(ARIELLE'S POV) I knew what I was about to do was wrong, as it went against my principles, but I couldn't help myself. My hands moved involuntarily as I typed in a password. Jared had mentioned in the car that his password was my name, right? Well, it was time to find out. I typed my name, and to my amazement, the phone unlocked. I clicked on the message box, and on Sofia's messages. “Hey, are you done bathing?” “Will you come keep me company after you're done?” “Why aren't you responding? Is Arielle awake?” “Are you ignoring me?” “Jared!!!!” “I can’t sleep. Come down, and let’s go outside and look at the stars, just like we did when we were teenagers.” “You promised me at the hospital's garden that we would stargaze, remember?” Angrily, I muted the phone and dropped it back on the couch. How shameless can Sofia be? She should be asleep, and not texting a married man to go out at night to stargaze with her. I returned to the bed, disturbed. Sleep had fled my eyes at this po
(ARIELLE'S POV) I felt Jared's body tense beside me, his arms freezing in place. I knew I had said something I couldn't take back. The question was, how would he respond? “Oh, I think I might have used your shampoo accidentally,” Jared spoke up after a while, trying to sound nonchalant. I felt a raw searing pain in my chest. It was always painful whenever Jared lied to me, and it hurt even more because I knew he was lying to me. The fragrance of the shampoo was vanilla, and I didn't use vanilla shampoo. I used lavender. That fragrance was from no other person but Sofia. He probably got it when she leaned her head on his shoulder. “Is anything the matter, Arielle?” Jared asked. His voice was soft.What could I say? What was left for us to say? I could almost hear his voice in my mind if I dared to ask him. The soft pleading, the reasoned excuse—anything but the truth. I was so tired of his “good friend” routine. Tired of the endless dance we did around everything, pretending the
(ARIELLE'S POV) At the close of work, Jared was already waiting outside the restaurant to drive me home. “Your Mr. perfect is here,” Rebecca announced, her head peeking through my office door. “Go away, Rebecca,” I replied smiling. “Alright, alright,” Rebecca giggled and left. I hurriedly parked up as I would rather not keep Jared waiting. Walking outside, I met him leaning on his car, waiting for me. “And how was work today, Mrs. Smith?” He asked, the moment I got to him. “Hectic as usual.” “You wouldn't stop if I asked you to, right?” He teased, taking my handbag. “Not in this world,” I responded. My job was my life, and I couldn't imagine life without my profession. “Here, let me help you get in,” he said, outstretching his other hand. I took it, and got into the set beside the drivers. Jared got in beside me, strapping his seat belt in place. I expected him to start the car, but he turned to me instead, a serious expression on his face. "Arielle," he began, his voice
(ARIELLE'S POV) I stormed into the house, and Sofia was seated in the living room watching a reality show on the TV. She stared at me momentarily and returned her attention to the TV. Well, if she wanted to play the ignore game, then I was up for it too. I continued on my way, ignoring her as well, as I made for the stairs. I was just about to ascend, when I heard her exclaim “Jared!” I stopped in my tracks and turned back around. Jared had just stepped into the living room, and she had shot up from the couch to lurch into his arms. “I have missed you. Are you okay? Are you stressed?” She fussed, trailing her hands all over his body.Jared didn’t move. His voice was sharp, a command. "Stop it Sofia. Mind your actions."But his stillness only made it worse—he wasn’t pushing her away. He wasn’t rejecting her. My stomach churned.Disgust was suffocating me. My eyes met with Jared, a clear guilt in his eyes, and I quickly averted them, hurrying upstairs. I was too tired to worry abo
(ARIELLE'S POV)Awed!That was how I felt when Jared pulled into the hotel. As I looked around inside the car, I couldn't help the gasp that escaped my mouth. The building literally glittered as the soft dashboard light illuminated it.Jared chuckled and turned off the car's engine. Then he alighted and opened the car door for me. I accepted the hand he provided as I stepped out.I couldn't help it as I took in more details of the hotel's surroundings properly. The building towered above us, its clear and sleek glass glinting. The entrance was a spacious archway, decorated by sparkling fountains and meticulously manicured flower lawns. Overall, the hotel's exterior spoke of immense wealth and sophistication.“I… I didn't know your family owned this hotel,” I stuttered, unable to hold my surprise.“Point of correction, it is under the Smith's corporation, but it is mine,” Jared said, his voice bearing a hint of subtle pride.I was stunned. I knew Jared was rich, and so was his family,
(ARIELLE’S POV) Jared returned with our bag, and took it to the closet. “I don't want you stressed,” he said, approaching me. “Don't tell me you brought me here to make me lazy,” I said, feigning a frown. “I brought you here to spoil you silly,” he responded. “Umm…that sounds like something I would love to indulge in,” I said, all smiles. “Great,” Jared said, leaning away. “I will unpack our bag, and afterward, we will head to the hotel's spa for a massage session. This week has been hectic for you, and a massage is paramount in relaxing your muscles.” “You have everything all planned out, don't you?” I inquired, pleased at his thoughtfulness. “I wouldn't bring you here, if I didn't . I will go unpack the bags now,” he gave me a wink and walked back to the closet. As Jared turned his back to me, my eyes were fixated on his muscles flexed beneath his fitted shirt. Yet again, I felt that all too familiar flutter in my belly. I smiled, grateful for this getaway and how thoughtful
