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Prologue
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2023-05-26 03:21:31Coming home was always a breath of fresh air. The stench of those hospitals - disinfectants, drugs and all - nauseated her so bad, she could not imagine having to stay a minute longer.
Shuffling through nursing a newborn and taking care of hyperactive 4 year olds was not an easy job but she was happy right? She had to be.
Many people wanted her life. Being married to a sexy, devilishly handsome billionaire who spoiled her silly and gave her all the love she deserved, beautiful children to show for it, a loving family, what else could she possibly ask for?
Her unusual union had yielded beautiful fruits in spite of a rough start. Nearly seven years in and she couldn't be happier. But now, there was this sudden heaviness that came with her breaths as she laboured tirelessly to be a good mother, to be present for children, to be a wife who didn't let the spark of her marriage die even when she couldn't find a spark on the inside.
Sitting alone on one of those glum postpartum days when she did not want to speak to anyone and enjoyed her own company - the only time she could sneak away to keep herself sane for a minute-, she asked herself questions. Questions that left a searing ache in her heart. She needed those answers and she was going to find them. Somehow...
~~~
Ariana was about to go on another rollercoaster ride, one that would drive her to points she least expected. With points of painstaking moments that hit at the foundations of her seemingly perfect marriage and have it crumbling into pieces, falling apart into a possibly irreparable state.
Would they make it work? Time would tell...
~~~
Disclaimer: This is entirely a work of fiction, inspired by my faith. If you're not comfortable with faith-based novels, then I suppose this book is not for you. This story dropped in my heart for a specific reason and it would be disobedience to water it down. Stay blessed.
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Meant To Be HIS Chapter One ~ Ariana
"Hey beautiful." I turned around to see him poking his head through the half open door with his heart-stopping grin that still had such an effect on me nearly seven years later. "Hey," I smiled back, hushing him with a finger on my lips as I steadily rocked Ava to sleep. I twisted my neck to relieve it of its ache as I yawned, still shifting from one foot to the other. "Lemme help you with her." He offered. I shook my head quickly, "No it's fine. I'm sure you've had a long day at work, you should rest." He dropped a kiss on my sweaty forehead, "You're so understanding but I still want to help." "Shh." I whispered. "She's asleep already. Just a little more rocking and I'll lay her to sleep properly. Go freshen up." "Yes ma'am." He threw a mock salute that had me chuckling lightly. He left. Minutes later, I successfully laid my daughter to sleep, giving her soothing back rubs just to make sure she wouldn't be awake for a while. I was mentally prepared for her waking up in the mid
Last Updated : 2023-05-26Meant To Be HIS Chapter Two ~ Ariana
"Hey mama!" Tracy squealed just before she tickled Ava's belly with the tip of her nose. My little girl giggled so loud I concluded she had favorites. She never did that with me. "Hey Ari." She hugged me from the side. "How are you?" "I'm good. How are you?" "Great," "You look great." I stated the obvious. The glow on her was radiant, her and Aiden had never been happier with their three beautiful babies. How lucky... "Thank you. Have you been sleeping? Your eyes kinda look puffy." "Ava wouldn't let me sleep if I tried." I sighed exhaustedly, handling a new set of clothes that I had to sort for laundry day. "She's twelve weeks old, she should be over that phase by now." "Well no, she's not and I have to bear the brunt of waking up to a beeping baby monitor." "Damien?" "He works. I can't disturb him after a long day at work especially because I do nothing all day as a full time mom." I ended up saying that a little more aggressively than I intended. "Okay." She exhaled loudly
Last Updated : 2023-05-26Meant To Be HIS Chapter Three ~ Damien
"I love you." I said with one last kiss as I rolled off her. "Love you too." She sighed. "Maybe we just needed to get laid after all," I commented as I drew imaginary circles around her arm. I had watched the baby monitor after she left and the frustration in her movements was evident. I hoped it helped because this was the one solution I could think of. She chuckled lightly. "Maybe." It had been so long since we had a time like this. She just kept hiding her body from me after having Ava and she was always so tired when I came home late and even attempted a cuddle. "What if we go on a vacation?" I said as soon as the idea crossed my mind. "A vacation with kids is no vacation, babe." She sighed. "I know. Just you and me, doing all the nasty things we want to all alone with no interruptions." I groped her as I spoke, hoping she would buy the idea. "Babeee," She whined, trying to get as far away from me as possible, whilst holding the blanket to herself. "We can't go without Ava
Last Updated : 2023-05-26Meant To Be HIS Chapter Four ~ Ariana
"Can't believe they were happy to see us leave." I sulked as we drove out of the estate's premises. "I'm sure they're just happy you're getting a break from working all day." Damien tried to reassure me but I was not having it. My kids didn't even act like they were going to miss me. "But," "Baby, let's just enjoy our time together, alright?" He said, cutting off my rant session before it even began. "Fine." I grudgingly agreed, enjoying the silence of the ride afterwards. We found ourselves on a resort quite a distance from the busy city. It was so serene, I felt this sudden peace envelope me as soon as he drove into the premises and had the car parked by the valet. "Welcome to Serenity." "Just the perfect name," I sighed out a with smile at the concierge. "Indeed." She nodded and returned my smile with a professional one. "Reservation?" The receptionist asked as we stopped at the marble counter. Damien nodded and answered in his usual authoritative baritone, "Yes, Kingston.
