(ASHLEY'S POV)I shifted uncomfortably on the couch, my eyes fixed on the wall clock. Four hours had passed since Arielle was rushed into the emergency room, and yet, I had heard nothing. No updates, no news, just an eerie silence that was driving me nuts.I had tried calling Jared multiple times, but his phone was busy, and when I called few minutes ago, it was switched off. Shouldn't he be worried and had called me by now since it's late in the evening already, and Arielle was not home yet?He used to call me whenever Arielle was not home and with him, but today was different, and I didn't feel good about it. I was tempted to go find him, to ensure he knew his wife was lying in the hospital, fighting for her life, but I couldn't bring myself to leave Arielle. Not yet.I wanted to see my best friend, to hold her hand, to know she was going to be okay. But then, there was this nagging feeling in my gut that Jared was somehow involved in what happened to Arielle.I don't mean to sound
(ARIELLE'S POV)I groaned and tried to sit up on the bed, while glancing around my surroundings. I was in a hospital room, but I had no idea how I got there. I tried to recall, but my mind was a blur.That was when I saw her, Ashley. She was sitting next to me, her head resting on the bed.“Ashley?” I croaked, my voice dry.She looked up, and quickly grabbed my hand, tears brimming in her eyes. “Oh goodness, you're awake. Are you alright?”I nodded. “What happened? Where am I?” “You're in the hospital. I should get the doctor,” Ashley said and rose to her feet.“Hospital?” I tried to remember, but everything was fuzzy. And then it struck me; my baby! I remembered the accident, bleeding, and my hands flew to my stomach. “My baby,” I whispered, panic setting in. Ashley looked away, and I cast her a quizzical look. “Say something. Is my baby alright?”Ashley winced, still not meeting my gaze, but I could see the tears at the corner of her eyes. “I'm sorry,” she sniffed.“Why are you s
(ARIELLE'S POV)Ashley hesitated, her eyes dropping for a moment before meeting mine again. “No,” she said softly. “I've been trying to reach him, but his line has been unreachable. I intended to go look for him but…" Her voice trailed off, and she squeezed my hand gently. “You were unconscious, and I didn't want to leave your side for long.”I nodded, pain piercing my heart. What was I expecting? That Jared would leave the bosom of his lover –Sofia, to come look for me? Even though I lost my child and i'm in this state because of them?I felt a bitter laugh rising in my throat, but it died before it could escape.Ashley broke into my thoughts. “I'll try calling him again,” she said, reaching for her phone. “If he's still unreachable by phone, I'll go look for him. It's so weird that he hasn't looked for you all this while.”“Don't,” I whispered.Ashley paused to look at me quizzically, but I just shook my head again.“Don't bother, Ash. He's probably busy.” The words stung, but I kn
(JARED'S POV)I slowly opened my eyes, and found myself lying on my back. As I looked around, I realized I was lying on the bed, in the bedroom. But something felt off. I tried to sit up, but a sharp headache hit me, and I winced. Still, I defied the pain and sat up, rubbing my temples.Where was Arielle? And what time was it? A glance at the wall clock and I gasped, 9 am. Why was I still at home and not at work? Why didn't Arielle wake me up for work?Additionally, I felt weird. My mouth tasted bitter, and I felt tired despite just waking up. I tried to think, but my head ached more with each passing moment.What the hell happened?Just then, the door swung open, and Sofia walked in, carrying a tray. She flashed me a bright smile. “Good morning, sleepy head.”I forced a smile, still confused. “ Good morning. What's going on?" I asked. “Why are you bringing me food in my room? Where's Arielle?”Sofia's smile faltered. “Don't you remember?”“Remember what?” I asked, my frustration grow
(SOFIA'S POV)I watched Jared dial the number, my mind racing with frustration, and I wished for nothing but to snatch the phone. Why was he still bothering with her? Didn't he realize I'd done him a favor by getting rid of her? Shouldn't he be grateful?I recalled the events that led to this moment. When Jared said he didn't have a reason to divorce Arielle I knew I had to do something. Had to come up with reason. Knowing how suspicious Arielle was of our friendship, I had to make my plan run in that direction to make it more believable.So the previous day, I managed to take out a document I figured would be important to Jared from his briefcase. And just as I predicted, he returned home at noon to look for it. I went up to his bedroom with a drink I already spiked and offered it to him.He accepted the drink and a few minutes later, it took its tole on him. I led him to the bed, and stylishly set my phone's camera to film us while straddling him and acting like we were making out.
