I wanted to say something, but I was too shocked by that piece of information, so I continued walking. Soon enough, he tightly held my hand as we reached a small villa.
My mouth fell open as the breathtaking view below unfolded before me. The villa was perched high, overlooking a small pool and a nearby jacuzzi. The vast and serene ocean was visible from our vantage point."Wow. I didn't know such a place existed here. It's my first time seeing it," I exclaimed, marveling at the entire setting."I asked your mom, Harper Fuentebella, if it was possible to have just this part in my name, and she surprisingly agreed back then.""Really?" I said in astonishment, turning to look at him.He leaned against the table that was there, slowly loosening his necktie. I found him so hot at that moment. I wasn't sure if he was doing it intentionally or not."Yes, they were friends, my mom and yours. Didn't she tell you? Well, only a few people know about that. They were best frieLess than five minutes later, Arik returned and immediately embraced me before carrying me back into the villa. He knows I can't move. I was still surprised by the argument we had because it was the first time I did that."I'm sorry. I shouldn't have let her get close to you. I should have sent her away earlier," Arik whispered to me as he laid me down on the bed.I bit my lower lip and shook my head."I'm sorry, Celeste. Tell me what I should do. Where does it hurt? Did she hurt you? What did she say to you?" He bombarded me with pleading questions as he knelt in front of me.I smiled and stared at him. His forehead furrowed even more, seemingly confused by what's happening."Come on, I'm worried. Stop smiling at me like that. I'm losing focus." He said, shaking his head, which made me laugh even more."Is this really how much you care for me?" I asked, surprising him."Where did that question come from?""I'm just curious. Were you really interested in me?
In a moment, I felt Arik pull me close and embrace me tightly."Hush now, Celeste. It's not your fault. Stop blaming yourself for things you couldn't even control," he reassured me as he gently kissed my head.I allowed myself to rest on his chest. I could feel his body heat, the trembling of his hands, and the rise and fall of his chest due to his deep breaths."I can't say I understand everything, but I know how you suffered alone, and that's enough for me. I'm here now. I won't let you and our child be far away from me."We remained silent for a few minutes until I remembered the conversation I had with Mom earlier. I looked up at him. His eyes were closed, and his forehead was wrinkled."Arik...""Hmm?" He groaned without opening his eyes, making me smile."Where will we live?"Suddenly, he opened his eyes and looked at me with those expressive eyes."What?""I said, where will we live?"His forehead furrowed even more, and I couldn't help but ch
When I returned to the country, I realized one thing about a person's life. It's that you can forgive some people without having to welcome them back into your life.I wonder if this will hold true for me. Can I forgive even if I haven't heard a single apology?I woke up to the sun shining on my face. The curtains danced as the strong wind came in from the open terrace. It was already noon."Arik?" I called for him when I couldn't find him in the room.I momentarily froze and remembered what happened last night. It all happened so fast, just like how everything between us happened years ago. But this is real. I'm not just dreaming. After six years, I got to hold him again. I could still taste his kisses...I quickly took a shower while waiting for Arik, but he still wasn't there when I finished, so I decided to go out.I stepped back when I saw him talking to a woman and a man who looked like they were in their mid-40s."Oh, there you are, dear. You must be tire
"Anyway... I didn't disown them," I firmly said, choosing not to elaborate further.The brunch ended in silence. Arik quickly changed the topic when he noticed I was uncomfortable with the discussion.It was already late afternoon when I decided to take a dip in the beach area of the resort. I saw Oliver and Arik walking side by side ahead of us, seemingly engrossed in their conversation.Arik's smile faded and his expression turned serious when Liam suddenly approached me, surprising me as well."Liam! You're here!" I exclaimed with excitement and quickly hugged him. When I pulled away from the hug, I noticed Arik's sharp gaze on the man in front of me."Celeste! I've been looking for you since last night, but I didn't see you around. I thought you came home early," he said and returned my kiss on his cheek. Arik didn't miss this and immediately stepped closer to me."Is that a thing here? You have to kiss each other on the cheek just to greet?" Arik commented for
"When do you plan on getting married?" I heard Oliver mutter, so I looked at him. He and Arik were still in conversation.Why did the topic shift to marriage?Arik grinned beside me and discreetly kissed the area below my ear, so I glanced at him."It depends on when Celeste wants to," he replied."Wow. Wow. You're getting braver, Arik," Aurora commented, sipping her wine. "Are you sure Celeste wants to marry you?""I'll do everything to make her want to marry me, Au," Arik answered determinedly, causing me to blush even more.Aurora clapped her hands, and Oliver chuckled while teasing her. "There! Those are the answers I like," she cheered, then turned to me. "Celeste! Marry him. He's a green flag!""What about me, babe? Aren't I a green flag?" Oliver interjected, silencing her.I laughed when she blushed suddenly. "Do you want to get married too?""She's been wanting to get married for a long time, Ols. Invite her to silence that mouth of hers," I retort
When Arik and I returned from the woods, we found the three of them, Aurora and Kim included, waiting in the suite.I couldn't even look at them directly because I didn't want to see something that would surprise me."Just around here..." I almost whispered. "Why? Isn't this place secure? That's what Dad said," I said, shifting my gaze back to them.At that moment, Arik, who just entered with two cups of coffee, met my eyes. He approached me immediately and handed me a cup."Aomori has its dangerous parts, Celeste. I hope you don't do that again. We're here. If you have questions, we can answer them, especially the ones about what you heard earlier." He spoke gently to me, as if still apologizing to me even after I forgave him earlier when we swam at the lake.I looked away from him. "I know. That's why I ran away because I didn't want to find out just yet. Is that so wrong now?"I turned away from them again and sat on the terrace. My heart was pounding for some u
The next day, we headed back to the city early in the morning. As much as I wanted Arik to stay by my side because I was scared, I couldn't do that because I needed Ariah more now. The fear in my heart wasn't for myself but for Ariah.In an instant, I realized that we were not safe in that place. I wish we never returned.But what about Arik if we didn't come back?"Are you okay, Mommy?" Ariah suddenly asked as we walked down the hallway towards my office.She was supposed to have class today, but I asked if she could skip for the day because I missed her so much. I didn't want her out of my sight even for a few seconds. If Arik happened to come here now and they saw each other again, so be it."How was your work out of town?" She asked again, her attention on her unicorn teddy bear. I held her hand while she also held one of the unicorn's legs."Are you tired? You should rest first, like me, I won't be going to class for a while.""I'm fine, dear. Mommy just ha
It was in Spain where Ariah came into my life. I raised her with the help of the Fuentebella family. At first, I had to hide her from them out of fear that they might not accept me and would kick me out again. They were the only family I had. I worked as a helper in one of their wine shops. Little did I know that Oliver was their son, and I confided in him about what happened to me, about what my own father did to me.One day, Oliver surprised me by bringing me to their mansion and there they welcomed me, not knowing about my pregnancy. They took me in without knowing about the child I was carrying.I received so many hateful comments, and I thought of them in a negative way. I was afraid they would react the same way my own parents did when they found out about my pregnancy.But I was wrong about them. I was wrong to have judged them that way. Eventually, they found out about my pregnancy, and they were angry not because I was pregnant, but because I kept it a secret from