Mending Heart's Affliction [Phoenix Countesses: ETHEREAL MAIDENS SERIES I]

Chapter 53

Pretending

"You should leave now. I don't have time for you,
Yumi," Arik said firmly and coldly to Yumi.

That's what I heard when I escorted Ariah to the connecting room in my office along with Pau. I stayed on one side and just observed the two of them.

This woman has some nerve. She really forced herself to come into my office just to follow us. Thankfully, I was able to explain to Ariah right away, dahil kung hindi at narinig ni Ariah ang kasamaan ng ugali niya, sa kanya ko ibubuhos lahat ng galit ko.

"Let's talk first, Arik. Ilang araw ka nang hindi umuuwi. Where have you been? Dahil na naman ba sa kanya kaya hindi ka na umuuwi? Why are you doing this to me? I thought we already discussed this?" She said irritably, her tone full of frustration.

Her frustration was clearly evident on her face, while Arik remained expressionless, looking at her.

"Ikaw ang umuwi, Yumi, at huwag ka nang babalik pa rito," Arik stated firmly, but Yumi continued to resist.

"Why are you acting like this all of a sudden? Did Celeste do something to you?"

"Wala siyang ginawa sakin! Stop obsessing about me and leave me the fuck alone! I have a family now! Are you blind or just plain stupid?!"

I blinked twice because of that scream. My heart pounded from Arik's sharp curse. It was as if he wanted to hurt this woman badly. It seemed like the two of them still didn't realize that I could hear them.

Suddenly, Yumi smirked.

"Really? Family? You're fucking funny, Arik."

"Don't you even go there, Yumi. I'm warning you," Arik's voice was full of threats.

"Go where? To the fact that you're pretending to have amnesia to cover up your family's sins or to the fact that you cheated on Celeste when you told her I wasn't pregnant?"

I gasped when I heard that. My knees suddenly felt weak. I felt numb.

I saw the intense anger in Arik's eyes as he forcefully grabbed both of Yumi's arms. His nails dug into her skin, and it was clear she was in pain. Suddenly, the taunting look in Yumi's eyes turned to fear.

"Nasasaktan ako, Arik!"

"Masasaktan ka talaga hangga't hindi ka tumitigil sa paninira sa pamilya ko! You think you can do anything to her? You really think you can harm her while I'm here, huh?"

My heart dropped. My mouth went dry. I couldn't understand. What were they talking about?

"You know what I'm capable of—"

"And you also know what I'm capable of doing to you and your entire family, so if I were you, leave my family alone." Arik's voice trailed off as he looked at Yumi with disgust.

"And how can you be pregnant when I can't even stand to look at you for long? You're not pregnant, and I know that. Alam mong si Celeste lang ang gusto ko. You're fucking disgusting."

I didn't bother listening to those words and went back to the connecting room where Ariah was. I locked the door and tried to calm myself down before approaching my child who was engrossed in reading.

"Are you okay?" Sarah greeted me as we crossed paths.
I hesitated to nod, avoiding eye contact with her.

"Umalis na ba?" she asked again, referring to Yumi. I shook my head. I heard her cursing.

"Crazy ass bitch," she whispered and joined me in sitting down.

"By the way, Papa Henry called. Nakarating na sila sa rest house. Benj and I won't be going home to the mansion either. Oliver is staying at his condo. Where are you going to stay tonight?"

I bit my lower lip. Suddenly, I was in a dilemma. I had forgotten about that. They were going to be away for two weeks, staying at the rest house in Batangas for a vacation.

"You could stay at the mansion, but it will just be you and Ariah. Sasama na ba si Arik sa inyo?"

"I don't think so..." I replied directly.

"What are you going to do then? Maybe you should stay in our place for now." She suggested, but I shook my head immediately.

"No, Sarah. Sa condo na lang siguro. I'm pretty sure Oliver will come there in the next few days."

"Alright, it's up to you."

Out of frustration, Ariah and I left the office without Arik noticing because Yumi had prolonged the confrontation outside.

"Mommy, where's Daddy? Isn't he coming with us?" Ariah asked while we were in the middle of the drive to the tower where a suite was reserved for us.

"Uh, he'll catch up later, baby. Daddy has something he needs to take care of, okay?"

Ariah didn't reply and just nodded. When we reached the suite, I quickly prepared dinner for us and ate afterward.

After putting Ariah to bed, I took a quick shower and stayed up late to finish my work. Suddenly, I remembered my phone.

I grabbed it from my bag, and my suspicion was confirmed. Arik had called and sent multiple texts since earlier.

Once again, a surge of emotions overwhelmed me as I remembered what I overheard between him and Yumi earlier.

In the end, I didn't reply to any of Arik's texts. I poured myself a martini and grabbed some chocolate before heading to the terrace. It was then that I realized it was raining.

Somehow, I couldn't help but feel sorry for myself and my daughter. I felt like the odds were against us. I was willing to fight for him, to lower my pride just for him to remember everything, only to find out he was just pretending?

For what? For the sake of his family? Did my Dad's words before he died have something to do with this? Was it related to Mom?

I didn't know who to trust anymore.

The night had grown deep, and I had nearly finished the bottle of Martini when I heard a series of doorbell rings. I felt dizzy, knowing that I was already a bit tipsy. As I opened the door, Arik's anger confronted me.

"Where the fuck have you been? I've been calling you since earlier, but you haven't answered any of my calls, Celeste. I was fucking worried about you and our daughter!" he exclaimed harshly.

I stared at him, then allowed him into my suite before turning my back on him. But before I could take a step, he grabbed me and pulled me back to face him.

"What is wrong with you? Talk to me—"

"Bitawan mo ko! You're a fucking cheater! Sinungaling ka!" I screamed at him and forcefully pushed him away.

"What?" he exclaimed, clearly bewildered. I pushed him again and punched his chest.

"I wish you never came back! Sana hindi ka na lang bumalik kung lolokohin mo lang kami ng anak ko! Get out of here! Hindi ka namin kailangan!" I shouted at him with frustration, then quickly turned away from him, entered Ariah's room, and locked the door behind me.

But I was even more surprised and devastated when I saw my daughter sitting at the edge of the bed, crying.

"A-Ariah?"

She looked up at me, her eyes filled with intense pain.

"M-Mommy... Is Daddy leaving again?"