The mall was buzzing with smiling faces and loud conversations as families took advantage of the pre-Christmas shopping rush. After a long week of working hard, it was all worth it. There was a sense of excitement in the air as everyone ran to buy the perfect gift for the ones they love. It was a great time to spend with those you care about.Kia, Evans, Aiden and Sienna were all excited to go Christmas shopping. They had so many people to buy presents for this year unlike me who once again is going to spend her holiday in a blanket with a tub of cookie dough ice cream or crying over the fact that this year also I couldn't make a friend.Pathetic I know!I shrugged my depressing thoughts and looked ahead only to witness Tara and Evans holding each other's hands and strolling down the aisle looking for a gift for each other.The love!I smiled and looked down at Kia who was again whispering something in Aiden's ear. What's with these two?I walked to a jewellery shop nearby where I tho
Mr Arnold looked at Kia and I was damn sure, he'd throw a fit or yell at me for making Kia work in a garden or worst hang me to death, okay that's an exaggeration but you get my point.Mr Arnold is who he is.But believe me, I'd to pinch myself, Mr Arnold didn't say anything. Like not a single damn thing, instead, he took the chives from Kia's hands and started planting them in a row, well I don't know if he planted them but he sure put them in a row. I couldn't help but chuckle."Oh no we don't do it like that." I said and moved towards them. I crouched beside him and took the cuttings from his hand, ignoring the feeling of his fingers on my palm."We put chives in a pot, we keep them in the cool room, we give them little fertilizer and all that stuff. We don't plant them in rows or anything like that." I finished planting them and turned to look at Kia but she was nowhere in sight. It was only him. I turned back to my plants."How did you get here?""I was about to ring the doorbell
*Trigger Warning: Mentions of Panic Attack*Okay so let me get this straight. Mr Arnold is the most confusing human I've ever come across. One second he orders me, the other he looks at me with a look that can be named as concern.Right now I was sitting beside Mr Arnold in his car waiting for Kia to come out of her school. Mr Arnold was looking straight at the road he had lost his patience and the awkward silence between us was just a cherry on the cake."Have you taken medicine?" Mr Arnold asked me."Yea, well..." I replied getting all conscious. This good side of his is killing me."What did you eat for breakfast?", he fired his next question. I looked at him as if he was on drugs today. Why was he being so inquisitive?" umm toast and milk?" I lied but bloody hell, I don't even know how to lie. The statement came as a question.He didn't say anything after that, just sighed. I looked out of the window only to see Kia running towards us. She had a broad smile on her face that would l
The hospital is the one place you go when you are sick. It is a place where you go to get better but that's not in my case. I never visited a hospital in the past four years. When Mr Arnold told me that we'll go to the hospital, I was sceptical about it but I never wanted to show my weakness to anyone. I just wanted to hide myself from everybody. But bloody hell, he saw me in my most vulnerable condition. I was so ashamed of myself.The moment my eyes opened to the sight of the hospital, I felt the urge to run home. Flashes of my pathetic state ran in front of my eyes, I was so bloody embarrassed. Mr Arnold saw me in the worst condition. I wanted to run away but I was too weak to move. I was in so much pain that I wanted to scream. I wanted to die but I couldn't even do that.The nurse who attended to me was so kind and concerned. She told me I was knocked out for a few hours. I sighed, she was monitoring me when a doctor around my age came to check on me. "How do you feel now Miss?"
