(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
(JARED'S POV)I gasped in horror as I quickly swerved the car to the side, narrowly avoiding a head_on collision. My car missed the streetlight pole by mere inches. Heart racing, I brought the car to a halt. The other driver's cusses rented the air as he drove past."That was a close one," I mumbled, grasping the steering wheel tightly.My heart pounded rapidly, and my hands shook uncontrollably. Just the thought of being involved in an accident made my heart pound.After a few minutes, I finally got a grip on myself. I turned the car on and continued driving home. Upon arrival, I found Sofia in the sitting room, her legs crossed, typing away on her phone.She looked stunning; her hair styled, makeup perfectly applied, and wearing a beautiful knee length beige dress. As I approached, I felt that familiar tug of fondness for her, in my heart."Hi," I said."Hi," she replied, flashing a bright smile."Are you going somewhere?"She rose from her seat and walked towards me. "The question
(ARIELLE'S POV)When I arrived at the club nearly 40 minutes later, Dwayne's subordinate, Claire, was already waiting for me at the entrance. As usual, she was imposing and had a stern expression on her face. "This way, please," she said politely, but firmly. Safely guiding me through the crowded club, and expertly navigating through the body of partying people. I silently thanked Dwayne. He always had my back, even in situations like this.We walked past the bar, where a bartender was mixing all manner of drinks, ranging from the ones with weird colors to the ones that caught fire, and people flanked him on all sides, downing glasses upon glasses.As we continued walking, I couldn't help the feeling of unease that was increasingly crawling under my skin. The club was dimly lit, but bright enough to make out anyone. It was the kind of a place where anything could happen, and I couldn't help but grow even more worried for Ashley.Then, unexpectedly, I bumped into someone I never tho
(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