Arabel's POV
Elegant and tall, she stands upright, her eyes not leaving mine.
I can't find my voice. I don't know how to welcome her. I'm uncertain about how to welcome her, whether it's by greeting her and asking her why she's here, or by rushing forward and giving her a hug.
She suddenly opens her arms, as if hearing my thoughts. Without hesitation, I rush in.
With emotions crested in my throat, I embrace her tightly, in silence, with my eyes closed. I let all the memories flow until they bring tears to my eyes.
This is it. I am at a dead end.
This woman knows already.
When I hear a sniff from her, I know she is crying too, and I embrace her more firmly, enjoying the bliss of that motherly hug I have missed in seven years.
She isn't saying anything, and I am not doing so either. I am clueless as to what exactly to say to her. I don't know if I am supposed to talk as Arabel Cooper or as Bella Portillo.
Finally, she disengages from the hug, holding my face in between her palms and examining me.
When a smile lights up her face, I know she has seen past the facade. She knew all along but pretended not to, just like Richard has been doing.
At the thought of Richard, something aches inside of me.
She drops her hand down to hold my two hands before moving to sit. When we are both seated, she lets go of me and mutters softly. “I miss you. I am proud of you.”
Tears spring to my eyes once more, and before I know it, I burst into tears, whimpering softly until she pulls me to herself once more.
My cries become louder and louder until I let them all out. I cry till there are no more tears for me to shed. I don't know how long I have stayed in her embrace because it is so soothing.
But when I disengage, feeling embarrassed for acting like the 22-year-old Arabel, I see her wiping her tears too.
“I'm sorry, Arabel. Please forgive me.” She goes down on her knees, but I am quick to stop her. “Please forgive me.”
I shake my head.
She didn't do anything wrong. The one at fault isn't her, but Richard. Lip-tight, I find it hard to finally admit that I am Arabel. I debate within myself on what exactly to say as I watch her ask for forgiveness.
“I know I am a bad mother; just forgive me for this. Give me another chance to make things right. I shouldn't have imposed my wishes on you both. I should have let you make your choices; maybe this wouldn't have happened. Please forgive me, my darling…I promise…”
“Mother.” I call her, cutting her short. Her bright, tearful eyes turn to me in shock.
It sounds strange in my mouth. Perhaps it is because it's been a while since I called someone that.
Although I love the feeling. The feeling of being able to call her mother again is something I cherish deeply.
“It is not your fault. None of this was your fault. I am also sorry for pretending to be someone else. I feel really bad for what I did, and I have been thinking about how best to ask for your forgiveness.”
“It's ok, my darling. I understand you had to do that. I'm just happy you are back, hale and hearty. We searched everywhere for you. I lost my mind while doing that. I blamed myself. I fell ill, and I thought I was going to die without seeing you..,” she sniffs, holding my hands once more.
We searched? Who?
Quickly, I say. "You didn't offend me, mother, but if that's what you want to hear, I forgive you."
“Thank you.” She seems relieved, as a smile lights up her face.
She looks around as if searching for someone. When our eyes meet, I know what it is, and my heart goes still.
“Where is she?” With a light smile on her face, she demands confidently.
“Who?” I feign ignorance, pretending to be confused.
She says in a loud voice, "Your baby girl, of course."
I smile and shake my head. “She is studying. Let me go check up on her.”
When I stand to go check on Daisy, she holds me back with a different emotion crossing her face.
This time, she isn't smiling or looking relieved. Fear is what is evident on her face.
“Is everything okay?” I bend down quickly with concern.
“Is she Richard's?” She blurts out the question I dread the most, a tremor running beneath her words.
Her eyes hold no humor, forcing my heart to slam against my ribcage. With her gaze not wavering, heat sings my cheeks, and I look down.
“Is she his?” She repeats the question again, urging me to reply, but I don't know whether to lie or not.
I don't want Richard to know about this. If his mother knows, he will definitely know. At this point, I suddenly realize I didn't even ask how she got here.
Did he send her here?
“How did you know I was here?” Out of pure curiosity, I ask, still bending in front of her.
“I have my ways.” Her lips curve up with a proud smile. “You think I didn't search for you all these years? Of course, I did. If only you weren’t using another identity, it wouldn't have been so difficult to find you here of all places.”
When she notices I am not convinced enough, she continues. “You think Richard told me?”
I nod.
She only smiles. “I haven't even been able to reach that silly boy since he left for Germany on a so-called business trip.”
That doesn't answer the question.
"Didn't you receive any calls from your office?" Her sudden question leaves me wondering about the connection. I shake my head. “I was at the office. They directed me here because I identified myself as your mother.
I am not fully convinced, but I accept it. Someone must have let her have her way, just like Lucia did the moment she told them she was my mom.
Waving it away, she attacks me again. “Back to my question. Is the baby Richard's?”
I shake my head in denial. “No!”
“Don't lie to me, Arabella. You know how much I hate liars, don't you?”
I bite on my lower lips. I don't want him to know. Just because I forgave his mom doesn't mean he will automatically forgive too.
“You never lied to my face, Arabel. What has changed? If you don't want Richard to know, just tell me, and I won't say a word to him.”
“She is,” I answer rather sharply, looking up at her to see her mouth dropping open in a delightful surprise. “Daisy is Richard's. I found out I was pregnant the same night he asked for a divorce. I wanted to tell him about it when I heard him speaking with that woman on the phone.”
Eve.
That serpent.
Out of curiosity, I really want to ask her about Eve.
However, the ringing sound of her phone stops me before I can summon up enough courage to ask her.
"Excuse me," she says, pointing to the phone, and I rise to excuse her by checking up on Daisy and bringing her to greet her grandmother.
Theresa might be my former mother-in-law, but she will always be a mother to me till the very end. She holds a special place in my heart.
Even if Daisy doesn't know her as her paternal grandmother, she will definitely see her as her maternal grandmother.
“What? Where?!” The sudden shout from her makes me whirl back hastily and rush to her in concern. “Oh my God!”
“What happened?” I ask.
“Leonard just called to tell me Richard fell off the stairs and has been unconscious since last night.”
“What?!” I exclaim with disbelief.
I saw him last night, before leaving for London. How could he? Was it at the hotel? Where was he coming from?
Mother grabs her handbag and rushes to the door without saying goodbye. After a moment of indecisiveness, I turn around to see Lucia coming out.
I grab her hands. “Don't cancel the party and stay with Daisy till I am back. Tell Natalie the same thing.”
Without waiting for a reply from her, I race out too.