(ARIELLE'S POV)“You don't mean it!” Ashley exclaimed over the phone. “I can imagine the look of shock on her face.”The instant I got to the office and settled in, I got on a call with Ashley to fill her in on the event of the morning. She was surprised and happy, and it reflected in her cheerful laughter.“For a moment, I feared she was going to lunge at me in anger. She was so shocked. I guess being turned down when she was used to having her way was not such a good experience for her.”“I know, right? Jared deserves a pat on the back. He should do that often. Let her know she can't always have her way,” Ashley squealed. “I wish he could continue this way,” I said, my voice suddenly losing some of its brightness. “It hurts to see him fluctuate all the time. This time he's defending me, the other, he's doing all her biddings.”“Come on, don't be like that. Didn't you say he was remorseful last night and apologized?”“He did, but–”“No buts, Arielle Smith. I'm sorry to have suggeste
(ARIELLE'S POV)Jared and I paused, exchanging surprised glances.“What's that sound?” I asked, fear now crawling into my features.“I don't know–” Jared started to say, but paused like he recalled something. And then he was sprinting into the house , yelling “Sofia!” I was stunned for a moment, but followed suit. We ran until we got to the sitting room, panting, and there was Sofia, lazily draped on the couch, watching a movie.“Have you lost it, Sofia?” I bellowed before I could stop myself. “What was the screaming for?”She didn't utter a word, instead she sized me up before returning her gaze to the TV. She didn't acknowledge Jared's presence too, I guess she was still mad at him for turning her down in the morning.“Sofia, you're being spoken to.” Jared began, his voice bearing a tinge of irritation. “Why will you scream that loudly?”Sofia finally looked at Jared, her gaze scornful. “And what does it matter to you?”“You made us fear for your safety –Arielle and I,” Jared res
(ARIELLE'S POV)Jared paused, and there was a momentary silence. “Why?” He finally asked.“Because I don't want to. You can go with Sofia, I'm sure she will be glad to take up the offer.”“But Sofia is not my wife, Arielle,” he protested. “You are.”“I have been questioning that lately as I no longer know my stance in your life. You let her do things and get away with them like she's the mistress here.”“Hey,” Jared called and approached me on the bed. “I'm sorry–”“That's the problem!” I exclaimed, threw the sheets off, and sat up. “All you say is sorry, sorry, and sorry. Yet, you make no efforts to change. I am sick and tired of listening to your apologies. You know why? Because your actions still repeat themselves.”“Arielle, she's pregnant–”“And that means her excesses should be condoned? You know what? I don't want to talk about Sofia anymore, because lately as husband and wife, we can't even talk without her being the subject of discussion. Good night, Jared," I said, and threw
(ARIELLE'S POV)“Shit! We're gonna be late,”Jared cussed as he threw his shirt on.I laughed heartily, watching him whine like a kid. “Well, if you've not been so needy in the bathroom, we wouldn't be late,” I teased.“You can't blame me, dear wife. You're just too irresistible,” he said, and I sucked my lips in to stop myself from blushing. I tried not to recall the sex in the shower, as it would make me blush more. Jared had suggested a quickie, and we ended going two rounds, and was almost on the third if not for my timely intervention.“Well you have to learn to,” I said and approached him, giving him my back. “Here, help with my zip.”You look lovely in this red dress,” Jared complimented as he worked on the zip.“Thank you–” I made to say, but gasped, when I felt his fingers trail my back.“We could ditch the party, what do you say?” He whispered.“I say that you zip my dress and keep your hands to yourself.”He scoffed. “You didn't have to ruin the fun.”I laughed as he zipped
(ARIELLE'S POV)My face fell as I scanned the empty space, realising that Jared and Sofia had gone in without me. I didn't have a problem with Sofia, but I did have one with Jared.I was his wife, and weren't couple's supposed to arrive at an event together? Hesitating for a moment, I contemplated going in on my own or calling Jared to come lead me inside.I felt really nervous walking into the bar without Jared, because despite being his wife for three years, I had never met his classmates and friends, mainly because I was busy with work, or an opportunity never presented itself.After a few seconds of indecisiveness, I decided to walk in alone. I took a deep breath, smoothed my dress, squared my shoulders and made for the entrance door.As I pushed open the door, the sounds of laughter and banter welcomed me, and I was immediately hit by the smell of expensive perfumes and alcohol.Woa! This was definitely a reunion for people that matters, I decided. I scanned the room, my eyes adj
(ARIELLE'S POV)The man's eyes dilated in shock, his mouth hung open. "You're...you're Jared's wife?" He stuttered.His partner looked equally surprised. "What? No way!"The first seemed to regain his composure, the surprised look on his face now replaced with a sly grin. "You think you can fool us, huh?" He asked, casting me a mocking look. "You're just one of those ladies crushing on Jared, and wishing for his love so badly."I gave off a low laugh, amused by the man's Ignorance. "Oh, really?" I asked, pulling out my phone. "Let me show you something, then."I unlocked my screen, revealing a photo of Jared and me on our wedding day. We were beaming with smiles, our arms wrapped around each other.The two men's eyes bulged as they took in the image. They gasped in unison, their faces paling.I winked at them, satisfied with the priceless look on their faces. "I think that settles it," I said, tucking my phone back into my purse.With that, I turned and walked away, feeling the eyes o