Last Updated : 2023-05-29Meant To Be HIS Chapter Five ~ Ariana
Pools. I liked them sometimes and other times I didn't. Today was one of those days that the latter was my sentiment. Why? Damien packed me a two piece bikini. One I hadn't worn since before my last pregnancy. "Can you take that blanket off you for a minute?" "No." I muttered. "At least smile," I faked a forceful grin and frowned again. Taking me by surprise, he yanked my covering off me. "Damien!" I gasped, trying to take it back but he took it out of my reach. "Damien Kingston, this isn't funny." I told him sternly. "Baby look at me," He held my chin in place even when I tried to look away. I had never felt so insecure in my life and people around staring made it even worse. "Damien I don't want to be here an-" "You're beautiful." He cut me short. I could not bring myself to respond to that. "Ariana, look at me," I freed myself from his grip and ran off, not without wrapping myself with the blanket. I could hear him following me but I didn't look back. Crazy how he didn't o
Last Updated : 2023-06-02Meant To Be HIS Chapter Six ~ Damien
"I have been looking all over for you! Why haven't you been taking your calls?! I almost filed a missing report to the police." "I needed to clear my head." She said. Okay now I was furious. Did she not see that I was worried, frantic even! "And you didn't care to tell me about it before running off with my daughter? What is wrong with you Irma?!" She flinched and ended up stuttering."I-" "Don't even think about crying." I warned her with a firm wag of my index finger. "What has gotten into you? Why are you stressing me out?" I was genuinely asking. Why did she keep making it hard to be there for her? "That's enough Damien. At least she's here now and they're both safe." Mom intervened. "We need to find a solution to this," I said to no one in particular before storming off. ~~~ "I don't like it when you and mommy fight." Damon had me pause in my movements while getting them ready for bed. "Who says we're fighting?" I denied with a question. "She was crying and you were yell
Last Updated : 2023-06-04Meant To Be HIS Chapter Seven ~ Ariana
"Mommy," Darian called out to me as I buttoned his shirt that Sunday morning."Yes baby." I answered him."Where are we going?""We're going to church." I said, ironing out the crease on his little shirt."Church?" His eyes lit up in excitement. Of course he loved to go out and see new places. Sad that this was going to be a novel experience for him"Yup." I popped the 'p' just as I finished tucking him in."But I wanna sleep..." Damon whined, yawning and more than ready to lay down on his bed. I sat him up quickly. "You are not going to rumple these clothes young man." I told him sternly."But mommy-" He tried to protest but I hushed him quickly. "Shh we'll be back in no time." The service wasn#t going to last longer than two hours, I was sure.Darian came to my side, pushing a strand of my hair out of my face. "Is daddy coming?" He asked.I paused. "I don't know." Well, I knew he wouldn't want to come with me so I didn't let him know about taking the kids with me."All set. Let's g
Last Updated : 2023-06-05Meant To Be HIS Chapter Eight ~ Damien
"We're getting a nanny." I said to her that morning as I got ready to leave for the office. "What?" Her head snapped up. "You heard me." "Damien, we don't need a nanny. We had this talk before." "With how you're always at your new found hobby, you can't take care of my kids." I said. It was a known fact that she spent half the day for the most part of the week attending one church activity or the other. "First of all, it's not a hobby. Don't disrespect my faith." She said sternly. I was unmoved by it. "You know what? I don't care what it is. What I know is that there's going to be a nanny in this house and my mom as well as ma Rosa are going to be handling the interviews." I stated.She got on her feet just then. "Mom and ma Rosa? I'm their mother, I have to have a say on this." "How much have you been there in the last few weeks?" I questioned her. "You're going to discredit several months and even years of being a great mother just because of a few weeks? Damien??" Her voice
Last Updated : 2023-06-06
Latest chapter
Meant To Be HIS Epilogue
