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“Madam, someone is here to meet Arielle Madam,” the maid announced, bowing slightly as she stood at the door.“Who is here to see me?” Arielle asked, puzzled.Before the maid could respond, Maya burst into the room, her face full of relief and urgency. She ran straight to Arielle, wrapping her in a warm hug.“Maya! I’m so happy to see you!” Arielle exclaimed, her smile lighting up the room.“I’m happy to see you too, Ari,” Maya replied, but her smile faded quickly, replaced by a serious expression. “But right now, we are in trouble.”Arielle’s face fell, and concern clouded her eyes. “What happened?” she asked, stepping back slightly to look at her friend.Maya took a deep breath. “The manuscript for your new book has been leaked,” she said, her voice tinged with regret. “I’m so sorry, Ari. I tried everything I could to do damage control, but it wasn’t enough. Someone stole your manuscript, and now another author has published a book with the same idea.”Arielle’s breath hitched. “Wha
Meanwhile, in the car, Maya glanced over at Arielle, who had been on her phone since they left.“What are you doing?” Maya asked curiosity mingled with frustration.“Calling Gabriel,” Arielle replied without looking up. “He called me after the wedding using this number, so I’m trying it. I have been leaving texts and calls. I know he will pick up eventually.”Maya frowned. “And why, exactly, do you think he will bother answering? He has been avoiding everyone else.”“Guilt,” Arielle said matter-of-factly, her voice steady. “Guilt is a strong emotion, Maya. If he has any sense of it, he will take my call.”Maya opened her mouth to argue, but before she could say anything, Arielle’s phone lit up. “The call’s connecting,” Arielle whispered, sitting up straighter in her seat.There was a pause, and then a groggy voice came through the line. “Hey, Arielle.”Arielle’s grip on the phone tightened. “Gabriel,” she said, her voice sharper than she intended. “We need to talk. Now.”“What happened
That night, when Zachary stepped into the house, a heavy silence greeted him. He walked straight to his bedroom, expecting to find Arielle sitting on their bed with her laptop, as she usually did. But the room was empty. The absence of her presence felt odd, unsettling even.It was strange how they had been married for a month and yet they were so attached to each other. Or shall he say that he had gotten attached to her and she was always like a mean cat to him? Not that he minded her acting like a mean cat. He hadn't realized when he had grown accustomed to their quiet evenings together—sharing coffee, exchanging small talk, or simply sitting in comfortable silence. Now, the room felt too still, and an unexplainable restlessness crept into his chest.Where was she? He was missing her. Frowning, he left the room and headed downstairs where he found his mother, Crystal, arranging the cushions on the sofa.“Maa, where is Arielle?” he asked, his tone sharper than he intended.Crystal d
Maya cleared her throat, her smile warm but carrying a hint of teasing curiosity. "Ahem… looks like we were worried for nothing. You two are doing good."Arielle met her gaze with a soft smile. "I told you, Maya. Zachary is a good man."Maya raised an eyebrow, leaning forward. "But he broke your heart once, didn’t he?"Arielle’s smile faltered briefly, but then she shook her head with a thoughtful expression. "Maya, can I really hold onto the pain and forget all the good he has done for me? Just because we broke up doesn’t erase the years we shared. We were young and, honestly, a bit clueless."Her voice softened as she continued, a touch of nostalgia creeping in. "Do you know why we lasted almost ten years back then? It was because we were in boarding school together. We had each other every day, through every moment, good or bad. But when college came… things changed. We couldn’t find time for each other anymore. We were juggling intense schedules, trying to meet our ambitions and li
Arielle didn’t return home until late the next evening. Her work had dragged on, and by the time she finally stepped through the door, it was close to nine. She sighed, kicking off her shoes, but the sight in the living room stopped her in her tracks.Crystal was pacing back and forth, her expression fraught with worry. The moment she saw Arielle, she grabbed her hand."Ari, save your husband!" Crystal exclaimed, her voice filled with both exasperation and concern.Arielle’s heart sank. "Maa, is Zach okay?" she asked, panic rising in her chest.Crystal shook her head, her brows knitting together. "I don’t know! He wanted to read one of your books, and since Mom and Estelle had taken all the other copies, The Last Kiss was the only one left in my library. I didn’t realize it until I saw him reading it."She did not know what ghost the entire family was possessed with! They hated reading and she was the only reader in the house. And suddenly, all of them wanted to read something. Ariell
"Arielle!""Arielle!"A girl in her late twenties was sitting in front of the mirror, she turned her head to find her father entering her bedroom. When Emir Lockheart saw his daughter dressed in an off-white gown, he paused mid-step. A smile played on his lips at the beautiful sight before him. "You look gorgeous, baby girl," Emir said, his voice filled with pride. Arielle tucked a strand of hair behind her ear and smiled. "Thank you, Papa." "Hurry up. The Anderson family will arrive in a few minutes. Your Aunt Mia just called to let us know," Emir said, his smile wide enough to rival the gods. It was clear that this was the happiest day of his life. "This is such an important day for you. I don't want anything to go wrong." "Papa, everything is fine," Arielle sighed softly. She could feel her father's emotions, but she didn’t want him to stress over her anymore. At that moment, Esme, Arielle's best friend, entered the room. She noticed Uncle Emir fussing, as he often did. "
