“What do you want?” She seethed, not in the mood for her stunts.
“Cool it, will you? I came in peace.” She smirked and invited herself in.
“Nice pl…”
“What do you want?!” Natalia snapped. Selena turned with a sly look.
“If you’re so excited, okay. I came to invite you to my engagement party. And since you’re VIP, I’m giving you the first IV.” She shoved an elegant invitation card in her hand.
Natalia looked it over and saw Arian’s name matched with hers.
“What’s the meaning of this joke?” She chuckled despite her annoyance. “I’m not in the mood to play games, so please leave.”
“I’m not surprised Arian didn’t tell you. Why do you think I’ve been living at the Argent’s mansion for months now? Arian and I have been betrothed since childhood and our wedding is just around the corner.” She triumphantly smirked.
And the invitation card fell off Natalia’s hand.
“Y.. you’re l… lying. You’re lying! You’re ju… just making things up to separate us! Arian’s mad at me because of you. Now you want me to get mad at him? Whatever twisted game you’re playing won’t work!” Her heartbeat accelerated as she tried to assure herself. It couldn’t be true.
It just couldn’t be true!
“Are you listening to yourself? You don’t even believe your own words! If he’s mad at you, then he’s just making up excuses to break up with you. With all your perfect grades in class and everything, aren’t you smart?
“You’re relationship was a lie from the beginning! You were just a toy he was having fun with and I’m sure you gladly gave yourself to him. It’s not weird to see fiancés become playboys before their wedding night. After all, their Casanova lives are coming to an end. It’s a pity he manipulated and capitalised on your naivety to fool you! Bad boys never treat the good girls right, haven’t you heard?
“But not to worry, you might become the mistress if he hasn’t slept with you yet. He’s so sinfully gorgeous you wouldn’t be able to resist when he asks. I admit I wasn’t able to resist when he got bored of you playing hard to get and came to me instead.” She paused and smirked.
”While you play the innocent girlfriend during the day, he’s always dying to come play lover with me at night.”
Natalia struggled to keep breathing and to ignore her lies but it was impossible. Her eyes became blurry with heavy tears waiting to fall. She could feel her heart shredding to pieces.
A… Arian was using her?
Was that what he wanted to tell her that night?? That he was cheating with the same girl he promised he had nothing to do with?!
She felt like dying. Her fingers were shaking so violently that her phone fell.
“If you don’t believe me, here. Take a closer look for yourself.” She continued and showed Natalia her tablet.
It was a video. In it, Arian was in bed when Selena walked in and stripped off her sleep jacket leaving her only in a sexy, flimsy nightie. She climbed into bed and straddled him, placing kisses all over his body. And before Natalia could blink away the painful tears, they were sharing a hot kiss. He flipped over, making them switch places as she tugged off his shirt and….. and he let her?
She choked out more tears and forced her eyes away when she reached for his belt. The damned bastard! Natalia cried out and fell on the floor. She clutched her chest as hot, burning tears blinded her. Everything replayed in her head. It was too painful to bear.
”How could I have been so stupid?!” She cried, feeling her heart shatter into pieces. After Selena left smirking victoriously, Elva ran down the stairs in haste. Her voice sounded teary and panicky.
“Natalia, we have to leave now! The Queen’s very ill and the doctors say she won’t make it through the night!…”
***
An hour later, Natalia stood lifelessly outside the house watching the maids pack their bags into the car. Elva kept rushing around, making phone calls and receiving phone calls. Everyone at the house was in haste but she could hear nothing. She could barely even see them moving around with her tears increasing uncontrollably.
No one knew what the young heiress was thinking or even waited to know. The loud thumping of her heartbeat flooded her ears in slow motion.
“Natalia, we have to go. Our jet is waiting.” Elva stood by the open limo waiting for her to move. Natalia moved her eyes her way and stared for minutes before dragging her feet over.
Suddenly, she stopped and frantically looked at Elva. Then the next second, she fisted her hands into balls and turned around, dashing out of the compound without sparing anyone else a glance…
***
Arian paced around violently, waiting for Selena to return. The maids reported that she’d left the mansion after he did and he didn’t dare wait inside her room for her. The more he waited, the more his anger flamed out of control.
Soon, he saw her sashaying over with a Dior shopping bag and a bright smile.
“My love, were you waiting for me? You could’ve called and….”
“Why did you try to hurt her?” He trembled in rage.
“Who?” She faked innocence.
“Don’t play games with me, Selena! You know exactly who I’m talking about. You know I can get you arrested!”
“You have no proof I did anything. So fiancé, save your enchanting voice for the proposal of the century in two weeks. Okay?” She flippantly turned and cat walked into her room.
“Are you nuts or just plain stupid? How many times do I have to point out that there’d be nothing between us!” She threw her purse away and took off her coat.
“There are a lot of married couples living together without love. So hunny, get used to the idea.”
“For Christ’s sake, I have a girlfriend I’m in love with and I plan on sticking to her for eternity no matter what!”
