“It’s our anniversary today. I planned our day together,” I declare. “I have work to do,” “But I asked your PA to clear your schedule for the day,” “That’s the thing. You made plans behind my back without talking to me about it first, Ariel,” He then walks past me and walks out of the closet. “I thought I was doing something nice for you – for us at least. You have always worked so hard, so at least take this day off with me. We never got to celebrate our wedding anniversary,” I rebuke. He decides not to say anything. He opens his bag on the couch facing our bed and takes out a white A4 envelope, tossing it on the little table in the middle of our room. “Is it so hard for you to read the room all the time? How would you celebrate a wedding anniversary when there is no love between us? Are you not tired of all this pretence because I am!" He chastises. "That’s for you. Sign it so that we can get it over and done with,” With that said, he puts on his black sunglasses and walks out of the room. Only then do I breathe out the air I didn’t even know I was holding. I’m confused and, most of all, hurt. I didn’t see this coming. I drop my eyes on the envelope with bold printed letters of the name of the law firm our lawyer works at.
View MoreThe room was tense with anticipation as Ariel sat down, her children by her side. Lisa, Grandpa, and Caleb were all present, their eyes fixed on her with a mix of curiosity and accusation. Star, ever the curious one, was asking questions and exploring his surroundings, playing with his half-brother Austin, while Moon was shy and clinging to her mother's lap.Ariel, however, was not interested in answering any questions. She sat silently, her eyes fixed on some point in front of her, her expression unreadable. Lisa, frustrated by the silence, spoke up."Ariel, how could you just disappear like that? You were pregnant with our grandchildren, and you didn't even bother to tell us?"Ariel's response was a sarcastic laugh. “You're blaming me for this? Your son Chase didn't even bother to tell anyone I was pregnant. He just left me to deal with it on my own."The room fell silent again, the tension palpable. Ariel's eyes flashed with anger, her voice rising."I tried to reach out to Ms. Wi
ARIELI woke up early, feeling a mix of emotions as I got my kids ready for the big day. Moon was bouncing with excitement, her pink tutu dress making her look like a tiny ballerina. Star, on the other hand, was his usual curious self, asking me questions about where we were going. I just smiled and told him to wait and see.As I helped Star into his black suit and styled his hair, he looked up at me with his big green eyes. “Mommy, you look beautiful,” he said, his voice filled with sincerity.I smiled, feeling a warmth in my heart. “Thank you, baby. You look pretty handsome yourself.”Moon chimed in, “And I’m a princess, Mommy!”I laughed, hugging them both tight. “Yes, you are, baby girl. You’re my little princess.”Sophia helped me into my red designer mermaid tail dress, the fabric hugging my curves like a glove. The trail was long and flowing, and I felt like a million bucks.Sophia gasped as I turned around, her eyes wide with admiration. “Ariel, you look stunning. I mean,
Chase arrived at the restaurant, scanning the room for Monica. He spotted her waving at him from a corner table, her smile bright and inviting. He made his way over, his mind wondering what this urgent meeting could be about.As he sat down, Monica’s eyes sparkled with excitement. “Thanks for coming, Chase. I know it’s last minute, but I had to talk to you about something important.”Chase leaned back in his chair, his eyes narrowing slightly. “What is it, Monica? You’re starting to worry me.”Monica took a deep breath, her voice dropping to a whisper. “I went to Ariel’s house sometime ago. I wanted to invite her to our wedding, and I thought maybe it would change her mind about…you know, trying to bring you down.”Chase’s eyes widened in disbelief, his anger rising. “You what? Monica, how could you be so stupid?”Monica’s eyes flashed with defensiveness.“I was just trying to help! I thought maybe if Ariel saw how happy we are, she’d realise that her vendetta against you is point
A month later, Ariel’s penthouse apartment was a tranquil oasis, the soft hum of the air conditioning and the gentle rustle of the wind outside creating a soothing background noise. She had just finished a virtual meeting with her team and was looking forward to a quiet evening when the doorbell rang. She hesitated for a moment, wondering who it could be, before making her way to the entrance.As she opened the door, a surprised expression crossed her face. Monica, her former husband’s partner, stood in the hallway, a smug smile plastered on her face, but she wasn’t alone. Ariel’s instincts immediately went on high alert, her mind racing with possibilities.“Monica, what a surprise,” Ariel said, her voice neutral, as she stepped aside to let her in.Monica swept into the apartment, her eyes scanning the luxurious décor, a hint of envy flickering across her face. “Ariel, your place is stunning,” she gushed, her voice dripping with insincerity.“As if you’ve never been here before,” Ar
