••NO POV••"Stop acting like a kid and let’s go," Arabella sighed pulling him to walk rather than flirting with her as everyone already went inside it's she and him are the only one who are still outside, but he held her hand firmly with a cheeky smile."Didn’t you see my dad and mom? This is how a couple should walk together." She nodded slowly with a gentle hum agreeing with him.Arabella had seen couples holding hands like this before, and always dreamt of holding like hands like this one day with her man, but she had never experienced it before. Her ex-husband isn't even interested to spare a glance at her, let alone walk by her side. The only time he had stood beside her was at their wedding, and even then, only for a few minutes.After that, Arabella has slowly given up on her dreams and wishes regarding the life she always wanted with her man."Back then it's just a mere wish but here, this man is holding my hand tightly as if I might run away from him," she thought, comparing
••NO POV••"Yes, Grandma, I'm willing to marry him and want to spend the rest of my life with him," Arabella said, with a steady yet soft voice.The words seemed to light up the entire room, Xander's smile widened than before, and a warm happiness filled the room as the families exchanged glances of approval and joy."Thanks for accepting me my love," Xander whispered in Arabella's ear, to which Arabella said in return, "after all we are in this together, how can I leave in middle? I'm not that coldhearted." Xander smiled while gently holding her hand.Olivia looked over at Silvia with satisfaction. "Now that Bella has agreed, we have no other objections to making your grandson as my granddaughter's husband, madam Rodriguez," she announced warmly, letting go of all the past worries from her heart."I'm glad to hear that madam Bellchester," Silvia smiled being happy that finally his grandson was going to get the woman he loved as his life partner.But just then, a sharp voice passed t
"I don’t care," Xander said firmly, with tender eyes glancing at Arabella, "She’s the woman I’ve always loved, she is the only one for me."Natalie laughed at his choice, "you'll regret it, you'll regret choosing her," Xander held Arabella's hand with a warm smile, "I already have a regret, and that regret is not meeting my woman earlier, if only I had met her sooner, I would have married her long before that other fool, who didn’t even know how to treat a woman properly, now that I got a chance to make her my woman, I'll do everything to love and cherish her, Arabella and these children are mine." George’s face broke into a proud smile, looking at his son bravely showing love towards Arabella, "Well done, my boy," he said, being a proud father, "You’ve finally grown up and learnt well about treating your woman, so proud of you." Dylan chuckled, standing closer to Xander, "Yeah, my baby brother has truly grown up, dad, I don't think you've to worry about him anymore," he shifted his
"A welcome for you, my love!" Xander said, standing proudly by her side, holding her hand with love. Arabella stared into his eyes, "a welcome?" He leaned closer, his voice full of warmth and excitement, "A grand welcome just for you, after all you're the youngest daughter-in-law of this house, do you like it?" Arabella blinked in surprise, glancing around at all the happy faces surrounding her. Her previous marriage had been filled with insults and humiliation, her ex-mother-in-law or her ex-husband's sister, never cared about her presence just like her ex-husband, to them she is nothing but a maid whom they look down on with disdain but here, things were so different it almost felt like a dream. Sophie stepped forward first, with a bright and warm smile on her face, "We are so glad that you’re here, Arabella! Welcome to Rodriguez mansion," she said, hugging her with open arms.Just then, a group of three elegant women and two handsome men joined them. One of the men stepped forw
"This can't be happening," a loud scream from Natalie after hearing from the maid that her grandmother agreed for Arabella's marriage with Xander.Natalie’s anger fueled dangerously, the maid informed, "Old madam said, you and your parents are not allowed for the wedding my lady.""You bitch!" Natalie slapped her, "are you looking down on me now?" The maid lowered her head with teary eyes, "no young lady, I would never look down on you." Natalie shouted at her, "just get lost from here," just as Natalie ordered, the maid rushed out of the room.The idea of Arabella taking a place in the Rodriguez family was like poison running through her veins. She had spent so many years believing that Arabella was nothing, someone to look down on, and yet, here she was marrying Xander Rodriguez, becoming the daughter-in-law of one of the most powerful families in the country. It felt like her world was crumbling, as Arabella who is supposed to be inferior is getting a princess treatment despite b
"How long do I have to suffer like this? It's all because of that little bitch Arabella!" Joseph sat on one of the chairs, seething with resentment in a prison room with oppressive walls. His mind occupied with anger and desperation as he awaited for his sister’s arrival. When Ruby finally appeared, looking defeated and no signs of positivity only got his anger to be increased.Ruby sat down opposite him, slightly with a disappointed look on her face, "I tried my best brother, but I don't think I could do anything at this moment, all the ways has got seized." "What do you mean by that?" Joseph leaned forward with a frustrated look, "When am I getting out from this damn prison? Did you talk to the lawyer? Why did you come alone?" Ruby shook her head, with tears filled in her eyes, as she isn't sure how to say something like this to her brother, but she knew he should know about their situation, "We don’t have that much money, brother, our house and everything within in our house was
