She thought Benjamin Rivera would continue asking but he simply sipped on the glass of water in his hand and started for the stairs. When he passed her, he paused. “Let’s make an appointment some other day for both parents to meet and then settle your marriage.”As she watched Benjamin walk up the stairs, the smile on Arabella’s face disappeared and she stood there expressionlessly. Her clear eyes were dull but her heart was also unusually calm.In Konan City, Gabriel had just come out of the bathroom in his hotel when he received a text message on his phone. As he wiped the water droplets off his hair, he took his phone and sat down on the sofa. He opened the new text message and his eyes darkened.The message was a single photo of a handsome man and a beautiful woman, the former carefully holding the latter as they walked out of a restaurant. Berlin Restaurant’s signboard was very well-lit with red lights.The angle of the camera was not bad, accurately capturing Arabella’s expressi
Mr. and Mrs. Galvez knew their son’s character well so they didn’t believe him when he said he had a girlfriend. Now that he had brought her back, they were very happy.Although the Rivera residence was not as grandiose as the Galvez residence, Mr. and Mrs. Galvez were not the stuck-up type who insisted that their son marry someone at their level or higher. As long as the girl’s family background was clean and she could control their son, preventing him from messing around outside, Mr. and Mrs. Galvez weren’t too fussy.At the dining table, Calvin Galvez put on a good show – he kept putting food onto her plate, especially her favorites. He even de-shelled the prawns and de-boned the fish for her.When Mr. and Mrs. Galvez noticed how well Calvin and Arabella got along with each other, the parents were filled with joy. Moreover, they could tell that Arabella had a good upbringing and an elegant temperament. The elders had a good impression of her.After the meal, Mrs. Galvez pulled Arab
Calvin called to tell her about his mother invited Helena over for afternoon tea. When she heard this news, Arabella almost threw her phone out. “Isn’t your mother too impatient?”She still remembered Helena having a heart-to-heart talk with her two days ago, saying that though she did not think highly of President Fulton, she was even more worried about Calvin. After all, Calvin had quite a notorious reputation. Even if he got married, it was hard to guarantee that he would not cheat on her.At that time, she told Helena this was her choice and she did not regret it.It was either that or she married someone she didn’t like.Between President Fulton and Calvin Galvez, she chose the latter partly because they were very familiar with each other. At least, she did not have to marry a complete stranger.Ever since she met Arabella, Mrs. Galvez had been nagging Calvin Galvez every day, asking him when he would marry Arabella. His ears were about to grow calluses from listening to her.Cal
He could imagine how calm President Garcia’s tone would be.But Manager Yates was quite unlucky to be reprimanded today.It seemed that President Garcia would be in a bad mood for the next few days, so Caleb had to be more careful than usual to avoid getting himself into trouble.There were still ten days before the engagement but Arabella and Calvin Galvez had agreed to try on the wedding dress one day after work.In order to prevent a repeat of the previous incident, she told Calvin Galvez that he did not need to pick her up. She would drive there herself.After work, she drove to Elisa’s bridal shop. Calvin Galvez arrived two minutes earlier than her so when she got out of the car, she saw him already leaning against the car, talking on the phone.After Calvin Galvez hung up, the two entered the bridal shop together.Immediately, a shop assistant came up to him, turning more cordial when she noticed the brand of his outfit.As soon as he entered the shop, Calvin Galvez sat down on
She stopped struggling and looked at him in surprise. “How did you know?”His dark eyes locked onto her face and he recalled the scene of her trying on the wedding dress – his eyes gradually darkened.“Look at you. You must be happy. But what if I’m not?”Arabella blinked. “President Garcia, why would your happiness be related to mine?”“You have such a terrible tongue.” Daniel leaned in and kissed her, ignoring her struggles as he moved into her space.Arabella could tell that he was angry, but she did not know why.The sudden onset of his wave of anger was terrifying. The more she struggled, the more he clamped down on her.Every kiss he planted on her left a burning sensation until it left a mark on her skin.In just a few minutes, her entire body had gone limp.Her coat hung loosely on her shoulders as she panted slightly, looking at him with flushed cheeks and a hazy look. “You-”One word was all she managed to utter until he stopped her again.They stumbled toward the wash basin
Arabella Rivera instinctively flinched and shifted toward the inner sidewalk. When she finally turned to look at the car, she saw Calvin getting out angrily. He marched up to her and scolded her. “Arabella, are you crazy? You didn’t even say goodbye before you left. Do you think the whole world revolves around you?”It was only then that Arabella remembered that Calvin Galvez had gone to look for her. She had forgotten to inform him about her leaving, so she apologized gently, “I’m sorry. I was in a hurry just now, so-”Calvin, being his hot-tempered self, interrupted her. “What’s the use of being sorry?!”He couldn’t find her anywhere in the restaurant just now and grew worried that something had happened to her. He almost lost all his lives trying to explain himself to John earlier. How could she leave without saying a word?The more he remembered how anxious he was earlier, the more the fire of anger burned within him. “Arabella, although we’re about to get engaged, I’m not like Jo
