"I told you not to let anyone into my office, didn't I?"
"Even so! Even if it's her, Max!"I heard Arik cursing loudly at the person he was talking to on the phone before he flipped it over on his table.Arik had to lift me and bring me to the connecting room of his office when I couldn't get dressed anymore. Hannah was just watching us angrily the whole time while I was still laughing.Her statement was so funny that I still can't forget it. How could she say that when they weren't in a relationship? Was that some sort of a taboo experience? Those stories that Aurora told Kim and me before? Step Siblings? Yuck. Fuck it."Hey…"I just looked at Arik who was currently fixing his long sleeve and its button while I was putting on my bra.I grinned at him. "Hannah's very mad. What will you do with her? She witnessed us making out, Arik.""I would love to bail out to continue that, Celeste, rather than face her and explain. Fuck. I'm so so&hArik's lips pursed as he accepted my brassiere. He seemed confused for a moment."You bitch. You really don't know how to be ashamed of your actions, do you? Right in front of me?" Hannah's behavior was so angry that I looked at her."What's your problem? My bag is really small, see?" I raised my bag in front of her. "Arik doesn't want me to wear a bra because he prefers that I don't wear anything. What's wrong with that? We're together and we have a daughter." I declared and stared at her even more.She looked at me more and more as if at any moment she wanted to hurt me. She's lucid. She knows what she's doing and what she's saying now, especially what she said to Arik because she knows I'm listening to their conversation."How can you say you're better than me when I'm sure he won't fuck you because he considers you a sister?" I asked her.She seemed to be shocked by what I said because there were traces of anger on her face. She's clenching her fist. She
I placed the ice bucket on the round table and glanced at everyone who was still laughing. I noticed Arik's gaze fixed on me when I didn't sit next to him."It's still spacious here. Why are you over there?" He asked me. Everyone heard it."Don't tell me you're still embarrassed because of what we saw earlier, Celeste?" Aurora boldly asked me, laughing. I almost wanted to slap her face.My cheeks grew warm, and I took a sip of the drink meant for me."Celeste," Arik called me, so I looked at him."What?""Sit here next to me. Sarah will sit there later," he said. The woman had left for a moment with Benj to buy more food.I glared at him, then reluctantly stood up and sat beside him. His arm immediately wrapped around my waist."Why didn't you tell her that today's your birthday?" Oliver asked as he sipped his whiskey. "Of all people, you didn't inform Celeste. Naturally, she'd be upset."My irritation grew even stronger.When I foun
"That's all you need to know, Celeste. Don't worry, we'll provide updates about the case soon.""Thank you so much, Yumi," Oliver said to her and stood up as well.I was the only one left seated, so the two of them looked at me. I sighed and then stood up."Thank you, attorney."I excused myself immediately, telling them I needed to use the restroom. I couldn't look at her for long. Besides feeling disheartened by the slow progress of the case, I also couldn't forget her text to Arik last night. I was sure that after our meeting, she would be going to see Arik. Should I call him? Until now, he hasn't sent a single text, even though I didn't say goodbye before leaving. I couldn't help but feel a bit hurt about that. I also couldn't understand why his mood suddenly changed. Was it because of that woman? But who is she? Who is she in Arik's life?"You're going?" Oliver called out to me as I adjusted my handbag.I just nodded and didn't respond."Are you okay? You'v
This is where I first saw Arik. The night I impulsively kissed him. That night will be forever etched in my memory. It was also the day when misfortunes started piling up in my life."Where's Arik?""I'm not sure. He might have gone home already.""Aren't you going to have him pick you up? Does he know you're here? Do you want me to call—""Don't call him, Yuan, I'm warning you. Just leave me be for now! I'm not even drunk yet!" I snapped at him. He cursed under his breath and walked away to fetch the alcohol I requested.I closed my eyes briefly, but I immediately opened them due to the scene that flashed in my mind as I shut my eyes. I couldn't shake it off. That was in his office. He told me he hadn't brought anyone else there for that purpose except me.And now, not even a week has passed, and there's already someone else.The way he stilled her face to have more and better access to her mouth... I couldn't forget that!"Not going ea
We were inseparable. He taught me how to face my fears. He healed my wounds. He comforted me when I cried. Arik saved me many times when we were still kids.I waited for him to come back, but he didn't. Until I forgot about him for an unknown reason. It was because of what Dad did to me.And now that I'm scared, lonely, and hurting, I don't know where to run. He used to be my pillar of strength, but now he's the reason why my heart shatters into a million pieces repeatedly.I forcefully closed the door to his condo unit and headed straight for our bedroom. Ariah is still at the mansion. I don't have anything there anymore, so I need to gather some clothes from here for tomorrow."Fuck it!" I exclaimed and threw my suitcase onto the floor.The door opened and heavy footsteps approached me."Celeste, please, let's talk first. Don't be like this. Let me explain," Arik pleaded. I could hear the frustration in his voice, especially when I didn't respond and continued packing."Baby, please
"Mommy, where's Daddy? Is he coming here with us?"That's the very first question Ariah asked me as we arrived in San Rafael. We hadn't even rested yet, and she had just woken up.I avoided her gaze and started arranging our things in the cupboard there."He's uh… He needs to work, baby. Maybe he'll come another day." I bit my lower lip. This was the first time I had lied to her."Really? I thought he's not, huh. Should we wait for him here?" She asked again.I looked at Ariah, sitting on the bed while hugging that unicorn. She was still rubbing her eyes, seeming a bit sleepy."We'll wait for him here, sweetheart. Are you still sleepy?""Yes, Mommy.""Then sleep. I'll wake you up when it's time to eat, okay?"I waited for Ariah to fall asleep again in our room before I went out. Benj and Sarah were in the adjacent room.I gazed at the vast grounds of Caza de Fuente. It had been a long time since I left this place. I didn't know back then that the Fuente
I quickly ran back to Caza to find Benj. I was almost tripping over myself due to panic, as I felt a different kind of unease."Benj! Benjamin!" I shouted as I entered the house.Benj immediately came out of the kitchen, looking puzzled as he approached me."What the... What's wrong? Why were you shouting?""It's Arik... Arik, he's coming here...""And?""Something happened. He mentioned it while we were talking on the phone. Like... Like something happened while he was driving. He mentioned some people. I don't know! Let's go to him!" I rambled to him in panic, even though I didn't really know what was happening."Okay, Celeste, you need to calm down and tell me exactly what happened. Where is Arik? And who's chasing him?""I don't know! I just heard a commotion! It sounded like a collision, and then he yelled and cursed at them. It was all vague! I couldn't understand. Can we just go please? Maybe we'll run into him. He said he'll be here in a few minutes.
I never thought that this would happen to me. I've heard about scenarios like this before, especially among the wealthy, but I never imagined it could happen to me.Arik hid five years ago to escape from Yumi and her parents. She even wanted to become pregnant with his child so that he couldn't escape her and their only issue would be the marriage. How could she do that? She knows me. She knew that I'm Arik's current girlfriend when we met at Oliver's office, but she didn't say anything. She was so professional. And a bitch."I want to transfer my mom's case to another lawyer, Ols. Is that possible?"I heard him let out a sigh on the other end."Why so sudden? I thought everything was fine."I truly believed he already knew about this, but it seems he didn't. Well, Arik did tell me that only a few people knew about this because he disappeared even before their engagement became public."I don't want that woman to handle my mom's case anymore. I don't trust her."