Richard's POV
Her “please” came out as a demand request instead of a plea.
It makes me stare at her intensely, wondering what I have to do to win her back and have everything to myself.
“Please, Richard,” she mutters again, this time with her eyes soft in humbleness.
Quickly, I nod.
I suggested we move in together, probably at the mansion or at the penthouse, so I can have them guarded and have my eyes on them all the time.
At the mansion, I have my eyes everywhere because of the cameras installed in every corner of the mansion.
I never thought I would think of living in that mansion again until now. I left because of her, and I would gladly go if she wanted us to.
However, there are no cameras installed anywhere in the penthouse. It is my private space. My safe haven. From the world.
I didn't bother with the cameras because I hadn't needed them until now.
Arabel quietly disagreed with me as soon as I let out my suggestion, until Daisy chipped in.
“Let's stay with Daddy, Mommy. I am scared Uncle Alex will come back. He was looking angry…” She trailed off again before crying.
I pacified her till she fell asleep on my chest.
In the next twenty minutes, we would be in New York, at the mansion. The jet's turnover point is located at the mansion. Since she doesn't want to be there, we can drive back to the penthouse.
She would stay in her apartment, and I would stay in mine.
“I’m just worried…”
“Richard, don't make this any harder on me. Our apartment is next to each other, so you have nothing to worry about.”
“Are you sure? What if something happens in the middle of the night?”
“I will give you a call,” she replies sharply, as if expecting the question already. But I am not done finding an excuse to let her stay with me.
“What if your phone isn't close to you?”
“My phone is always with me. Let's not argue, at least not today. Just please, let it go. Don't try to convince Daisy otherwise or else…” She shoots me a cold glare.
“You will kill me?”
She snorts, turning her puffy eyes away. “I wish.”
I laugh shortly.
Convincing her to let us come back to New York took a great deal. I think the real reason she succumbed to my wish at the end was because Alex was apparently back in London.
Something I feel is because of her. He came back because of her. He already knew she hadn't been staying in New York like she used to.
So he came back.
Though, I didn't mention it to her, I am sure Alex will be on his way back to New York too. As soon as he learns we are back, he will come back.
This is not the end.
Alex will definitely want to hurt one of us. I really hope he doesn't get Arabel and Daisy involved. This is going to be a war between us.
I don't want any of my girls to suffer harm. And I don't mind taking the fall for them.
When Arabel mentioned the dream, I felt a wave of deja vu. I didn't tell her because I didn't want her to be worried. She clearly showed how worried she was, not only about her and Daisy but also about me, which made me smile inwardly.
I had a similar dream.
But it wasn't Alex.
I didn't see the person's face, and the moment I woke up with a start, my mind flew to Eve and Fernando.
I haven't seen Eve since that night, when she claimed to still love me. I haven't seen Fernando either since the other day, when I ruined his date with Arabel.
Eve can hurt me for not getting what she wants, and Fernando can hurt me for doing the same. Fernando has more reasons to want to hurt me than Eve does. I ruined his date and his opportunity to propose to Arabel, and now she no longer has time for him.
He has a criminal record, and he wouldn't hesitate to want to deal with me.
The moment Arabel mentioned Alex's name, my mind drifted slowly away from Fernando to him.
“Everything will be fine, I promise. You don't need to get yourself worked up. I assure you, as long as you are with me, Alex won't get to you this time. This is not an empty promise. This is a promise I will keep with the last drop of my blood.”
He won't hurt them. He has to go through me first.
And he won't get Arabel. He has to deal with me first.
“Such arrogance!” She states, sneering at me with mockery.
My jaw drops. “I see you think less of me. I am no longer the Richard you used to know. I have my ways, and believe me, I have a lot of well trained guards at my beck and call. So don't worry.”
She smiles finally, and I grin.
The pilot announces the landing just as Daisy begins to stir in her sleep. As we buckle in our seatbelts, she opens her eyes and shuts them back.
“Mommy!” She calls, half asleep, before turning to me. “Daddy, are we home?”
Arabel and I share a look, and I dart my eyes back to her. “No, baby. Almost. Sleep, and I will wake you once we get home, ok?”
I peck her forehead and lay her head back on my chest. I avoid Arabel's gaze, even though I know she must be thinking of an excuse to give Daisy when she realizes we didn't stick to her suggestion of staying together.
I just hope she doesn't throw a tantrum.
She looked pretty frightened earlier, and I figured that must be the reason she wants me close.
A father figure. Someone she could trust to protect her and Mummy.
My heart swells.
And my love for this little girl triples as I realize how much I have failed her, yet she loves me wholeheartedly and unconditionally.
As the jet lands on the runway, I vow within myself never to let her down. Not her. And not Arabel.
“Richard!” Arabel shouts, shooting to her feet as soon as the jet screeches down. “Where are we?!”
“We will drive to the penthouse, we are not staying here,” I assure her before watching her slowly drop back on the seat, her chest heaving up and down.
Then it dawns on me. Forgiving me for my misdeeds might have come so easy, but forgetting everything that has happened between us in our matrimony and in this house will definitely bring back memories from the past that she has chosen to forget.
Those memories will refuse to go. Taunting. Haunting her. And invariably, it probably makes her hate me more.
Before she can finally let go, she needs to heal and forgive herself for loving me.