On the day of Arabella and Calvin’s engagement, the weather was clear and the breeze blew under the warm sun. The engagement banquet was held at a manor-style hotel under the Galvez Group’s name.In the waiting room upstairs, Arabella was wearing a pure white wedding dress. Her black hair was tied up with a crystal hair clip while an expensive necklace hung from her fair neck, making her collarbone look even more elegant.Serenity had been accompanying her the whole time. When she noticed how absent-minded her sister looked, she thought Arabella was simply nervous, so the former decided to comfort the latter. “The engagement is just a red carpet walk with him and a toast to the guests. The procedure is not complicated, so don’t be nervous.”Arabella nodded and took a sip of water from the cup on the table to ease the restlessness in her heart.A hotel staff member walked in and said, “Mrs. Grant, President Grant is looking for you.”Serenity nodded and looked at Arabella. “I’ll be bac
After Arabella left the hotel, she called Daniel again, but no one picked up.After calling four or five times, she put her phone back into her handbag and hailed a taxi by the roadside. She gave the address of South Bay.Upon arrival, she paid the fare and walked to the villa’s door. She took a deep breath and raised her hand to press the doorbell.Mrs. Winstead answered the door. “Ms. Arabella?”The lady could recognize her not because she had a good memory, but because other than the lady, the young master had never brought a woman back.Arabella had a faint smile on her face when she said, “Mrs. Winstead, I’m here to see President Garcia.”Mrs. Winstead could tell that the young master treated her differently, so she was very polite to Arabella. “He should still be in the company at this time.” “Then can I please wait for him inside?” She had to see him today no matter what.“I can’t let you in without the young master’s permission.” Mrs. Winstead was hesitant.Arabella decided no
“Yeah, it was quite entertaining,” said Jack, stretching out his hand, with two 500 bank notes that Daniel had earned with ten minutes of work.He had to walk up to Jack to pull them out of his hand, which was the pinnacle of this experience. “Did you pull up here just for this?” he groaned and pushed the money into his pocket.“No, I still want my car washed,” said Jack, putting his hands into his pockets, on both sides of the bulge in his pants. He smelled of arousal, and all of a sudden, handsome Daniel could tell.“Sure, why not. Why not watch how badly I did, huh?” Daniel walked back to the buckets, trying to ignore the burning shame. “‘Look at me, I used to be the school loser and now I’ve got a Jag’,” he muttered and dipped the large sponge in the soapy water.Jack sighed. “You must really hate it, don’t you?”Daniel’s pulse sped up, and he could feel the vein bulging out on his neck. Even the orgasm he’d just had couldn’t soothe his nerves when Jack rubbed his success into Dan
Jack Ramirez POV “Daniel Garcia, am I right? The basketball star?”Daniel gave him a crooked smile. Daniel Garcia, the basketball star. That did sound nice. Too bad it wasn’t school anymore, and you couldn’t live off being a mediocre basketball player. He’d been good in school, just not good enough for a scholarship.But Daniel had to focus on the problem at hand. He couldn’t link those tantalizing eyes to a name at all. “Yeah, long time ago,” he said and held out his hand to the guy, hoping the driver would save him from his misery and introduce himself. He didn’t even take the hand Daniel Garcia offered.“Do you know who I am?” he asked with a small smile.Daniel crooked his head to the side and rubbed his hand against his sweaty stomach as if he’d never held it out. This was getting truly annoying. “Not really, no.” He shrugged, trying to keep his cool even though goosebumps of shame were crawling up his back. A motherfucker he was supposed to know from school pulled up in a sport
Daniel Garcia POVThe heat made Daniel Garcia boil in his uniform, so even though his boss had told him not to, he pushed the top of his coveralls down to his hips. Daniel was pretty sure the old pig was just jealous that his employee looked so much hotter than him. Not to mention both Manny’s wife and their daughter, Kiara Ramos, were making eyes at Daniel Garcia, which couldn’t be going down all that well with the guy. Manny Ramos probably only kept Daniel on because he couldn’t find anyone else who’d do the job for the slave wages he was willing to offer and live in the ancient motel by the gas station as well.Daniel carried a crate of beer into the small convenience store where Manny Ramos sat behind the counter, sweating, farting, watching TV, and fanning himself with a newspaper. Without a word, Daniel made his way toward the fridge to stack it full of beer. When he left home three years ago, he never thought he’d end up working at a shabby gas station in a deserted place, in a
