Richard's POV
How do men who want their wives back after a huge quarrel ask for forgiveness? Is there any man on earth who has ever asked his wife for a divorce only to come back after seven years for another chance?
Is another chance even possible?
These and more questions keep gnawing at my heart as I step foot in Germany.
I should have known she would be here. But I wouldn't because I didn't know her well enough and I forgot almost everything that ought to be remembered about her.
For Arabel, Germany remains a special place. She used to come here a lot before her parents' deaths. They toured the city together, and she mentioned how it reminded her of them.
Instead of bringing bad memories for her, it always brought a smile to her face because of the many happy moments she had with her family here.
Mother wanted us to come here for our honeymoon as a gift to Arabel, but I wasn't interested in traveling with her or honeymooning.
I was still angry about the fact that I didn't get the woman I wanted.
We skipped our honeymoon.
Now she is here, and I have been standing at the door for, God knows, how long. When I finally summon up the courage to knock on the door for the second time, I decide now is the best.
It is either now or never.
But on second thought, I can't tell her while outside. I can't tell her when we aren't even on good terms.
Should I tell her over dinner? Should I invite her on a date? Will she come?
Apparently, I am the sole reason why she is here. To avoid me. To stop crossing paths with me.
Did she have a fight with Alex? Did he remind her of how I mistreated her? Did he convince her to come here? Did he try to persuade her to terminate the contract and go back home?
When I hear the sound of her feet close to the door, I quickly turn my back to it in an effort to calm my nerves, forgo all the unanswered questions, and man up enough to face her, apologize for all my misdeeds, and finally seek forgiveness.
As soon as she opens the door and I whirl around to face her squarely, seeing her beautiful face with her eyes bulging wide open in surprise, I lose all the confidence I have been mustering since I got on that plane with Leo.
I can't even find my voice.
“Richard? Mr Giodano?” She calls out as if to be sure if I am real or not.
I still can't find my voice. I stand still and stare at her like a zombie until someone else catches my attention.
Daisy steps aside from behind her mother.
“Hi.”
“What are you doing here?” She demands, glancing around to see if I came here with someone.
“I…I…,” I stutter for the first time in front of her.
I'm at a loss for words. I'm unsure whether to inform her that I accidentally lost my way and ended up at her doorstep. Alternatively, I could explain that I was visiting after attending a business meeting nearby.
“Buddy?” Daisy's voice pulls me out of my reverie, and I flash her a smile.
Arabel still appears shocked. When our eyes connect again, she asks. “Why are you here? How do you know I am here?”
She is curious.
How did I know?
I can't tell her the truth. I can't tell her that I had someone track her down. I had someone monitor her movement and even employ a bodyguard to follow her henceforth.
I also can't tell her why I'm here. I can't even express how worried I was when she was out of sight.
“I saw you coming in on my way out, so I thought to say hi,” I finally say, a smile making its way to my lips at the perfect lie, crafting slowly in my brain.
“On your way out? Did you lodge here?” She questions me with furrowed brows, making me notice why Daisy isn’t running to me. She is holding on tightly to her child, as if I am a threat.
It makes my heart sink, and the desire to reveal the truth vanishes.
“Yes. I have been here for a business conference. I happen to see you coming in…”
“Oh!” Realization dawns on her, so I don't bother to say anything further.
My mood has been dampened. And my gaze is still on Daisy. I watch her struggle to get out of her mother's firm hold and come to me.
When Arabel notices my gaze on her hand, she clears her throat and remains silent. She does not bother to invite me in, making me stand awkwardly in the hallway.
Half pathetic. Half guilty. I continue to watch her, ping-ponging my eyes from mother to child, trying to decide whether to spill or not.
“Aren't you on your way out?” She can no longer hide her displeasure at my sudden appearance at her doorway.
“You don't need to avoid me any further. I am leaving tonight since I am done with my business here.” My voice is a bit harsh, but I decide to spell it out so she can feel relaxed and not uptight about having me around here too.
“You misunderstood, Mr. Giodano…”
“It's fine. I didn't get the message all along, but now I get it. Just because I am trying to be friendly with you doesn't mean I want something from you in return, and even if I do, what I must want is your heart. Wanting a woman's heart shouldn't be a crime, should it?” I feign annoyance; my gaze is not wavering.
After a moment of hesitation, she mutters again. “You misunderstood, Mr. Giodano.”
“It's Richard.” I cut her short.
She closes her eyes, and when she opens them again, I see fury and rage in them. “Yes! It is a crime!”
My heart skips a beat.
This is it.
She wants to come out clean. She wishes to yell at me about everything that transpired between us seven years ago, strike me, and slam the door in my face, ensuring she never sees me again.
This is what I expect but she doesn't do any of that. Instead, she remains lip tight.
“Why do you say it is a crime? You do not want to be friends with me?”
“No!”
“And…”
"And I don't want you to be friends with my child, either. We are fine without you. I want us to remain business partners and nothing else. Don't let me show you the other side of me, or else…”
“Or else what?” I gently insist, hoping to provoke her.
“Or else you will hate me, Richard!”
The way she called Richard just now makes my heart skip another beat. It sounds so familiar and natural. It reminds me of the way she used to call my name. Even when I ignore her call, she calls me Richard in the same manner, except for the yelling.
I have never seen Arabel yelling. She was always calm. Very calm. And loyal to a fault.
“What if I deserve it? What if I ask you to forgive me? Will you?”
An emotion I can't place flashes across her eyes before she asks. “What are you talking about?”
Arguing back and forth with her, pretending, bantering words, and avoiding me will do no good.
This is what I came to Germany for. I won't go back without doing this and asking for forgiveness.
When we next meet in the States, we will be new individuals with no grudges against each other. Most importantly, I will go back with a clean mind and the hope of a second chance.
“If you will excuse me, I have a lot of work to do before you…”
“I know everything,” I interrupt again, dropping the bombshell.
Confusion replaces the anger on her face. “You know what?”
“Everything, Arabel." I stare at her, daring her to deny it once more. “Everything about you, Arabel Cooper. And about our child, Daisy Giodano.”
“What?!”
With a hand guiding and blocking Daisy, she steps back and exclaims in total disbelief.