[ Charlotte ]"I want Arianna's guardianship."Ghostly silence loomed over everyone's face as soon as I finished."You're joking, right?" Nadia was first to blink her eyes."Do I look like I'm joking, Nadia?" I smirked. I kicked the act of a humble philanthropist out of the window and returned to my badass attitude."Miss Charlotte, I think this isn't the right time to talk about anything. We can discuss later if you're actually willing to help us in return of something 'meaningful'." Jeremy said in a calm voice.Meaningful? For Arianna, I could give away anything."No, Jeremy. I think this is the perfect moment. I have to fly back tomorrow evening and I may not be able to catch up tomorrow as I have meeting with my client. Think about Jared and Noah, they deserve a better life than this. I don't know what forced you to leave your home, your motherland but I can assure you that your children will be safe as long as I support them." I made my genuine offer."Jeremy, for our boys' sake,
[ Charlotte ]"I'll miss you, Ari.""Please come with me, Noah." Arianna cried hugging her youngrr brother but the boy showed courage and patted her head lightly with a smile."You'll be happy without us, Ari. Miss Charlotte is your mother. She'll love you and give you every happiness that you deserve which you missed living with us." Said Noah.My heart ached to see my daughter crying. She was close to Noah and the boy also cared for her."No, I won't leave without you, Noah. Char is a nice lady. She'll keep you, right Char?" Arianna craned her face towards me with hope in her glossy blue eyes."Arianna, I think you should be leaving with your real mother." Nadia gently pulled Noah away from Arianna."This is for you, Ari." Noah handed her a small square wooden box, "Always remember that I care for you and I will never forget you." Saying this, he pried his mother's hand away and ran inside the house.I hesitantly placed my hand on my daughter's shoulders. She hugged my waist tightly
[ Sebestian ]"Dad, I can't hold my excitement. Mom will be shocked to see us." Ace, who had been blabbering since we boarded the plane to spend time with Charlotte.We couldn't stay away from her. She was the woman we both loved the most."Just ten minutes more, my prince. Her hotel is near and tomorrow, we can go on the beach." I pulled him on my lap and kissed his hairs. Soon, her hotel appeared in my sight. My whole body was aching as I had a long day and hours of flight journey. But it was worth because my life depends on my two sunshine.Her guards, who recognized us, rushed towards us. "Sir, you must have informed us. It's not safe for you to travel alone without a cover." The head of security said to me."Yes, I know but sometimes I want to live a normal life." I said and helped Ace to climb down from the car.I grabbed his and and led us inside the hotel with our guards behind us."Which floor?" I asked them."Seventh floor, Sir. She booked a private suite." One of them ans
[ Charlotte ]"I can't believe that it's even true. Arianna is our daughter whom we believed that she was-" Sebestian paused as it was very difficult for him to believe.His eyes were glossy as he adored our sleeping kids. Mine situation was no different from him. My hands didn't tire of stroking their faces as they snored softly snuggling close to each other."They accepted each other. Honestly, I was scared. Ace has always been the center of my attention, we spent a long time with each other and always had each other's back. Another addition which is so unexpected might effect him but my boy is a miracle." I kissed Ace's forehead who smiled in his sleep feeling my touch."Let's sleep here. It won't be comfortable but I don't think I can stay away from these two." Sebestian said.It was a king sized bed and the kids sprawled covering most of the space."Their sleep will be disturbed. Arianna had a very hard day. She left the house and the people with whom she spent her seven years, s
[ Charlotte ]"Are you ready to go home, Ari?" I stroked my girl's hairs lovingly.Our plane was ready to take off. Arianna looked around the coastal airstrip. I assumed trying to live her last moments on the land where she grew up."We have beautiful beaches in the States too. We can spend our vacations there." Sebestian picked her in his arms and kissed her."Really, Dad!" She smiled widely."Yes, you can invite your brother Noah on the trip. Charlotte told me that you miss him." Sebestian talked to her in order to distract her from being sad.I looked down at my boy and picked him. I didn't want him to feel neglected. He had been pampered by me as my only child."I think your Dad chose his favorite child." I kissed him and climbed up the set of stairs to enter inside the plane."Dad loves both of us equally, Mom. He's only trying to make Arianna feel welcome in our family. She lives with her other family and it makes her sad to leave them." He responded as I expected him.He was a
[ Sebestian ]I straightened my posture and masked my anger with a cold expression as I was ready to step in the meeting room.It was packed with all the important personalities who had crucial roles in the company. They all were waiting for me.The commotion died down when I walked inside. My eyes scanned the round table. I spotted my father, Micheal and Victorine talking in hush."Sorry to make you wait, ladies and gentlemen but we can proceed now. Today, I want to present the most ambitious project we ever done. The time has come when we must spread our wings and expand our business overseas." I begun, their curious faces satisfied."What are you proposing here, Mr. Blackwood?" Micheal raised his brow."Have some patience, Mr. Baxter. Your mind will be blown off. I have the golden opportunity to take this company to new heights." I said and took my seat."I think we should come straight to the agenda of this emergency meeting, Sebestian." My father reminded me.I signaled Jimmy to
