The party soon ended and it was time to go. Though Dylan and Ariel had to leave the party early after all the drama."I'm sorry for all that happened today. It was my fault. I should have introduced you to my family earlier. If I had, they would have been so startled to see you," he said as they sat in his car and drove down the road that cool evening.Ariel adjusted the strap of her gown that had come undone when Charity had fought her earlier."It's not your fault. You didn't know I was going to be at the party. Besides, I don't think introducing me to them would have changed anything. Your grandfather is hellbent on rejecting me. I don't think the rest of your family will accept me either," she said, looking out of the window.Dylan looked at her. The cool evening breeze hit their faces as Dylan had kept the windows half open and put the AC on. He usually didn't do this. He usually rode in his car with the windows up and the AC on. But he had noticed after the few times Ariel had b
They finally reached Ariel's home that night. It was dark and cold. Dylan quickly stepped out of his car and ran to the other door to open the car for Ariel.He opened the car door on Ariel's side and held out his hand for her."Take my hand, Ariel."Ariel looked at him in confusion. She could not tell whether he was sincere or whether it was just his attempt at being funny. Choosing the latter was a safer option so she smacked his hand away playfully and got out of the car herself."Come on, it's too late for such jokes," she said, stretching and yawning, "I'm so sleepy. I've gotta sleep.""Oh, yeah," said Dylan, shutting the car door after she stepped outside.He turned to his driver and told him;"I'm gonna go in for a few minutes. Just stay here and wait for me.""Huh? Why? It's late. You should go.""I wanna see my son and greet my future mother-in-law," he explained."Oh," Ariel said, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear, "That's cool, but I think they'd be asleep by now. It'
Ariel started to pack. She packed both her things and her son's things. Esther helped her pack the things as well, even if they were not many.But after a few hours of Esther helping her in packing, Ariel had gotten annoyed by her continuous whining."Oh! My Ariel is leaving me! I can't bear to see you go!""My little Ariel's all grown up! I can't believe you're already off to your husband's house!""I don't want you to go but what can I do? A mother has to let her beloved baby once she's of age!" her mother said with exaggerated agony.Ariel rolled her eyes as she pushed her bags inside the moving boxes."My sweet Ariel! You were just a baby and now you're a full woman! The house is going to be so empty without you!""It's already empty, Mama.""But it will be even more empty," Esther said, holding her daughter's hand and putting it to her cheek."Mom. It's alright. I'll come visit regularly so don't worry.""No!" Esther said with such vigor that Ariel jumped."What?""You can't come
Two days later, Ariel arrived at Dylan's house. He had sent one of his drivers to come pick her up from work and drop her here.Getting out of the black Tesla car, whose inside smelled even of luxury, Ariel was more flabbergasted by Dylan's house.It was an Australian-styled mansion that screamed of wealth and luxury. Its surroundings were full of sculptures and monuments that were so artistic and beautiful. She knew that cost a fortune. Cars littered the huge compound and not far from where the house stood was a large garden full of flowers and ornamental crops half the size of a football field.Was this where she was going to be staying?Dylan was waiting for her with his lawyer inside. She looked at her clothes to make sure they looked okay and adjusted a crumpled part of the skirt.The house awed Ariel, as it looked even more luxurious and beautiful than Grandpa Grey's house. It was also a modern-styled mansion in comparison to the mansion she once worked in. It was also smaller t
After touring the house, Ariel and Dylan settled in the sitting room, sitting opposite each other, with Dylan's lawyer between them.A maid dressed in a unique maid outfit stood in front of the sitting room desk, pouring hot coffee for them. She soon finished and handed over a cup to Ariel and another to Dylan, without raising her head even once.Dylan's lawyer, a man with a receding hairline, took out a stack of papers and placed it on the table, sliding it down to Ariel."My name is Archibald Weiss. I'm Dylan Grey's lawyer and have been so for five years now," he said to Ariel."I'm Ariel," she replied, giving out her hand for a handshake.Archibald took the hand and shook it. His grip was firmer than Ariel expected but she made sure not to show it.He shook her hand slowly and returned it to his former position."As Mr. Dylan has instructed, I am to prepare a contract for the two of you. A contract marriage. Are you in on these instructions? Has it been made known to you? For the c
"I'm investigating the inflow of drugs in Moriah Slum. I have been investigating this issue since my father died," Dylan said."Huh?""So the room holds some documents and info that has to do with the case. It is not to be tampered with or it might make a mess of the investigation. It is only as if I don't want my wife to be free around the house," he explained."Oh, I understand," Ariel said, looking a bit embarrassed.Dylan smiled and continued to drink his coffee. They soon finished and both of them signed the contract. Archibald shook hands with the both of them, saying;"I'll make sure to bring copies of this contract to you which I will share with you tomorrow and keep one with me, in case conflicts arise. Other than that, there's nothing left to do. It was my pleasure meeting you, Miss Ariel," Archibald said, slightly bowing his head in greeting.He left afterward and Ariel and Dylan stood at the verandah, watching Archibald's wine car drive out of the lawn he'd earlier parked
Ariel woke up the next day, took her bath, and wore her clothes. Dylan had bought her a cream suit shirt and blouse and a small flower hat that came with the outfit for the wedding. Her mother helped her make her hair and as they sat in front of the half-broken worn-out mirror that morning, Esther would not stop complaining about how it wasn't right for them to have such a quiet wedding."When I married your father, we weren't very rich, and I had just fled from home. We have no reason to have an elaborate wedding. But, it didn't mean we couldn't invite the friends and families that loved and wished the best for us. Why is your fiance having such a small amount of people at the wedding?""He just wants a quiet wedding, Mom. It's not a big deal.""Big deal? Ain't he a rich business tycoon? I might not know much about business politics but isn't Grey one of the families that have close ties with the government? I hear they're so rich, politicians and people in government go to borrow fr
Ariel kissed him. Maybe it was because they had just gotten married or because he had given her the go-ahead, but she was suddenly brave, suddenly wanting to try new things.Dylan looked a little taken aback by her kiss but he returned it anyway. His rough hands moved from her face to her neck. His hands were warm. He kissed her deeply, his mouth playing games with her lips and tongue. His lips moved from her mouth to her neck, his hands leaving her neck to her waist, grabbing it and pulling her closer. Ariel felt her breasts harden as soon as they touched his chest.She jolted, the sudden development surprising her. She had not known the nipple could harden because of pleasure. Was this a normal reaction?"What's wrong?" Dylan asked with hazy eyes.Ariel stared back into his eyes. This rich dude was doing things to her, and he didn't even know it.Was this right?She was just his contract wife after all. She was not supposed to want more. She has no right to want more.Dylan had made
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