Arabella and Xander both shot a glare at Xenon for his foolish question, making him swallow nervously, "Why are they both so mad at me?" he wondered not understanding their anger which is sinking perfectly, Arabella sighed pointing out his mistake, "You're the one who opened the door, causing me to stumble, thankfully Mr. Xander caught me like a gentleman.""Yeah," Xander added supporting Arabella's words, "she was about to fall, so I helped her. It's just basic decency as a part of humanity."Xenon’s eyes widened in disbelief at their arrows of blames towards him, "Gentleman? Decency? Humanity? Are you saying I’m the bad guy here?"Nova jumped in teasing Xenon, "Of course you are," Xenon looked over at him in confusion, "Did you just hear what I said?"Nova scoffed with a smile, "I’m not deaf."Xenon rolled his eyes and looked at Arabella arguing with her, "So, am I the one at fault here?" Arabella nodded with a gentle hum, Xander continued the rest, "You should apologize to her. If
The day before her scheduled dinner with two different people Xander and Viola for two different purposes, Arabella found herself unable to decide whom to choose and whom to decline. Worried and unsure, she sat deep in thought in front of her laptop screen, that's when her children, Abigail and Alexander, noticed her concern and came over to help."Mommy...Mommy, what are you thinking about so seriously?" Abigail asked playfully, hugging her from one side. Alexander hugged her from the other side, "Why do you have a frown on your face, Mommy?"Arabella smiled at them, trying to explain her current dilemma, "I promised someone I would go to dinner with them, but now Vio also wants me to join her for dinner on the same night. They’re both important, and I can’t decide who to choose, since I'm worried about hurting one of them if I'm to decline one from them."Abigail and Alexander exchanged knowing looks, understanding that Viola’s invitation wasn’t just a random dinner but a reunion pa
Nova felt guilty seeing the sadness on Xander's face, so he explained everything Arabella had told him, "She’s upset too, Xan, but it seems like her hands are tied because of other commitments. After all, she’s a busy COO. She apologized as well and also worried about you misunderstanding her.""Oh," Xander responded quietly, Nova handed him his phone understanding the disappointment in Xander, "Here, this is her number."Xander took the phone while asking, "So, when does she want to meet me?"Nova replied with a smile, "She said any day is fine except tomorrow, so you can choose a date and inform her," Xander nodded and immediately messaged Arabella, asking if she was okay with meeting him in two days. She quickly responded positively as if she is waiting for his message."She said yes," Xander grinned, showing the message to Nova, finally looking a happy expression on Xander's face, Nova took a breath in relief while inquiring, "So, should I reschedule the dinner plans?" Xander nodd
"Bella, I'm sorry," Viola apologised for hiding the truth, she held Arabella's hand with pleading eyes, "I didn’t tell you about the reunion party because I thought you wouldn’t come if you knew, dirty for her hiding about this from you."Arabella rolled her eyes and pointed at the table, "Almost everyone here is one of Natalie's followers, don't you know about that? How can I be here knowing their prejudice and hatred towards me?" Viola knew it already but doesn't Arabella leave because she knew this will be the opportunity for Natalie's true nature to be revealed, this can happen only if Arabella joins this reunion party, "Bella, that was in the past. You’re here now, in the present. Things aren’t the same anymore, you were obedient back then because of your family, but you don’t have to be obedient to anyone now, just be yourself and let them face the reality."Arabella considered Viola’s words and realized she was right. It wasn’t her who needed to be scared of people messing wit
Natalie snatched Daisy's phone, her face frozen in shock as she read the news article about herself. Before she could fully process it, a voice cut through the tension, "You all were quick to accuse Arabella, but what about this hot news? Natalie’s being called out as a liar, accused of stealing songs to become a popular singer and even stealing someone’s husband to have the title of most eligible bachelor’s fiancee."As they turned to see the person, it was none other than Zayn White standing there. "Long time no see, Arabella," he greeted her warmly with a gentle smile. Arabella, surprised by his sudden appearance, just smiled back hiding her surprised look.Viola, who had been watching the scene decided to make it interesting by involving Zayn, "Come on, senior. You better let them know you’re here with an invitation, if not they’ll accuse you also of being shamelessly barging into someone's reunion party."Zayn crossed his arms, unbothered by others' perspective, just smirked, "Th
Arabella and Zayn looked up to see who had grabbed Zayn's hand, it was none other than Xander. Arabella was startled to see him, and Xander turned to Zayn, with a sharp tone and reddened eyes, "What exactly did you do to her?"Zayn was already confused by the presence of Xander, not only that his anger got him terrified, making him almost stammer, "Huh?"Arabella quickly tried to intervene clarifying the relation in between her and Zayn, "He’s my senior; he didn’t do anything, Mr. Xander. Please let him go," she pleaded wanting him to calm down.Xander let go of Zayn's hand and gently wiped the tears from Arabella’s cheeks. "If he didn’t do anything, then why are you crying? Who made you cry?"Forcing a smile, Arabella replied, moving away, "It’s nothing, I’m okay now."Xander wanted to know what had upset her so badly, but he knew, he couldn't force her to speak, instead, he gently said, "Alright, let’s get out of here, you don't need to stay in a place which made you sad."He reache