New York, Sacred Heart Hospital. "Dr. Hawthorne, the surgery was a success," Dr. Smith said, giving him a thumbs-up as the lights in the operation theatre dimmed. As they exited the operation theatre, a tall man in his late twenties, with a slightly lean but muscular build, paused when a little girl hugged his leg. He looked down to see a beautiful child staring up at him with glossy and tear-filled eyes. "Mr. Doctor, will my papa be fine?" the girl asked, her voice trembling but filled with hope. "He said he would buy me anything I want. Can you tell him I don’t want anything but just him?" "What is your name, little angel?" the doctor asked gently, kneeling slightly to her level. "Arielle," the little girl answered softly. Zachary shook his head, a rare chuckle escaping his lips while catching the attention of everyone nearby. Known for his aloof nature, Dr. Zachary Hawthorne was a man of few words and interactions. He had been working at the hospital ever since completi
When the engagement party ended and all the guests returned, Arielle rushed back to her bedroom, her heart pounding in her chest. Esme and Maya followed her, both concerned."Arielle, what is wrong? Tell us. You are scaring us," Maya’s voice trembled as she entered the room behind her.Arielle’s breath hitched. Her chest was tightening with emotions she couldn’t contain. "Zach…" Her voice cracked. "He is here…"Esme and Maya froze, confused. "Who is here?" Esme asked softly, sensing the distress in her voice."Zachary!" Arielle's words were sharp and filled with anger and fear. She tried to fight the overwhelming wave of memories that threatened to crash over her and tried to ignore the part of her that wanted to believe that the same Zachary Gabriel's cousin, the one Sophia Anderson had mentioned, couldn’t possibly be the same Zachary she once knew. But it was impossible to deny the truth. The pieces were falling together and she didn’t want to face them. "How could he be here? He i
Arielle didn’t return home until late the next evening. Her work had dragged on, and by the time she finally stepped through the door, it was close to nine. She sighed, kicking off her shoes, but the sight in the living room stopped her in her tracks.Crystal was pacing back and forth, her expression fraught with worry. The moment she saw Arielle, she grabbed her hand."Ari, save your husband!" Crystal exclaimed, her voice filled with both exasperation and concern.Arielle’s heart sank. "Maa, is Zach okay?" she asked, panic rising in her chest.Crystal shook her head, her brows knitting together. "I don’t know! He wanted to read one of your books, and since Mom and Estelle had taken all the other copies, The Last Kiss was the only one left in my library. I didn’t realize it until I saw him reading it."She did not know what ghost the entire family was possessed with! They hated reading and she was the only reader in the house. And suddenly, all of them wanted to read something. Ariell
Maya cleared her throat, her smile warm but carrying a hint of teasing curiosity. "Ahem… looks like we were worried for nothing. You two are doing good."Arielle met her gaze with a soft smile. "I told you, Maya. Zachary is a good man."Maya raised an eyebrow, leaning forward. "But he broke your heart once, didn’t he?"Arielle’s smile faltered briefly, but then she shook her head with a thoughtful expression. "Maya, can I really hold onto the pain and forget all the good he has done for me? Just because we broke up doesn’t erase the years we shared. We were young and, honestly, a bit clueless."Her voice softened as she continued, a touch of nostalgia creeping in. "Do you know why we lasted almost ten years back then? It was because we were in boarding school together. We had each other every day, through every moment, good or bad. But when college came… things changed. We couldn’t find time for each other anymore. We were juggling intense schedules, trying to meet our ambitions and li
That night, when Zachary stepped into the house, a heavy silence greeted him. He walked straight to his bedroom, expecting to find Arielle sitting on their bed with her laptop, as she usually did. But the room was empty. The absence of her presence felt odd, unsettling even.It was strange how they had been married for a month and yet they were so attached to each other. Or shall he say that he had gotten attached to her and she was always like a mean cat to him? Not that he minded her acting like a mean cat. He hadn't realized when he had grown accustomed to their quiet evenings together—sharing coffee, exchanging small talk, or simply sitting in comfortable silence. Now, the room felt too still, and an unexplainable restlessness crept into his chest.Where was she? He was missing her. Frowning, he left the room and headed downstairs where he found his mother, Crystal, arranging the cushions on the sofa.“Maa, where is Arielle?” he asked, his tone sharper than he intended.Crystal d
