Miller's corporation.Dalton's office:"She sold the painting that she left the house with this evening, to the Daas.. Daasgrh auction house, sir," Alex struggled to pronounce the name of the place that he had practiced a couple of times, as he made his report to Dalton from what he had cross checked with the head of guards. He was still unable to comprehend the vivid picture that was unfolding before him, particularly of Aria having a sudden need to sell herself painted art to an auction house. It even seemed weirder that Dalton was so interested in what she was doing, and getting or planning to get involved with. But it was not surprising to Alex anymore because it was sought of a norm for Dalton; wanting to know everything his wife was getting into lately."Register, and book a space at the auction house," Dalton instructed and nodded meaningfully, as he signed the final papers for his takeover of a food company that went under, after taking a huge investment risk, "Getting some
Aria's room. Miller's mansion.From her sleep, she could hear the sound of the ringing bell from outside rebound irritatingly in every corner of her room, as she frowned angrily and hissed so much about the noise grated on her. It was not enough that it took so long before she could stop being restless on her bed till midnight, but someone just had to come to interrupt her peaceful sleep in the morning. As her body twisted straight into bone cracking stretches, Aria's eye lids remained so heavy to open with her brain, which was still numb to her sleep. Like it was the alcohol that was still left unused in her body system working, she could hear something whisper to her ear, things she didn't want to hear. "You are going for a mental check." She was unsure of why that particular sentence kept recurring in her mind, which was still not awake. But she really wanted to smash the person, who wouldn't stop ringing on the doorbell against the wall. Like the person heard her wishes to
Aria's room."Do not, come near me Dalton. Doctor, can you please tell Dalton to stay away from the patient?" Aria turned to Doctor Fernandez, who was wiping clean the surgical scissors that he had used to cut bandages and some other things. He was really startled to hear Aria involve him in her and Dalton's marriage fight, as he faked a cough and struggled with the right words to tell her. There was no way he could ever tell Dalton that he should vacate the room, and disobeying the patient's request to see a visitor was no ethics of a doctor. 'How would someone possibly convince him that the couples hated one another, with the way she kept on hissing and growling angrily at Dalton, as many times as her hand hurt badly when he was dressing it? He was present at the mansion again to treat her for the second time, and he had to watch her treat Dalton with evident disdain in his presence. What has changed?' He continued to wonder."If you would not do that for the sake of the patient
The glass door that led directly to the inside of the huge building where luxurious cars stopped in front of, were a number of elites and people dressed in gorgeous outfits stepping out. There were people of different races and nationalities making their way inside, with mostly a common goal for the art auctioning that was taking place. There was an air of aristocracy permeating the ambience around the building, as heels and leather shoes clinked their ways into the building and towards the elevator. The art auctioning was going to start in the next few minutes on the fifth floor, where different art from great artists were going to be displayed for sale. Another luxurious car that exuded all forms of modesty stopped in front of the building, as the owner stepped out of it even before his assistant could run to get the door. His appearance was charming to sight and absolutely captivating, that had some of the people who recognized him mumbling words to themselves or the partners
Eleanor Miller was sitting on her bed playing a random game she accidentally installed on her phone, with her blood boiling at the highest point it could because of the other person who was leaning comfortably on the couch in the room. She had said at least five sentences that warranted a reply or an answer, but her daughter didn't seem to hear that someone was even saying a word. For more than twenty minutes that she had called to see Ellen in her room, they had not communicated reasonably for two minutes straight since she sat on her couch. She noticed that her daughter had become less responsive to things and everyone around her, and more to her phone and laptop than ever for the last couple of days. She was either texting and typing nonstop, or doing facetime with someone which was unlike herself. Even her page had taken a break from constant reels and posts, which had her fans wondering if everything was fine with her. She had also been going out of the house with differe
Three days had passed so quickly after Aria fell from the top and broke her arm, but the tension lurking strongly around the walls of the mansion was so palpable.Alex was the one who felt it most as he was closer to Dalton, especially by his usual behavior that had been back to being a cold constant again. Dalton had ordered Alex to trash away the painting after Aria belittled his effort, but his heart couldn't allow him to and he took it to the ML art gallery instead. Since then, the couple were back to their past way of lives again without any compromise. Even the maids felt the pressure. The wife just remained indoors because of her arm which was still completely unhealed, while the husband worked more in every of his companies, made more investments and doubled his company stocks. They were totally not talking to one another, or interfering into each other's business at all. 'So, he finally shows his true colors. Now I can breathe well,' Aria stood in front of the 60 inch mirro
