My CEO Boss Is A Masked Internet Sensation-Chapter 218: Interlinked Past Of Their Fathers

(Karsten)

Arata’s condition not only worried me it had completely obliterated my peace. I tried to talk to her, but she hid herself under the blanket.

I stood there watching her huddled figure. This was not working, this needed to end. I couldn’t watch her like this anymore.

Hoping she could find some peace in solitude, I left her alone to rest for a while.

Descending the stairs, I sat with Ma for evening tea. Even the pleasing smell of the cinnamon tea didn’t calm me.

"Both of you had a fight?" Ma casually asked, while keeping her eyes on the tea, trying to show she was just posting a random question. But I knew that was not the case.

"Why would you think that?" I picked up my mug and leaned back on the sofa, placing my arm on the armrest and crossing my legs.

Ma’s calculating eyes drifted towards me while she elegantly placed the cup down on the saucer.

"I can sense tension between the two of you. Even though both of you try to hide it well. Arata is stressed for some reason. Care to elaborate?" She questioned with a profound seriousness and raised her hand, showing me her palm, while spreading her fingers. "Don’t tell me you are thinking of breaking her heart."

Ma had sensed it, she was too shrewd for me to hide such a fake relationship for so long.

I blew out and took a sip, giving my brain some time to conjure a response. The hot drink calmed my throat but did nothing for the disturbed heart.

"You are overthinking, She is just tensed because she hasn’t been able to meet her family. I will be sending her to Angel City soon. Everything is fine." I faked a small smile, and Ma just stared at me before saying.

"I am warning you again, Karsten. Don’t break her heart, consequences will be dire." She lowered her head and shook it as if preparing herself to reveal some kind of a secret.

I knew that look, she always got it when she spoke about that damn man who had gotten her pregnant with me.

"Your father and her parents have a history. If you did wrong by her and she or her family discovered who your father is, it won’t end well."

WHAT??? I wasn’t prepared for this. The cup almost slipped from my hands, so I placed it down and straightened up.

My brows scrunched together.

"History? What kind of history?" All kinds of hellish scenarios began to be born in my brain.

What had my father done?

Ma lowered her voice, pain radiated in her eyes.

"Your father tried to do what he is best at doing, but he messed with the wrong couple. Although Arata’s parents weren’t a couple at that time, just boss and secretary like you and Arata. But Zyair Kincaid took your father’s action very seriously, and he pursued him. He is the reason your father went behind bars and didn’t remain as invincible as he believed himself to be," Ma narrated the story, the one I had never heard before, at least this version.

My ears rang as I blinked at her, unmoving. I couldn’t believe what I was hearing.

Is that why Ma had softened towards Arata?

Ma and many other women had tried to send my father behind bars, but the lack of evidence always made them fall short.

My uncle, who was the Mafia Lord at that time, had asked my mother if she desired that they could just end his life. But, Ma could never bring herself to do that, Preston Hugh being her first lover.

She wasn’t proud of the fact and would always shut down whenever his topic was brought up.

But Zyair Kincaid did the impossible. No wonder Ma was now on Arata’s side.

I turned fully so I was facing my mother.

"Arata’s father put mine behind bars?" I asked again, stupidly blinking.

"Yes! And maybe saved countless women from falling victim to his charms and good looks and getting raped..." She sighed so heavily, the iron will she always kept intact had fallen, and I could see her struggling to keep her composure.

This changed things. No matter what, I had to keep Arata out of harm’s way, or Ma would never forgive me. People will believe I had inherited my father’s blood, and I just used women and threw them away.

Arata already believed that, and if she discovered the whole truth, this could set in stone for her.

"I understand, Ma. Don’t worry, I will do right by Arata." I grabbed her shaking hands and squeezed.

My father was an extremely touchy subject for her, and the only topic that broke her.

She offered me a broken smile.

"You are nothing like your father, Karsten. I believe in you."

Guilt soaked me down to my roots. I had done so wrong with Arata. Not acknowledging her feelings, hurting her emotionally, mentally.

Using her body and then leaving her broken. That needed to change.

I needed to change for her, to step up and show how much I loved her, too.

To reciprocate her feelings.

She was MINE and she will always be mine.

No one would hurt or take her away from me.

"Thanks, Ma."

She nodded and stood up.

"I need to lie down and get some rest."

Ma left for her room, but I was plunged deep in thought when my phone vibrated in my pocket.

I dragged it out, only to find it was a text from Arata, but for Azul.

Greedily, I opened it to read.

{Can we meet tonight?}

My heart became super sonic, running at an abnormal speed.

Before I knew it, I was frantically typing like a madman.

{Hey! Phoenix, Of course.}

Her reply was instant.

{My apartment? I will tell the security, and they will let you in.}

Yes! I was going to have her in my arms again and pour my heart and soul into the embraces I was going to give her.

{I will be there around 9 pm.} I typed back.

{Okz, see you then.} She answered and I knew she would be coming down any second to head over to her apartment with some excuse.

I waited as if I were sitting on thorns, my eyes drifting towards the staircase every other second.

Just like how I had expected, Arata soon descended the stairs, and I averted my gaze, trying not to ogle at her.

She took her time and came to a halt in front of me. Holding her purse and wearing a long coat with a muffler.

Our gazes met, and everything just faded away for me, but the look she offered me slightly had me terrified.

Her eyes were vacant, and I could detect no emotions in them.

She seemed to have put on makeup too.

’My beautiful Arata. It was just a matter of time before I would win you back. After tonight, I will speak to you openly,’ I thought to myself.

"I am heading to my apartment, need to pick up some stuff," she informed me in a dead tone.