(ARIELLE'S POV)Gasps of shock rented the hall as Jared delivered blows upon blows on the man, that for a moment I feared he would kill him. I was stunned to see Jared in such a position; because for all the years we've been married, never for once had I seen him engage in a verbal exchange not to mention a physical scuffle with someone.I was appalled at the sight of his now red eyes, clenched fists and tightened jaws. His hair was now ruffled, and a button of his shirt had fallen off, giving him a wild and dangerous look.Regaining composure, I screamed at the people who stood on the side, watching two men fight without making any move to stop them. "Stop them!" But no one moved; it seemed like they were all scared to offend Jared."Are you all deaf? Stop them, please," I yelled. At this point, my eyes had grown misty at how battered the other man looked. Jared, on the other hand looked okay, save for his missing shirt button, scattered hair, and rumpled shirt.When no one made any
(ARIELLE'S POV) I hurried outside, running across the pavement as I rushed to catch up with Jared and Sofia. They were already seated in the cat, Jared's eyes fixed on the road ahead as he started the engine. I opened the door and slid into the backseat, trying to catch my breath. The car was silent and thick with tension as Jared pulled out of the parking lot. Sofia stared out the window, her expression unreadable. Jared on the other hand had an angry look, his grip on the steering wheel a tight. He drove so roughly that I feared for our lives. "Jared, can you slow down a bit? You're gonna get us killed at this pace," I yelled, when he almost bumped into a truck. "Don't tell me what to do," he hissed, his jaw clenching. I was taken aback by his words and the rudeness they conveyed, but I was not going to back down if I wanted to get home in one piece. "If you don't care about your life or mine, then you should care about Sofia's. She's pregnant, remember?" That seemed
(ARIELLE’S POV)Both Ashley and her mom looked up at me simultaneously, their eyes wide with surprise. Mrs Thompson's expression was that of relief, her face relaxing as if a weight had been lifted off her shoulders. Ashley, on the other hand, was more of confusion than surprise, her brows furrowed together."I promise, I'll see what I can do," I added, trying not to give them false hope. I didn’t want to disappoint them, not after agreeing to help.Mrs Thompson nodded, her warm smile returning to her face. "I'm so grateful, thank you, Arielle," she said, her voice filled with emotions. She was on the brink of tears.And before I knew it, Mrs Thompson was pulling me into a hug. I reciprocated, wrapping my arms around her and holding her close, while trying to avoid meeting Ashley's eyes, which had a questioning look in them.After disengaging from the hug, I declared my intention to leave. "I should get going," I said, glancing at my phone. "Maverick will be worried by now, he's alo
(ARIELLE’S POV)Ashley leaned over the partition between the drivers side and passengers side, crooning her neck so he could hear her. "Excuse me, I'm sorry, but we'll have to reverse and take Margaux home, first.""Alright, Ma," the driver said, and immediately put the car in reverse. As we sped off, I was glad I was able to take care of Margaux for her grandparents. All I wanted was to get her home safely, and then Ashley and I would take a cab to her mother's place.We all settled into silence, with the gentle snoring of Margaux, and the sound of the car's engine and the occasional passing cars breaking the stillness.Soon, the car pulled up at Harrison's house, a warm and cozy Victorian home with a beautifully trimmed lawn. We sent the driver to call the butler to take Margaux in."Thank you so much, guys," Margaux said, her voice sleepy, as the butler helped her out of the car. She stretched, arching her back, and then smiled at us."No problem, take care," Ashley and I responded
(ARIELLE'S POV) Sofia even gave me a slightly apologetic glance as she passed by, holding onto Jared’s arm. I must’ve looked like a fool, standing there like that. Ashley, already rolling up her sleeve and shaking her fist, muttered, "I'll go ask him what he means by this." "Don't pull me!" I heard her protest as Roman grabbed her arm. Margaux, sighing, interjected, "Why don't we listen to what Arielle has to say first?" Ashley spun around to face me, her expression fierce. "Ari, don't worry about it. I'll find out exactly what's going on." I shook my head. "Don’t ask him. We have nothing to do with each other anymore." Ashley’s face shifted through several emotions before she finally spoke. "What do you mean?" "I mean," I paused, gathering my thoughts, "we had a fight a few days ago, and I told him that we’re done. We have nothing left between us." Silence hung in the air for a long moment. Ashley just stood there, calming down as she processed my words. Roman, seemingly