(JARED'S POV)I pressed the doorbell button on the wall beside the door, and waited for a response, but a few minutes later, none came forth. I tried again, but got same unresponsiveness. Confirming my suspicion, I grasped the door handle, and sure enough, it was locked. I mentally smacked myself. “Of course,” I muttered. What did I expect at 10 am on a working day? Ashley, like most working professionals would be at her job.A sudden realization dawned on me. If Ashley was at work, and Arielle had sought refuge with her yesterday, perhaps Arielle was at her workplace too.That decided, I swiftly retraced my steps to the car. I was going to look for Arielle at the restaurant. As I drove, my mind wandered. I hope Arielle would be willing to listen, knowing how stubborn she can be when upset.Speaking of apologies, I shouldn't apologize to her empty-handed. I decided to get her favorite flowers, lavender. I spotted a supermarket a few meters ahead and pulled over. Inside, I picked ou
(JARED'S POV)I arrived home and hurried inside. As I entered the living room, I was met with the sight of Sofia sprawled on the couch, munching on junks with the TV blaring in the background. I was disappointed at the sight before me.“Sofia, what's going on here?” I asked, picking up the remote and turning off the TV.She scowled at me. “What's your problem? Why'd you turn off the TV?”“We need to talk,” I said firmly.She hissed and sat up on the couch, crossing her arms defensively. “About what? You left the house without telling me where you were going, and now you want to talk?” I took a deep breath, trying to stay calm and not snap. “Sofia, no tantrums, please. I need to ask you about something.”She glared at me for a moment before rolling her eyes. “Fine, I'm listening.”“Yesterday, you saw Arielle when she returned home, right?”“Why are you asking me this? I told you she walked in on us,” Sofia said, the defensive tone back in her voice.“Alright. Do you know why she was h
(JARED'S POV)I arrived at the hospital, and hurried into the reception area. A lady was behind the counter and I quickly stated my mission there.“Hold on, i'll check through the records,” the lady said pulling out a large book from a drawer.I nodded and rapped my fingers impatiently on the marble surface of the counter while she went through the book.“Yes, an Arielle Smith was brought in yesterday. Accident case and she's in room 95 on wing C, second floor of the hospital…"That was all I needed to hear as I briefly thanked the lady before hurrying off. I got into the elevator and punched in two and it rode up. I alighted when it got to the floor and beckoned a nurse for direction. She was responsive, and armed with the information, I made my way to the room.I soon arrived, and stopped in front of the door with number 95 on it. I clasped my hands together, unsure of what to expect. But I pushed the door anyway, and stepped into the room.Seated on the bed conversing with Ashley,
(JARED’S POV.)I drove like a lunatic, merely waiting for traffic lights and shouting a lot of apologies into the air as I attracted irritated honking of car horns from other motorists. They just had to understand — Arielle was in danger and needed saving. It felt like my new life’s purpose; to make sure Arielle was safe.I was more than surprised to receive a call from Dwayne. Neither of us had any reason to reach out to the other so I nearly let his call ring straight to voicemail.Quickl, I pulled out my phone to contact a doctor I knew from one of the hospitals. I just had to put things in place and not take any chances. The number went straight to voicemail on the first ring. I felt my growing frustration with every voicemail tone I heard. I’d kept my eyes focused on the phone and failed to look ahead so when I looked up, I was almost running into the car right in front of mine.Cursing under my breath, I slammed down hard on the brakes before hitting the horn. I looked out of th
(ARIELLE'S POV)I tried to sit up again, but my body was hit by a jolt of cold sensation. I shivered terribly, and my teeth chattering in response. Fear gripped me as I realized I was alone and helpless. I couldn't call for help, as my voice was cracked and hoarse. Goosebumps invaded my skin as my mind raced with thoughts of how I ended up like this. I was fine the previous night, laughing and having fun with family and friends. Had I overexerted myself at the party? Had I stayed up too late, thereby stressing my body?Tears brimmed at the corners of my eyes as I thought about Mom and Maverick. What if I didn't make it? What if I died in this bed, alone and unattended? Fear gripped me at the thought, and I fervently prayed, begging for someone to come and find me.Just as I thought I couldn't take it anymore, a knock sounded on the door. Hope returned to me, and I tried to respond, but no sound came out."Arielle?" Mom's voice sounded behind the door.I tried to respond again, but
(ARIELLE'S POV)The drive home was quiet, save for Maverick's intermittent curious questions. "Mommy, why do the houses seem to be following us!" He asked, pointing at the houses outside the window, with wide eyes.I smiled and leaned back in my seat "They're not following us, dear. We're just driving past them," I explained, trying to stifle a yawn.Maverick nodded thoughtfully and continued to gaze out the window, taking in the sights and sounds of the passing objects. Mom sat quietly, tapping away at her phone.Dwayne, on the other hand, was fixated on the road ahead, his grip firm on the steering wheel. I sighed and took out my phone, deciding to read trending gossip on blogs to kill boredom.A few minutes later, we arrived home, and everyone alighted from the car, stretching their arms and legs. Dwayne helped with the bags in the trunk, and I asked him to come in for tea, but he declined.“I have some important things to tend to at home,” he explained, smiling apologetically as h
(ARIELLE'S POV)Everyone partied hard, and the party went on and on. The music was loud, the dance energetic, and the atmosphere charged. I took turns in dancing with everyone and it was a fun experience. In between, I had asked for Maverick to be tucked into bed. He might be surrounded by adults, but it didn't make him any less a child. Jared had volunteered to escort him to his room, and Maverick had gladly gone with his Dad. And hours later, just like everything that has a beginning has an end, the party came to an end in the wee hours of the morning. Exhausted and drained, everyone retired to their cabins. I collapsed on my bed the moment I got into my room, my body numb from all the activities. And the instant I stretched out on the bed, a blissful sleep enveloped me.I didn't know how long I slept, but I woke up to sunlight streaming in through the little outlets in the window. I sat up, rubbing my eyes and a glance at the clock showed it was noon. I gasped, how did I sleep
(ARIELLE'S POV)I blinked in disbelief as I looked using Jarred, my eyes wide with wonder. "Espejo del Corazón?" I asked, my voice quivering. I wanted to be sure I was seeing right. The object I held in my hand felt like a beautiful illusion like I was dreaming.Jared nodded, his smile affirming. "Yes."My hands trembled as I turned the object in my hand meticulously, unable to still process what my eyes were seeing. It was the replica of the hand mirror Jared had gotten me on our second wedding anniversary. He had gone on a business trip to Mexico and brought it back as a gift. Unfortunately, he had accidentally broken it months later, and I had mourned its loss for so long. I thought it was gone forever, a precious memory lost as a result of a little negligence.But here it was, back in my hands, shining with the same beauty and elegance I remembered. I felt different emotions hit me; joy, gratitude."How did you manage to get another one?" I finally managed to ask, my voice crackin
(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