Two months later…
Max has successfully taken over the companies and things have been moving smoothly for the past two months. Ariel still lives with them, but she hasn’t been happy as the thought of eventually giving up her child keeps haunting her every second that ticks.
It’s a beautiful evening and the atmosphere is conducive for a balcony. Staring up at the dark sky, she sighs for the umpteenth time as she holds the rail.
So many thoughts parade through her mind and she can’t help another sigh that tears through her throat. The thought of her mom flashes through her mind, and a drop of tears slid down the corner of her cheek as she bites her bottom lip sadly. As much as she dislikes her for doing this to her, she still can’t help but miss her. She has no idea why she was suddenly cruel to her, but one thing she will never forget is that there was a time that she lived her life for her, a time that her mom protected and sacrificed her happiness to make her happy. But what changed? Why did she suddenly hate her so much that she didn’t even want to see her? Those are the questions she has been asking herself for many years and is always left with no answer.
‘How many times do I have to tell you to stop asking me that, you bastard!’ The way her mom yelled at her for the first time years ago when she had asked about her dad. The look on her face that day is what she can never get rid of. The sad and pained look on her face has left her asking herself many questions for many years. She keeps getting curious to know what transpired between the woman and her ex-husband, that is if they were ever married, but it seems like she’s never going to get her answers.
“Are you happy without me, mom?” More tears stream down her cheek as she tightens her grip around the rail. Taking a deep breath, she finally turns around to walk back into her room, but she stops on her track as she spots Max standing at the doorway and staring at her.
Her heart misses a beat as she stares at him blankly, wondering what he’s doing in her room and how long he has been standing there. After it was confirmed that she was pregnant, she hasn’t been able to have time with him, and although it was meant to be like that, it still hurts her deeply, and for some reason unknown to her, she has been missing him so much.
“Are you OK?” He asks with a hint of concern in his voice, and she slowly nods her head. It gladdens her heart to know that he cares about her, but realizing that she’s carrying his child, she can’t help but conclude that he’s only concerned because of the baby inside her. Besides, she’s not important to this family. She’s just here to help them give birth, and that’s it.
“It’s cold out here. Why aren’t you sleeping yet?” He finally walks over to the rail and leans over it as he stares up at the sky.
“I was about to go to bed,” She replies to him, trying not to stutter, and he nods his head momentarily.
“It’s beautiful, isn’t it?” The corner of his lips twitches into a soft smile as he stares at the many twinkling stars in the sky, while she just stares at him. She has developed feelings for this man even if it’s not been so long since she came here, she has found herself attracted to him, regardless of the warning that his wife gave her, but it hurts to know that he’ll never belong to her. She’s just his breeder, and he’ll never see beyond that.
“Hmm,” She hums as she nods her head. Walking over to stand beside him, she glances at him and she can’t help admiring everything about him. She has grown so attached to this man, and it’s wrong.
An awkward silence assumes the air as Max stares at the sky. He has so many thoughts running through his mind. The feeling of guilt that has been haunting him all this while is killing him slowly inside, but he’s handicapped and can’t do anything. He hates that he has to take advantage of this young girl to get what he wants, he hates that he’s manipulating an innocent girl like her, and he can’t help the guilt he always feels whenever he sees her sad.
“What do you want to do, Ariel?” He suddenly asks out of the blue, earning a confused glance from her.
“Huh?” She blinks her eyes twice in confusion.
“I’m sorry that you have to go through this because of my selfish interest… No woman deserves to be treated this way… No woman deserves to go through the pain you’re going through, and it hurts to see you like this…” He pauses and takes a deep breath, glancing at her afterward.
“I’m ready to do anything you want. If you have a dream that you want to pursue, I don’t mind… I’ll help you out. You can see that as my way of saying sorry for everything that is happening to you,” He further says, and she stares at him unbelievably. She never thought that he would be this kind, she didn’t think that he’ll be concerned, and now, this makes her admire him more.
“Why… do you want to help me? I have been sold by my parents to your wife… I now belong to you and your wife, and you can treat me whichever way you want because I’m your property…” More tears stream down her cheeks as she now stares at him with so much pain written all over her and resounding in her voice. She feels so empty within, she feels sad and broken, she tries to understand her emotions, is she being sad because of what happened? Is it because of how miserable her life has turned out, or is she sad because she has developed some strange feelings for this man, and he may never be hers? What exactly is she feeling?