"What the hell where you thinking when you asked her to marry you?" Antonio asked. "It was in the heat of the moment" Roberto said. "Do you have feelings for this girl?" Alejandra asked.
Roberto sighs in exhaustion. "I don't think so. I'm not sure I have feelings for her. I just said all of that so she could accept the marriage proposal" Roberto said.
Ariana froze when she heard that. She was looking for Roberto, she just wanted to ask him the wifi password when she heard everything.
"As expected.... I was so naive" Ariana whispered.
"When is the wedding?" Antonio asked. "The date hasn't been fixed yet" Roberto replied calmly. "That's not the question you ought to ask. The question you need to ask is how his father took the news" Alejandra said.
"I was flogged till daybreak. He said it would help me reflect on my behavior..... Honestly I would rather people believe I'm gay than to marry Jessica" Roberto said.
Ariana returned to her room. She couldn't believe what she just heard.
"I thought he really meant it when he said he loved me. I was such a fool to actually believe that lie"
Ariana sat on the floor, she buried her face with her palms. "All my life I've craved attention. Every decision I've made was to prove to myself that I'll be fine as long as I have someone who would protect me" Ariana said as she wiped the tears from her eyes.
"This is a friendly reminder to never make life lasting decisions when you're drunk or you'll end up like me. A stupid helpless romantic" Ariana said.
The next morning. Ariana woke up, she took a shower and went downstairs. "Good morning ma'am. Mr Roberto has left for work. He gave specific instructions that you're to go for a shopping spree" A maid said.
Ariana smirks. "Shopping spree? Seriously?" Ariana asked in amazement.
"A car would be ready by ten this morning" The maid said. "Hold on. What's your name?" Ariana asked.
"My name is Mrs Daniella. I'm the head maid of the house" She replied. "Mrs Daniella, thank you for the breakfast. Unfortunately I don't like shopping so please cancel today's appointment" Ariana said.
"Are you sure ma'am?" Mrs Daniella asked. "Yes" Ariana replied as she stepped out. "And the food?" Mrs Daniella asked. "Eat it or dispose of it. I'm not hungry" Ariana said.
Ariana went to the roof top for some fresh air. She closed her eyes and inhales deeply.
"Did you ever look for me?" Ariana asked herself.
Roberto was in his office when he got a call from Mrs Daniella. He was informed that Ariana refused to use his card for shopping and she refused to eat nor come out of her room.
He called her but it just went to voicemail. "Why am I so worried about her?" Roberto asked himself.
...................................
Sunny stood behind the counter, she was so focused on arranging a bouquet that she didn't notice a customer Infront of her.
The customer rang the doorbell on the table bringing her attention back to the present situation.
"Good afternoon... I'm sorry I didn't realize you were...." Sunny paused.
Miss Olivia the owner of the bloom and grow flower shop came out from the back door. She noticed Sunny standing like a glitching computer.
That was when she saw the person staring intensely at Sunny. "Alejandra? What brings you to my shop? I thought we would meet in my place?" Olivia asked.
"I had second thoughts" Alejandra replied as she refused to look away from Sunny.
Sunny slowly stepped back. She has tried to avoid Alejandra Castello for six months. Now she's standing effortlessly in the shop like nothing happened.
"I left something outside. I'll be back" Sunny said as she left.
She went outside to catch her breath when she got a call from Ariana. "Hey... What's up?" Sunny asked.
"Are... You.. b.. busy?" Ariana's voice broke apart from the other end. "Hey... Calm down. What's the problem" Sunny asked.
"Can you come over.... I can't... I just can't" Ariana couldn't speak any further.
"Alright.... Alright calm down... I'll be there shortly" Sunny said. Ariana hung up.
Sunny ran back to the shop. "Um... Miss Olivia, I'll take that lunch break now" Sunny said. "Alright, you go ahead" Olivia said.
"Hope everything is ok with you?" Olivia asked in concern. "Yeah... I need to walk my phone" Sunny said as she dashed out of the shop. "Walk her phone? That's new" Olivia said.
"What's up with you? You look like you've just seen a ghost" Olivia asked Alejandra. "Nothing. She looked like someone I knew once" Alejandra replied.
"I see. Very well then. How about we discuss the flowers you need for Roberto's wedding" Olivia said.
"I wanted to take you to the bride" Alejandra said.
Sunny arrived at the penthouse where she met Ariana waiting for her outside.
Ariana hugged Sunny tightly. "Woah.. are you alright?" Sunny asked. "Let's get out of here" Ariana said as she dragged Sunny back into the taxi.
Sunny didn't argue, she just obediently sat still. The taxi stopped infront of a forest. "Ariana?" Sunny asked cautiously.
Ariana didn't reply. She walked inside the bushes. "Shit" Sunny said as she immediately texted Melissa about the current situation and their location.
She followed Ariana inside the forest. "You know... I've always dreamt that I'll die a peaceful death. Now... It feels like a distant fantasy" Ariana said.
"What are you saying?" Sunny asked. "I just found out that everything had always been a lie. Everything I thought was genuine was just a lie. A stupid manipulation and I was too naive to realize it" Ariana said.
"What manipulation?" Sunny asked in a whisper. "The wedding god damnit. It felt too surreal... I mean one of the wealthiest man in the country is interested in me. He told me he loved me.... Fuck.... He even proposed to me on live television...." Ariana laughs bitterly.
"What are you saying?" Sunny asked in confusion. "It means it's all a lie. It means that I was so desperate for attention that I mistook manipulation for love. My family abandoning me was one thing but finding out that the man you're beginning to fall for doesn't feel the same way about you" Ariana said.
"Then walk out of the marriage. If you know the truth then there's no need of staying" Sunny said. "Where? Where would I go? Now that my face is all over the world as Roberto Gonzalez fiance... Do you think I'll be safe?" Ariana asked.
"Then we'll protect each other" Melissa said as she tried to catch her breath.
"You're here" Sunny said in relief. "I told you to come home if anything bad happened. I never asked you to run to the middle of nowhere" Melissa said.
Ariana ran to Melissa and hugged her. Sunny joined them as Ariana broke down in tears. "It's alright.... Let it out" Melissa said as she pats Ariana gently on the back.
"I'll go along with the wedding but I'll need your emotional support" Ariana said. "We've got you covered" Sunny said.
"Thank you" Ariana whispered. "But really tho the forest? What possessed you to make such decision?" Melissa asked. Ariana laughs softly. Melissa wiped her cheeks.
"Imagine what baby bear would say when she finds you crying like this" Sunny said. They laughed out loud.
Melissa and Sunny didn't want to say anything concerning the issue that could change Ariana's mind. They both knew that Ariana needs someone who would love and cherish her. The question still remains if Roberto is willing to do so.