Ariel sat on the balcony, surrounded by papers and documents, her mind focused on the plan she had been concocting. She picked up her phone and dialled a number, waiting for her father to answer.“Dad, I’m ready,” she said, her voice firm and determined.“Ariel, are you sure you’re ready for this? The Coles won’t go down without a fight,” her father warned.“I know, Dad. But I’m not backing down. They ruined your company and left you with nothing. It’s time for them to pay,” Ariel said, her voice filled with conviction.“Okay, sweetheart. I trust you. You have my full support. Remember, you have the shares and the knowledge. Use it wisely,” her father said, his voice filled with pride.Ariel hung up the phone and gathered her papers, her mind racing with the plan. She had been studying the company’s financials and operations, and she knew exactly where to strike.*** She walked into the office, her head held high, and demanded a meeting with Chase and the chairman.“What is this abou
ARIEL As I arrived at Coles Group, I felt a mix of emotions: excitement, nervousness, and determination. I was ready to take on this new challenge and prove myself. Sophia, my assistant, had helped me prepare for this day, and I was grateful for her support.As I settled into my small office, I didn’t mind the size; I knew my purpose was bigger than this room. But as the day went on, the workload became overwhelming, and I needed a break. When lunchtime arrived, I decided to step out and grab something to eat.As I waited for the elevator, I noticed Chase, and our eyes met. I felt a flutter in my chest, and I quickly looked away, not wanting to reveal my emotions. But then, I spoke up, telling him not to leave on my account. He denied it, but I knew better.We stepped into the elevator, and the silence was palpable. I couldn’t help but think about all the questions I wanted to ask him, all the things I wanted to say. But I didn’t have the courage. The elevator seemed to take forever,
CHASE I woke up with a start, my heart racing, as I saw Ariel’s face looming over me. Her smile was menacing, and the pillow in her hand made me fear for my life. But just as she was about to suffocate me, Austin’s voice called out from afar, “Dad, wake up!” I jolted upright, realizing it was just a nightmare. Austin climbed onto my lap, and we chatted for a bit until he told me Lisa had sent him to wake me up for breakfast.As we headed downstairs, I couldn’t shake off the lingering fear from my dream. The whole family was already seated at the breakfast table, including Monica, Caleb, Grandpa Piet, and my mom Lisa. We exchanged light conversations during breakfast until Caleb mentioned the board meeting about Apollo. Monica’s curiosity was piqued, and she asked about Apollo’s identity. Just as grandfather was about to reveal the truth, I cut him off, not wanting Monica to know about Ariel’s return just yet. Caleb gave me a suspicious look, and I knew he was wondering what I was h
ARIEL As I walked into the boardroom, my heart raced with anticipation and nerves. I had rehearsed this moment countless times, but nothing could have prepared me for the intensity of Chase’s gaze. Our eyes met, and a flurry of emotions swirled in my head. I hadn’t seen him in years, and the memories came flooding back.I took a deep breath and began my presentation, pointing out the positives and negatives of Coles Group. My voice was steady, but my eyes kept drifting to Chase, wondering what he was thinking. Did he still resent me? Did he at least feel love for me?“I own 10% shares in this company,” I stated, my voice firm. “And I demand a position on the board.”Chase’s face turned red with anger. “Absolutely not,” he spat. “You have an ulterior motive, Ariel. We can’t trust you.”I felt a sting from his words, but I stood my ground. “I’ve worked hard to fix the mistakes of the past, to make this company grow. I deserve a place here.”Chase opened his mouth to argue, but his gr
ARIEL LOPEZI flung open the door to my penthouse, beaming with excitement as my parents walked in. It had been too long since we'd last seen each other, and I couldn't wait to catch up. My stepmom enveloped me in a warm hug, tears welling up in her eyes, while my dad smiled broadly, his eyes crinkling at the corners. We spent the evening laughing and chatting, Sophia and the kids joining in on the fun.As we sat down to dinner, I felt a sense of contentment wash over me. This was what I'd been missing – my family, my loved ones, my support system. After dinner, I turned to my dad, my expression serious. "Dad, can we talk business for a bit?"He nodded, his eyes understanding. "Of course, Ariel. What do you need to know?"I took a deep breath as he filled me in on everything I'd missed at Coles Group. My mind raced with the information, my thoughts whirling with strategies and plans. But then, he dropped a bombshell – Chase and Monica were getting married soon. My heart skipped a be
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