(ARIELLE'S POV)A bile rose in the pit of my stomach after Jared left, making me lose appetite. What notification could have arrived in his phone that made his countenance change in seconds? I wondered.I turned around and craned my neck in the direction he took, hoping to get a glimpse of him, but I saw nothing. For a moment, I thought of going after him to spy, but thought against it. I would rather wait for him to return and inquire what the notification he received was about. And so I waited.“I'm sorry, I didn't mean to go away for that long,” Jared's voice sounded as he rejoined me. And then he glanced at my food, and up at me. “You stopped eating?”“You didn't expect me to keep eating when I saw how upset you looked by the notification you got on your phone, did you?” I asked, displeased.“It was nothing serious. Come on, let's resume eating,” he said in a dismissive tone.“What was the notification about?” I blurted, my eyes trained on him.Jared looked surprised, like he did
(Jared's POV)“Jared, where the hell are you? Sofia just called me. She's in pain, her stomach is hurting…”I froze at my mother's words, as shivers ran down my spine. I didn't realize when an exclamation left my mouth. “What?”“You have to leave wherever you are, and whatever you're doing and go home! Nothing must happen to–”That was all I heard as I dropped the call. I was immediately thrown into a state of panic, as I scrambled to gather my clothes on the floor.“What's wrong?” Arielle’s voice sounded behind me. I hadn't realized when she left the bed. My mind was filled and racing with worst–case scenarios.“You're making me scared. What happened? Who was on the phone?” Arielle's voice broke into my thoughts again. This time, she was now standing in front of me, her face filled with worry.I tried to speak, but my words were jumbled. “Sofia…my mother called…she's in pain. Her stomach hurts.” Arielle's eyes widened in alarm. “What's happening to her?’I shook my head, my heart ra
(ARIELLE'S POV)Before me was a well–decorated hall stretched out, with a reddish carpet leading up to a podium at the far end. The hall was grandly decorated with balloons, steamers, and a stunning chandelier that hung from the ceiling, casting a vibrant glow over the entire space. At the center of the wall, a large poster caught my eye –a picture of myself with the caption "Happy birthday, Culinary Queen" engraved in bold, glossy, silvery letters.On either side of the red carpet, every one of my loved ones stood beaming with smiles. My mom, the Harrisons, Maverick, Meredith, Stephen, Rebecca, Dwayne, and hold on, even Jared–everyone I cared about was there, their faces filled with affection.I was utterly stunned, my body rigid for a moment as I took in the breathtaking scene before me. Then, an overwhelming urge to cry hit me, and I covered my mouth with my hand, muttering "Oh my God," repeatedly. Tears of joy pricked at the corners of my eyes as I struggled to process the sheer m
(ARIELLE'S POV)I relished the meal, savoring each bite and enjoying the feel of each flavor on my plate. As much as I wanted to eat more of the delicacies, I had to settle for lighter meals. My stomach soon got filled, and being the minimalist I was, I had to stop. Eating beyond that point was gluttony, and I wasn't one.I covered the plates and pushed the tray aside, turning to thank Ashley. "Thank you so much, I enjoyed this.""You're welcome, even though you didn't eat as much as I wanted you to," she said, feigning a pout."Overfeeding me is not part of the plan, is it?""You're right, it isn't," she smiled ruefully and put the tray away."Now, you have to rest a little before we get down to business. We've got a lot planned for you today.""You're still not gonna tell me about this plan, aren't you?""You're right, I won't," she said, winking.I nodded, resigning to my fate. As much as I wanted to be privy to what was being planned, I also enjoyed being in the dark. It helped am
ARIELLE'S POV)As I slowly roused from sleep, I was momentarily disoriented, my mind foggy and blank. I tried to recollect where I was, and looking around, it dawned on me that I was in my room in the cabin. I sat up immediately, rubbing my eyes to get rid of the remnants of sleep. While at it, memories came rushing back like an open dam. I had been resting in my room with Ashley and Maverick when Jared came in, and Ashley had excused us. He had apologized about Sofia's antics earlier, and surprisingly, I wasn't mad at him because I was being honest with myself–it wasn't his fault. Sofia made her choices and I can't keep blaming him and letting him bear the brute of them.Even though I had earlier refused everyone's audience, Dwayne especially, citing that I wanted to rest, it was hard to ask Jared to leave. Having him sit beside me on the bed afterward, listening to me and Maverick talk, and the happy glow his presence brought out in Maverick made my hands tied. Maverick and I cha