Have you ever seen a litmus paper? It changes colour when it's submerged in something.Amazing right?But what if I say Mr Arnold was just a living version of litmus paper, submerged in something dark and dangerous. One second he was a considerate gentleman, the next he turned into a monster, something I wanted to destroy. But like litmus paper, our kind cannot change to another colour. He cannot help himself, because he is who he is.Bipolar jerk!"You can't be changed because you're too far gone, my friend. You are beyond hope.""Out.", he snapped at me as soon as we reached my house."Oh hello Mr, I'm also not interested in staying with someone so ill-mannered, impolite and atrocious."He unbuttoned his jacket and walked to my side, opening the passenger door for me, he gave me a get-out-look.I scoffed.As if I was dying to stay near him."Thanks for the lift, Mr Arnold. I'll see myself out." I slid out of his car but as if the embarrassment for the day hadn't come to a full stop,
I love to cook, and I don't just love it, I'm obsessed with it, the reason being my mother, of course. She is a wonderful cook and I have seen her create many great dishes that have brought a smile to my face. Cooking was something, I and Mumma always enjoyed doing together. My mother and I would go to the local market and buy some fresh vegetables, season them and then cook them for dinner. This was the most enjoyable part of my and my mother's day as a child. After cooking and eating, we would often sit, relax and talk, something I also enjoy doing.And today, years later, I felt the same bliss, I used to feel as a child, when cooking with my mother.Kia was standing on a small square stool beside me. Since it was just a day before the Christmas holiday, she had requested, no demanded Mr Arnold to stay back with her and help her with Christmas baking.Mr Arnold was not happy with this and told her that he was too busy to help on this festive day.Kia threw a fit and well he had to
What are Christmas holidays?A time of celebration, giving, and togetherness.A day off from the world?A time reserved for your loved ones and to enjoy their company, a time of joy, and a time to reflect on the year gone by, and to think about the future. Right?Sounds heaven.For me, it wasn't like that since I had no one, oh I have been becoming quite nonchalant with my loneliness nowadays. Hashtag Dark humour!If you count food and blanket, I sure as hell had warmth and maybe a little joy. I never ever thought about my next year on Christmas or new year because I know it'll be again filled with loneliness, new problems here and there and bingo the year would end.God! I'm such a depressed soul. Anyway, just like the last four years, this year also I had made my mind to be at home, cooped up in my mumma's blanket but all these amazing, wonderful, A-grade plans were ruined in a second because of that A-grade butthole.Nicolas F*cking ArnoldHave you ever met someone who annoys you
Remember how I told you, Mr Arnold was a representation of litmus paper. Today I can write that theory on a stamped paper.Like, one minute he blushes so hard as if he just confessed to someone he's in love and the other minute he acts like he's a devil who will kill you.Right now, we all were sitting beside the ginormous Christmas tree, Kia was not being herself, as if something had triggered her just like her uncle, she was also pouting in a corner. Tara and Aiden were trying their best to cheer her up.Evans still hadn't arrived, apparently, his cousin was accompanying him. This was a little odd because Mr Arnold said it was just them and no outsider, except me who was one.Talking about him, he was still acting weird, whenever our eyes met accidentally, he would pretend to look at something else and stare at me, I knew he was staring, but I couldn't quite point out what he was thinking.I shrugged thinking about him and walked to Kia." Kia do you want your Christmas gift?", as so
Arielle's POVItalics: Flashback"Mumma, please don't leave me." Tears streamed down my face as I held onto her hand with a death grip. Her eyes, once bright and full of life, were now dull and lifeless, pools of sorrow reflecting the storm within her. I leaned in closer, my heart aching with a pain so deep it felt like I was on the verge of a heart attack. "Mumma," I whispered, my voice a mere breath against her cheek. "I can't live without you."The sterile hospital room was a tomb, the hum of machines a relentless dirge.I felt the cold, hard grip of her hand, my trembling like a leaf caught in a cyclone.Her words echoed, a haunting melody of regret and sorrow. "My Ari,""Mumma, please," I begged, my voice a desperate cry. "Don't give up. Please fight."She closed her eyes and smiled painfully, breathing, a difficult dance with death. I squeezed her hand tightly, my heart a heavy stone in my chest."I would fight wars for you, my child," she whispered, her voice a fragile thread in
Something seems amiss. I can't shake off this persistent sense that an unforeseen event is looming on the horizon.Something dreadful. The feeling is like a stubborn itch that won't go away. I cannot keep happiness in my heart as this sense of impending doom looms. The looming sense of impending doom creates a cloud of uncertainty that casts a shadow over my present and with me, my husband's happiness.He has tried to talk to me but how do I explain this feeling to him when I, myself am not sure about it.I don't know why.Why am I feeling this way?Everything has been going fine.These past eleven months have been smooth sailing, without a single hiccup. Then why am I feeling this way?Maybe I am just overthinking.It was Nick's and I's first wedding anniversary and the whole family was pretty excited for the same. That's a low-key term to define their excitement.They resemble cumin seeds in oil, bubbling with happiness and anticipation. I, on the other hand, could not shake off
"Nick you can't hide like this, I'm telling you. Once I find you, you will regret starting this game." I shouted as I searched for all the places he could hide. "With you, I've never regretted anything, my love."The echo of his words bounced off the walls, making it difficult to pinpoint his location. The anticipation grew within me, fueled by anger, excitement and curiosity. I knew Nick was skilled at hiding, but I was determined to find him. I mean, who does he think he is? He can't just use the charm of his words and melt me all the time. He'll be punished this time and that's final. No more letting his words melt me. I need to toughen up and stand my ground. This game of hide-and-seek has turned into something more, a war. And Arielle Summers Arnold, you'll not be easily swayed this time. "Amore you won't be able to find me."It was clear that the game of hiding and seeking had taken a romantic turn for him. Nick's words, both teasing and affectionate, echoed through the room,