"Bella, my dear," Veronica gently smiled at Arabella, "I'll take care of the kids, you and Xan, can go for shopping." Xander sighed at his mother, "mom, why need of going out when we can get them to house?" Veronica couldn't understand how she gave birth to someone so foolish, slapping on his hand, Veronica whispered in his ear, "you idiot, it's something romantic, groom and bride choosing outfits, groom praising bride for her beauty, specially choosing the wedding gown for her, all these are romantic things, you fool!" "Romantic?" Xander questioned his mother, to which Veronica nodded her head eagerly, "yes romantic, so don't spoil my plan, just go with her, and act like a gentleman with romantic scenes, if not she'll run away from you." Xander shook his head with a determined smile, "I'll not let that happen, I'll make sure to impress her," Veronica have a proud pat on his shoulder, "my blessings are with you." Arabella who noticed their conversation exchange but couldn't under
"Yes, he is my so-called ex, with whom I broke up," Xenon said with a sad tone, as if he is almost ready to burst into tears, Arabella pulled him to nearby place and both of them sat together.She offered him water to drink, "relax no tension, and have some water." "I know very well about you, all this is out curiousity to know more, right?" Xenon asked while taking a sip of water.Arabella chuckled and looked embarrassed but curiosity is quite evident on her face to know more about Aaron and Xenon, "So, are you going to tell me everything now? I mean, what made you to punch him? And what you meant by he is the guy you broke up with? When did you both even date to break up now?" Xenon leaned back, running a hand into his hair, as he literally hated talking about that past of his, "It's a long story, Bella, I don't even know where to start." She gently placed her hand on his, with a smile. "Start from the beginning, we are not going anywhere until you tell me everything, moreover I
"It's Ruby, Joseph's sister," I said, while clutching my mobile hard.Viola’s smile faltered, replaced by a furious look, "That witch, why is she trying to contact you? What does she want now?" "She tried to blackmail me yesterday," I explained, recounting the encounter of yesterday which I almost forgot until this message of that bitch popped up, "She threatened to bring out the things that happened back in the past, and the shameless method they used to get rid of their house, using those photos, she is trying to demand money from me, and wants me to get back with that bastard, the most funniest thing is, she said I should be grateful for her brother’s forgiveness." Viola crossed her arms with a scoff, "That woman is really audacious, how dare she to threaten you? I swear if you had taken me with you yesterday, I would've punched that bitch's face until she couldn't speak again, if she wasn’t already miserable, I’d make her life a living hell for daring to mess with you."Her fier
••ARABELLA POV•• "I know," I said softly, feeling the warmth of his hand on mine."So, you knew it," Xander repeated, with a low yet slightly frustrated voice, "yet you went alone?"I never saw him being angry with me, this is the first time, I've seen him like this, I don't know why, but I kind of feel nervous by this behaviour of his.Before I could respond, his mother stepped in, with a light tone, "Stop it, Xan, you're scaring her, can't you see that?" "Me? Scaring her?" Xander frowned, glancing between us."Yes, you only," She sighed, gently slapping on his shoulder, "you shouldn't speak in such a harsh tone even if you're worried about her, first apologise to her." I tried to intervene, "it's okay, mother," but she stopped me, "it's not okay sweetheart, you shouldn't allow anyone to bully you, even if it is your husband." "I'm sorry," Xander apologised, lowering his head, I mumbled, "it's okay." She looked at me with a softened expression, "forget about him, let’s get you t
••ARABELLA POV•• "That's it?" I asked with a sarcasm raising my eyebrows.I faced Ruby without any fear right now, I scanned her from top to bottom, full of pride, and confident, she must be thinking, she can summon me and demand something so outrageous as if I'm the same Arabella who used to be begging for their forgiveness and mercy. Ruby smirked, tossing her hair over her shoulder, while taking a few steps towards me, "Yes, Bella, that’s it, you give us what we need, and we’ll pretend nothing happened, simple, isn’t it?" This woman, can't she even understand the differences in between the sarcasm and normal words, I never expected her to be a fool like this.I chuckled at her delusion, and the sound of my chuckling spread everywhere quickly because of deserted silence surrounding us, "You think you can blackmail me again? After everything you and your brother have done to me? After your brother stole the hardwork of mine and rose to CEO position, do you still expect me to be a
