(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)Sofia's words cut through my heart like a sharp dagger, and for a moment, I was dumbstruck. I turned to Jared for help, but he averted his gaze. His silence spoke volumes, and I felt a shiver run down my spine.“How dare you?” I finally managed to whisper, my voice trembling. “You have no right to say such things to me, Sofia.”But she was unyielding. “I'm just telling the truth, and you know it. You're not the right woman for Jared. He deserves someone who knows him, who understands him.”I felt tears prick the corners of my eyes, but I refused to let them fall. I wouldn't give Sofia the satisfaction of seeing me cry. I won't let her know how far her words got to me, and how much they hurt.Without another word, I hurried upstairs, my heart aching with emotions. I got to the room, slammed the door shut, and tried to force the tears back. I won't let the fact that Sofia just reminded me yet again, how much of a stranger I was to Jared, despite being married to him.I
(ARIELLE'S POV)After Jared Left, I was left speechless. I sat numbly on the bed, staring into space, while trying to figure out what just transpired. My head was fogged, as I tried to digest the fact that Jared heaped blames on me while taking sides with Sofia.Minutes passed, and I fell asleep in that state, my mind still in shock from the argument. I woke up to the grumbling of my stomach, recalling that I hadn't had dinner.Turning to scan the room, I noticed Jared hadn't returned. It seemed he was determined on spending the night in the guest room.I tried not feel hurt as I got off the bed. I walked to the bathroom to shower, attempting to shake off the feeling of emptiness. After bathing and slipping into my nightdress, I wandered out of the room searching for food. I walked into the kitchen, opened the fridge, scanning the contents for something to eat.As I waited for my food to heat up, my mind trailed off Jared. I contemplated going to the guest room to talk to him. Like As
(ARIELLE'S POV)The next morning, I got prepared and left for work early. With all I overheard the previous night, I would rather not face Jared or Sofia.As I boarded a cab to work, I couldn't stop thinking about how to come up with a plan to send Sofia away and take back control of my life and marriage.I arrived at work and tried to distract myself with tasks and meetings, while also trying to evade Rebecca's curiosity on why Jared didn't drive me to work. During lunch break, Ashley stopped at the restaurant on my plea. I really needed to talk to her in person because if there was anyone who could help me, it was her.Seated in my office, Ashley cut to the chase. “So, have you come up with a plan yet?”I shook my head, feeling frustrated. “No, I haven't. I've been thinking about it all morning, but can't think of anything.”“You have to, Arielle,” Ashley said, sitting up on the seat, her expression serious. “Before things get out of control. Sofia is already plotting your divorce;
(ARIELLE'S POV)My breath was taken away, but not in a good way. Not in the way the sight of the man one loved does, but in a way when one saw something heartbreaking and unimaginable.On the foot of the bed, sat Jared, with Sofia straddling him, her hands thrown around his neck. I stood frozen, my eyes fixed on the betraying sight before me. I couldn't speak, couldn't move, couldn't breathe. When I finally found my voice, it was a barely a whisper. A pathetic whimper that I didn't recognize as mine. That seemed to get Sofia's attention, who had her back to me, and she swirled around to face me. She didn't look surprised or remorseful, instead she gave me a smirk and turned back to Jared, kissing him and making a loud smacking sound like they were in the middle of something normal.I gasped and staggered back, holding on to the closest wall for support. Jared didn't even bother to look at me, didn't say anything or move an inch from the position. I couldn't even see his face, and wh
(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