There was something about weddings that always made Ariana fuzzy on the inside. The scent of flowers, topnotch catering, the cascading white decor or just the feel of love in the air. Love that she had experienced bountifully and was drunk with it. Looking back at the year before, she remembered how hard it was to settle back into their 1% of the 1% kind of life. In all honestly, she had missed the simplicity for the past year, ever since they had to move out from what Damien thought was a rich neighborhood but not for the wealthy which they were again. On the bright side, he had sold the old house where their journey started and all its memories - the sweet and bitter ones alike - were now things of the past that they would savor in their hearts for the rest of their lives. Her one worry had been how their relationship with their creator would be when Damien went back to his workaholic ways. Pleasantly surprised, she saw that the revelation of Christ had reverently dawned on him and
Meant To Be HIS Chapter Sixty three ~ Damien & Ariana
~~~~Damien~~~~~ It was a Sunday afternoon. We were back from church after the service turned into a celebration when Ariana and I went up to give our testimony - our story. Coming back home, my heart swelled with gratitude. Looking back, I never would have thought that life would take me through all that and I would come out strong. It was not until we got to our home and approached the gates that the smiles on the faces of my wife and I dropped. We had an unexpected visitor. "Congratulations." He said as we met eye to eye. "Thank you." I uttered, eyeing him surreptitiously. "Ariana." He nodded in her direction, courteously. "Aiden." She returned and breezed past us, taking the kids who were innocently excited to see him with her. "Can I come in?" He gestured towards the house and though I wanted to say no, I was in too much of a good mood to. "Come on in." I led the way into the living room, seeing as Ariana was on halfway up as the led the children to their room. "Have a
Meant To Be HIS Chapter Sixty two ~ Ariana
It came faster than lightning. One month passed like it had been just a week. We were back in the courtroom and even with the air condition that cooled the room, my hands were clammy with sweat as I held on Damien's hand. I was nervous, but strangely, he was so calm. Looking up at his chiseled face, I sighed, resting my head on his shoulder while he held me close. "It's going to be fine. We got this babe," He assured me in a whisper. I nodded, praying in my heart that this was the truth and that we would come out victorious.I sat up and saw Gerald and Damien's siblings walk in, some were courteous enough to say hi, which I responded to. I watched them sit on the other side while Gerald looked in our direction and sneered. Damien gave him a hard glare before looking away.The proceeding started and a different judge walked in. Instinctively, I turned to Damien and it seemed he was as surprised as I was. Gerald shifted in his seat uncomfortably.Soon, our lawyers were up, briefing t
Meant To Be HIS Chapter Sixty one ~ Ariana
The court proceedings had begun. Damien had gone all out to get the best lawyer he could find for this case. There was no backing down on his part and the media was ready to feast on this frenzy with its juicy details. I followed each and every headline, every blog post and read through comments back to back. I had people messaging me to ask if the news was true but I decided to keep mute until it was all done and over with.As I sat in that courtroom, silently watching as they battled for justice, I could not help but feel a sense of trepidation in spite of how I was supposed to hold on to hope and faith that things were going to turn in our favor.The sneer on the judge's face when the plaintiff spoke was worse when Damien got into the box for questioning. Gerald was relaxed and even had a cocky stance as he watched with a smirk anytime my eyes trailed over to him. I smelled a rat. I would not put it past him to have bribed the judge."This case is hereby adjourned until the 20th o
Meant To Be HIS Chapter Sixty ~ Ariana
"She's what?!!!" I dropped my phone in reflex when I heard him yell from the balcony. Quickly, I got on my feet and rushed to meet him over the phone looking like he had seen a ghost. "What happened?" I asked as he limply dropped the phone. It took him a while to respond to me. "My mom is dead." "What?!" I screamed, clasping my palms over my mouth. "What happened to her?" I managed to ask as the tears started to stream down my face. "Aleena says she was found dead in her room. I smell foul play." He frowned deeply. In the next instant, he rushed out of the room and I followed him closely. "Carina?" She looked up from the boys who seemed to have fallen in love with her personality ever since she began living with us. "I need you to check the CCTV footage thoroughly. I think Gerald killed my mom." "Jeez!" She exclaimed, getting up to head to the room where the computers were while I ushered the children upstairs so they would not have to hear any of this. I came back down a
