(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)It was all too much to bear–the painful acceptance of all I heard back in the room. I stumbled through the hospital's hallway, my feet moving involuntarily. Somehow, I found myself in the elevator, descending to the first floor. The mirrors on the wall reflected an image, one that I wasn't surprised to see. A pale, heartbroken, and distorted man.Outside, the hot afternoon sun stung my skin and eyes, but I didn't care. I was too caught up in my emotions to worry about sunburn or getting tanned.I reached my car, grabbing the door handle. The metal was cold against my palm, the opposite of the burning sensation in my heart.I slid into the driver's seat, and fisted my palms tightly on the steering wheel. “You two killed my child!” Arielle's words echoed in my head. The accusation cut deep because it was my child too. My eyes grew bloodshot, as a result of unshed tears, and bottled pain. How could I not have known? The signs were there– Arielle's fatigue, her unusual inc
(ARIELLE'S POV)The moment Jared walked out, the dam let loose. Tears streamed down my eyes in torrents, and my body shook in unison. It was all too much to rein in. Seeing him had felt like rubbing salt to a fresh injury. So excruciating.“Hey, it's alright. Let it all out,” Ashley whispered, squeezing my hands. She had been quiet all through the exchange with Jared, and had wanted to interfere if not for my subtle signal that she remained calm. As I let the floodgate open, my emotions were heightened. Anger, sadness, and regret. Why had I held on for so long? Why had I ignored Jared's aloofness, attributing it to his personality when it was actually a pointer?I cried harder, more at my foolishness, and less at Jared's betrayal. But as I cried, something shifted in me. I realized that I couldn't keep doing this to myself. I couldn't keep loving someone who didn't love me back.Jared would never choose me over Sofia. If after two decades he still hadn't gotten over her, what were th
(ARIELLE'S POV)I puffed out air as the nurses helped me into the wheelchair. I was having my first physiotherapy session today, and the wheelchair was to aid my movement since I couldn't walk properly yet.As I sat in the chair, my emotions were a whirlwind. Fear of the unknown, and determination. The nurses helped me get settled, and Ashley stood beside me, her hand on my shoulder.“Ready?” The doctor asked, beaming at me.I took a deep breath, trying to expel the feeling of nervousness. “Yes.Ashley got behind me, pushing the chair as we made our way to the physiotherapy department.We soon arrived, and the doors opened, and we were welcomed by the lady in charge.“Welcome, Arielle,” she said beaming with a warm smile, and momentarily wondered how she knew my name. But then, I recalled that the doctor must have shared my medical file with her.“We're going to get you moving in no time. Trust us,” she went on.I returned her smile. “Thank you.”“Alright, I guess my job is here done.
(ARIELLE'S POV)After having lunch, Ashley and I engaged in a conversation. While at it, a knock sounded on the door.“Who's it?” I asked, looking in its direction.“Receptionist,” a voice replied.Ashley and I exchanged glances before I responded, “come in.”The receptionist walked in, holding two bags. I raised an eyebrow, wondering what her mission in the room was. But before I could ask, she said, “These are for you, ma'am.”Confusion formed a cloud on my face. “For me? I think you might be mistaken because I don't remember ordering for something.” And then I turned to Ashley, “Did you make an order?”“Of course not.”“It's for you, Ma,” the lady insisted.But I was still not convinced, as my eyes darted from the lady, to the bag, to Ashley. Noticing my reluctance, Ashley beckoned to the lady to bring the bags over. As she handed them to Ashley, I noticed a card pinned to one of the bags.Ashley's eyes widened as she read the card, and immediately stretched it out to me. “Ariel
(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