(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)After Jared left, I was beside myself with worry. What could be wrong with Sofia? I wondered. It was barely 24hrs Jared and I left the house, and she had developed a stomach pain?I tried to distract myself with the thought that Jared will handle the situation, but my mind wouldn't budge. For a moment, I suspected foul play. What if it was a ploy by Sofia to lure Jared back to the house as she never wanted him to leave in the first place?But I shoved the thought aside, trying not to look paranoid and insecure. If she was pretending, she wouldn't involve Jared's mother, right? The more I thought about everything, the restless I became.Then a thought struck me; what if the situation was critical and more than Jared could handle? I jerked up from the bed that instant, I needed to go home too. Just in case Jared needed help.And so without a second thought, I grabbed my clothes and threw them on. I took hold of my purse and hurried out. Outside the hotel, I booked a cab
(ARIELLE’S POV)I paused, trying to assimilate Ashley's words. Slowly, I locked my gaze with hers. “You're kidding, right?”“Do I look like I am?” Ashley retorted, her voice firm and serious.I took a breath, trying once again to make sense of her suggestion.Divorce Jared? Somehow the very idea felt surreal, foreign. My mind raced as the thought took root—why would I ever divorce Jared? I had invested everything into this marriage, fought so hard to make it work…I shook my head, trying to laugh it off. “I don’t think you’re serious Ash,” I said, though my voice betrayed a slight tremor. “Well, I am. You can't keep being the person Jared second guesses, Arielle. You're his wife, for crying out loud. He's a grown man and should choose who he wants. If he's still stuck up with Sofia, then he should be with her. If he wants you, he should be decisive about it, and one of the ways to do that is to put Sofia in her rightful place. And trust me, her place is not in your lives or in your m
(ARIELLE'S POV) The next day was Sunday, and I was grateful it was not a work day. When I roused from sleep, all I did was shower, have breakfast and watch TV as Ashley wouldn't let me raise a pin. “Hey,” she squeezed my shoulder gently, sliding onto the couch next to me. “What's up?” “Hey,” I spared her a glance and returned my eyes back to the TV. “You're done?” The aim of the question was because Ashley had risen at the crack of dawn to prune the flowers flanking her house entrance, and I wanted to ascertain if she was done. “Yup, yup. The flowers look neater now.” “You should go have breakfast, you've been working for hours,” I said, my eyes still fixed on the show. “Well, you've been engrossed on the TV that you didn't realize that I finished pruning the flowers a while ago, have showered, changed into fresh clothes and even had breakfast. Gosh! Are all pregnant women this lazy and less observant?” I paused. “Wait, what?” I asked, and turned to look at her properly. And
(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