Meant To Be HIS Chapter Fifty nine ~ Damien
She looked different. Very different from the last time I saw her over seven years ago. "Damien," she walked over and hugged me, I limply returned it. "It's so nice to see you. Thank you for gracing my invitation, I thought you wouldn't even respond to me." She said, more excited to see me than I was to see her. I nodded slowly, "Well, here I am.""You're not going to ask how I'm doing. You're still mad at me?" She gasped."I'm not mad at you, just suspicious that you would reach out to me for the first time in years and now of all times." I said honestly."I heard everything that happened and I'm so sorry." "How did you hear?" I asked."Your mother.""You're still in contact with her." That was a statement."I saw her at an event a couple of weeks ago when I came back to LA.""Hmmm."Aleena sighed sadly and her face stiff with lots of plastic surgery hardly moved. "She's very unhappy Damien," "Serves her right." I muttered."Gerald treats her like trash.""She deserves it." I said
Meant To Be HIS Chapter Fifty eight ~ Ariana
"You got a cake?" I asked, swabbing a piece of icing with my index finger as he set the white colored buttercream cake with cherry toppings on the kitchen island."Oooh yummy." I moaned, savoring the taste. "What's the occasion?" I asked, going into his arms as he pulled me close. "Kiss me first," he placed me on the island and placed his lips on mine before I could respond. "It's a peace offering." He finally answered my question when he let me go. "Peace offering? What did you do?" I asked, squinting my eyes in suspicion as he looked away in guilt, muttering something under his breath. "Babe, speak up." I said, tapping on his strong arms that held me in place in case I wanted to walk out. He definitely had done something that would really upset me. "I invited Claire over," He managed to say after a while of probing.I was shocked. "You did what? I thought you were just going to speak to her and that's it?""I want to see her when she works.""So she's going to stay here?" Now I
Meant To Be HIS Chapter Fifty seven ~ Narrator's voice
"You had one job, both of you! And all you can say is that they were good to you?!" She sighed in exasperation. "Dad, they were good to us. Why would we want to do that to them?" "You let Gerald win!" "At least now you're not caught up in their mess. It's now a family issue." "You made me lose out on a lot of money." "Aren't you wealthy enough? You framed my husband and put him in jail just for me to destroy someone who has never done any wrong to you!" She screamed in annoyance. "Shut up!" He said and coughed loudly. Cheryl wished he would just die already. "I regret having you as my daughter," he said to spite her. "Trust me, I wish I had died as a baby." She said and hung up. "That was so brave of you." Leon said, hugging her from behind. "I wish I had done this earlier." She sighed. For too long, she had hidden in the fear of losing her father's support but now she had learnt to be content with her husband's earnings. "We need to do something to help Damien and Ariana." S
Meant To Be HIS Chapter Fifty six ~ Ariana
I dabbed the blending foam over my cheeks one more time, staring at the finished look in the mirror with as satisfied smile on my face. I was still good at this makeup thing despite doing without it after so long. Damien went out of his way to stock up on my makeup products. I was so shocked that he got the shades right. It was such a pleasant surprise. Things were coming together. With the help of someone in church, through Pastor Anderson, he was able to secure a remote job in a tech startup that paid quite a sum. We had carved out a home office for him in what used to be our guest room and whenever he was in there, he was not to be disturbed. I shut my eyes as I sprayed the setting spray over my face, completing the look and waiting for it to marinate as I set up the tripod and camera I was going to use for my video. "Oh my goodness Mama Mia," Damien came in just then and I blushed as he showered me with compliments. "You are delectably gorgeous. The most beautiful woman to wa
