As Ariel, Dylan, and Paul drove to the hospital, Ariel's heart beat rapidly.She could not believe how fast the situation had developed, from having to spend the night in the room of an unknown man to finding out that this unknown man could be the father of her child.She sighed heavily and noticed Paul staring at Dylan.Dylan made funny faces at Paul, making Paul giggle happily.Now that she saw them up close, she realized they resembled a lot. They had the same eye color, the same type of hair, and the same skin texture. They looked so much alike it was hard to believe.Yet, Ariel could not get her hopes up. He could not be the father, after all. After all, the mansion was a big one, and any man, even the butler, could have been the man she had a one-night stand with.She had always wished she could find Paul's father as she didn't want him to grow up without a father like she did, but she had resigned herself to fate already when she had been mercilessly chased out of the house by
"I don't know, Dylan. This feels too odd to me. I'm not sure I can marry you.""Think about it. I will make it worth your while. It will just be for a year. It's to put my grandpa off my back for some time. We won't interfere with each other's affairs throughout the marriage. We will live in separate rooms, have separate lives, and only be married by name. And it will be for a year. After a year, we'll have a divorce and go our separate ways. But I'd still be fully responsible for Paul, my son."Ariel looked down, avoiding Dylan's eyes. The offer was very tempting. She did need money, and Dylan was offering her any amount. Any amount she needed. He was rich, so he'd surely fulfill her request.But could she do this? Could she get married to this man? A man she had only met, maybe twice? It didn't matter if he was the father of her son. He was a total stranger to her."You don't have to give me an answer today. You can think about it and give me an answer whenever you're ready. Here's
For as long as Ariel could remember, she had always worked in one job or the other. And they all didn't pay well because of her limited education and the usual exploitation of the poor by the rich.Ariel had once worked at a coffee shop, as a sales girl in a supermarket, as a delivery girl, as a nanny, as a maid, and now as a sales clerk.When she worked as a maid at Dylan's mansion, it was to get money for college since her parents could not afford it.But it had ended in her getting pregnant and being kicked out after she had made a drama there.Ariel sighed heavily.Her parents had separated when she was in high school. She still remembered how turbulent those days had been. Her parents hated each other to the core and just wanted to kill each other.They were also very irresponsible, and Ariel had had to work at a café shop to provide for the family's needs after that time.It had only been recently that she and her mother had started to get along. She hated her before because sh
Esther said nothing, simply staring down at her feet.Ariel walked out of the kitchen."Wait!"She stopped and looked back.Esther came out of the kitchen, looking at her with wary eyes."Can you give me a dollar? I haven't eaten anything since yesterday night, you see?""Why? I cooked food when I returned had there's still food in the pot.""Well…""Well, what?"Esther remained silent."Alright, fine!"Ariel took some money from her purse and gave it to her mother."Use it to buy what you want to buy. I know you will still spend it on booze anyway," she said."Thank you so much, daughter! I will repay you as soon as possible!"Ariel scoffed."I'm serious," said Esther, " I promise to pay you back! I'll get a job and pay you all the money you have given us!""Hmmm," Ariel said and walked out of the house.Her mother was not deceiving her but herself. She had been saying she would get a job now for five years, yet did nothing to do so. All she did was wait for her to get her paycheck
Classes for the day were finally over. She could not concentrate that much because her mind was full of the bills she had to pay. The topmost of them was her school fees. The deadline for the payment was very close, and she still hadn't gathered enough money for it.This was what she was thinking about when she reached the Cafè she usually worked at. As soon as she stepped into it, her boss, a short, chubby man in his late fifties and balding red hair, stomped over to her."Ariel! You are late!""Sorry, boss," I replied, even though I was only seven minutes late."Eat your sorry! Her customers have been waiting for you! They want you specifically to make their drink! Yet when I look around, there's no sign of you!""I was in class, sir. We just finished classes for the day.""That's no business of mine! I employed you here to work for her! I don't care about your lifestyle! Now go into the kitchen and make them some coffee and latte!"Sarah gave a nod and went into the kitchen, where
After Ariel got fired, she sought other work to do. It wasn't easy, as many people did not want to employ a young schoolgirl without experience.The days flew by. Ariel's parents got a divorce. Her father packed his things and left the house while she and her mother picked up the pieces of their broken marriage, yet Ariel was happy."I'm sorry, Ariel. I neglected you all these years because of your father. I promise to be more responsible now. Give me another chance to make it up to you," her mother said after a few days of her husband's leaving."And how are you gonna make it up to me?""I'll get a job."Ariel didn't forgive her mother that easily. She was too angry with her to forget the suffering she had caused her all these years.Esther did get a job, though, and things got better. She could pay the house rent, Ariel's school fees, and the basic needs.But there was still no hope of getting Ariel's college fund.While things got a bit better, Ariel was still unhappy because while
She also felt a sensation in her lower abdomen, one she had never felt before. Was she horny?Ariel left the kitchen, heading for the maid's quarters for a cold shower. Perhaps she would feel better if she showered. She thought.But it became even harder and harder to move. Her vision was very blurry, and she felt very dizzy.Strangely enough, too, there was nobody around. The hall, which used to have people walking around, seemed empty.Why was it empty? Had everyone gone to sleep? At this time?Ariel approached a room, hoping to be the servant quarters, and went inside.But when she entered, she was in an unfamiliar man. He was staring at her intensely."Sir?"The man suddenly grabbed her and threw her on the bed."Sir! What are you-"She could not finish her sentence because the man pressed his lips against hers and kissed her.Strangely enough, his kiss felt so calming and satisfying, so she kissed him back, wrapping her arms around his neck.He allowed her to breathe for a while
The next day, Ariel returned to work at the mansion as if nothing happened. She was still a bit shaken about the incident but it didn't matter anyway.By the time she returned that day to the mansion, no member of the family was there anymore. It was only Grandpa Grey who was there.She remembered the first time she spoke to him. The head maid had informed her the boss wanted coffee and that she should serve him.Feeling a bit nervous because it had been some time since she made coffee after being fired a few years ago, Ariel went ahead to make the coffee and served him.He had been lying down on one of the long expensive sofas in the sitting room, wearing a long cotton robe and he had glasses on. He was hooked on some magazine as he had not noticed when Ariel had walked in."Here's the coffee you wanted, sir.""Oh?"He sat up and immediately took a sip of the coffee."This is good."Ariel slightly nodded and started to leave."Wait."She turned to look at him."What?""You said you w