[ Sebestian ]"So, what do you have to tell me, son? I want to know what my only son is doing nowadays? You're skipping your work frequently. I told you not to get too attatched with Charlotte. She's destroying you like a slow poison." Seth said once we reached at our farm house.The open space gave us the chance to talk face to face."I beg to differ." I said and lit my cigarette.His brows twitched."You're the slow poison in our lives, Seth. Charlotte is the blessing I received from the God because living with you was a pure hell." I said with so much venom.I had no reason to hide my despise for this man."Stay in your limit, Sebestian. Do not forget that I'm your father." He warned me.I rolled my eyes. He rather sounded funny than scary."No, you're not a father. I realized it late but I know I never had parents because I've been taking care of myself as long as I remember. You and Mom were never there whenever I needed you. So, stop lecturing me about respect and other bullshit
[ Charlotte ]I thought I'd be visiting my dearest mother-in-law or Victorine but when Sebestian told me in the morning that he and Benjamin were going to present their proposal in a meeting and Victorine would be there, I gave up the idea and decided to stay home and spend some time with Arianna.Running a multinational corporation has it's own pros and cons. I had the leverage to skip office whenever I wasn't needed. Jonathan also decided to halt before heading to office to meet his niece.Currently, he was playing with Arianna. He literally bought the whole shop of dolls and toys for her. They bonded well."Lottie, why are you standing there like a grandma. Come and join us." He said to me and Arianna giggled."I like this nickname, Char." She laughed which also brought a smile on my lips as I approached them.Jonathan gave the look I understood."I thought you both didn't need my company." I said and picked a stuffed doll."I like her. She reminds me of my younger sister Hannah."
[ Arienna Blackwood ]"Don't run, Aria. Mom is tired and she wants a hug from her princess." I shouted and heard soft giggles of my five years old daughter from behind the curtains.A smile stretched over my lips as I spotted her shadow. She was the source of light in my life whom I found during my trip to Mexico and instantly fell in love with two years old orphan who was abandoned by her birth mother at an orphanage.It took me an year of struggle and legal procedure to adopt her officially and bring her to home."Mom got you." I grabbed her and tickled her.The little girl wriggled to get out of my hold while laughing. I showered her pretty face with kisses."Stop Mama, it's ticklish." She pushed my face away."No, Mama wants a cuddle with Aria." I pulled her on my lap and hugged her."I am angry on you, Mama. You promised to come back early but you're two days late." She pouted with grumpy face."I am sorry baby but you know my work. I am the CEO and it's mandatory for me to be
[ Arianna Blackwood ]"Anna.."Rafael's low voice rang into my ears. So, this man can also feel remorse!"Come and sit, Rafael. We need to talk on certain matters." I said in a flat tone."Please, let's just sit together and-" He tried to say something but I showed him my palm."I do not want to spend even a single moment with you, Mr. Martinez but we must clear a few things before we part our ways." I finally shot my blank eyes at him.He looked vulnerable, his eyes were puffy and red. By judging his appearance, I bet he hadn't been resting properly."Please, Arienna. Don't do this. It was my fault. Our baby died because of me." He said in a croaked tone, I observed his adam's apple bobbing up and down."It was my baby. It doesn't give you any right to call it yours just because you fucked me for once." I snapped at him, the bottled up anger and resentment was threatening to spill.He lowered his gaze and shook his head, "Alright, I won't. Please, calm down. We can talk once you get
[ Arianna Blackwood ]It's been four days.Four long days since I lost my baby, the last hope of my future. I am stoll trying to accept this news but my heart denies my loss. My lower body aches every time I move or shift, a constant reminder of my cruel fate.I don't deserve happiness since my birth. Why does God punish me? What did I do to deserve only grief and misfortunes in my life?"Ari, my princess." Dad's soft voice forced me to pull out of my mourning solicitude."Dad."I barely whispered as mu throat was constricted due to crying for hours since doctor broke the devastating news to me. I predicted my loss when I felt the pain during my argument with Rafael but a part of me hoped for a miracle to happen."I have brought your dinner. It's your mother's home cooked recipe, one of your favourite dishes and healthy." He placed a tiffin box on the table.He was trying to cheer me up. That's all my family could do, they stood like a pillar around me. They're my everything and I'd f
