Arabella's PovI was in my room with one of the pages on my laptop open, holding a mug of steaming hot chocolate to blow on the top to make it warmer to drink. My cell phone had been ringing, showing Dallas' name on the screen, but I had no intention of picking it up."I won't pick up no matter how many times you call me Dallas," I mumbled to myself, mumbling a song I liked while flipping through the page I was on.I wanted to teach Dallas a lesson for bothering me whenever and wherever I was. There was no telling how often the man who was my only family had broken his promise. What is privacy? Dallas didn't recognize that word and always invaded my personal space. Be it my relationships with others and now the leisure time I rarely get.For a moment, my phone didn't ring, making me breathe a sigh of relief. "Finally, calmer... what else should I do to teach him a lesson? Ignoring his calls won't do much."I thought, knowing that Dallas would eventually call me back at some other time
Arabella POV"Can I sit here?" the man asked kindly.I stared at the man, trying to get to know his face because he was way too friendly for someone who just met me. I usually greet people I don't know first, not vice versa, so I felt wary of him. "Please. But, sorry in advance, do we know each other?"He smiled, looking happy as he seated herself next to me. He looked older than me but not much older than Sean or Dallas. "No, this is the first time I've met you."I felt confused by the man's answer. "Then... why do you want to sit with me?" I looked at the other tables that were still available. It was just me and the couple who were in this old cafe before the man's arrival. "Isn't it strange for someone who doesn't know each other to sit together?"The man chuckled, showing dimples and laughter wrinkles at both corners of his eyes. He then extended his hand to me, who was still confused. "My name is Jonas. I wanted to ask you out since we've crossed paths a few times while you were
Arabella's POV"Sean?" I asked in a tone that was still surprised when I saw the man's face, but I slowly smiled because I was happy to meet him after walking around alone. "I was just about to surprise you at the office, but you did it first."I looked at his strained-looking face, puzzled at Sean's reaction that was not like my current mood. I held the man's face while looking at him again more closely. "What's going on? Your face looks grim, Sean.""I'm upset," Sean confessed, holding my hand and exhaling loudly. "Have you been walking around with that guy since you said goodbye to me via text?"I shook my head. "Jason's just a friend. He drove me here because no taxi took my order to go home," I said honestly, then looked around because I felt the eyes watching me from earlier, as well as the many people around Sean's office. "Is your office always this crowded? I don't think we can continue talking here....""It's after work. You came to my office unprepared, didn't you?" Sean so
Sean's Pov"Look, Sean. Shiro was so calm when I bathed him." Arabella exclaimed from inside her bathroom, making me walk over to her and see the cat I'd just rescued already covered in foam and with its head held high. "It's my first time bathing a cat, but Shiro makes it very easy for me to bathe him. He's not like the other cats I saw in the video."I nodded, paying more attention to Arabella's long neck that was exposed after her hair was tied up like a messy bundle, but it was still so beautiful that I swallowed. My gaze only shifted to Shiro, who was vocalizing a 'purr' as if in pleasure. The floor where the cat was already looking almost darkened due to the dirt that was previously stuck. "Its fur is surprisingly white.""Yes! It turns out that I unknowingly chose a suitable name for him. Shiro, white in Japanese." He chuckled, already starting to dry the completely clean Shiro with several towels at once. "Hm, Sean. Can I ask you to get the hairdryer from my dresser?""One mom
Arabella's POVI leaned against Sean's body as we sat in the living room, watching a movie while eating the toast that he had prepared earlier. I watched the movie actors acting with each other, but it looked natural and made me get carried away by the storyline."Do you like movies like this?" Sean asked softly, removing the hair from my forehead so he could see me better. I just nodded, not wanting to miss the important moment that was about to happen.I covered my mouth, not expecting the scene that happened in the movie. "No way...."Sean seemed to see what was happening because he was silent for a few moments while I smacked my lips until the scene was over. He was heard clucking. "I can kiss you better than that.""Sean." I smacked his chest lightly. "We're watching a movie, not comparing your kissing skills to the actor's."Sean looked at me, raised one eyebrow and smiled. "I'm better looking, too.""Yes...." I could only exhale when Sean's narcissistic behaviour returned. I co
Arabella's Pov"First love?" I mumbled unconsciously so that it could be heard by Emma and Dallas, who were previously busy chatting.Dallas nodded at me, seemingly remembering, before speaking again. "If I'm not mistaken when she joined the committee? He was younger than us, so he could only join a year after he became a freshman.""That's right. Sean was very sweet back then." The woman smiled while remembering Dallas. She watched Sean, who was busy with what my brother and Emma had brought. "He always helped without needing to be asked when there was committee business and was subtly considerate of me...."Dallas pretended to vomit. "No need to pretend to be sweet like that. It doesn't fit. You don't even realize Sean likes you while doing all that."Emma sounded like she was denying Dallas' words, but I still hadn't recovered from my shock at what I'd just learned. I just found out that the woman Sean had been sleeping with all this time was based on the appearance of his first lo