(ARIELLE'S POV)7pm, the Grand Imperial Hotel."You’ve got to pull yourself together," I said to myself, splashing cold water on my face.The afternoon had passed in a blur—probably because my mind kept drifting.Stephen had handled everything, and I arrived 20 minutes early. Now, I found myself here, stuck in this awkward limbo. How hard could it be? Negotiate with dealers, help clients solve problems, assist blind dates, and maybe catch my ex-husband in the act?“If I get through tonight, I’m buying a lottery ticket,” I murmured, a bitter smile crossing my lips.I checked the time again, then left the bathroom, taking a seat closer to the table with the sea view.That’s when I spotted Margaux, the young woman supposedly the Harrisons' granddaughter, waiting for her date.She looked delicate, calm, almost ethereal in a beautiful blue dress—something straight out of a French film. She had this quiet, classical elegance about her. It was hard to believe she was the rebellious granddau
(ARIELLE'S POV)"Thank you, still," Mrs. Harrison said, her eyes persistent.I nodded, smiling warmly. "You're welcome," I said, realizing the older woman had no intention of backing off unless she heard those words.She smiled, seeming to relax now. "And Mrs Harrison," I called, my voice taking a serious tone."Yes?" she responded, looking up at me expectantly, her husband beside her. Thankfully, his complexion had returned to normal, and he seemed back to his usual self."You know, as we get older, our eating habits change. Some foods become harder to chew, so we need to replace them with softer options," I began carefully.Mr. Harrison sighed, looking a little uncomfortable. "We’re always so cautious about what we eat," he said, as if weighing his words. "Sorry if we caused any trouble."I shook my head with a reassuring smile. "Not at all, sir. Actually, we have some options on the menu that I personally designed for guests like you—things like tender meats, pureed soups, soft ri
(ARIELLE'S POV)"Mommy, Uncle Dwayne and I are taking the dogs out for their evening walk. We won’t stay long, love you!" Maverick's voice rang out from the porch.I was in the kitchen, trying to get dinner together while he was out with Dwayne, who had just shown up a few minutes ago."Alright," I called back, and soon, I heard their retreating footsteps and the happy barks of the dogs.Sighing, I covered the cooking pot of pasta and went to sit at the kitchen table. The evening was cool and lovely, sunlight streaming through the windows, but my thoughts? Not so peaceful.It’s been a week since my fight with Jared, and I hadn't heard from him since. Dwayne, on the other hand—despite his busy schedule with the whole business expansion thing—still made time every evening to take the dogs for their walks with Maverick. With three dogs now, their little routine had become part of their day, like clockwork.Every time I looked at the golden retriever puppy, I couldn't help but think about
(JARED'S POV)I felt something snap and twist inside of me. The news hit me harder than I expected, and for a moment, my anger towards her evaporated. Sofia kept talking, her voice small, apologetic. “Jared… I wasn’t supposed to interrupt you with all this, it’s my mum—she asked me to—”But she was cut off by her mother’s steely gaze. I watched as Mrs. Gold's grip on her daughter's wrist tightened, almost painfully, as if she could crush Sofia’s hand into silence. My eyes flicked back to Sofia—there was something so vulnerable about her now. It hit me like a punch to the gut. I stared at her longer than I should have, unable to look away from the pain and helplessness reflected in her eyes.Mrs. Gold broke the silence with a sharp, accusing tone, her voice like the crack of a whip. “You see, Jared, we’ve been trying to get your family to help us. After all, I saved your mother’s life those years ago…”I could feel my eye twitch with the familiar irritation. There she goes again, u
(JARED'S POV)After Arielle left, I buried my face in my palms, feeling a tide of frustration and guilt was over me. I couldn’t follow her. At least. I knew I shouldn’t. She needed space, and for once, leaving her alone felt like the least I could do after everything I had said.I exhaled sharply, trying to steady my breathing, but it didn’t help. The confrontation kept replaying in my mind, each detail reminding me how I had mishandled it. How could I have let my emotions spiral like that? I had let my anger get the best of me, and now I was left with nothing but a mess of my own making.I couldn’t shake the feeling that I’d ruined everything—again. As much as I was frustrated by her reluctance to forgive me, I knew deep down it wasn’t about that. She was just hurt. I had caused her pain, and I should never have lashed out the way I did.I should have been more patient, more understanding.I mean, how do I win her back if the impression I always give off is that of a man who can't
(ARIELLE'S POV)Jared seemed like a wild beast that had lost its sanity. His kisses were without any pattern, seemingly driven only by animal instinct.“Ja... Jared...” I gasped, barely able to catch my breath.I pushed against him with every ounce of strength, but it was useless. Instead, I tore his suit jacket in the process. The fire in his eyes only grew more intense, and in one swift motion, he shoved me down onto the sofa, pinning me beneath him. We had kissed before, shared a bed, but I had never seen him like this. Mad. Wild. Like a beast baring its teeth. I had always thought of him as powerful but harmless, but now, fear crept up my spine.His kisses moved lower, his mouth hot against my skin. A sharp, searing pain shot through my collarbone. Instantly, clarity returned to my mind, and I found my voice again. My hands shot to his chest, and I shoved with all my might, finally creating enough space to push him away."Jared, sober up!" I cried, my voice trembling with a mix