[ Rafael ]I have been waiting for two long hours, still no words from the hospital staff how Arienna is doing after miscarriage. Yes, the doctors declared the baby dead as soon as they admitted her and they had to perform emergency surgery to remove the dead fetus.Arienna lost too much blood which caused her to lose her consciousness for a long time.Miscarriage, a simple word with eleven syllables but it has so much pain and shattered hopes within it's depth. It has the power to bring even the bravest heart at the bottom.I lost my child, my first child despite several warnings from the doctors. Yet I let her go through the trauma, not once, not twice but everytime we talked.She's right, I killed our baby. I don't deserve it call it mine because Arienna tried her best to be there for our baby but I was busy hitting my head on the wall of past. I became so mad that her pain got unnoticed by me."How dare you?"A voice roared and I got punched on my face, it was a hard blow. I stumb
[ Arianna Blackwood ]After my conversation with my mother, I found myself drowning into more conflict. I couldn't live with Rafael as long as he keeps harboring hatred and vendetta against my family, on the other hand, I was drawn to my husband.I was screwed and back to square one."Anna, you're back?"Rafael's surprised voice reached into my ears and I turned around to find him standing at the threshold of main door."Yes, I guess. Sorry, if you're disappointed to see me here. Well, I won't take long. I came here to talk on certain matters." I said in a clipped tone.His features softened. He rushed towards me and grabbed my shoulders, "I don't want you to leave, not now not never, Anna. I can't imagine my life without you, my love. Please, forgive me. I am ready to talk to your parents if it makes you feel better." He sounded vulnerable and desperate.I detatched myself from him and looked away."Let's talk, Rafael. I don't want us to live in continuous uncertainties." I said in a
[ Arienna Blackwood ]"Mom, I want a divorce with Rafael. I don't think this marriage would work. I am sorry I didn't think wisely when I decided to marry him." I said to my mother who was calmly sipping her coffee.She didn't look affected by my decision, instead, she poured some in my cup."Please, say something, Mom. Your opinion matters to me the most." I gave her a pleading look."You want my honest opinion?" She finally looked up at me while placing her cup down on the table.I nodded my head in impatience.She pinched the bridge of her nose, "Are you afraid of the boy you once knew, who cared for you a lot or the man who is blind in vengeance. It's your take?" She asked me and I was left shocked."How..how..do you know?" I couldn't find proper words to ask her how did she know everything about Noah."I am your mother, Ari. Of course, I know everything about my children. I wouldn't have let you marry him if I didn't know about your groom. I ran a background check on Rafael and i
[ Rafael Martinez ]"You didn't have to take a stand for me. I can fight my own battles and it wasn't the first time my grandmother bullied me. She has always been like this. I thought you'd of all people would understand her nature." Arienna said curtly over the dining table.I gave her a blank look. She was only playing with the food on the plate."I had to show her that she can't boss around in my house and demean my wife." I replied. I heard suck a deep breath. "I am sorry for the morning. I shouldn't have said those things." I said after a momentary silence.We were back to square one because she didn't respond and resumed eating small portions from her plate."We're inviting your parents tomorrow at the breakfast. I don't want to live this cat and mice life anymore." I said."Don't drag my parents in your dirty games, Rafael. I will deal with them." She said in a flat tone and stood up."Finish your food, Anna. You can't ignore your health." I reminded her and our eyes met for
[ Rafael Martinez ]Arianna's outburst kept replaying in my mind like a record. Her eyes reflected her sedimentated anger and hatred for me and it broke my heart to see those emotions in her eyes. I made her hate me even more and probably ruined my every chances to be with her. She'll not stay quiet and tell her family about my identity and about my parents. "Come on, son. Are you going to say something or sit here like a stone statue. I know something has happened. This red mark on your face is telling a lot." My father said, his eyes were darted on my cheek.I touched the stinging area and looked away. "She's a poison in your life, Noah. Why are you with her? You're successful and young. You will find a thousand women at your disposal if you go for a bride hunt. Just leave her. You will get your child. I trust you." Mom again repeated the same dialog."Mom, please, I'm already frustrated and clueless. Yesterday, Charlotte Blackwood confronted me and it's not wrong either. She hel
[ Arianna Blackwood ] I sipped the ginger tea, enjoying the ghostly silence of the living room. The weather was still bad, the downpour changed into soft drizzle but the sky was grey and gloomy depicting my own mood. I heard footsteps. I recognized them so I sat unbothered and sipped the tea. "Good morning." I heard his grosggy voice. "Good morning," I wished him back curtly but didn't spare him a glance. "A cup of coffee please!" He yelled to his staff and sat across me. I stole a glance at him, he was in a t shirt and trousers. "I am sorry, the last night was unintentional. I never get this much drunk often unless I'm frustrated." He kept talking but I only listened. I remained quiet. "Look, if you're intentionally ignoring me then it won't work, Arianna. We can't go like this." He said in a little frustrated voice. Meanwhile, his coffee was served. "I am not in a mood to talk. I hope you understand." I said without looking up. "Alright, take your time to sort out your moo