HEIRESS REBORN: MARRYING HER EX-FIANCÉ-Chapter 45: A cherished memory
*sobs*
*sobs*
In the garden of the Kingston mansion bathed in the soft glow of the late afternoon sun, a small figure sat hidden among the roses. Her knees pulled to her chest as quiet sobs shook her tiny frame.
Five-year-old Arabella buried her face in her hands, tears slipping through her fingers and dropping like tiny jewels onto her lap.
’Why is everyone saying that?’ She wondered to herself tearfully.
’Why does mother say that cousin and her family stole everything from us?’
Young Arabella was lost in her sadness when a voice broke through the sound of her sniffles. "Why are you here crying?"
Startled, Young Arabella hastily turned around and saw a boy about her age with neat dark hair and eyes. He stared blankly at her tear-stricken face.
’’W-Who are you?’’ She quickly turned back, feeling embarrassed at being caught. Her mother had always cautioned her not to appear this way in the presence of others.
A crying Arabella was not a suitable young miss of the Kingston family. 𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝕨𝕖𝗯𝚗𝚘𝕧𝕖𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝕞
’’My name is Axel. Axel Kratos. Our families have been acquainted for a long time.’’
’’Oh. You must be the Young master Kratos then.’’ Thanks to her mother’s upbringing, Young Arabella had memorized quite a number of family names that her mother deemed useful and worthy of knowing as a Young miss of the Kingston family.
The Kratos family was one of them and her mother had told her that she must be acquainted with them, no matter what.
’’Yes, I am.’’
’’Then, are you like them?’’ Young Arabella wiped her tears and suddenly asked after getting a confirmation of the identity.
’’Them?
’’Are you like the adults who say my cousin is better than me?’’ Young Arabella stood up and smoothened her gown before turning around to meet the boy with her.
’’I have always been the only Young miss of the Kingston family. Now everyone says I am only the first young miss and my cousin is the true Young miss of Kingston family.’’
’’...’’
’’Mother says that uncle and his family have stolen everything that rightfully belonged to father and us.’’ Young Arabella continued. ’’Even my friends said that I won’t have anything since I am just a first young miss. Every time, they always ask about my cousin and not me.’’ Her gaze darkened, and her voice grew louder. "Cousin is still a baby and not even fun! Why does everyone prefer her over me, who is older and smarter?!"
Tears glistened in her eyes as she clenched her small hands into tight fists, glaring at the boy in front of her, though he wasn’t the target of her anger
’’...’’
Young Axel’s silence only seemed to deepen Young Arabella’s frustration, his quiet gaze offering none of the reassurance she sought at the moment. Just as she was about to vent even more, his voice broke through the tension.
"That’s for the adults to decide." He stated calmly.
Young Arabella froze, not expecting that kind of answer. Shouldn’t he side with her when everyone was in the wrong?
"B-But, it isn’t fair." She tried to argue, her voice trembling. "I-I am the Young Miss Kingston too."
Her mother had always said this to her.
She was the true Young miss of the Kingston family and not her one-year-old cousin.
Her father was also the true head of the Kingston family, and not her uncle.
’’You are, just not the kind you think you are.’’ Young Axel agreed to her words. ’’Either way, you’re still part of the Kingston family.’’
’’B-But...’’
’’Grandfather said I should take care of you since we’re of the same age.’’ Young Axel interrupted as he pulled out a small handkerchief from his pocket and his hand extended toward her. "Here, take this and wipe your tears."
’’...’’ Through her blurry and teary vision, Young Arabella stared hesitantly at the cream handkerchief before her gaze.
’’Since you want to be the true young miss Kingston even though you’re one, then start by not crying and work hard towards it.’’
The clear voice of the Young Axel echoed in Arabella’s mind as she stared at the back of this man that reminded so much of the memory.
A memory that she cherished more than her own mother.
’’Someone you know?’’ Liam’s voice snapped her out of her daze. Arabella blinked her eyes and glanced sideways to find Liam watching the same person’s back with curiosity.
’’...Let’s go.’’ She didn’t bother to answer and turned away, but not before casting another glance at the person she suspected to be Axel.
However, there was no sign of the suspected person again. Disappointment flickered in her chest, but she quickly pushed it aside, her expression hardening in thought.
’What was I thinking?’’ She berated herself. ’Axel would never come to this orphan’s graduation. He doesn’t even respond to my invitations and I don’t believe the rumors about that orphan being close to the Kratos family.’ Arabella was quick to console herself.
Having composed her shaken demeanor, she brushed past Liam and didn’t bother to keep up the intimate appearance of her public image with Liam as the close siblings they showed to their respective fans.
The memory and everything that came after it already dampened her mood.
The silence remained even as they stepped outside and ventured through the busy path of the families and graduating students.
’’Isn’t that the first young miss Kingston?’’
’’Yes, that’s her. She must be here for her cousin’s graduation.’’
’’I’m quite jealous of the Kingston family. One young miss is the best graduating student and also the young president of the prominent Kingston corporation. Another is a top and famous actress.’’
’’We can’t compare to them.’’
’’Who’s that with her?’’
’’I heard that’s someone that the Eldest master adopted as his son.’’
’’So, he’s an orphan?’’
’’Apparently, his parents died two or three years ago. He was a distant relative, and is quite close to the Eldest master’s family.’’
’’The Eldest master must have felt bad for him.’’
’’He and the first young miss are quite close.
’’Then what of the sickly first young master?’’
’’Don’t you know? He’s the guardian of the Young miss and Young master Kingston.’’
’’How complicated.’’
*murmur*
*murmur*
Since they were now in the eyes of many, Arabella met the curious gazes with a smile of her own and kept her head high amid the attention.
Fortunately, she and Liam finally reached the sleek black car parked in the lot, where a bodyguard was already waiting for them. With a respectful nod, he opened the door, and Arabella entered gracefully, her movements fluid and deliberate. Liam followed shortly after, sliding into the car from the other side.
Once inside, Arabella’s sharp gaze shifted to Liam with a phone in her hand as the vehicle pulled out of the parking lot.
"Take a picture with me."
It wasn’t a request, but an order.
An order that was meant to be obeyed no matter what.
Liam, who was well accustomed to such an arrogant tone, simply nodded without hesitation. He had already seen the phone in her hand.
Arabella grinned at his docile demeanor and moved closer to him. She leaned her head closer to Liam’s, and Liam leaned in slightly as she positioned the phone above their faces.
*click*
The front camera captured a nice and clear picture. Arabella was pleased with the picture as she lowered the phone and returned to her position. Liam did the same.
’’If our dear sister doesn’t want to attend my birthday banquet, then we’ll just have to force her.’’ Her fingers tapped on her phone as she uttered with a knowing smile.
’’.....’’ Liam didn’t respond, but he knew exactly what she meant. Arabella was always planning, always scheming to get her way, especially when it came to things she deemed important to herself.
’’I did promise that your wish will come true Brother Liam, and I’m going to do everything in my power to make that it does.’’ She glanced at Liam with a wide grin before lowering them in thought.
’I also want that engagement between Axel and that orphan to be canceled no matter what!’ Arabella’s gaze darkened as she finished posting the picture on her social media page and looked up at the passing scenery beyond the tinted window.
’She doesn’t deserve him at all. Never have and never will.’