••NO POV••Arabella felt tears welling up in her eyes at his words, and for the first time, she allowed herself to believe that maybe this man is truly in love with her, and wants her to be in real relationship with him, she was out of words and been silent for a minute.Her silence pierced Xander's heart, as he expected an approval from her."It’s okay," Xander said gently, with a faint smile, "I don’t want to force you." Arabella could see the bitterness in Xander's face, and Xander is also upset as her silence almost felt like a refusal to him."It’s not about force," Arabella held his hand, "I knew you and your feelings are sincere, it’s just... I can’t answer you right now, can you give me some time?" Xander felt happy hearing to her words, though she didn't accept his proposal, at least she didn't reject him, so with a smile he said, "As long as you don’t reject me, anything is fine." Arabella doesn't understand why he is so gentle and understanding towards her, though she
••ARABELLA POV•• "Are you crazy?" I sighed with a reddened face, as his shameless words are still echoing in my ears and I couldn't let it go.He just laughed, totally unbothered, as if he hadn't just teased me to the point of embarrassment. Sometimes I wondered if he remembered this was just a contract marriage or if he was trying to make it a real one.Well, I don't blame him either because from the past few days with him, I truly got to know the meaning of love and family warmth, thanks to him and his family, my kids are enjoying the love and affection of a family, still I'm not ready to increase my hopes because of my past.The car ride to the hotel was filled with extreme silence apart from the sound of soft music playing in the background. Xander spared glances at me occasionally, and I caught myself doing the same as him, wondering what was going through his mind. When we arrived at the hotel, a table had already been reserved for us. I can say that the dining hall is very
••ARABELLA POV••"Who loves whom?" I was stunned to see Xander standing behind us, he crossed his arms staring at us, with a raised eyebrow, "what's happening here?" I gulped hard and took the initiative to answer, "nothing, just randomly talking with Xen." "From where exactly did this guy come?" He pointed at Xenon, while Xenon rolled his eyes, "I came to meet my darling Bella, it's not your concern uncle." Xander clenched his fist, "this brat!" But Xenon hid behind me, I don't understand why this guy always messes with others, then comes to me for protection.However before Xander could say another word, Xenon prepared to run away, "Let’s talk later, Bella, take care," he said in a soft tone, and left from there leaving me and Xander alone.As he disappeared from that place, I turned to find Xander standing some distance away from me, still with his crossed arms, and an expression of faint concern on his face. "What exactly were you two doing here?” He asked once again with a c
"Yes, he is my so-called ex, with whom I broke up," Xenon said with a sad tone, as if he is almost ready to burst into tears, Arabella pulled him to nearby place and both of them sat together.She offered him water to drink, "relax no tension, and have some water." "I know very well about you, all this is out curiousity to know more, right?" Xenon asked while taking a sip of water.Arabella chuckled and looked embarrassed but curiosity is quite evident on her face to know more about Aaron and Xenon, "So, are you going to tell me everything now? I mean, what made you to punch him? And what you meant by he is the guy you broke up with? When did you both even date to break up now?" Xenon leaned back, running a hand into his hair, as he literally hated talking about that past of his, "It's a long story, Bella, I don't even know where to start." She gently placed her hand on his, with a smile. "Start from the beginning, we are not going anywhere until you tell me everything, moreover I
"Bella, my dear," Veronica gently smiled at Arabella, "I'll take care of the kids, you and Xan, can go for shopping." Xander sighed at his mother, "mom, why need of going out when we can get them to house?" Veronica couldn't understand how she gave birth to someone so foolish, slapping on his hand, Veronica whispered in his ear, "you idiot, it's something romantic, groom and bride choosing outfits, groom praising bride for her beauty, specially choosing the wedding gown for her, all these are romantic things, you fool!" "Romantic?" Xander questioned his mother, to which Veronica nodded her head eagerly, "yes romantic, so don't spoil my plan, just go with her, and act like a gentleman with romantic scenes, if not she'll run away from you." Xander shook his head with a determined smile, "I'll not let that happen, I'll make sure to impress her," Veronica have a proud pat on his shoulder, "my blessings are with you." Arabella who noticed their conversation exchange but couldn't under
"How long do I have to suffer like this? It's all because of that little bitch Arabella!" Joseph sat on one of the chairs, seething with resentment in a prison room with oppressive walls. His mind occupied with anger and desperation as he awaited for his sister’s arrival. When Ruby finally appeared, looking defeated and no signs of positivity only got his anger to be increased.Ruby sat down opposite him, slightly with a disappointed look on her face, "I tried my best brother, but I don't think I could do anything at this moment, all the ways has got seized." "What do you mean by that?" Joseph leaned forward with a frustrated look, "When am I getting out from this damn prison? Did you talk to the lawyer? Why did you come alone?" Ruby shook her head, with tears filled in her eyes, as she isn't sure how to say something like this to her brother, but she knew he should know about their situation, "We don’t have that much money, brother, our house and everything within in our house was