“Young buddy, do you trust me?” Bill asked Adam using a light friendly tone.
With full of sincerity, Adam nodded. He didn’t know why but he had been trusting him for the first time he met his stranger friend. He felt safe whenever his with him and he couldn’t decipher the reason for him being so comfortable with a stranger man. Because he grew up without a father, he got the memo early that he should be tough to all men to protect his mom. Even his uncle Damien wasn’t an exemption at first. All he knew was that he trusted Bill.
“That’s good,” Bill said while messing up his shiny short hair.
“Here’s the thing buddy. Your mom is tired of playing her piano so you have to give her something to drink inside the mansion. Okay?” Bill instructed him very carefully almost whispering not to be heard by Trishia on his side.
“Hmmm...” Adam nodded. “But mister, my kidnappers were guarding the mansion.” Then he added with a worried tone.
“Trust me. I already cleared up the area for you and your mom. Those bad men were gone. That’s the safest place you can go to protect your mom now. Okay?” Bill replied assuring him.
“Okay.” Trusting his friend’s words, Adam nodded.
“Go now.” Bill hurriedly ordered.
Adam led her mom inside the mansion. Without any hesitation, Arabella followed her son as she saw men in black were gathering around the direction of the exit.
“Mom, we’re safe here.” Adam sounded assisting Arabella to sit on the couch.
“Are you sure?” Arabella asked with a nervous and worried tone.
“Trust me on this mom,” Adam muttered with a pleasing smile just to calm his mom’s uneasiness. “Here mom, drink this.” Adam got the bottle of water on the center table. Caught in her nervousness, she got the bottle from Adam and drank it. That was the only time she was back to her senses. She felt very thirsty and so she drank more but when she saw Adam was looking at her with also thirsty expression, “Here. I’m sorry my son. My nervousness makes me too thirsty.” Arabella explained feeling guilty about not quickly noticing her son's needs.
Adam got the bottle in half. “It’s okay mom. I’m already quenched seeing you’re okay.” Adam said seriously. He was like a mature adult that was full of sincerity in his expression.
“Why do I feel like you’re getting my lines?” Arabella softly chuckled as she was overwhelmed with happiness. Being with her child again made her want to jump for joy. “I am your mom so I should be the one saying that.” She added chuckling. “Now drink your water.” Then she ordered.
Adam smiled satisfyingly before he drank the water to end.
“Are you okay now?” Arabella quickly asked Adam, got the bottle, and put it aside.
Adam nodded with a smile. Then he suddenly hugged his mother.
“I miss you, mom.” Adam sounded melancholy.
“No Adam. I miss you so much. I feel like dying every day not seeing you.” Arabella couldn’t help herself but sob. Her little boy was back now and she swore that she would never let him go again.
“Don’t cry, mom. I am here now. I will not leave you again.” Adam whispered gently wiping her tears away with his tiny fingers. Adam didn’t want to cry. All his life, he stayed brave and strong to protect her mom. For him, his mom’s crying was already enough. He should be strong enough to be relied on whenever her mom needed a shoulder to cry on or just to give her a simple embrace to take her worries away.
“Oh, Adam, what will I do without you?” Arabella said lovingly and full of gratefulness as she hugged him tightly.
That was the last thing she remembered in her memory.
When she woke up, she was already wearing a wedding gown on the bed. Adam was not on her side.
‘Am I just dreaming?’ That was the first question in her mind that made her instantly gloomy.
‘No!’ She refused to believe that she was just dreaming. Adam was with her earlier and she was sure about it. Her heart’s joy was still not sobered. She could still feel his warmth. Arabella then clasped her head with her two hands. She tried to remember everything but she just felt dizzy until the door of the room opened.
“Madam, it’s time for your wedding.” A man wearing a black suit and tie entered bowed and asked her politely.
After hearing the man, she froze.
‘Arabella woke up!’
‘You are just trapped in your dream!’ Having thought that everything wasn’t real, she pinched her skin to feel hurt hoping that it would work and wake her up.
“Madam, please follow me.” The man sounded again.
“No!” Arabella quickly refuted. “Tell me I am just dreaming.” She added lifting her hand to stop him from getting near to her. It was clear to her memory that she attended Trishia and Bill’s wedding. She held Adam in her hand and they exited the main venue to escape.
How come she’s dressed in a wedding gown?
“No, ma’am. Mr. Sky is already waiting for you.” The man declared.
“What?” Her jaw dropped in shock. Her word was thunderous.
“Yes madam.” The man was startled by her reaction but quickly recovered.
“No!” She regained her senses and quickly refuted. “Where’s my son?” Then she remembered Adam.
“Don’t worry madam, your son is very safe and he is soundly sleeping right now.” The man replied politely.
“No! I don’t believe you. Get out of my way. I want to check on my son.” Arabella rushed to go out of the room and find Adam.
“I’m sorry madam, Mr. Sky strictly ordered us to bring you now at your wedding and would only see Adam after.” After his words, the man lifted his right hand and 2 men came in rushing and grabbed her both arms side by side,
“Let me go!” She struggled while scolding the two men who were holding her arms. The two sturdy men didn’t move.
“Madam, please follow us.” The man bowed and said politely unaffected by her yelling.
Arabella rolled her eyes. Her nerves were contracting in anger. It seemed she was not dreaming and it was better to say that she fell into Bill Sky’s trap again. She wanted to choke herself in annoyance. Today, she only planned for her and Adam’s escape that she missed calculating Bill. It was just Kelly and her men that she planned to trick but she never expected Bill had something on his sleeves for her.