“Arian stop! Stop saying that.” Tears clouded her eyes. “You’re hurting me! I love you. I love you so much! We can be happy together. She isn’t the one for you!” She teared up and held him. But he ungraciously pushed her off the next second.
“And who is? You?” He scoffed in contempt.
“Of course I am! She seduced you into liking her! You don’t love her. You just love her darn body, that’s all! I hate her! I hate that whore so much!” She yelled furiously. Arian grabbed her till she winced in his hold.
“In your damned miserable life, don’t you EVER talk bad about….” He threatened but she did the unexpected and kissed him.
Arian froze as his brain tried to control the shock waves buzzing through him. He pushed her away and shot her a deadly glare.
“Are you crazy?! Why the hell would you do that!” He yelled and hastily wiped his lips with his sweatshirt.
“Proving a point that you’re mine alone!” She viciously smirked.
“You’re sick! And stay the hell away from Natalia!” He spat and stormed out of the room. He bumped into a pensive Mom Rose at the stairs.
“Arian, what happened? Why was she crying?” She held him. Arian looked at her in confusion.
“What are you…”
“Natalia! She bumped into me on her way out now. She was crying and literally snapped at me to tell you it’s over between you two. Arian, what did you do?!” She was mad.
Arian’s heart quivered. A frightening chill ran down his spine as he gazed back at Selena’s door.
“No, no, no…” He whispered and rushed downstairs in a flash, almost knocking over Ricky on his way in!
“Arian! Elva texted me just now. She said they’re leaving. They’re leaving the country. Did you…”
“Good God!” Fright paled his gorgeous profile as he disappeared into his car, almost running over security at the gates…
***
Arian jumped out of his car in time to see a man in uniform locking the gate. He rushed over to him when he turned to leave.
“Where are they? Where is she? Please tell me where she is?!” His heartbeat raced out of control as his eyes slowly became teary.
“Where is who?” The confused middle aged man asked.
“The occupants of this house! Where the hell are they?!” He yelled and grabbed his collar.
“I’m sorry! The estate management ordered me to lock this place up. The occupants said they were leaving. Please, I’m just doing my job!” The man blurted out in fear.
Arian’s fingers slowly loosened its hold and the man dashed off in a flash. She left?
She left??
His wobbly legs could barely stand as a gloomy wind blew and rain began to drizzle. Tears blinded Arian’s beautiful eyes as he stared at the empty, lonely house before him. He could feel Ricky’s comforting presence behind but nothing changed the hurt squeezing and crushing his heart…
“I’m sorry! The estate management ordered me to lock this place up. The occupants said they were leaving. Please, I’m just doing my job!” The man blurted out in fear.
Arian’s fingers slowly loosened its hold and the man dashed off in a flash. She left?
She left??
His wobbly legs could barely stand as a gloomy wind blew and rain began to drizzle. Tears blinded Arian’s beautiful eyes as he stared at the empty, lonely house before him. He could feel Ricky’s comforting presence behind but nothing changed the hurt squeezing and crushing his heart…
~~~
“…. It’s so beautiful. How did you get it?” Natalia smiled at the pendant they’d switched and laid backwards on him. Arian pulled her closer and kissed her hair, something he loved. It was the night at the beach where he’d asked her to be his girlfriend.
“We were on a vacation in France. Mom kinda forced me out of my room to some tourist market after I refused to celebrate my sixteenth birthday. She wanted me to have some fun but I showed zero interest in anything she liked… My headphones did the trick.”
“You’re such a meanie!” She hit him and he chuckled.
“I was far worse than that before that age! Anyway, a ruckus caught my attention. A little boy was accused of being a thief and was almost arrested. He looked innocent and Gosh…. long story short, my family name came in handy and the boy was released.
“I guess he gave me his little pendant out of gratitude. It already had the wolf emblem on it. When I got home, I recreated it into a bigger one with pure silver. Since then, it’d been with me.”
“I’ld have called you a fairy godfather but your puffed up ego would’ve gotten bigger than the earth.” She snorted.
“Jeez! Fairy godfather? Not happening.” She grinned and laid forward on him. Arian pulled her closer.
“How ’bout a father?”
“Be prepared to see me jump off the planet.” He was decisive. Natalia frowned and pouted.
“… but I’m willing to make an exception for you.” He quickly added and kissed her. Natalia smiled and melted into his touch, syncing with him. Their breaths mixed and their tongues touched. It was the most sensuous kiss they’d ever shared.
“Promise you’ll stay with me until then.” He broke off and connected their heads, the delicate silk sheets beneath them as the ocean breaze wafted gently.
“No.” Natalia smiled under his touch. ”I promise I’ll stay with you till eternity…”
~~~
Arian let the heavy rain drench him remembering that night. Thunder and lightening struck but it was nothing compared to the wreck in his shattered heart. He caused it all. It was all his fault. His hurtful tears mixed with the torrent rain blurred his vision.
Unable to bear it anymore, Arian crashed on his knees and let out the agonizing scream choking his broken heart…
Chapter 93