Richard's POVRegret forms a jagged rock in my stomach as I watch her walk back the way she came without a word.Even though no one is in sight, shame soaks my skin and frustration eats at me.I know I made a huge mistake by asking her for a divorce, and I made an even bigger mistake by leaving home that night to go to Eve. If I hadn't left home, maybe I would have been able to stop her from leaving.But then Eve was my obsession. If I hadn't caught her cheating on me with my best friend, I wouldn't have thought of ever stopping Arabel from leaving.It makes the regret slump deeper in me as I drop my head to the wheels, thinking of what exactly to do to get her forgiveness.Obviously, she does not just hate me. She has not forgiven me yet, and I doubt if she will. She is finding it so hard to keep up with the pretense, and for the very first time since we met, I am beginning to feel scared of her coming out clean to tell me she is indeed Arabel.If she confesses, how do I apologize? H
Arabel's POVAlex's jaws clench, and his nostrils flare up in anger. Pretending not to notice, I grab Daisy's hand roughly before rushing back into the house.Richard is becoming a pest. Should I be regretting this partnership before its inception?I know he just did me a favor by bringing me my medications, but I know he used that to his advantage too.I already told him I am not Arabel. Why can't he just leave me the hell alone? Why does the past have to come haunting me now when the wound is almost healed?Time was what I gave. For me to heal completely. I did everything I could to ensure it happened. It is happening already, but he turned out to be my worst nightmare when I saw him at the anniversary as my partner.I wanted to flee. I wanted to scream. I wanted to hit him in the face and run off.But it was my dream.Having this feat is the only thing I have been on my list to achieve to take me to greater heights. Richard's company is one big industry, and having to be partners w
Richard's POVThe incessant ringing of my phone drags my attention away from the laptop in front of me. Lazily, I stretch a hand to grab the phone.It is Daisy.As my face breaks into a smile, pleasure spirals in my stomach.I don't call her, even though I am always tempted to. This is one rule I have decided to follow no matter what until Arabel comes out clean about her real identity and Daisy's.“Hey, princess," I mutter with a light chuckle.“Hey, buddy.”I laugh at that.“Buddy? Where did you hear that from?” I ask with curiosity.“From mom last night. She called Uncle Alex that, and when I asked her, she told me it meant friend. Since you are also my friend, I guess I am allowed to call you that, aren't I?”My pulse hitched.That guy is just her friend?I don't know whether to be glad about this piece of information or not. Considering what happened two nights ago, I decided to keep my distance for a while until she is fully recovered and back to work. I haven't seen her in two
Arabel's POVDespite the tremor in my heart, I am determined to go along with this. The idea from the start was to pretend to be someone else. Being angry, showing my displeasure at every single thing he does or says, or even restricting him from being friends with Daisy, who is obviously attached to him for a reason I can't place, is a bad idea.This is why I have decided to let things be. Continue with the pretense. Stop being mad. Act like everything is fine. Fake my laughter and smiles.And then maybe, everything will be much easier for me to take.I couldn't sleep last night. I kept tossing in bed, indecisive about whether to go with them or not and whether to allow Daisy to go or not.He already concluded on coming to pick her up even before I made a decision. That leaves me with either going with them and seeing everything they do together and everything they say to each other, or staying back at home while guessing and wondering what they must be doing.This is really bad.Dai
Richard’s POVA lump sticks to my throat at the question. Before I can recall asking her the same question a few days ago, I wonder why she asked.Eve.She must be curious about Eve and how our relationship turned out.This is it. An opportunity. The right opportunity was what I was looking for.A smile touches my lips as I reply with a shake of the head. “No, I am not. Why do you ask?”“Pure curiosity," she answers sharply, as if expecting me to question why she asked such a question out of the blue.“Are you sure?” There is a look of amusement on my face. I am amused that she is curious about me. I am amused that she is doing a very bad job at pretending to be someone else when everything else screams her name.She doesn't reply. “Are you sure it's not because I also asked you this same question some days ago?” I demand, leaning backward and taking note of Daisy's focus on my phone as she continues to munch on her donuts.I brought her here so I could get another opportunity next t
Arabel’s POVDaisy is a heavy sleeper. She slept all through the ride back home, leaving Richard and I in a complete and awkward silence.As soon as he stops in front of the gate, I see Alex come out with his two hands in his pants pocket, a cold glare directed towards Richard, who rushes to get the door for me.Feeling guilty for no reason, I step out immediately with Daisy in my arms. I didn't sit at the back of the car this time since Daisy was asleep. I sat right next to Richard with the sleeping girl in my arms."Bye.” I wave at him awkwardly before rushing towards Alex. “When did you arrive?”The question comes in a whisper.He only snarls and walks back inside, making me embarrassed to turn back and see the expression on Richard’s face.With humiliation and a mixture of anger, I follow him.Alex has been a good friend to me and to Daisy. I have never seen his anger until now, but I won't let him ridicule him like he once did ever again.Just because he gave out his home for me
Richard’s POVThe penthouse greets me with silence as the sound of my foot echoes against the marble floor.Just before I can get to the foyer of the living room, my phone rings, breaking the stillness and quiet of the house.Dumping my briefcase, I fish out the phone to see my mother's name flashing across the screen. I pick as I slouch on the sofa.“Mom?”“Are you home yet?” She asks with a concerned tone, making me wonder what could be wrong.Our relationship over the years has gone from bad to worse to good. When my father died, she wanted me to take over his company, which I did. I did everything she wanted, including my choice of study, my university, and even marrying Arabel. I was a bad child then.But when I divorced Arabel, our relationship became worse. We fought each time we met. She detests seeing me, so she said.When she fell ill, I was at her bedside. I left the company and everything else to tend to her, which led to the downfall of my father's company. I cried every
Arabel’s POVI come to an abrupt halt, a cold dagger of fear running through me at the sight before me.His eyes are widened too, like he was surprised to see me here. It brings my uprising anger to a stop because, for a second, I am thinking he is stalking me.“What are you doing here?” He asks with shock evident on his face.Speechless, I look down at the luggage, thinking that moving out of Alex's home is actually the right thing.I have been in search of a house for a week now. Finally, I got a positive response from the agent here, and here I am packing my belongings out before Alex shows up tonight.“Hey, is everything okay?" He grabs my shoulders instantly, watching me with concern.I nod, flashing him a smile.“I just moved here," I announce, not revealing the reason behind it. I was bound to move anyway.The idea from the start was to stay at Alex's till I was done with the branch office before finding an apartment for myself, considering how long it has been since I came to