Xander was caught off guard by Arabella's question, and he smiled nervously, trying to find the right words to cover up. "I mean, girls are mostly sensitive, right? That's what I meant, since I've witnessed my sister being sensitive most of the time," he stammered, clearly cursing himself for slipping his tongue.Arabella, gazing at the sky, hummed softly, "Girls are sensitive, yes, but only when there's someone to protect us. When we realize there's no one by our side and that we need to take stand for someone else, we learn to be strong eventually. That's how I became strong too." The wind blew her hair gently, making the unshed tears in her eyes glisten like crystals.Xander tucked her hair behind her ear, softened his tone for her. "There’s always someone you can depend on," he said staring into her deep eyes, "You just need to notice them."Arabella quickly turned away to hide her blush, smiling as she agreed with him, "You're right, Mr. Xander. I do have someone I’ve always depe
Arabella was deep in thought about Xander, but when the door suddenly swung open, causing her to bump her head against the door. She winced in pain, "Ahhh!"Viola who heard Arabella's scream quickly apologized rushing to check on Arabella, "Bella, I'm so sorry babe." Arabella rubbed her head as she walked inside with a sigh. "How on earth did you open the door without checking the other side, Vio? Ahhh this is so painful like hell.""I didn't expect you to be standing right outside, Bella, if you're to go in, rather than entering why on earth are you standing right behind the door?" Viola questioned her with a curious look. Arabella sat down on the couch still rubbing her head and noticed Abigail and Alexander standing nearby, Zara offered a glass of water and ice pack to Arabella.With a curious glance, Abigail approached her. "Mommy, why didn't you come with Aunt Vio? She said you were with someone else. Who was it?"Arabella was caught off guard by Abigail's sudden question about X
"A pregnancy test kit?" Viola repeated in disbelief.Arabella nodded silently, her lips pressed together in nervousness.Without hesitation, Viola stood and left the room, a few minutes later, she returned, holding the pregnancy kit Arabella had asked for.Arabella’s hands trembled as she took the pregnancy kit test from Viola.The room felt suffocating as she walked into the bathroom, her heart racing with a mix of fear and anticipation. After taking the test, she sat on the bathroom floor, staring at the result, her hands still shaking in anxiousness. When she finally stood up and stepped out of the bathroom, her face was pale, while there was a turmoil of mixed emotions brewing up inside her, a wave of happiness, sadness, and disbelief.Viola had been pacing the room in nervous anticipation. The moment Arabella stepped out, Viola rushed over. "What happened? What’s the result?"Arabella didn’t say a word, she simply showed the positive in test result.Viola’s eyes widened and the
Veronica reached out, taking Arabella’s hand in hers. "Because he was scared, Bella. Scared that the truth would push you away just like how it is today, he thought keeping it from you was the only way to protect the love you both have for each other, though it wasn't the right choice, but it was made out of love, not malice."Arabella pulled her hand away, with teary eyes, "Love?" She scoffed. "How can I believe that it is love when everything he has done feels nothing but a lie?" "Bella," Veronica said gently, glancing at Arabella with a warm smile, "at this moment I can clearly tell how you feel, but all I want you to know is, Xander has never stopped loving you. These past six years, not a single day has gone by where he didn’t think about you, to him you means everything, you and kids are his world, so don't take any rash decisions Bella, after many years I seen him happy only when he is with you, I hope you'll consider your decision once again.' Arabella turned away, hiding th
The night was sleepless for both Xander and Arabella, both of their minds consumed by the memories they shared together.Arabella sat on the bed, staring at the wedding ring she had left on the bedside table, she held it gently in her hands, the cool metal feeling heavier with every thought.She remembered the day she first met Xander, how he made her heart stop beating with his charm and quiet intensity.The nights they spent together, his whispered promises, and the warmth of his arms, but now, those memories felt like a nightmare, reminding all his betrayals."Did he truly loved me as he claimed? If so he would've told the truth, but he didn't, so it was never love," Arabella thought, her heart aching as tears filled in her eyes.She clutched her pillow tightly, trying to suppress her sobs. "Why does it hurt so much though I knew he is nothing but a cheat who made me a fool?" She whispered into the darkness.On the other side, Xander sat in his study, with a drink in his head, and