Arabella's PovSean pulled me closer in his arms, my head resting near his chest while his face rested on my head. "Don't you feel claustrophobic if we sleep like this?" He whispered.I shook my head, holding the back of his pajamas tightly. "I like it like this." With Sean holding me in his arms, it was a welcome reprieve from watching Emma move in on my boyfriend all day. I didn't like that woman, but I couldn't do anything about it because I didn't want Dallas to find out about my relationship with Sean. "How about we stay like this until tomorrow?"Sean chuckled, making me feel intrigued. He pulled away slightly to look at me, then rubbed my face with a smile. "I have to work tomorrow. Do you want me to skip class and break my promise? EMI will be looking for us if we don't show up for breakfast, and Dallas will be too.""No. ...." I pursed my lips and received a sudden kiss from Sean. I looked at him in surprise. "You kissed me?""I couldn't help myself. You're so cute when you'r
Arabella's PovI blinked in surprise as I heard Emi's words just now. The middle-aged woman clucked a few times without saying anything, then noticed my presence when she turned her head. She clutched her chest. "Oh my, Miss. When did you get here? I seem to be daydreaming too much.""Emi... what words did you just say to Emma?" I asked, not answering Emi's question because I wanted to confirm her words more. I didn't expect it because Emi could show such dislike for someone she just met.Emi glanced at the dining table and led me further into the kitchen. She seemed hesitant but finally answered my question. "That's... right, Miss. Are you going to tell this to Master or that woman? I don't want to get fired....""Of course not, Emi." I shook my head, grabbing one of her hands to calm the worry that had been visible on Emi's face. "I find myself agreeing with what you said.""Miss doesn't like that woman either?" Emi's face brightened after hearing my reply, and then she let out a lo
Arabella's POVDallas returned home three days later. He delivered the things I'd asked for perfectly, so I complimented him while he showed off how hard he'd worked to find all the things I needed."It wasn't too hard to find the snacks you wanted, but the embroidery took some time to do." He explained. "You know that Adele is old, so she taught me by example. I'm really good at copying what she makes quickly."I just nodded with a smile, accepting that Dallas' words weren't entirely true as the embroidery still wasn't very good, but I appreciated his efforts and his leaving, which had given Sean and me a chance to be alone while he was gone."Thanks, Dallas. Where are you going?" I asked as he quickly organized his other belongings instead of staying at our house as usual.He sighed heavily. "I have a job waiting for me.""Oh?" I looked surprised, though I could hardly hide my pleasure that the 'Days without Dallas' could continue for longer. "You're going into town again?"Dallas n
Arabella's POVIt had been seven months since my wedding to Sean, and it was only a few weeks until I went into labour. I stroked my belly, which had grown to almost twice my size, but my baby remained calm, a far cry from the two men in front of me who were feuding.They had been arguing for a while about where I should stay when I gave birth to my long-awaited baby. Sean, of course, wanted me to live with him in our house, but Dallas didn't like that and suggested something very similar to himself."Bella and the baby should stay with me for the first month." My brother said with determination. "If necessary, you can also come over occasionally, but I don't want you living in my house with them."Sean looked annoyed, letting out a breath that was so long it didn't sound like it was going to end. "Dallas, Bella is my wife, and the baby is my chil. There's no way I'm letting them stay at your house when we already have a house together.""So? I want them to stay a month at my house. Y
Arabella's POV"Now, Mr. Sean and Miss Arabella, please give each other a kiss to solemnize this marriage," the priest said to conclude our wedding procession.I felt so happy when I looked at Sean from behind my veil. He grabbed the end of the veil, flashing a smile as big as mine as he draped the veil over the tiara I was wearing, and then took my waist into his arms.I could feel the thrill of knowing what he was about to do and closed my eyes. The touch of his lips was soft, kissing me as we breathed and then opening my mouth with the help of his fingers. We kissed deeply and long until the applause from the guests was heard, as well as the excited cheers that made Sean and I stop our kiss.Our warm breath was faintly visible together, and then I lifted my gaze to look at Sean, who was also looking at me. We exchanged smiles again, knowing each other's feelings that we were both thrilled and happy with the wedding that finally happened that day."I'm so happy, Sean," I whispered t