"Is it still the same location ma'am?" The chauffeur who was still in driver seat of the plush vehicle asked politely, as he ensured not to make eye contact with the client who was sitting at his back through the front mirror. Even the gigantic mansion that he had gone to pick her from, gave the wealthy vibe that made him realize that the lady sitting in the back sit was not just anybody. Moreover, he wanted to be sure that she was not one of the elites, that changed the venue of where they had ordered before at the last minute."To VisQuib hotel," Aria rested her back on the back seat in an elegant manner the moment he ignited the car, with her eye lids that shut close to the vivid images of her reality and desired imaginations that began to play before her. To others, it might have sounded so foolish for her to want to revenge in her own way, when she knew well the family she was married into. Daring them at the core spot of their reputation was like digging her death pit, and sh
"I have made a reservation at the hotel suite sir. The meeting is taking place at the VIP floor, and the Arabian buyer too is on his way from the airport. We have about twenty minutes," Alex reported to Dalton about the next schedule, whose eyes were studying intently the hologram display of how high his company stocks had gone in just few days. It was more satisfying to watch and enjoy, than any other thing that might matter to him. Working so much and an increased number of travelling on flights for the past days, should have gotten him so weak and fatigued in his body. Yet to Alex's surprise, he was looking so healthy that not even his handsome face showed the wrinkles of stress or any dullness. But then again, he remembered that Dalton had told him the last time after talking about Collin, that he should stop reporting anything that related to Aria to him anymore. He didn't even want to hear her name in his ears. It left Alex so astounded, that things between both of them
New OrleansGrand Isle"Getting so occupied with Adriana has made me so busy. I will meet you at the event," Ariana apologized to her sister on the phone, as she turned to face her tiny little child who had spilled the jug of milk again for the third time. "Come back here, naughty," she called and tried to catch the little child who ran off so fast, the moment she realized that her mother was about to get to her. "She is so fast. The last time she came over, the rack that holds numerous stacked books in the dining room came tumbling. I didn't see her afterward, and feared so greatly that she was probably under the huge rack," Aria sighed so hard over the phone. "I started crying while calling her name, because she is just so tiny. Guess what? I found her when I heard a loud sound in the kitchen. She had climbed the kitchen stool and gotten her little fingers on my bowl. It was so hectic." "Oh, dear. I am sorry she made you go through all that," Ariana groaned with a chuckle, as she
ItalyMilanLeased vacation house It had been harder for Collin to leave, as he watched Aria wallow in sadness and degrade in her health by the day because of her sister's condition. She could not eat or sleep properly, because of her sister whose eyes had been shut in a deep sleep for weeks after her surgery. Going to see the growing baby at the hospital almost everyday was like a strand of hope she could cling unto, as she watched the cute baby girl take after the features of her mother. She cried every time she was with Ariana, and she also cried every time she went to see the baby with Collin. He had been shuffling between New Orleans, California and Italy, because of the fact that he had to manage the office head in California and the branch in New Orleans. Things had been so stressful and hectic for him, considering the fact that his father always picked fights with him that he was barely around. And for blind dates with elite ladies, his father would not stop setting
Dalton's company"The percentage rise is astounding both internally and externally. People are trying to invest their shares again," Alex reported to his boss, as he presented the report to Dalton who was signing some important files. "We are not taking shares of anyone less than 9% to cut down the number of people that are desired for the investments. And for everyone that qualifies for the quota, blacklist the ones that have been part of the corporation before and pull them out after thorough findings. For anyone who would be remaining, make sure to find out about them before bringing their proposal. We won't give a chance to disloyal people anymore." "Yes sir. What about the art pieces that were moved from the gallery, sir?""Put them up for sale in another country entirely. Italy, Japan, and the like. I want it done far from here," Dalton instructed with a calm and silent tone. He had been like that for months. Less talking, shouting, anger, and showoff. He talked mostly to A
