Luckily, the rain had subsided, but it was still chilly at that hour. I hugged myself.
"It's okay. I understand. Hannah is his sister," I said."Stepsister, Celeste. You could've stopped him earlier. Why didn't you?" he asked further.My lips formed a thin line, and I shook my head. "It's an emergency, Rust. It's okay. I understand. Maybe he really needed to be there because his dad called him earlier. You know, Arik's memory is still not fine."I leaned on the car's hood, just like Rusty. I remained in a daze for a few more seconds until I smelled cigarette smoke, so I turned to look at him. He was puffing on one while gazing into the void. His forehead was slightly creased.I couldn't help but stare at him. His hair was tied in a bun, and like Arik, he had tattoos. He had a few rebellious strands of hair on his face. He stood at 6 feet and had a tan complexion.He wasn't the typical guy you'd see in bars. He was actually decent and handsome. It seemed"My family owns some businesses too, and one of their partners is the child of the Montercarlos. That's all. I just want to help," he said, raising an eyebrow. I couldn't tell if he was serious or not."And what? Are you going to get punched by Arik again?" Oliver commented."What's happening? Are you guys arguing?" Dad asked in surprise, making me facepalm."Really? Are we really discussing my personal life here? In the conference room?" I sarcastically asked them all.Mommy just smiled at me along with Dad. Rusty still had his gaze on me. Thankfully, my board members had left, and it was just us left in the room."But I'm serious though. I can accompany you to them.""And what makes you think I will let you do that, moron?"We all looked at the man who suddenly walked into the conference room. He confidently walked towards me and kissed me on the lips in front of everyone before greeting my mom and dad and exchanging pleasantries. He ignored Oliv
"Get up there and yell at me, you jerk! Not your girlfriend! Not Celeste!" Rusty shouted at him again. I covered my mouth because of the consecutive sobs that escaped.Arik stood up and glared sharply at Rusty, his anger blazing and evident in his expression, showing no intention to back down from Arik at this moment."A freaking playboy who knows nothing but collecting girls! What can I gain from you?! You'd probably lie just to get Celeste! You're trying every way you know just to get into her skirt, right?!" Arik turned fiercely towards me, his eyes burning red. "And you, you want him too!""Y-you—!"I couldn't continue my words because it seemed like I ran out of things to say, so I poured my frustration into my palm and slapped it onto his cheek. It echoed throughout the house.In an instant, everyone who needed to be silent went silent. Even my heartbeat skipped a beat for a second. Even my heavy breathing, my howl, my cry—it felt like they
"Can you please shut up, Hannah? Let them talk to each other." Rusty sternly scolded her.I no longer paid attention to them. I was about to approach Arik when I saw his small step back from me. I felt a pang of pain in my heart.Especially when he glanced at me. His eyes were bloodshot red and filled with hatred and disgust."Is this how you behave just because I still can't remember most things about you? Are you trying to make a fool out of me, Celeste?" he asked me coldly.His voice was calm, not the calm I wanted, but the calm I feared.My heart dropped. "A-Arik...""How will you explain this, Celeste? I was actually trying to defend you to Hannah because she's been saying this for days, that you were in a secret relationship with that jerk. I defended you and then this is what reaches me?" he said in disbelief.I couldn't believe what he was saying either. I was expecting that he wouldn't believe what he saw because he knows me. He knows me b
Suddenly, I feel disgusted. That was our home. That's where we lived. That's where Ariah, his daughter, slept. That's where we built our family and our dreams.But in an instant, it seemed tainted. If given the chance, I wouldn't want to go back there.I noticed tears streaming down my face as I stared at the curtain of the terrace in that room, swaying in the wind. I don't know what time it is, but I think it's still too early because it's a bit dark outside.Did Rusty bring me here?A while later, the door suddenly opened and Daddy came in, carrying a tray of food and a glass of milk. I didn't move from my lying position. He silently sat down beside me, so I just looked at him."How are you feeling?" His voice is warm. Aside from Arik, he's the only man who can talk to me like this. His voice is soothing to me. I couldn't speak because tears were welling up in my eyes."Ariah is here, too. She's downstairs with your mom. It's still early, Celeste. Res
Surprisingly, no one informed me that there's a private event happening in my tower, which is rented by the Montecarlos. Arik and Hannah, along with Hannah's biological parents and other friends, are in a different hall, far from where we are, but we can clearly see them from where we are situated.This makes me want to ask them to leave, especially because Ariah might see them, especially her father."Nobody told me, Mom. I thought this entire floor was closed because I informed the staff early. Why didn't anyone tell me that they would be coming here today?" I asked my mom in annoyance.I immediately called her the moment I saw the Montercarlos, especially the irritating face of Hannah. It would be fine if it were just them, but Arik is here! I don't want Ariah to see him with another woman and ask about it. I can't lie to her! And I don't want to hurt her by telling the truth!I glanced at Ariah while I heard what Mommy was saying. I noticed that Aurora and Ki
Arik:Do you really mean it?I've been staring at that text from Arik for a few minutes now, and I still can't figure out what he's referring to.It was already 12 AM, and we were still here at the tower's bar lounge. Rusty fulfilled his promise to stay in one of the suites, but he insisted on paying for it. Oliver followed suit, along with Mom and Dad, but it's just us who are still awake and drinking."Why don't you ask? Reply to him," Kim suggested to me.Aurora's expression immediately contradicted. She took a shot and cursed."And what? Be foolish again? Of course! It's obvious what Arik is referring to—what you told him earlier, that you don't want to see him again," she said.I put away my phone and let it be.That text has been there since earlier. Around ten o'clock. I thought there might be another text because I didn't reply, but there was none. I guess Aurora was right. That's what he meant."What
Arik's dark expression didn't change. Instead, he stared at me even more deeply and intensely. It was as if I had done something terribly wrong to him, and he was angry now."I didn't leave your tower. Just them," he said, referring to the Montecarlos.I sarcastically laughed. "Together with your girlfriend? How rude of you to let her leave first and you're still here until now.""She's not my girlfriend, Celeste," he said firmly, and his aura grew even darker. "Hannah is still my sister."My mouth hung open. I wanted to tell him that I saw how he let Hannah kiss him that night, but I didn't let those words escape my lips.I told him I was done here. I'm done letting him know that I'm hurting. He should've known in the first place because that was his first priority back then. Now it seems like he doesn't see it anymore, even if I scream it in his ears.I averted my gaze from him. The image of him letting Hannah kiss him while holding her waist keeps re
"I'll have our things and my child's belongings picked up from your house later. I'm just letting you know to avoid mistaking the one going there for a thief," I said while keeping my gaze fixed on my laptop. I don't want to see him.I was surprised to find him in my office that morning. Pau didn't know what was going on, so she let him stay there."You don't need to do that, Celeste. Can we discuss this again?" He pleaded. His voice still sounded hoarse. It seemed like he was unwell.I glanced at him. His nose was runny, and his eyes were red and puffy. He's clearly sick."I can't talk right now, Arik. Don't you have a job? Don't you run your own company? Because I do, and I have plenty." I said firmly and stood up.I walked over to the shelf to look for the book I needed. Suddenly, frustration was overwhelming me again. Besides not finding that book, I couldn't understand my own feelings.And I knew that in searching for that book, I was venting my ir