CHASING MY EX-WIFE

CHAPTER 112

Richard's POV

I open the door quietly to see Arabel standing by the window with her arms wrapped around her waist.

She is so engrossed, she doesn't even know when I enter fully until I step closer to her and wrap my hands from behind around her stomach.

She freezes.

“Richard?!” She calls with surprise, and a low chuckle leaves my mouth.

She turns around, allowing my hands to drop. “Who else would it be?”

I pull her closer and give her a brief kiss on the lips.

“What are you doing here?” She glances around her room, probably wondering if I came with someone. “What are you doing here this late?”

“I miss you,” I admit in a soft voice.

She chuckles and steps back, her arms still around her waist. “But we saw each other a few days ago, Richard. I thought you said you were okay with me being here in London.”

I did.

But I can't help it. She gave me a condition, and that condition is for her to go back to London.

Her home was in London.

I didn't give it much thought before giving in. I didn't have any problem going back and forth just to see her.
But I miss her.

I shrug indifferently. “I am, but I need to see you, that's why I am here.”

I embrace her again, desperate for her to touch me with the same passion. She seemed to be in deep thought when I came in.

“What were you thinking about? You seemed lost in thought. Did something happen?” I withdraw and ask in a concerned tone.

The corners of her lips curve up in a smile, and she shakes her head. “Nothing happened. I am fine.”

I stretch my hand at her, and she takes it. Quietly, we move to the bed together. She sits on the edge, but I lay down, signaling to her to come lay on my head.

She glares at me playfully before climbing into bed and laying her head on my chest. We stay in this position for a moment before she questions. “Did you come to London for something?”

“No,” I answer sharply. “You don't believe I miss you?”

She doesn't say a word, and I sit up, dragging her along with me. With my head on the headboard, I embrace her tightly, kissing her hair and patting them down.

“I came because I miss you. I miss sleeping with you next to me.”

She chuckles. “You slept well during the years I was absent. Don't flatter me.”

Silence falls, and she rises up instantly with a guilty look etched on her face. “I'm sorry. I didn't mean to…”

As my heart beats loudly, I drag her head back to my chest, enjoying the feel of her body on mine.

“I had insomnia, remember?” I say this instead of talking about our past. We promised to let go of everything and not bring it up. We pledged to forgive each other and forget our mistakes. “The night we slept together, it felt like magic—sleeping soundly till the break of dawn.”

When she doesn't say a word, I continue. “I'm not saying this so you can change your mind about staying here. I just want you to know how much you mean to me. You are my sleeping pill, and I don't want to spend any moment without you.”

“Richard…”

“With Daisy and our baby,” I add, my hand moving slowly until it touches her flat stomach. “I love her already.”

She shoots up again. “It's going to be a boy, Richard.”

“What?!” I exclaim in disbelief. I wasn't there when she had Daisy. And I want to be here every moment, through it all. I want to have a baby that looks like her. A replica of the woman I love.

Daisy looks so much like me. But now I want our baby to look just like her.

“How did you know the baby was yours?” Her sudden question makes me blink with confusion. She shrugs indifferently when she sees my expression. “I don't remember telling you it was yours, did I?”

A chuckle leaves my mouth.

I know she is just saying this to scare me. She was gone for five years, and she was never involved with any man. I have no reason to doubt her or think the baby isn't mine.

“What if it's not yours? What if I had an affair with someone? Probably a one-night stand because I was mad at you and…” I cut her short with a brief kiss.

She smirks, throwing me another icy glare before she continues. “You can't be so sure I was never involved with any other man, you know? You don't even know…” I cut her short again with another kiss, this time tasting every inch of her till we are left breathless.

When I pull away, seeing the desire in her eyes, she hits my arm, and I begin to laugh at her attempt to make me jealous.

“I trust you. The baby is mine!” I shout with happiness filling every inch of my body.

She forces back the laughter threatening to leave her mouth, and I grab her again, placing her head on my chest.

Silence ensues until she mutters. “Can I ask a question?”

“Sure.”

“Did you ever date any woman after our divorce?” She inquires out of pure curiosity, which makes my lips lift up in a wide smile. “I know you broke up with Eve and all, but Ashley told me she had never seen you with any woman the first day we met, and she noticed how you were ogling me. It made me wonder why you choose to remain single…”

“You know the answer already, Arabel. There is no point talking about it,” I interrupt, entangling my fingers with her and bringing it to my lips.

“I want to hear it from you,” she says, her eyes flickering to mine instantly.

I stare at her, feeling grateful for having her back in my life. When she tilts her head, urging me to say something, I nod and respond. “It's because I love you, and I was searching all around for you.”

“Oh!” Slowly, realisation begins to dawn on her.

"Mother and I were searching for Arabel Cooper instead of Bella Portillo," I add, laughter erupting from my mouth as she glares at me again. “What a woman!”

We laugh together, and she pecks my lips. “Can you forgive me too?”

“What for?”

"I apologize for hurting you and not telling you the truth about our child. When Ash and Caleb found out, I felt like a terrible person, and it made me realize how much pain I was causing for both you and Daisy. Daisy had every right to know her father, and you had every right as well as a father. Even if I don't end up admitting you were her father, I'm sure Daisy will hate me for lying to her when she becomes an adult and finds out you were her father all along.”

A lone tear slips down her eyes, and I catch it with the pad of my thumb.

She sniffs, and I inquire. “Is that what you were thinking about when I came in?”

She shakes her head, but I know it's true. It will take time for her to move on from everything that has happened. Including what happened with Alex.

It traumatized her, and I am glad she is strong and is not letting it affect her mental health.

“All of these don't matter anymore. It's all in the past now, ok?”

She doesn't answer, and I lift her jaw with my fingers.

“No matter what you do to me, Arabel, I will never hold grudges against you. When you love and care for someone, you forgive them wholeheartedly, just like you forgave me despite all I have done to hurt you. All you ever did was love me, and I am grateful for that. I am glad our paths crossed. I am glad my mother loved you and made sure we got married. I am glad we had Daisy. I am glad you forgave me and still love me. And I am glad to have you now.”

A smile flits over her face.

Holding her hand up, I murmur. “This hand… I am never letting go of it till eternity.”

She huffs as her cheeks turn red.

“Won't you say the same thing?” I counter, feigning annoyance.

“Having you chase me around was annoying and heart-melting, you know? I had to keep reminding myself that you hurt me. I kept reminding myself not to fall for you again, or I would get hurt again. I never knew you had such romantic antics up your sleeve.”

I laugh.

“Really?”

She darts her tongue out in mockery, and I grab her again, laughing as she pushes me off the bed.

“You don't deserve to sleep in my bed tonight.”

“What?!” I rise up and stand with my arms akimbo. “Come on, Bella.”

She huffs again and lays on the bed, covering her whole body with the duvet. I wait for her to give me permission to join her, but she doesn't.

After counting to 60 seconds, I slip quietly beside her, watching her feign sleep with a smile tugging on her face.

Without making a noise, I lay her head back on my chest and remain silent.

With my heart beating in sync with hers, I find myself drifting off to sleep.