Meanwhile, in the car, Maya glanced over at Arielle, who had been on her phone since they left.“What are you doing?” Maya asked curiosity mingled with frustration.“Calling Gabriel,” Arielle replied without looking up. “He called me after the wedding using this number, so I’m trying it. I have been leaving texts and calls. I know he will pick up eventually.”Maya frowned. “And why, exactly, do you think he will bother answering? He has been avoiding everyone else.”“Guilt,” Arielle said matter-of-factly, her voice steady. “Guilt is a strong emotion, Maya. If he has any sense of it, he will take my call.”Maya opened her mouth to argue, but before she could say anything, Arielle’s phone lit up. “The call’s connecting,” Arielle whispered, sitting up straighter in her seat.There was a pause, and then a groggy voice came through the line. “Hey, Arielle.”Arielle’s grip on the phone tightened. “Gabriel,” she said, her voice sharper than she intended. “We need to talk. Now.”“What happened
“Madam, someone is here to meet Arielle Madam,” the maid announced, bowing slightly as she stood at the door.“Who is here to see me?” Arielle asked, puzzled.Before the maid could respond, Maya burst into the room, her face full of relief and urgency. She ran straight to Arielle, wrapping her in a warm hug.“Maya! I’m so happy to see you!” Arielle exclaimed, her smile lighting up the room.“I’m happy to see you too, Ari,” Maya replied, but her smile faded quickly, replaced by a serious expression. “But right now, we are in trouble.”Arielle’s face fell, and concern clouded her eyes. “What happened?” she asked, stepping back slightly to look at her friend.Maya took a deep breath. “The manuscript for your new book has been leaked,” she said, her voice tinged with regret. “I’m so sorry, Ari. I tried everything I could to do damage control, but it wasn’t enough. Someone stole your manuscript, and now another author has published a book with the same idea.”Arielle’s breath hitched. “Wha
When they arrived in Chicago, the Hawthorne family organized a few small functions with only close relatives in attendance. Arielle felt relieved that she didn’t have to face large crowds or deal with overwhelming social interactions. The first two days were spent in these family functions, catching up with close relatives, and participating in various small gatherings. It was a flurry of introductions and polite conversations, but nothing too exhausting for Arielle, who preferred quieter moments.By the third day, Liam dragged Zachary to the family hospital. Arielle later learned that her new husband had decided to join the family business and work at the hospital. This marked the beginning of a new routine for him, and soon enough, their days started to settle into a rhythm.Over the next month, Arielle and Zachary’s relationship shifted. They didn’t fight as often as they had before, and to everyone’s surprise, including her own, she managed to keep her temper in check. It was a qui
Zachary stood outside his hotel suite, knocking on the door. "Arielle, open the door.""Zachary Hawthorne! Don’t let me see your face!" Arielle shouted from inside. She flung herself onto the bed, punching the fluffy pillow as tears streamed down her face. "You forced me to marry you! You asked my dad for my hand in marriage. You dragged me to Chicago. I hate you! I hate you! I hate you so much!""I didn’t force you," Zachary sighed, sliding down to sit on the floor with his back against the door."Then who told you to give that emotional speech to my papa?" Arielle shot back. "Now he will be even sadder when you break my heart!""Why would I break your heart?" Zachary asked, sounding genuinely confused."Because you are a heartbreaker," Arielle retorted."I thought I was a heartthrob," Zachary replied, chuckling softly. "Open the door, Arielle. The floor is cold. My fever might come back. Or do you want Miss Bella to care for me all night?""Even my dog likes you," Arielle cried hard
The Anderson family was desperately trying to stop Gabriel, who was running to meet his first love one last time.Emir stood silently amidst the commotion. Arielle managed a faint smile for her father, but she knew it must have looked so forced that it only deepened his despair. Moments later, Emir collapsed to the floor.Her legs felt like they couldn’t support her any longer. She lacked the strength to move forward, to comfort her father, or to tell him that everything would be okay.Esme and Maya rushed to Emir’s side, offering him water and words of reassurance. Relatives gathered around him, but Arielle remained standing alone, feeling utterly abandoned.Eventually, her legs gave out, and just as she was about to fall to her knees, a steady hand caught her. Turning, she saw Zachary standing behind her and in the middle of the storm, his presence was calm and reassuring."Everything is going to be fine," Zachary said, holding her shoulders firmly. "You are going to be fine. I swea
The Wedding DayBella was curled up on the bed, fast asleep while Arielle sat in front of the mirror while letting the makeup artists work their magic. Her thoughts drifted to Zachary. Once again. He hadn’t lied as he brought Bella back early this morning. She didn’t know if he had spent the entire night searching for her dog in the pouring rain, but Gabriel had mentioned that the doctor of the family had fallen sick. Guilt tugged at her heart for letting him search for her dog so tirelessly. Yet, the thought of Zachary walking all alone in the storm all night felt like a soothing balm to her wounded soul.What was wrong with her? She was getting married to Gabriel yet her thoughts often find solace in the warmth of Zachary. "You look beautiful," her father, Emir, said softly, his eyes glistening with tears. He pulled her into a hug and couldn’t stop his tears from falling."Papa, you wanted to see me get married so badly. Why are you crying now?" Arielle asked, her voice trembling as