"If I ever loved anyone in my life, it'll be only her," Xander said with his voice breaking slightly, "but I'm fighting to respect her decision, if staying with me only brings her pain, then maybe… maybe letting her go is the only way to give her peace." Nova frowned at Xander, "don't think such kind of crap, Xan, this isn’t about respecting her decision, it’s about you running away because you’re scared of facing her anger, and her disappointment, if you truly love her, you’ll fight harder than this."Xander looked down, with trembling hands, "Do you think I don’t want to fight? Do you think I haven’t heard the words she said, do you think I haven't witnessed every tear she shed? She hates me, Nova, she looks at me like I’m a monster, like I’m the one who destroyed her life, and maybe she’s right. Maybe I don’t deserve her forgiveness for what I did, after all I'm the one who collapsed her dreams and life." Xenon let out a frustrated groan, leaning forward. “Listen to me, uncle, yo
"Xan, just don't give up, I don't think it's too late," Nova said while Xenon agreed with him, "Nova is right uncle, Bella will understand for sure if you try to explain, so don't take any rash decisions." But Xander looked the same with disappointment and sadness, Nova and Xenon took Xander home, as he is already drunk totally.Xander isn't even sure when he fell asleep on the way.In the morning, Xander woke up with a heavy hangover in his own house as he was brought to his place instead of his parents house by Nova and Xenon.Since they doesn't want to worry Xander's parents, they hid the situation going on in between Xander and Arabella a secret."Here take it," Nova offered strong coffee to Xander to get rid of heavy hangover.As he was about to take a sip of coffee, Zara entered the living room with a usual serious demeanor, but her hesitating face is quite visible as walked in with a file in her hands.Xenon glanced at her curiously, "what are you doing here Zara? What's that
"Bella?" Viola opened the door after hearing to the calling bell and was surprised to see Arabella at her door in a time like this, "what are you doing here?" Arabella spoke with a voice not even barely audible, "can I stay here tonight?" "Of course you can, come inside first," Viola said inviting Arabella inside and gestured her to sit on the couch.Tears filled eyes, pale face, and heavy breathing, uneven gasps of Arabella made Viola to understand something is wrong with Arabella.Immediately going into the kitchen, viola returned with a cup of hot coffee, and sat beside Arabella hoping it would bring some comfort, "Bella, drink something warm, you'll feel better." Arabella shook her head, to which Viola sighed, "You’re going to make yourself sick like this." Arabella let out a bitter laugh that quickly turned into heavy crying, "Does it even matter, Vio? I’ve already lost everything, my life… it’s a joke already, isn’t it?" Viola frowned being confused by Arabella's words, ge
Xander stood frozen, Arabella’s words echoing in his ears, the weight of her accusations sinking deeper than his thoughts.The vibrant setup he had affectionately prepared now felt like a mockery of his intentions. He clenched his fists, trying to steady himself, but his emotions threatened to spill over, still he doesn't want to speak anything harsh which might hurt Arabella's heart."What do you mean by that, my love?" Xander managed to ask almost like a pleading painfully.Arabella turned sharply to face him, with an eyes full of anger, "Stop it! Stop calling me like that," she shouted using her trembling voice, "please stop faking it! I'm already tired of all these." Xander flinched hearing to her loud voice and teary eyes, "Bella, I don’t understand anything dear, what exactly are you trying to say? What do you mean by I’m faking it?" Arabella’s laugh was bitter and sarcastic despite seeing the desperation in his eyes, "Your love," she spat with a cold tone, "aren’t you faking
Xander woke up earlier than usual, as he is so excited about the surprise. The conversation with George last night had been revolving in his mind throughout the night, and he was determined to do whatever it takes to make things right with Arabella. "She deserved more than just a few simple words, she needed to feel loved and appreciated. I couldn't even give a grand wedding to her, at least this grand gesture of mine should remind her of the love I've towards her." After a few phone calls and careful planning, Xander arranged everything for the surprise. It wasn’t just a simple outing; it was a day meant to bring them closer and show Arabella that he is extremely serious about them and their relationship.He spent entire the morning setting everything according to his plan, arranging a private area in the theme park, filled with her favorite things. A beautiful romantic setup arranged at a secluded spot, with flowers, candles, and her favorite food. Once when everything is done
"Did you call me, love?" Xander asked as he stepped out of the shower wiping his wet hair. Arabella shook her head, avoiding his gaze, "nothing." Noticing her turning of face away, Xander felt it's out of shy and approached her to hug, but Arabella stepped back abruptly leaving Xander confused."I’ll sleep with the kids tonight," she said with a low and steady voice.Xander frowned, and he is extremely about sudden change in Arabella's behaviour. "What happened? Are you okay?" "Nothing," she replied coldly, and her voice sounded distant expressing her interest in getting away from him.He took a step closer, trying to study her expression. "Are you on your periods? Is something bothering you, love?" She avoided his concerned eyes and repeated the same thing, "as I said it’s nothing," and left the room without any further word.Xander stood frozen in confusion, watching her leaving, her sudden change in behavior puzzled him as he couldn't understand whether it's really nothing o