Arabella's POVBefore I knew it, time had flown by. The preparations for my wedding with Sean were ready, and we were now at the building where our special once-in-a-lifetime event would be held.I had been looking forward to this day since Sean said he would propose to me, and it finally arrived in the blink of an eye. I had seen the decorations that Sean and the wedding organizer hired with a little help from Dallas.Everything looked amazing, even though I could only see briefly. Everything is no less, even more than what Ellie and Nick prepared for their engagement ceremony.I was sitting in front of the mirror, assisted by two people who took care of my makeup during the wedding ceremony that would last into the night and make me into the bride I had always wanted to be.Wanda was with me. She had been watching me get made-up and was looking at me as I was receiving lipstick on my lips. "I didn't expect that you, who has always been kept out of reach of men, would be getting marr
Sean's POVDallas was waiting for our return. He opened the door for me and saw me holding Arabella, who had fallen back into a deep sleep in my arms. The man let me in first and closed the door before asking me for his sister."Let me carry her to her room, Sean." He said, extending both his hands towards me, but I refused to let Arabella out of my arms.She was already comfortable. I didn't want her to be woken up by her brother's unreasonable request. "No need. I just need to go upstairs to lay her down. Thank you for opening the door.""I opened the door because I wanted to scold you."Dallas was already blocking my path to our room upstairs, almost reaching the stairs had the big man not been standing in between.I stared at the man, unafraid of his threats, which I had experienced many times during the time Arabella and I had been secretly dating until now. He always wanted to interfere even though his sister said he never liked it, as well as our agreement from the hunt, which
Arabella's POVSean took my hand. We walked among the beachgoers who were still arriving until late in the evening, and then headed for the less crowded side of the beach that was littered with a few shells stuck in the sand."I found one here, Sean!" I smiled broadly, pointing out the shells with beautiful-looking shells.The man approached, nodding approvingly as he took a long look at the shells I was holding before showing me the inside of the small bucket he was carrying. "Check out mine, Bella.""Wow, why are there so many?" I looked at Sean in disbelief when I saw that the number of shells he had caught had already reached half the contents of the bucket. "One, two, three... ten? You cheated!"Sean laughed. "I didn't cheat, the part of the beach I visited earlier did have a lot of them. I've only taken a few.""I'll go there then."I took Sean's hand, approached the beach that the man had explored earlier and shifted slightly to a place that he hadn't touched. He said that when
Arabella's POVI sat next to Sean, watching him take care of our wedding online by talking to the wedding organizer he had recently contacted while Dallas checked on the process of building our wedding hall in person.After my pregnancy checkup, they both agreed not to let me handle the wedding and told me to rest. Both of them didn't want me to get tired and asked me to pay attention to their busy lives."This is your first pregnancy, Bella. "You don't have to take care of the hassle like us, but take care of you and your baby during these preparations," Dallas said, reminding me again before leaving this morning.I was going to protest, but I also realized that my sister's words didn't hurt. "Can you take care of this alone?"I was a little worried because he acted quickly to take over the wedding affairs held by Sean before, while Sean took over my part. I only remembered that the construction of our wedding hall was already largely underway.Sean hadn't allowed me to see the progr
Sean's POVI swallowed, trying to listen to the words of the doctor who explained what Arabella should do for her pregnancy between the sharp eyes that didn't stop looking at me."Miss can take the supplements downstairs. This nurse next to me will take you." The doctor ended his explanation with a shady smile.We said goodbye to the doctor before following the nurse to pick up Arabella's supplements. I was trying to remember what I should do to help my beloved during her pregnancy, so I forgot about the threatening figure in front of me."You!" Dallas unhesitatingly grabbed the neckline of my T-shirt and pulled me hard. His piercing eyes clearly showed his desire to kill me when we arrived at the hospital's lower parking lot."You animal! You're not even married to Bella, Sean!"I said nothing, knowing that there was no point in adding oil to the fire that was raging before me. My neck felt constricted, but I still had room to breathe, so I didn't try to protest.Arabella tried to st
Arabella's POV"We're going to have our wedding at the same place as Nick's, but I'm going to expand it again," Sean said when we arrived home after our walk.I still felt tired, but I eventually pushed that feeling aside to listen to Sean's explanation better. "When did you plan this?" I asked."A few days ago, it seems or yesterday? I've asked Nick for a favour so we can rent the place right away for the next week." The man seemed relaxed explaining it to me, but it surprised me.I looked at him intently. "You said... one week?""Yeah, is it too soon for you?" He asked, instantly looking worried after hearing my question.I shook my head. On the contrary, I was feeling very excited about the timing of our imminent wedding, not in a month, but even less than a week when a few days had passed.I had initially been dreading this kind of fast-paced wedding, but after talking things over with Sean for some time and meeting Tya to make the dress I would wear when I got married, I felt our