I Am An Illegitimate Child With A Legitimate Reason For Revenge-Chapter 105: And I hope that one day, you open your heart to me
Stunned and confused, Ariel found herself brushing his tears away with her thumb while her own eyes teared up. Why was he feeling her pain? She couldn’t understand it.
Then, were his feelings really genuine? It was difficult to accept but his reaction to her words gave her every reason to want to believe. She wanted to believe in him.
"It’s alright." Ariel said. "I didn’t feel pain. I didn’t cry over it. I brushed it aside because I never felt its existence to begin with."
"I’m sorry."
"It’s not your fault." She said to him and watched him cry.
"I want to protect you, Ariel. I... " He clutched onto her dress. "But I probably lost my right to protect you the moment I let them kidnap you and make you suffer."
"No, you can still protect me. The world is vast and there are a lot of dangers. You can still protect me from them." She said to him and let her own tears fall.
Her promise... She already broke her promise and was crying. Well, how was she supposed to know he would say such things? There was no way she wouldn’t cry.
She hugged his head.
"Raymond, I want to be with you as much as you want to be with me. But I can’t shake the fear from my shoulder. It’s too much."
"I understand." He grabbed her arm and gently squeezed it before raising his head from her embrace. "But I would like to give you something." 𝑓𝘳𝑒𝑒𝓌𝘦𝘣𝘯ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝑚
She let go of him and wondered what he was going to give her. He picked up the blue box.
"You’re the only one who’s capable of making me go down on my knees on my own free will, you’re also the only one I’ve cried to since I was 16." He said and she almost counted her fingers to calculate how long it had been.
"Is that a good thing?" She asked him and he smiled.
"That’s how much control you have over me." He said. "Let’s not rush things. I know what you fear and I won’t force you but for now, can you wear this? It’ll help assure my heart."
Ariel looked at the box. He wanted her to wear the ruby? But she’d have to stick it to the necklace if she wanted to wear it. And why did that assure his heart? It was hers to begin with.
"This." Raymond picked up the ruby, only to expose its hidden side.
The red ruby was attached to a very beautiful silver ring and Ariel almost gasped. It looked so beautiful.
"I’m sorry I didn’t ask for your permission before turning it into this but I wanted to make the ring with something you held preciously. Two things from two people you hold dearly, stuck together as one. It was the perfect concept."
Ariel looked at the ring. It was indeed the perfect combo and she wasn’t mad at all. She loved it.
"It’s beautiful." She said and he stretched his hand, beaconing on her to give him her hand. She slowly dropped her hand on his and he kissed it before sliding the ring in her middle finger.
It fit perfectly and Ariel found herself staring at it a bit speechlessly.
"Ariel." Raymond called and snuggled his head on her lap. "I really want to treat you right." He muttered and she stroked his head.
"Then this is your chance." She said, "I don’t know how long your feelings for me will last but if we’re able to go for long without your feelings weighing to the side even a little bit then..." She pursed her lips. Was it too early to make promises? "Forget it. I hope you keep loving me the way you do now."
"And I hope that one day, you open your heart to me."
They stayed like that for some time.
It was inconceivable for someone like Raymond to cry, not to talk of begging while on his knees but to Ariel, he completely disregarded his identity, his status and his norms in order to get his love through to her. He was a fool for love, no doubt.
"Raymond, what will you do to White?" Ariel asked while gently stroking his head.
"I don’t know." He answered. "I considered him as a companion, a friend. But what he did is unforgivable. It’s very likely that he will do something like that again if I let him go. He hates you."
Ariel was silent. What could they do to White? Was keeping him locked up like that a good choice? What if they took him to the police?
"Master." Edward called from the side, interrupting their time.
Raymond lifted his head and looked towards Edward who was holding his phone.
"You have an urgent call." He said and Raymond immediately knew what it was about.
He sighed, looked over at Ariel and gave a quick peck on her lips.
"Should I just forget about everything and live quietly with you?" He wondered out loud and Ariel’s eyes widened.
"Of course not." She snapped. ’No wonder White was so worried. It’s almost as if he’s lost his mind.’ She shook her head. "You’ve already come this far. It’s not time to give up and leave. Besides, if you let go, they’ll only laugh and feel like they’ve won. You have to get back at the twins for me, remember?"
Hearing this, Raymond’s flame lit brighter again and he smiled.
"You’re right. It’s too much to let them go so easily. I must drop them at your feet." He said, his eyes filled with determination and he kissed her once more, this time a bit more deeply before standing to his feet.
For someone who had been on his knees for quite some time, he was walking fine. Did his legs not feel numb?
She watched him leave and once he was gone, looked at the ring in her finger and smiled. She picked up the necklace and wore it. Now, she had two things to hold on to preciously.
"Thank you, mom." She muttered.
Meanwhile, in a fine penthouse with a nice view and pool side, Serena laid down comfortably with two maids standing a few steps away.
Her phone started ringing and she picked it, with her eyes still closed.
"Hello." She answered and her lips curled up. "Oh, really? That’s nice." She said and though the person on the other side sounded hostile, she seemed unaffected. "Fight the war you began till the end, little brother. The moment you went against me, I pretty much left you on your own. Bye-bye."
She cut the call and stretched her hand. One of the maids quickly took the phone and she adjusted herself.
"Hah, it seems she’s happy right now." She remarked.
Serena, more vile than a snake and more psychotic than the twins combined. She was cooking up something devious. Something awful that would leave both parties stunned beyond words.
"When will be the perfect time?" She wondered out loud and relaxed herself.
