"I called you my dear daughter, don't you like it?" Veronica have a sad expression making Arabella guilty, "I didn't mean that Mrs," as Arabella about to call her Mrs. Rodriguez, she raised her eyebrow making Arabella to say, "I mean, au...aunt, that I was just surprised." Arabella even forgotten what exactly she wanted to speak, so she simply ended it with two words, Silvia gently scolded Veronica, "Veronica, stop teasing your daughter-in-law, look at her, she is already nervous, if you tease her more, what if she runs away?" "You're so cute Bella, so I can't help but to tease you, I hope you're not scared," Veronica smiled at Arabella to which Arabella shook her head, "no, I'm okay, I can understand." Veronica placed her arm around Arabella's shoulder, "see mother, I told you right, she is so polite and respectful, look at her how elegant and beautiful she is, and I also have four sons, nothing but useless, a daughter much worse than sons, why am I not blessed with such a daughte
"What if I say no?" Arabella teased him, Xander chuckled, "then I'll be husband of Arabella," Arabella couldn't help but to laugh at his words but still there's a moment of nervousness and fear in her, "I don't know why I feel like everything is rushed, don't you think so?" Xander cupped her cheeks with a deep affectionate glance, "I know why you're thinking like this, but believe in me Arabella, I would never hurt you, we both understood eachother, and to understand eachother more, we even have a year time, so you don't have to feel pressured, and nothing is rushed here, we took a lot of time to understand eachother." "But the other day, your mom talked about fiancee of yours," Arabella brought it up again, making Xander to sigh, "silly girl, it's you only, my mom knows that I'm in love with you, that's why she came to meet you, but I don't know what you both spoke to eachother, however, I've no other fiancee, I used to have one when I was young, it's a girl chosen by my family but
"Britney enough is enough, we already lost our reputation, now all we have to do is think about how to save our left over reputation in the high society!" Milan said with a sly smile.Neil has been getting numerous calls, and he isn't lifting them, even after declining the calls, still they're continuously coming, as he sighed inwardly, "what the hell is wrong with this man? Why is he calling me again and again? It's not like I'm going to run away with his money, moreover my mother isn't in a good mood for me to talk about money, for now it's better to silence him." Thinking that, Neil went outside immediately leaving the living room, Milan cleverly signalled a maid to follow Neil and hear everything.As the maid followed Neil, Milan smirked, "I'm sure you must be hiding something from us my dear little brother, I'll make sure to get that truth out from you, and don't worry, I'll be the one to inherit everything from our mother but not you." "Honey, what's wrong?" Minerva glanced at
"Bella, where is my Bella? Where exactly did you people hide my Bella?" Xenon’s voice rang through the halls of Xander’s mansion. He noticed Arabella coming down the stairs, immediately he rushed over to her. "Bella, did my uncle kidnap you? Did he lock you in here? Don't worry I came to save you." "Hold your horses my dear nephew!" Xander smirked placing his hand around Arabella's shoulder, "you don't need to save my woman, she is mine after all, who the hell are you to call her my Bella when she is my beloved woman?" Arabella blushed at his words, while Xenon sarcastically commented, "come on uncle, do you think Bella is someone who falls for sweet and sugar coating words? She is far away from all these." Xander sighed and looked at Nova, "Who let this idiot in?" Xenon looked at Arabella, pulling her hand like a kid. "Bella, did you hear that? He is calling me an idiot, you have to get justice for me." Arabella let out a soft chuckle and looked at Xander. "Please, don’t say su
"Yes!" Xenon chuckled trying to tease Xander about the truth, Arabella is hiding from him, "Don't you know about this? Didn't Bella tell you already?" Xander looked confused at Arabella.Arabella glared at Xenon out of anger. "Xen, can’t you just stop it?"Xander couldn’t hold back anymore as he is getting left in darkness as he could feel that they're hiding something from him. "Xenon, just speak it out, who are these three, and what exactly is happening here?" Xenon glanced at Arabella with an apologetic face. "Sorry, Bella, but my uncle holds power here, so I'm supposed to take his side and I have to tell the truth." He turned to Xander with a sly smile on his face. "It’s her senior, Zayn White; attorney Aaron Green; and our business partner, Leonardo Silver, those three are pursuing her, thanks to her kids arranging a blind date for her with them."Xander looked over at Abigail and Alexander, who immediately darted behind Veronica to hide. "I thought we three are okay with each
••ARABELLA POV••"Why am I so nervous?" That was the first thought ran through my mind as I looked in the mirror, staring at my own reflection, today is the day we are going to greet my grandmother officially to get permission for my marriage with Xander, though I knew that grandmother is by my side, still I don't think Natalie or her mother would stay quiet watching me wedded into Rodriguez family, "what if Xander or his family gets insulted because of me?" I still remember how in my previous marriage with Brown's family went by, they didn't even care to come and meet my grandmother in person, just sent the butler and a maid for everything, but it's father, who pushed me into this marriage just to save his own daughter.I hope the history doesn't repeat again, I don't want someone like Mrs. Veronica or other people of Rodriguez family to go through any of bad things because of me.While I was lost in my thoughts, Xander stood behind me with a gentle smile. "Everything will be fine,
••ARABELLA POV••"Shameless? I don’t think so," he smirked with a flirty smile on his face. "After all, I’m your husband, and it’s my job to make all your fantasies come true, so it's one of my duties." "Yes, I read that, a good husband treats his wife well, and respects her," Abigail supported Xander's statement, holding up her phone, "how to be a perfect husband! It's an article Mommy, in that this content exists." Xander immediately leaned over, eyeing the screen. "Baby, you should show things like that to Daddy, not Mommy, I need to know how to impress her, she doesn't need to know how I'm impressing her! All she needs to do is to be impressed and to be ready to be impressed for the rest of her life." Abigail nodded and turned the phone toward him, "Oops, sorry, Daddy. Here, take a look and learn all the things from here." These two were both becoming a real headache to me, still his words always leave me surprised whenever he talks as if I'm everything to him, why is this man
••ARABELLA POV••"Oops, my bad!"Hearing that voice of my daughter, I quickly pushed him away and looked up to see Abigail standing at the car door, closing her eyes with those little hands of her's, she must have seen it, arghhh, this man always leaves me in an awkward situation. I stepped out of the car, feeling a rush of heat in my cheeks, and tried to compose myself not to make myself embarrassed like a clown, but Nova noticed immediately."Your face is so red, is everything okay?" He asked, with a teasing smirk."Yeah, everything is okay," I stammered, trying to sound normal while settling my messy hair, Xander climbed out of the car, looking completely unfazed, as if nothing had happened at all.How can this man act like this? After all he has been an actor for years, it's me who is a fool here!"You said everything is okay, right?" Nova glanced at me and shifted his attention to Xander with a mischievous smile. "It might be good if you wipe the lipstick stains off your lips bef
"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