(ARIELLE'S POV)I moped at the figure, my mouth wide agape. Recognition of who she was, registering in my memory."Mum?" The word tumbled out of my mouth before I could stop it.The woman, an older version of myself, stood in doorway, her eyes locked on mine. "Arielle," she responded.I couldn't still believe my eyes that my mom was standing a few metres away from me. My gaze shifted to Ashley, who looked guilty. "You snitch!" I growled.She took a step back, hands raised in defense. "I'm sorry, I had to inform her. You need your mum, Arielle."My mom's presence stirred up different emotions within me. We hadn't spoken for years, not since I got married to Jared. Seeing her now felt awkward. I didn't think I would see her soon.My mom's eyes were sober, devoidof it's usual defiance and condemnation as she took slow steps toward me. "Arielle, my child," she whispered.I felt a lump in my throat, my stomach churning. How long has it been since she called me that? Ten years? Twenty? I
(ARIELLE'S POV)"Dwayne, right?" I asked the young man, to be sure I was not mistaken.There was a look of amusement and surprise in his eyes as he nodded. "Yes, Dwayne. I'm flattered you recognize me, and still recall my name. It's only bad I didn't get to know yours before your friend arrived and whisked you away the last time."I laughed, that was Ashley he was talking about. Incase you're wondering who Dwayne is; I met him in the garden of the hospital I was rushed to when Sofia pushed me down the stairs."So what's your name? I better get it now, before your friend arrives," he said, playfully stealing glances around.I laughed, he is so dramatic. "My name is Arielle.""A beautiful name for a beautiful lady. It's a pleasure meeting you again, Arielle.""Yeah, same," I said, accepting the hand he offered. The handshake prolonged, and I skillfully withdrew my hand."So tell me, what brings you here?" I asked, trying to sound casual."Just a few things," he replied, holding up a bag
(JARED'S POV)"What do you mean by "divorce?" I bellowed at the man seated across from me in my office.Since the last time at the hospital where I spoke to Arielle, I had not spoken or set my eyes on her again. I visited the hospital a couple of times, but still was denied access. I even tried talking to the owner of the hospital, but was told that much couldn't be done as they were merely acting on my wife's order. Not even my influence could get them to change their minds.I tried calling and texting her incessantly, but was met with silence. Realizing there wasn't much I could do, I decided to wait for her to be discharged.When she was finally discharged, weeks later, my investigator informed me. But I couldn't pay her a visit because her mother was with her at Ashley's place, which came as a huge shock to me.If I recalled correctly, the two women were not in good terms. In fact, Arielle's mother had not been in support of her marriage to me. Never had approved of me.She tagge
(ARIELLE'S POV) "Is everything alright?" Ashley asked, noticing my sudden stillness. I turned to face her. "It's Jared." Her eyes widened. "What is he doing here?" I shook my head. "I don't know." Ashley stood up, concern on her face. "Do you want to let him in?" I took a deep breath and nodded. "Alright. Do you want me to stay?" "No, I'll handle this." She nodded, carried her meal and walked to her room. After she left, I exhaled sharply, before pulling the door open. I almost fumbled when I met Jared's intense gaze, but I quickly got a grip on myself. I put on a blank face, completely erasing all emotions from my face. "Hi," I said, my voice icy. Jared's unnerving gaze didn't waver, and he didn't acknowledge my greetings either. Instead, he walked past me into the house, his movements sharp and angry. I was taken aback, stunned by his audacity. I shut the door and faced him. "What the hell?" He ignored me, his eyes scanning the room briefly before settlin
(JARED'S POV)“Hell has no fury like a woman scorned in the heart.”The words reverberated in my ears over and over again, and I felt like cutting them off. I was driving home after the confrontation with Arielle, but the words won't stop replaying in my head. And each time they did, I felt shivers run down my spine. Those words were no mere words. They were the words of a woman who had changed in so many ways. Arielle had changed.My eyes trailed to the papers on the passenger seat, the words “Irreconcilable differences” staring back at me. I sighed and tore my gaze away. I had tried to convince Arielle to change her mind, to consider what people would say.So far, people who were privy to our marriage thought it to be perfect –a match made in heaven. How will they take the news of our divorce?But Arielle was adamant. She had walked into the room and returned with the divorce papers which she shoved into my hands, and asked me out of the house.I had tried to pacify her, but she th
(JARED'S POV)I went quiet for a moment, lost in my thoughts. As much as I hated to admit it, Sofia had a point. If she hadn’t left, I never would’ve met Arielle. And even if I had, we wouldn’t have ended up married. But that was life. I couldn’t go back and rewrite the past. What was the point of dwelling on what could’ve been?I shook my head as I recalled everything that had happened. “Why did you suddenly change your mind about me after twenty years?”Sofia’s expression flickered—pale at first, then quickly recovering. “It’s okay to be angry with me, Jared. You’ve always been kind to me, and I let you down. I rejected your proposal without a second thought. I didn’t respect you. I take full responsibility. And I’m sorry.”I nodded, a little moved by her apology. This was the first time in all these years she’d admitted she was wrong for turning me down. But... things were different now. Everything was different.“It’s fine.” I paused. “I forgave you, if that’s what you need. Can’t
(ARIELLE’S POV) “Friends?” I taunted him. “Best friends? Just like you and Sofia? He didn't respond, so I continued. “I have enough friends. I do not need more.” He nodded and rose to his feet. “I'll see you some other time. I wanted to scoff and tell him, “You wish,” but I restrained myself. Instead, I nodded curtly and followed him to the door. He hesitated for a moment, sparing me a glance before walking out. As soon as the door shut, the dam broke. I walked over to the couch and collapsed onto it, burying my face in my palms. Reality finally dawned on me. I was truly divorced from Jared. I was not hallucinating, it was real. I didn't realize how long I sat there sobbing, but the door going open alerted me that Ashley was home. I tried to bolt to hide my swollen face, but it was too late; she saw me. “Are you all right? My goodness, have you been crying?” She shrieked, rushing to me. I tried to hide my face by looking away, but she forcefully turned it to face her. “What h
(SOFIA'S POV)I was taken aback by Jared's cold demeanor toward me, but I refused to relent. I took a deep breath, trying to suppress my anger. In the past, it was me calling the shot, forming a miss hard–to–get, but now, the tables have turned. It was now my turn to amend things with Jared, and I needed to humble myself.I imagined a scenario where I could regain the influence I once had over him. With that thought in mind, I felt an overwhelming sense of relief.“You look tired,” I said, bringing my voice to a soothing tone. “ Did you two argue?“Yes,” he responded.“Is she threatening, or trying to use the divorce as means to claim half of your assets? Be assured that I wouldn't let her. I have really powerful lawyer friends that can ensure she doesn't take a dime from you.”“Unfortunately, she's not that kind of person. She doesn't want anything from me.”I was genuinely surprised. Was she stupid? What type of a woman agrees to a divorce from a man like Jared, and wouldn't demand
(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