Richard's POVTerror slices through me as soon as I can make the name on the screen of my phone.Arabel.Why the hell is she calling at 2 a.m.?As I step out of bed and quickly answer the call, the sleepiness in my eyes disappears.“Arabel?”“Richard,” her voice is raspy, filled with fear and dread. She remains silent for a moment, as if contemplating whether to tell me what happened or not. “Are you still in London?”The questions come out in a whisper.“Yes,” I answer firmly with a nod. “What happened? Why are you calling at this time?”“A shot,” she only says, which gets my heart racing with panic. "I don't know, but I can still hear the gunshots. I'm scared. Daisy won't stop crying…I…I…” she trails off.I find myself running out of the bedroom to the living room. My car keys are on the table in the living room, so I grab them and rush out.Alex.That jerk.Ever since I saw him take a picture of her house, I knew he was up to no good. The only mistake I made was not assigning a gua
Arabel's POVWhen my eyes open, I know I cannot keep pretending. I cannot keep hoping and wishing Richard's suspicions were wrong.I see Richard talking to someone wearing a white coat, whom I presume to be the doctor. I had been awake from my unconsciousness, but I didn't want to face Richard, so I pretended to be asleep until I slept off.Now that I am awake, I know I can't continue doing this.Richard's eyes meet mine, and he rushes forward as the doctor goes out. “Hey.”“Where is Daisy?” I demand, my voice barely in a whisper.“She is asleep. Natalie is with her. I didn't want her to see you this way,” he mutters, his hand caressing my hair. I pretend as if I don't see that.In fact, I have been pretending as if I don't see how much he cares now, unlike before. I always ignore the way he stares at me lovingly. Something he didn't do when I desperately wanted him to.Every bit of my anger has subsided ever since I told Daisy about her father. I thought it was going to double, but I
Arabel's POVThe girls release a squeal of joy at the announcement of having to spend the bridal night alongside the bachelor's.The thought alone appalls me.I feel it is Ashley's way of indicating she wants no mistakes. The common mistakes men make by inviting girls for the bachelor's night and ending up having to sleep with them, or even forcing the groom to sleep with her as a way of putting an end to his bachelor's life.I wish I can voice out my disapproval, but the happy faces of eight girls make me go tight-lipped.I gulp down the remaining content of my wine before leaning forward with a smile in pretense.Of all the girls, Ashley is the only one I know. It makes me wonder why she has to make me the bridesmaid when we just got to know each other recently.When she told me, I was really honored. I couldn't reject it, but now that I think of it, I wish I had rejected it.But then, it makes me realize just how much Ashley loves our friendship. I have put little or no effort into
Richard's POVFeeling the quickened beat of desire as I stare at her beautiful brown eyes and the white bridal silk dress she is putting on, revealing way too much.Her skin is so soft against the silky dress, making a memory suddenly jump into my head from years ago.The memory of that one night. My mouth is dry as I recall the night and how hot and tight her body was against me. “You know each other?” A strange man demands, and I see him approaching Arabel.This is when I realize I called her that. Quickly, I turn to Ashley, who shrugs at Arabel. Ashley knows her as Bella, and I am sure she doesn't want people to know the relationship between us. Aside from that, Ashley didn't tell me she was here. She never mentioned inviting her. In fact, I never knew they had gotten this close.“You know the bridesmaid, Richie?” Caleb grins widely and gives me a wink.“Yes.”"Hello," Arabel greets me, prompting me to turn back to her and smile in response when I realize she's not addressing me
Arabel’s POVThe music comes to a stop, and tension fills the air.When I turn around, I discover that Richard has left. Ashley gestures for me to move away from the man, whose name I now know to be Fernando.“Excuse me,” I mutter calmly before leaving him on the dance floor. I had been pretending to enjoy his company so that when I finally cut ties with him, he would know something was definitely wrong somewhere.“Ashley…”“Richard just left. Did you do something to annoy him?”With my brows furrowed, I shake my head. “No.”She smiles. “I told you he likes you, didn't I?”“Ashley!”“What?! Isn't it obvious already? Almost everyone in the room is whispering in agreement. He didn't even look at Amy's face for more than a second. His gaze was fixated on you all along. I saw the jealousy in his eyes when Fernando was dancing with you…”“So all along, you were watching us instead of dancing with your man?” I fold my arms around my bosom, finding it hard to believe.She chuckles softly. “N
Richard's POVThe light from the lobby illuminates her features, casting deep shadows down her exposed thighs and making me take a gulp.How long has she been here? Staring at the distance between us, I let out a deep sigh of relief, knowing she wouldn't have heard all I said to my mother over the phone.Maybe she just came. Perhaps she left without realizing my presence.Even after calling her name, she doesn't move. She seems to have frozen in one spot. She doesn't respond to my call or look in my direction.When she finally turns in slow motion, displacing her beautiful face and her silk dress, I want to move closer and ask if everything is fine.I halt.The sight takes my breath away. She looks sexy and makes my legs unsteady.She slowly makes her way towards her, moving in a slow-motion manner that makes me question if this is real or if I'm just imagining it.As she draws nearer, my breath catches. It's hard to believe that just a short while ago, I was upset with this woman fo
Arabel's POVAs the girls get dressed, my phone begins to ring. I want to get Ashley ready before I put on my dress.I am the bridesmaid. It's part of my duty to do that. She comes before anything else.When I stepped out, her hair stylist was working on hers. Noting how lousy this place is, I decide to go back into the inner room where Ashley is, to receive the call.Given that it's an odd number, it might be important.As soon as I enter, a familiar voice reaches my ears. “Hi, Bella.”Fernando.He has a unique voice. It is him.“Hi. Fernando?” I ask to be sure I am not mistaking him for someone else. This gets Ashley's attention, and she throws me a wink.She must have given him my number. Probably last night because none of us had seen the guys this morning.We didn't go back to the party after speaking and sitting silently on the beach with Richard. Instead, I went back to the room to sleep. I didn't even know when the girls came back.“Yes, you didn't make it back to the party l
Richard's POVMy heart couldn't take it.Seeing Arabel in the arms of that jerk as he leans forward to peck her forehead like a man would do to his wife.My heart felt like it was going to break into half pieces. It makes me seethe in anger.Before I can do anything, my phone rings, jerking me back to life as I divert my gaze away from the sight.Asking her for friendship was an alternative to telling her how much I loved and cared for her. I had never been so scared in my entire life. I dreaded what her answer would be. Friendship was all I could ask for.When I did, I thought she was going to let her guards down and transform overnight into the caring and loving woman I used to know.My heart gives a little twist as I rise from the table to excuse myself. My face burns with fury as I make my way out of the hall where the after-wedding lunch is taking place.Betrayal has hit me square in the face.Back in there, when the vows were being exchanged, I saw the way she was staring at me