Today, Kelly had a plan.
Trishia had a plan.
Arabella had a plan.
But Bill had the greatest plan of them all.
With the two overly strong men, she followed them. At this moment, she wanted to hit Bill. She’s very close to saving Adam but he ruined it. She could feel her anger was bursting inside her and the only thing to release it was to beat him.
‘Grrrr...’ She giggled in anger inside.
When she saw him, she shot him daggers but Bill wasn’t affected. His calm was overbearing but her anger was bursting and wanted to explode anytime. For her, it was clear that he wanted to play her again in front of the press and his guests. This scene reminded her of that night in a bar 6 years ago where the rich crowd gathered to make fun of her.
Meanwhile, Trishia was accompanied by her dad’s men. She was brought back into their mansion.
“Dad.” Wearing her stained gown, scattered hair, and make-up, she faced Sen. Meyer. She was in a total whole lot of mess too different from the glamorous superstar, Trishia.
Hearing her, Sen. Meyer turned around to face her. He strode towards her and suddenly slapped Trishia with all his might.
“You! You just brought shame to this family!” Sen. Meyer shouted angrily. His face was flushed due to his intense anger.
“Dad. I’m sorry.” Trishia cried trembling seeing Sen. Meyer full of dismay.
“You are such a failure! Get out of my sight!” Sen. Meyer yelled at her and pointed in the direction of the door. She could clearly see her dad's face was cursing her.
Trishia felt slapped by a metal hand a thousand times. Ever since her dad spoiled her with everything. She grew up with no hardships in life as she was always pampered by luxurious things and lavish lifestyle but she never felt he was proud of her in any of her achievements.
“Dad, do you really see me as your daughter? Or just a property you invested that you can bargain to billionaires?” Crying and disheartened, Trishia could not help asking him and let out what she truly felt.
When she was still in school, all her classmates and teachers praised her since she had always the newest and limited gadgets and apparel plus she had a wonderful family. She had a Senator dad who was always loving in the public but not in their home. She was always left alone with her 5 nannies attending to her needs.
“You ungrateful child!” Sen. Meyer lifted her big hand to slap Trishia again but his palm didn’t land on her face.
“Honey! Please. Spare our daughter. That’s enough.” Alice held his wrist stopping him to hit her daughter. Her expression was pleading for him to hear her.
“Take that useless daughter of yours away from my sight!” Sen. Meyer put his arm down but his expression was bursting in fury. “Now!” He shouted furiously.
Alice nodded and begged Trishia to follow her.
When they were out of Sen. Meyer’s office, “Go back to your husband mom, I can manage myself.” Trishia uttered then ran away quickly still wearing her untidy wedding gown.
“Trishia! Trishia!” Alice called out her name in a hurry but Trishia didn’t stop on her way.
As the wedding continued,
“Only you can set my heart on fire.” Bill sounded that made Arabella want to vomit in disgust.
From the start, this guy was very good at toying him. Now, he raised the bar high and invited the press and all influential people in the city and abroad.
Her mind was in a whole lot of mess but her anger never dissipated.
Driven by annoyance and hatred with his unending scheme, she chuckled and got the mic from him.
She faced the crowd and waved at the cameras wearing a trying-hard smile.
“This guy here…” Arabella started to talk. Her smile never left her face. “The great Bill Sky.” She continued with a smirk. Pointing at him on her side, “He… He is a monster!” She smiled bitterly.
“Woohhhh!” The loud clamor from the crowd exploded again. This wedding was really the grandest. It had the grandest scandal.
Arabella raised her hand for them to stop and allow her to finish her statements. Bill’s men hurried to stop Arabella but Bill raised his hand signaling them to stop.
“Since you are all here, let me tell you how this greatest Bill Sky cruelly played with my life.” She was already out of control. Her anger at him took over. All she wanted to do was to let the whole world how cruel the man who they looked up to was. For her, she was nobody in the city but Bill was the famous one. She had nothing to lose but he had all to lose.
In the first place, he put her there to be humiliated, she just turned the table around. Women could allow people to hurt them especially if it was for their loved ones but also, they had limits. Once they were full of your sh*ts they became fearless. They could fight you to death.
“Firstly, he wanted to abort our child,” Arabella announced that making another uproar. She lifted her arm again. Bill stood still and folded his arms in front and just allowing her to speak.
“Secondly, he killed my father that made my mother traumatized and until now, she was still suffering in the hospital.” Remembering her mother's pain, her eyes became teary but she remained composed and still tried to smile in front of the crowd.
“Third, he kidnapped my son,” Arabella announced but this time only anger and annoyance in her voice were traced.
“Lastly, this wedding is over. I would rather die than to be wed again with this monster!” She finished her statement with a curse. Her expression was full of displeased and disgust to him. Big chaos was filled in the air with Arabella’s shocking statement.
“Mom?” Amidst the noise, the voice of a little boy was heard. Adam was standing in front of Arabella and Bill. His eyes were gloomy.
Seeing Adam, Arabella was alerted. Judging from her son’s expression, she knew he heard her announcements. Her heart suddenly became heartbroken.
Bill quickly strode closer to Adam.
“Adam.” That was the only word he could utter to his displeased son.
Dispirited, Adam took a step back then he swiftly ran away.