I officially hate my friends.Here I was in a crisis and they were messing around. It was the worst time for them to joke around and not take things seriously.I had never felt so betrayed in my life.My friends were laughing hysterically, but I was in no mood for their antics."This isn't funny, idiots." I shouted as I walked to Mama and laid my head on her lap as she glared at the two of them."Both of them, if you don't stop now I will kick your asses out of here."This made them shut up."I'm still unable to wrap my head around the fact that you, a charmer managed to get a girl so angry she slapped you... twice.", My face twisted in shame and embarrassment as the morons started to laugh again."Two slaps and a punch in the gut, Mama.", Nicolas F*cking Arnold, as Arielle used to say in the past, seemed perfect for the moment to me.Bastard!The reason I was so mad was not just because they were making fun of me, but also because, f*ck I felt too furious, how could that woman, that st
It has been two years and five months since our marriage. Life with Arielle has been full of loving and memorable moments. Although I've said it before I can't help myself but say it again, I'm blessed to have such a wonderful wife.I'll forever be grateful to my Mama for giving me the wisdom to wait for the right woman.Arielle is the one, and I love her with all my heart.I looked at my wife's face which was tucked into the nape of her neck, and with the tip of my finger, I traced the outline of her face. I reached up to run my fingers through her hair, I can't seem to keep my hands off her.A small whine left her lips and I felt a rush of love for her again. She is so responsive, so giving. I leaned down to place a soft kiss on the top of her head. I softly massaged her neck and shoulders as she quietly snuggled in closer to me. I breathed in the scent of her hair. I feel a sense of comfort in being wrapped up like this. It's something so simple but it feels so right.I pressed my
Peace.It's been peace with him. Every single day has been a reminder of how lucky I'm to have a great husband like Nick.How these six years passed, I couldn't know. It's not like it was a straight line. It was more like an unpredictable track. I guess it was the best part of my life and I wouldn't trade it for anything.I was really proud of my husband. He had successfully overtaken his other company and his vision of getting Arnold empire back in Mama's hands was completed. And as much as I was feeling bad for his father, he hurt Mama and however hard we try, it's impossible to forgive his deeds.Anyway, Caleb and Kia's bond had grown, Kia had always been smart and intellectual for her age but as she grew up, she accepted him as her father but that doesn't mean it affected her relationship with her Nicky Uncle, all it did was get stronger.He was genuinely happy when Kia told him that she accepted Caleb as her father doesn't mean she loved him more.He was the one who gave her the l
Today I learnt a new emotion about human beings.JEALOUSY.Jealousy is an emotion that can consume a person entirely, leaving them blinded by their insecure feelings. It can be as simple as wanting to be more beautiful, or as complicated as wanting to be better than someone else.But right now, all I wanted was to rip that clingy woman off my husband and crush her with my bare hands. Woah! Arielle, crazy much. Relax, she's just a random woman and you're his wife. His legal wife.Nick loves you, why are you being so violent?Nick and I had arrived at the birthday party of one of his closest friends, the owner of Halcyos. Nick was dressed in a black suit, looking hideously dapper. I was dressed in a black off-shoulder gown. We came inside and Nick got indulged with a business friend, we didn't even get to meet the person for whose birthday we came, I'd just stepped to a side to admire the decoration when that woman came along. I tried to ignore her, just like I ignored all the other w
It's been three weeks since our wedding and I've been the happiest since then would be an understatement.These weeks have been a whirlwind of emotions and I think I've been on cloud nine more times than I can remember. I feel so blessed that I get to wake up next to the man I love every single day.My husband is the most amazing man I've ever met in my life, sometimes I feel I'm living my own fairytale with him. He not only respects my choices but also my emotions. I don't think I've ever felt so loved and accepted by anyone. And sometimes I genuinely feel that he's too generous to be real.Just to make sure I don't get uncomfortable, he waited for a whole bloody week before making a public appearance with me which was a big deal since along with it, he was also going to announce the company he built in name of Kia and Amara."Arielle Summers Arnold, my wife." His words are still fresh in my mind and it makes me smile. The look of pride he had when announcing the same was something I
I was anxious, nervous and excited as I entered Nick's room, now mine too. It was not the first time I'd entered his room, but today I didn't step in as Arielle Summers, his love.Today I stepped in as Arielle Summers Arnold, his love as well as wife.My heart was beating so wildly that it was almost painful. I could feel my cheeks burning as I walked up to the mirror and stood in front of it. I had never been tenser in my life. It's not like I haven't slept with him before, but he never tried to start anything with me.He always kept me before himself, my comfort, my feelings and as much as I was ready to give all of me to him tonight, a major part of me felt scared.I looked at the gifts in front of me, I couldn't help but smile. I picked up the black box with gold lettering and walked towards the bed. I stopped in front of it and opened the box. I took the ring out of the box and held it in my hands, it was so beautiful.It was given by Mama. I smiled as the precious gem sparkled i