Arabel's POVHis cold blue eyes flash in front of me as he pulls the door open to see me. The anger from yesterday is still boiling within me as I raise my hand in the air and strike him in the face.No surprise. No pain. No emotion.I stare at him, my heart beating twice its normal rate, as he continues to watch me with his unwavering gaze.Suddenly, guilt settles inside of me.I was extremely mad at him. Coming over there and answering Fernando on my behalf was a sign that we knew each other even more. After I told him I didn't want people to know, he had the guts to ruin that moment. What gave him the right to come over and act like I have no say over my life? If I wanted to date him, his opinions would never matter.Fernando is a good man, I am sure of that. He is someone I can date without any regrets when all Richard has ever done is hurt me.If I hadn't vowed to myself, his actions are enough for me to accept Fernando, just to spite him, but I wouldn't dare. Once bitten, twi
Richard's POVIt wasn't in my intention to reveal how I feel about her now. In fact, I had no specific time in mind to tell her.So I am relieved that it is out now. Friendship is not what I want. She needs to know how much she means to me and why I can't sit still watching another man who doesn't deserve her one bit take her away.I know I don't deserve her either, but Fernando shouldn't be an option.I know she might never accept my feelings because of our past, but I still want her to know. “I love you, Arabel. I have always loved you without realizing it. Letting you go made me realize how much you mean to me, and how stupid I was to have realized what we had. I know this might be hard to believe or accept, but it's the truth. I don't deserve you, and neither does Fernando. But I promise I will never hurt you again if you can give me a chance to prove myself to you.”Her back is still with me. She is looking up and down, unsure of how to face me, or perhaps she has no idea what
Arabel's POV“Daisy?”“Ashley?” They both embrace each other, and I watch with a smile on my face. Ashley stands upright to embrace me after they finish pecking each other's foreheads.“I thought you would never do that,” I say with a tone of humor, and she gets the clue by laughing.“I missed you two,” she pouts when she disengages from the hug.I jokingly glare at her. “Are you sure? You remained for an entire month instead of the originally planned two weeks on your honeymoon, yet you still claim to miss me. Don't let me get envious of Caleb already.”Before entering, we hug each other once more amidst laughter. Ashley and Caleb's new home is lovely. It is just like the mansion where Richard and I got married, but not as big.Ashley guides us to the dinner, where Cable enters with a dashing appearance.“Bella.” He calls with open arms. I move forward with a smile, and he pecks my cheeks before his attention shifts to Daisy.I see the confusion on his face, and I realize Ashley neve
Richard's POVAnything to get rid of this inner turmoil is what I intend to do. Something like drowning myself in alcohol and thinking about how pathetic my life has become.Not only am I divorced, but I am also someone whom Arabel is ashamed to refer to as the father of her child.That is what I feel she is doing.Why the pretense? Why does she keep doing this? Even to our friends? I'm sure Ashley is mad at her, and I hope she forgives her.Caleb, on the other hand, understands me. When Caleb started questioning me about her, I was tempted to reveal everything to him. I was tempted to say that she was my ex-wife, and I loved and still love her.The fact that I had to pretend not to be Daisy's father was more irksome. I couldn't even answer the poor girl when she called me Daddy.When did Arabel become this cruel? Is there more to this? Is it just the shame of calling me her daughter's father?After laying Daisy to sleep in my room, I step down, moving to the bar to grab a drink. Flop
Arabel's POVMy eyes flicker open to see sunlight streaming into my room.Sunlight?My bedroom isn't facing where the sun rises. So why is there sunlight streaming through the windows?Instantly, I shoot up from the bed as a gasp leaves my mouth when the realization dawns on me that I am in Richard’s apartment.Shit!I scramble out of bed, dumping the heavy duvet around me on the floor, only to realize I am wearing nothing but his shirt and my shorts.Shit, shit, shit!What the hell happened?My head is banging, and I can't remember anything that happened last night apart from the dinner with Ashley and Caleb.Giggles float into the room, and I rush out to find him, so I can ask him what happened before leaving.Suddenly, more memories from last night drift into my head, and I halt just outside the bedroom.Ashley was mad at me. Caleb was too, because I lied to them.Richard looked pissed too, so he left with Daisy.Then I came home and knocked on his door to apologize to him. He was
Richard's POVA cold chill takes over my body, and my breathing hitches the moment she walks in gracefully and sees the huge birthday cake.She isn't smiling.Not looking surprised. Not angry.As I stare at the cake while remaining hidden, a wave of panic washes over me.I want to start blaming myself for coming unannounced and for throwing such a surprise when Natalie was clearly against it, knowing Arabel wouldn't like it.Now I regret doing this.I just wanted to impress her. Make her happy. Surprise her.Suddenly, Daisy emerges from hiding, following my instructions, and starts singing the happy birthday song, while everyone else follows suit.Emotion is back on her face. She must have forgotten her birthday, too. Or perhaps no one knows her birthday or has wished her a happy birthday in years.A sense of pride fills me up.When Ashley appears in front of her, Arabel gasps and rushes into her arms, laughing heartily. When they disengage, Caleb is right next to his wife, and he hu
Arabel's POVHyperventilating, I shoot up from my bed with a cold panic.Panting.My heart is thumping wildly in my chest. Sweat poured all over me. My mouth dried in terror.That nightmare. Again. But this time, it is different. It is more dreadful, frightening, and scary. I was struggling in my sleep before I finally woke up.This time, I saw his face.I had never seen his face before. I only saw what he was doing. Until now, I never knew who was behind it. This time, not only did he point a gun at me, he also pointed a gun at Daisy, and finally, when someone rushed in to save us, he pointed a gun at him too.Richard.Alex.Realizing my body is still shaking from the shock, I drape the duvet around me, grabbing my phone and flickering the bedside lamp on.Hugging my body to myself as I shuddered once more, remembering vividly the nightmare this time. Frantically, I begin to search for a number.Richard's.Did I see Alex's face because I was thinking about him last night? For a mome
Arabel's POV“Arabel, what happened?” His expression hardened, signifying how worrisome he is becoming.Firstly, I arrived unannounced and in tears. I am not with Daisy. His head must be racing with wild and silly imaginations.“I…I…I'm sorry, I wasn't supposed to…I'm fine.” I find myself stuttering, admitting the turmoil inside of me.“Are you okay?" Is Daisy fine?” He demands again impatiently, unable to keep calm.To stop him from worrying, I nod. “Yes, we are fine. Daisy is in school, and I am here instead of going to the office."“Ok?” He urges me to go on.Avoiding his exposed chest so I can at least focus on what brought me here, I gulp down nervously before announcing. “I had a dream. A terrible nightmare.”He doesn't say a word. He is just staring at me with an expression that tells me to go on.“It was so scary, Richard. I wanted to call you, but I held myself back…”“Why didn't you?” He cuts me short with a grim look on his face, showing his displeasure at my refusal to cal