JARED'S POVAs I walked, Arielle's cabin my destination, the weight of the conversation I had with Mrs Meyers settled heavily on my shoulders. I couldn't imagine how hard it must have been for Mrs. Meyers to bear such a secret all these years if it was this hard for me. Indeed, some secrets were better left unsaid because of the impact they bore.I soon rounded the corner leading to Arielle's cabin, but I was stunned to find Dwayne squatting at the entrance, his eyes fixed intently on the floor. I felt curious immediately and slowed my pace, trying not to startle him."What are you doing here?" I demanded, trying to keep the suspicion in my voice away.He looked up at me, his expression unreadable. "Arielle said she's resting and she asked me not to come in.”I raised an eyebrow, intrigued by his response. "So you're just sitting here waiting for her?" He shrugged, seemingly unbothered by my question. "Yep, pretty much," he replied, looking away.I glanced at him, hesitating for a mo
(JARED'S POV)I leaned in further, my ears straining to catch every word, while my eyes were fixed intently on the screen. The dim lighting of the security room seemed to fade into the background as I became completely immersed in the conversation unfolding before me.The man's reply was dismissive and it was accompanied by the wave of his hand. "Don't think so highly of yourself," he sneered. "I was only invited to the ship by its owners. Meeting you was purely coincidental."Mrs Meyers snorted, her voice derisive. "I don't care who invited you. We agreed never to see it bump into each other ever again. And now you're here, breaking that agreement."The man grew offended and it reflected in the coldness of his tone as it sliced through the air like a sharp knife. "Stop bringing up the past," he growled, his voice bearing a warning note. "I'm not interested in you and that girl's life. But let me remind you of something–stay away from my son. I know you've been near his branch of the
(JARED'S POV)As much as I hated Dwayne's guts, I knew thanking him was the right thing to do. But his lips curled into a cold smile that never got to his eyes. "What, are you thanking me as her ex-husband? Or as the guy trying to win her back?" He said the words with a note of mockery that couldn't be missed.My jaw clenched, and I felt my face heat up with anger. What was funny about what I just said? "You're something else, you know that?" I muttered under my breath, trying so hard not to lose my cool. But it was hard to ignore Dwayne, not when he was deliberately being annoying.But he didn't seem to want to back down anytime soon. He let out a mirthless laugh, one that triggered me further. "And you're an idiot, little brother. You're so focused on juggling the mess with all those women around you that you miss what's right in front of you."I felt a surge of anger at his words, but I still forced myself to stay calm. I can't keep letting him get under my skin. Seeing that I wa
(SOFIA'S POV)I stood frozen, my heart hammering in my chest as the sting of Dwayne’s slap lingered on my cheek. The pain itself was nothing compared to the fear that followed crawled up my spine, seizing my chest with an icy grip. It wasn’t the slap that unsettled me. It was the calm that followed. The quiet, dangerous calm in his voice, the chilling intensity in his eyes.I stared at him, unable to look away. His gaze... those eyes… green, like emeralds, sharp and piercing, as if he could see straight through me. There was something about them that felt so hauntingly familiar. A memory buried so deep in my mind that it started clawing its way out, unwilling to be ignored. The more I looked at him, the more something in the back of my mind screamed, This is wrong. This is all wrong.His voice, low and steady, carried a weight to it: calm, but with a thread of something far more dangerous. My breath caught in my throat as my mind raced, sifting through memories, but each time I tried
(JARED'S POV)I stood there, my heart pounding, my mind filled with chaotic thoughts.No, this didn't feel right.My heart sank at Sofia's words, but my instinct told me that her face—the way she was acting, like she had some big revelation—felt off. I’d dealt with her enough to know when she was up to something, and right now, I could feel she was hiding something.But she spoke so confidently about Dwayne entering the room, as if it was crystal clear in her mind. Could there be any truth to what she said?Was it possible that Sofia's statement was not completely groundless? The thought made me pause, a flicker of doubt creeping in.If Sofia is really deliberately making trouble, why did she link Dwayne and Arielle together? Could something really happen between them?The image of Arielle and Dwayne together flashed in my mind, and I had to shake it away. No, I couldn’t let panic cloud my judgment. This was Sofia’s usual play—spinning webs of confusion to manipulate others for her o
(JARED'S POV)As I stepped out of the dining hall, I couldn't help but feel disappointed. Arielle had disappeared, and I had no idea where she had gone. I had been looking forward to talking to her all evening, but it seemed like fate had other plans or she was intentionally avoiding me.So I decided to focus on the utmost task at hand–confronting Matt Harrison. After tricking me and going contradictory to our agreement, it was expedient that he and I had a little chat.After a little looking around, I found him smoking at a corner of the deck, the dim night lightning casting a shadow on his face. I approached him, my footsteps echoing on the wooden floor.My footsteps alerted him, and he turned to face me, a smile spreading across his face. "Ahh, Jared, I have been expecting you. Took you long enough to find me. Sigh, the murderous glances you kept casting at me; I almost swore you'd rip my heart out the instant dinner ended.""Well, it's a good thing that you know that I'm not a man