Ariel had to ride in the same car with Aiden and Grandma Nari, while Ken and Moon each rode their cars as they drove to the Park.
“Hey, are you okay?” Aiden whispered to Ariel at the back of the car.
Ariel was sitting on the other side of the chair, facing her phone. When she heard Aiden talk to her, she didn’t know why she suddenly felt angry.
He was talking to her now just because Moon wasn’t with them, but the moment he sees Moon, he’ll just forget about her.
She slowly turned to him with a straight face, “I’m awesome,” She sent him a dashing smile and immediately turned her face away from him.
Her actions made Aiden doubt her words. She wasn’t okay, and he couldn’t think of anything that was making her angry.
He thought she’d be feeling a little relaxed with him after what happened between them in his bathroom. Or didn’t it matter to her at all? Was she really that unattracted to him?
He didn’t know what he was feeling anymore; he wished they weren’t going to wherever this Park was; he would have loved to stay indoors with Ariel. Maybe staying together with her would increase her level of attraction to him.
But he knew he had no such opportunity, the moment they came down from the car, Ken would be waiting to sweep her away from his side.
Ariel slowly turned her face to the window and saw that quite a few people were walking down the unfamiliar street. She wondered where they were heading; she kept her eyes on them as their car drove past them; she noticed that they were all heading to the same place.
“Oh, look, the fair’s almost full,” Grandma Nari said excitedly as she saw the people walking down the street.
“Fair?” Aiden asked his grandma.
“Mmhm, I wanted to buy Moon a welcome gift, and,” Grandma Nari turned her face to the back to look at Aiden, “Viktor will be there,” She whispered conspiratingly.
“Ahh,” Aiden smirked, nodding his head slowly.
Ariel stared at both of them, sensing the hidden understanding behind their words.
‘Who was Viktor, and why did Aiden seem so happy about the presence of the owner of the name?’ Ariel thought with a small frown.
Ariel watched as the car slowly drove into a white arched gate, driving through a tarred path to park right under a huge canopy-like garage where other cars were parked, too.
Ariel quickly scanned the whole place before she came down from the car; it was a large field with people scattered all around.
Vibrant colors could be seen all over the place; balloons were floating in the air and hanging in stalls. People could be seen riding the Ferris wheels and roller coasters, and the game booth at the far corner was trooped with teenagers and adults.
Ariel noticed that most couples preferred to go to the crawling machine, with their partners clinging to them with smiles on their faces.
She scoffed, that would never be her.
She did want to witness every fun thing she saw in the park, but she didn’t know if she was allowed to, she was already feeling as if she had gone against one of the rules in the contract which asked her to always refuse invitations, so planning to fully enjoy herself in this outing was like taking too much.
“Ma’am,” Gregory came over and opened the door for her.
“Oh, thanks, Greg,” She quickly brought her mind back to the present and got out of the car.
She stepped onto the lawned grass and drew in a deep breath, a smile marking her face as the appetizing smells of savory treats and sugary delights filled her nose, the smell of fresh cut grass added to the feeling of an outdoor party, evoking the feeling of summer.
She liked summer.
“We could stay here all day if that’s what you want,” Ariel immediately opened her eyes and turned to see Aiden beside her.
He was looking at her as if he was seeing her for the first time, she looked different in this environment, as if she’d just been freed from a cage after so long. Was his home a cage for her?
“Oh, no, where is grandma?” She questioned, looking around the whole fair.
Aiden chuckled. “I’m right beside you, but you’re worried about someone else,” He sighed and took her hand in his, “Come on, let’s go look around the place,” He nodded at her and wanted to step out but she snatched her hand out of his grip.
He frowned and turned to look at her, confusion in his eyes.
“What’s the problem?” He questioned, walking closer to her.
Ariel plastered her back on the car and looked up at him, shaking her head, “Nothing, it’s just…” she paused, biting her lips.
Aiden immediately looked down at her lips between her teeth and clenched his jaw. Was she deliberately tempting him out in the open like this?
“Are you going to talk, or do you just want to seduce me?” He asked lowly.
Ariel saw his eyes locked on her lips and quickly released it from between her teeth.
“No, no. I just wanted to remind you that the contract says we can’t be seen in public, I just don’t want to get you in trouble,” Ariel said quietly.
“You’re…” Aiden wanted to say that she wasn’t going to cause him any trouble but couldn’t finish his words.
What would he say to her if she asked him why he suddenly changed his mind?
He gritted his teeth and slowly nodded at her, his eyes hard and angry.
Ariel thought he was angry at her, but she didn’t know kW that he was angry at himself for wanting her beside him even when he was the one who made the rule.
“Don’t worry, Aiden,” Ken suddenly patted Aiden’s shoulder behind him, “I’ll be beside her every second,” he smiled at Aiden before walking over to Ariel.
“Hello, my lady, mind taking a walk with me?” He flashed his dashing smile at Ariel, who had no choice but to smile back at him; his smile was contagious.
“Yes,” She replied and gave him her hand.
Ken held her firmly and led her away from Aiden, but Aiden suddenly grabbed Ken’s arm, turning him to face him.
“What’s the matter, Mr. Chaz?” Ken asked with a relaxed smile.
Ariel was feeling uncomfortable; she never liked it when Aiden became like this; she always felt guilt within her, even as she always assured herself that she’d done nothing wrong.
“Don’t even think of trying anything funny,” Aiden warned, his features getting harder by the moment.
Ken shook his head, gently drawing Ariel beside him.
“I’m your friend, Aiden, your best friend, and you know that I’d never have confronted your wife if it weren’t for the condition of your marriage,” He looked down at Ariel and then back at Aiden.
“I’ve made my feelings for Ariel clear, and I believe you’ve made yours clear too. But, if along the line, as you’re still married to her, your feelings have changed, I promise to step back as she is still legally your wife, but if your feelings are still the same and you’re just trying to stop me from pursuing the woman I love, I’ll assure that nothing can stop me, not even grandma.” He placed his hand around Ariel’s waist, then looked into Aiden’s eyes and asked him.
“Or, have you fallen in love with your wife, Mr. Chaz?” Ken asked seriously.
Ariel immediately snapped her eyes up at Aiden, wanting to see his reaction. She knew he didn’t love her, but she was curious to see how he answered that.
Aiden was boiling with anger within him.
How dare Ken?
He was openly challenging him on his wife’s affection? He balled his fists in anger as his eyes remained on Ariel’s waist with Ken’s hand possessively around it.
He forced his eyes away from there and glared at both Ariel and Ken.
Does he love her?
No.
He stared at Ken for some time before storming away into the busy fair.
“Ken…” Ariel called as they walked toward a food stand.
“Yes,” Ken replied.
Ariel thought about her question before asking it. “Do you really love me, or do you see me as an object to obtain from Aiden, just to show him you’re better than him?” She asked cautiously.
Ken frowned, then chuckled very quietly.
He ordered a grilled beef on a stick for her and when she took it from him, he took her under a shade and faced her.
“I love you, Ariel,” He confessed earnestly as he stared deep into her eyes.
Ariel felt her cheeks flush and her heart racing softly.
She looked away from him but Ken gently brought her face back to his.
“Aiden and I go way back to our diaper days, he is almost like the brother I never had. I love him, regardless of his coldness, and I would never want anything to separate that connection between us. That is why I asked him what I asked him earlier: as long as you’re still married to him and he discovers that he has fallen for you, I’ll step back immediately; I’d never fight my best friend over the woman he loves,” Ken explained honestly.
“But, what if I don’t love him back?” Ariel asked seriously, thinking about many things in her head.