Chapter 2 Everything Was Well

After he hung up the call, Johnny Gravidez remained silent for a while before calling the office line, which was answered by his assistant. After the call was connected, he said, “Book a dinner appointment with President Garcia of Zenith Group.”

Alfred replied, “Yes, President Gravidez.”

The President’s office was located on the 28th floor. Standing in front of the curtained window, Johnny was wearing a white blouse and had his sleeves folded up, showing off his muscular arms.

He clearly remembered that evening when Arabella left three years ago. She destroyed all of their photos and threw away everything that was related to him. Her determined tone of voice was filled with hatred.

“Johnny Gravidez, let’s hope that we will never meet again in this life.”

He closed his eyes and gently mumbled, “Arabella…”

Arabella sat in the backseat with her eyes closed. It was not until Mr. Ramil had told her that they had arrived that she opened her eyes.

Mr. Ramil got down from the car and opened the car door for her. Upon looking at the bungalow in front of her, she froze and furrowed her delicate eyebrows slightly. “What are we doing here at the Gravidez family’s place?”

Mr. Ramil obediently replied, “Miss Arabella said that she had not seen you for three years and told me to fetch you here for a meal.”

Serenity pursed her pale lips. It had been three years, and if it was not for her grandfather, Master Samson who was going to celebrate his 80th birthday, she probably would never have come back here again.

Regardless of whether it was California, England, or Canada, as long as it was not her birth country, she was willing to live there forever even if it meant that she was going to be alone forever.

The maids of the Grant family led her to the living room, and Serenity happened to be walking down the stairs. Upon seeing Arabella, who was standing at the entrance, her spirits were immediately lifted.

“Arabella, you are finally willing to come back.”

When Serenity left the country, Arabella had gone to send her off at the airport. Serenity’s eyes had been filled with disappointment and despair. “I am never coming back again, and I will not give you my blessings.”

In another week, it would be John and Serenity’s wedding. Since she could not stop the wedding, she could only choose to escape.

After she left the country, she cut off contact with everybody. She did not even sign in to her F******k account anymore.

This carried on until one day, she suddenly called her dad, Benjamin Rivera as she needed a large sum of money, and she regained her contact with her family.

She had not seen her for three years, and Serenity, who was already married, had become prettier than before.

She was wearing a light-green-colored dress, which had elegant orchids embroidered on the collar. The dress showed off her fair-as-snow and long, slender legs.

She’d cut her long hair, and her delicate hair was slightly curled at the end. It was dyed a beautiful maroon color, which matched her fair and peachy skin tone. It made her look very fashionable and pretty.

She slowly walked down the stairs and had the gentle demeanor that a girl who came from a rich family should have.

“Sis,” greeted Serenity gently. She no longer had the cute and soft voice she had in the past.

Serenity Rivera went down the stairs and dragged Arabella in while looking at her from head to toe.

She looked much slimmer than before. It was as if she was only left with bones.

Serenity felt very sorry for her and said, “Are you not doing well in California?”

“Nope, I am doing okay.” Whenever someone asked her about her situation in California, she would always reply with an “It is okay.”

Arabella Rivera knew that her sister had a stubborn personality. If she was not willing to say it, it would be pointless asking her.

Upon seeing Arabella’s heavy eyebags, she said, “Go get some rest upstairs. When you are awake, I will ask the kitchen staff to make your favorite dishes.”

“Okay.” She was indeed tired and immediately went upstairs after replying to her big sister. She was familiar with the Grant residence and, thus, reached the guest room in no time.

She entered the bathroom to take a bath. After her bath, she came out to dry her hair before lying on the bed and slowly closing her eyes.

She could not sleep peacefully. She still had those weird nightmares as usual.

XXX

It would be best if you didn’t Eat Too Much at Night

When she woke up, it was already very dark. She took her phone, which was placed at the bedside, and looked at it, only to realize that it was already 9:30 pm.

Since she did not eat anything during the flight, she was a little hungry by then.

She changed her clothes and wanted to go downstairs. After she walked out of the guest room, she took a look at the ground level from the corridor.

Serenity was in the living room, sitting on the sofa while watching a variety show. The maid served a plate of fruits on the coffee table.

She had just walked down two steps when she saw John coming home. The maid laid down his slippers in front of him.

She immediately stopped in her tracks and held the golden railing tighter.

Compared to three years ago, he now looked more mature and charismatic. He was wearing a dark-colored luxury Western suit coupled with a white blouse, making him look very cold and clean.

He changed out of his shoes at the entrance and, thus, was not able to notice Arabella, who was at the stairs.

She stood at the stairs and contemplated whether she should go down or not. If she went down, things would definitely get awkward for the three of them. Just as she was about to turn around to return to her room, Serenity’s voice could be heard from behind her. “Arabella.”

Her body suddenly froze, and she instinctively bit her lips while her fingernails dug deep into her palms, causing a tinge of pain.

After a long time, she finally turned around. By then, her face had regained its original color, and not a single weird expression could be seen.

Serenity was sitting on the sofa in the living room while looking at her. John, who was standing at the entrance, also looked at her at the same time.

She faintly glared at him and retracted her gaze without a trace. She walked down the stairs and said, “Sis, I am hungry.”

Serenity happily shouted, “Lily!”

Lily came out of the kitchen and saw Arabella walking down the stairs. She excitedly greeted her, “Miss Arabella.”

Before John and Serenity got married, Serenity used to visit the Grant family all the time. Hence, most of the maids working for the Grant family recognized her.

Serenity did not have that proud and arrogant demeanor that a rich man’s daughter usually had. In the past, when she visited the Grant family, she would always call her “Lily” in a sweet voice. Hence, she’d built a good image for herself in front of Lily.

John entered the living room, and Arabella naturally went forward to take off his coat. She hung his coat on the wooden rack. They looked very much like an old couple.

Arabella felt that the scene seemed as if it was meant to mock her. It was as though there was a sharp dagger slowly slicing across her heart. It was so painful that her heart clenched.

Lily served the dishes, which were specifically made for her. Arabella walked to the dining room and casually asked, “Where’s Mrs. Watson?”

Mrs. Watson was an experienced maid of the Grant family, and she liked Arabella very much. In the past, whenever she visited the Grant family, Mrs. Watson would always cook her favorite dishes and prepare her favorite fruits.

Serenity smelled an alcoholic scent from John and told the maid to cook some hangover soup for him. Upon hearing Serenity’s words, she replied, “Mrs. Watson’s grandson is sick so she took the day off.”

John lay on the sofa as he felt very tired. He took a glance at Arabella, who was at the dining table. She no longer had the shy look from before, and her white dress made her skin look as fair as snow with her eyebrows now looking very pretty and delicate.

She seemed to have lost a lot of weight, particularly the baby fat on her face. Her jaw looked sharper, and perhaps because she was too thin, her eyes looked especially big. Yet her eyes still looked as dark and clear as ever.

Arabella’s appetite was really small and she did not eat a lot. She ate only a few bites and put down her cutlery.

Lily saw that she did not eat much and asked, “Ms. Arabella, is the food not suitable for you?”

It should not be like this as it was cooked according to her past taste.

Arabella didn’t even have the chance to reply to her because John suddenly interrupted her. “It’s not good to eat too much at night.”

He had just finished speaking when he saw Arabella raising her head to look towards him. His heart suddenly tightened.

Ever since he came in just now, she kept ignoring him.

XXX