Xander Reyes POVXander looked at this Daniel, so gorgeous, pretty, hard, and needy. It was one of the easiest assignments he’d ever had. His bright hazel eyes were heavy with lust, and then sooty black lashes swept Daniel's face as he shut his eyes tight. Xander didn’t kiss on jobs like this, ever, nor did any of his clients ever get to know his real name. But right now, seeing Daniel’s lips parted in a moan, his name repeated over and over, it was all he could do not to bite down on Daniel’s plump lower lip and then lick his way into that appealing open mouth. Groaning, he pulled himself back, he needed to get his head back in the game, and he wasn’t going to expose his vulnerability like that. He focused back on what he was doing, turning Daniel into a pile of sobbing need in his arms. "Want to suck me?" Xander asked, low and insistent. "Want me to force you to your knees, and make you suck me until I come all over your skin, rub it in… make you beg for me?"Xander felt Daniel push
Daniel Garcia Past LifeDaniel Garcia lived his own life far from his brother after they separated from their parents. He tried so damn hard to be a good straight husband. The life he chose meant so much to him. He experienced the ultimate sin which made him aware of the remnants of his past. Together with his brother, he approached the only sparkling desire that he thought to be the answer to his dream. Daniel wanted a family of his own, but, fate was unkind to him.It may have been the alcohol or the high of knowing tomorrow he’d be closer to changing his life, but tonight, worse the wear for the beers he had downed in quick succession on an empty stomach, meant that for once, he wanted to be himself. So he stood here, in a gay bar on what the cab driver said was the wrong side of town. The bar had shadowed corners and the smell of sex in the air—he watched.He watched the man at the bar; saw him leaning back, veiled eyes scanning the heaving late-night crowd. He stood in sinfully
Arabella put her cutlery down too and indifferently said, “He just doesn’t want to see me. So no matter how much you cook, you won’t persuade him otherwise.”‘Didn’t you say that you didn’t want to see me? Why did you come back then?’She remembered every single word he said yesterday which lingered like thorns in her heart.Daniel’s expression turned colder when he heard her words. He walked away to pick up the car keys on the coffee table and grabbed his coat at the entrance.He must have used too much force because the hanger shook twice and almost fell to the ground.Daniel walked out and not long after, the sound of a car engine came from outside.Mrs. Winstead walked to the living room and saw Daniel driving away. She returned to the dining room with a gloomy expression. “Young Madam…”After Daniel left, Arabella lost her appetite so she stood up and walked towards the stairs.Mrs. Winstead looked on and sighed heavily. When Young Master had not been coming back over the past fe
He got up and walked towards the stairs. She followed closely behind him and the two headed up to the second floor one after another. When they reached the bedroom door, Daniel did not stop, continuing to walk towards the study room.Arabella grabbed his sleeve again and Daniel stopped in his tracks. He turned around to look at her expressionlessly.“What are you angry about?” She looked up and met his dark eyes.He looked back at her innocent eyes and the words that he wanted to ask became stuck in his throat. “Nothing,” said he calmly.“How can it be ‘nothing’? You haven’t been home for half a month.” Afraid he would shake her off, she tightened her grip on his sleeve which started to wrinkle.“It was a business trip,” said he curtly.“What about before the business trip? Furthermore, Caleb told me that it has been a few days since you returned from your business trip.”Well, the part about Caleb telling her so was a lie. But she felt no guilt implicating Daniel’s assistant since Ca
Arabella had been waiting in the parking lot of Zephyr Group since 4 p.m.Afraid that she would be seen by her colleagues, she chose to hide in an inconspicuous corner while keeping her eyes on Daniel’s car.One hour, two hours, three hours passed, but Daniel still did not appear.The sky gradually darkened and the lights in the parking lot were a little dim, making the place gloomy and cold.She wrapped her coat tightly around her body and crouched as if to curl herself into a ball. Since she stayed in that position for quite some time, her legs started to feel a little numb. She decided to stand and walk a few steps to return blood flow to her legs. After stretching for a while, she resumed her crouched position.With the night approaching, the cold in the dim parking lot grew heavier – Arabella started to shiver. She wanted to go home in a huff, but she was also unwilling to do so without having confronted Daniel.What right did he have to treat her like this?Even if he was angry,
When it was the day of the pregnancy checkup, Daniel had not returned from the business trip. She was already expecting to go to the hospital alone only to find someone else in the living room when she came downstairs.“Why are you here?” She looked at Francesca in surprise.“Young Madam, President Garcia asked me to accompany you to the hospital,” said Francesca gently.It seemed that he still remembered the date. Arabella nodded. “Let’s go.”Mrs. Winstead noticed how thin the clothes Arabella was wearing so the former handed the latter a red coat on the hanger at the entrance.How could Arabella refuse Mrs. Winstead’s kind intentions? The former took off her jacket and put on the coat. Then, Arabella grabbed her bag and left the living room with Francesca following behind her.Because Francesca had made an appointment in advance, they went straight to the hospital for the checkup. After a series of examinations, the doctor said, “The child is very healthy. It’s just that you must ha