Even in her unconscious state, she probably could hear the silent and calculated beeps from every corner of the room. She could still hear inaudible sounds of mumbling and murmuring around her, but her head could not turn to look at what was going on. Of course, she was certain that she was still alive, but every part of her body felt so heavy that she couldn't move them. The feeling of people constantly hovering above her body was something she always felt, even if she always slipped back into tiredness and unconsciousness. Her eyelids were so heavy that she could feel them, and she didn't seem to remember why she was like that or what had happened. All she could feel was her heart hurting so bad, like someone was stitching it with a needle and thread. She felt suffocated even while still unconscious, until someone grabbed her arm softly in theirs. "Ariana. You have to wake up soon, okay? The guilt is killing me. Knowing that you went through so much for me is killing me. I ne
Dalton was so heartbroken than ever that it was extremely hard to believe that he had fallen too much for the lady, who was never ready to stay with him because of their ill fate. It didn't matter how much he cried, grieved, or searched, he could not be okay knowing the reality of everything that had happened. Collin did not leave with the helicopter that transferred Ariana out of the city, because he would feel guilty if he had to lie to Dalton's face that he didn't know where she was, if they ever met. He just contacted her group from Italy that picked her up to know if they arrived safely. The Miller company stocks fell even more and almost hit rock bottom, while a lot of people withdrew their shares from the companies in the space of a week. A lot of investigations were going on about Eva's case which included going in and out of the mansion, and the sisters too were called for questioning because Dalton refused to go. The news on the headlines both day and night was always
The yacht party was the most glamorous and luxurious, which was the main event of the anniversary itself. It was also the one that Mark Miller promised to attend and make a speech, after his grandson had officially launched the banquet hosting. Eleanor had searched around the entire evening during the banquet to see if Dalton came with his wife, but was rather surprised to see that she was nowhere to be found. It made her wonder if something had gone wrong between them, or if he had found out about the truth before her but had not told anyone. After the guests were getting ready to leave the banquet and make their way to the yacht party, the news about Eva broke out immediately and it was everywhere on the news headlines alongside gore sights of her carrying out some of the acts. Only the family who were too engrossed in their celebration didn't understand what was going on quickly, until the corps arrived at the party almost immediately. The beautiful shooting of the fireworks w
Ariana was sprawled comfortably early in the morning of the next day on the bed, drowning in a mess of white sheets that had intertwined her body. She closed her eyes after she had opened it for a while, and pulled in a long relaxing breath before she opened it again. Her eyes traced slowly from the transparent glass walls of the underwater bedroom that they had slept in, and then to Dalton who was still sleeping on the bed by her side. She watched the underground ocean sight that was before her, and the sea animals that swam above their heads like it was going to peek through any minute. She turned to stare at Dalton in complete awe again, as she breathed slowly in and out trying to contain the feeling that was beginning to overwhelm her. Her eyes were almost brimming with tears as her throat parched in pain at what would soon be their reality. The thought of it was too sad for her to bear. Pulling herself together, Ariana stood up from the bed and walked to the floor of the nea
The anxiousness that overwhelmed Dalton as he drove to the airport was intense, that it took him much willpower to remain sane till he got to the one she had texted to meet. He didn't even consider the possibility of it being a lie and just pressed on the brakes of his car, and drove far away from his company. When they finally met and he stared at her figure amongst the crowd, it took him effort not to break down and just walk slowly to where she was. He was glad she came back.Her face was so pale and she was looking so dull, as well as there was a visible decrease in her body shape and size that made her look close to skinny. He couldn't believe he was staring at the lady he loved. 'How had she become like that?' he thought painfully. He moved closer to where she was standing and gave her a tight and warm embrace without saying anything, because he had so much to say to her and as well as nothing. Her body wrapped entirely into his huge body frame, and he tried hard not to cry
Ariana, who is still identifying as Aria, had returned to check on her sister in Italy, whose vitals were improving to stability already, and could move her body parts too according to signals. She also met with the foreign investigator to whom she had paid lots of money days before, and presented evidence that she had against Eva to speed up investigations against her. He teamed up with some of his group back in California, who did most of the remaining research covertly. Her health condition seemed to be deteriorating too with an increase in pain by the day, which put her in fear that her sister might not wake up soon enough to see her. And with all those burdens in her heart, she missed Dalton too even if she wouldn't accept it. The fear that she might never see him again also clung to her heart, and caused an ache that refused to go even if she tried to wade the thoughts away. It brought near tears to her face too because it was too sad for her to handle the turmoil her life wa