firm waist and pouted at him.He chuckled again."Baby, I know you don't want me to leave, but this trip is necessary. I have to close a deal with a multinational company. It is for the betterment of the company. I hope you will understand.""I know the trip is necessary, Yet I do not want to let you go."Ariel still held onto him."I don't want you to go. Must you go yourself? Can't you send someone else?""I can't," I said, gently removing her hands from my waist.Dylan took her fa
'I should have brought more,' Ariel thought when she saw how the things she brought were almost finished and how so many others had not collected any food or blankets.She immediately phoned her guards and ordered them to bring more food and clothing.She was also planning to get these homeless people a new building so they would not have to stay on the streets. Dylan on the other hand supported her in the way he could. He told her often that he was proud of her efforts and sometimes showed up at her fundraising events to make more people come and invest as well, given his popularity."Thank you so much!" the homeless people said to Ariel and Maggie.They were all so grateful.One older woman held her hand and prayed for her. Another homeless person, a young boy, gave her a flower she was sure he had seen at the side of the road."A beautiful flower for a beautiful woman," he said, looking at her with awe. He could not have been more than two years older than Paul."Awww. Thank you so
Ariel and Maggie were out in the streets together when she received Dylan's call.They had been in the streets to do some work.Earlier that day, Maggie had come into the house to pick Ariel up.Dylan on the other hand had left to go see his mother."Ariel! Where are you?! Must you be late everywhere?!" Maggie, cried one Wednesday Afternoon."Coming!"Maggie and Ariel had both attended the same high school and even college. Yet, they had never been friends and they had only become friends when they met again at work!The company where Ariel worked, after receiving a lot of investment from Ariel who now had access to her father's wealth, became more successful. Ariel had become a Director of a company. No one saw that coming.Ariel became a shareholder of the company and made her friend Maggie, a manager.The click-clack of Ariel's stiletto heels filled up the hallways as she walked. All the people in the hallways turned their heads to see who was making so much noise."Good morning Dir
Dylan and his mom had coffee together, where they discussed many things."I have breast cancer."The moment she said that his heart burst into pieces.'No, no, I just got her back.'"Are you saying you have cancer, Mom?" Dylan asked.Denise started to cry again."Yes, my son. I have cancer, and the doctor told me I have only a few months to live."His chest felt tight, and he suddenly could not breathe."So why are you here? You should be receiving treatment in the hospital!" he exclaimed, grabbing her hand.She smiled so sweetly at him his heart melted."Dylan, I want to spend my last days with you. That is why I'm here. I don't want to die without at least spending my last months with my son."Tears rose in his eyes. His dad was dead. He could not let his mom die as well."Don't cry, son. Such is life.""Mom, if there's anything I can do. Is there anything that I can do at all? Isn't there any?""Yes, there is something you can do. You can borrow me some money to begin the treatment
The weekend was over, and Dylan was back to work. So it meant double work and more extended hours in the office.Because of the issues with his brother and Charity, he has been away from work for a long time. Now that he was back, he had so much to do.The uproar that the public had had as a result of their discovering the truth about his grandfather and other families involved in the drug trade had begun to die down. Yet it still caused a bit of negative press towards the company. Many partners had even pulled out from the company so as not to be associated with a corporation his grandfather had used to traffic drugs and launder money.Dylan sighed heavily as he realized he had to do it all himself.None of his family members who were even still mad at him for exposing their grandfather helped in running the company.Another thing that was being talked about the most was that Dylan was now the real face of the Grey family. With his grandfather in jail and his brother dead, he was now
Dylan was enraged."I can kill you here and now!" he threatened.Charity laughed in his face."You and I know you can't try it. If you do, you will never see your beloved wench again. So tread carefully."Dylan let her go after that."Goodbye, my love," Charity said mockingly and got into a cab she had flagged down.Dylan watched her drive away, clenching his jaw.When the car was out of sight, Dylan brought out the tracking app his tech friends had installed on his phone. He had attacked Charity simply to put a GPS tracker on her.He watched Charity's location move to a site on the outskirts of town. It seemed that was where she was hiding Ariel. He brought out his second cell phone and called his men."Hello, boys. It's been a long, but I have a job for you."Ariel woke up in a dark place, her throat parched.She sat up, unable to fathom what was going on. It felt like she was in an enclosed space, and she did not know how to get out."How did I get here?" she asked herself.She cou
But if you keep your mouth shut and act like nothing happened, your secret is safe with me. At least for now. Do we have a deal?"Charity nodded. Ariel laughed.Then she pushed Charity back to the floor and left the apartment. Charity sobbed as she left, hoping she would not return. She didn't know Ariel was this crazy.Ariel laughed as she walked out of the house. Charity is stupid enough to think she would just let her go after killing her mother. That is very funny of her.This was just the beginning. She was going to get her revenge on all of them. They made her and her son and husband miserable and she was no longer going to sit back and watch them continue to take. She held out the card Cole had given her and wondered what to do with it.Dylan and Rhodes finally found Marcus. He was hiding in an old office in another city while the police were looking all over for him."I can't believe this fucker is still hiding in the country. Where did he get that many resources to hide so pe
Ariel recalled the sound of her mother's laughter, like a melody that could lift even the heaviest hearts. She described her love for nature, recounting memoriesThe room was filled with tears and bittersweet smiles - a tapestry of emotions woven together by memories of a woman who had touched many lives.As Ariel finished speaking, she looked at the mournful faces before her, each person united in their grief and love for Mom. She saw her mother's friends and a few relatives she had kept in touch with, their tears flowing freely as they nodded in understanding. She noticed her husband's family's slumped shoulders and sad looks, and she was a bit confused about whether they were sincere or just fake.Through it all, she felt the support and presence of the community that had rallied around them throughout their long goodbye.As the memorial service drew to a close, Ariel invited anyone who wished to share their memories of Mom to come forward. One by one, family members and friends st
Not even when Ariel's closest friends- Kira and Maggie wanted to talk did she agree to discuss Mom.Kira encouraged her to speak about her."It will help you in your grief," she said.But Ariel said nothing. It was as if speaking about her dying was admitting that her mother had truly died. That she was truly gone. She could not accept that she'd never see her again.So she said nothing.It was only one rainy morning that she finally spoke of Mom.She was in her kitchen trying to make some breakfast for myself- an omelet.She was cooking the egg with too much force, and it fell to the floor. She hurried to pick it up, but it had some dirt smeared.The omelet falling on the floor reminded her of a scene from years ago when she had wanted to learn how to make an omelet.After making the omelet, Ariel rushed to her mom to show her but slipped and fell. The omelet fell to the ground."Sorry about this," Ariel apologized about the egg."Oh…It is okay," Mom replied, "I don't think you can s