Arabel's POV
The whole place is in pitch darkness, and I wonder why.
I haven't been here in weeks, and I guess because of Richard's absence, the maintenance office might have been complacent.
With a long hiss leaving my mouth, I flash on my phone torch, holding firmly onto Daisy as we ascend the staircase.
“Mommy,” Daisy groans, and I pick her up immediately. She was already asleep at Ashley's, but the moment I picked her up so we could come here, she woke up.
She was constantly asking me about her dad's health. As we drove here, I was sure to satisfy all of her curiosity.
As soon as we are in front of the door, my gaze shifts to Richard's apartment while panting.
Pity gnaws at my heart.
I doubt if he even remembers living with her. With me as his next-door neighbor.
When I sent him that message about spending the night here, I expected him to call to ask which penthouse, but he hasn't, and I assume he hasn't seen my message.
I wonder what he is up to.
Probably trying to rectify whatever mistake it is. Or trying to figure out if he is indeed married to her or not.
The possibility of what Ashley said makes me feel so bad for him, as he can't recall anything. And Eve is taking advantage of that.
I open the door with a sigh and stroll in.
It is dark here too.
Thankful for the torch, I flash it around to find the switch while dropping Daisy.
When I get to the switch, it won't budge, and I hiss again in frustration. How can I spend the night in a dark room? What the hell is happening?
Before I can move back to hold Daisy to make sure she doesn't trip while trying to follow me, the light comes back up, making a gasp leave my mouth when I catch sight of a shadow in the darkness near the kitchen.
I stalk backward, dragging Daisy with me.
“Who is that?!” I challenge loudly with a tone of authority. Richard's men are outside, and the only way I can alert them is to scream out as a sign for help.
The shadow disappears, and a white panic strikes me when he returns to the light with a smirk on his face.
Alex.
“What…what are you doing here, Alex?” I almost yell while moving backward and protecting Daisy with my body.
If I can make it to the door, then I can possibly run out and shout to them to help me before rushing to the staircase. I might not succeed in running out, but I will definitely raise an alarm as soon as I am out and get help.
“Don't even think about it.” Alex's cold voice reaches my ear, making goosebumps pepper my skin. “The door is locked with my key.”
He dangles a key in my face, then slumps onto a sofa. He tilts his head and calls. “Daisy baby.”
I tug Daisy behind me, afraid he would hurt her again.
“Come!” He orders with a light smile on his face. The same smile he has been flashing to me making me think he is innocent and not this deadly.
“No!” Daisy cries out behind me, and I summon up enough courage to turn around and squat in front of her.
“It's okay, baby,” I coo before embracing her. I pick her up, still standing by the door. I cannot leave the house but I am capable of screaming if he intends to cause me harm.
I can only hope they hear me downstairs.
“Daisy?” He calls again, but Daisy hides her face in the crook of my neck. Hurts flash across his hard features, but I don't feel bad for him. “Arabel, come here.”
“What do you want?!” My body is trembling with so much fear, but I don't want to show him how frightened I am of him.
He watches me for a moment before muttering. “I came to see how you were faring. It's been a while.”
“As you can see, I am fine. Can you go now?” I retort back sharply.
He shakes his head with a smirk tugging at the corners of his lips. “Fine with your ex?” He raises his eyebrows, seemingly anticipating my response.
Still maintaining the icy glare on my expression, I almost yell. “That is none of your business, Alex. You have Julia; go to her and stop pestering me.”
“Do you know one thing I can't seem to figure out?” He asks immediately I am done speaking. "Why does it always have to be him?" Why not another man, Arabel? Why must it always be Richard?”
“That is none of your business!” I roar again, with rage filling my insides.
Fire and fury ignite in his eyes, and he darts forward towards me. A shriek leaves my mouth when he grabs me, dragging me to the sofa.
“Let go of me, you bastard!”
“Mommy!” Daisy begins to cry hysterically.
When he lets go of my hand, he pushes me to the sofa and kneels in front of me. I pat Daisy's back. “It's okay, baby. Stop crying.”
Her cries turn into whimpers.
“This man left you, and you are back with him?”
“Alex, what I do with my life is none of your f**king business. Why don't you let that sink into your head and let me be?!”
"I was with you when he wasn't around, and this is how you could repay me?"
“Because I didn't date you?!” I blurt out quickly and let a short laugh scrape up my throat forcefully. “You're doing all this because I didn't date you, Alex. Get rid of your obsession with me and face your girlfriend.”
He swallows hard and looks down. “Julia is not my girlfriend. I paid her to do that because I thought it would make you feel jealous."
If I were still in the dark about his true behaviors, I would have exclaimed in shock, but I am not surprised. He is capable of anything.
I gaze up, our eyes meeting. Mine, cold. His, soft. “You are not surprised?”
I don't reply. I just want him out. Out of here. And out of our lives.
After a moment of silence, he rises to his feet and slumps next to me on the sofa. “I heard Richard finally got married to the woman he left you for. Is that true?”
I shut my eyes, wondering how he got to know this. Is Eve already announcing to the public that she is married to Richard Giodano?
“Ah, I see, you know already,” he mutters with his breath, fanning my face and making me flicker my eyes open to see his face inches away from me. I move back. “Wow, so you knew.”
A wicked chuckle leaves his mouth.
“Arabel, the naive woman…”
“Don't you dare call me that! Get out!” I shout, pointing to the door with trembling fingers, and cold shivers of terror rushing through me.
He doesn't obey. He just sits there, searching my face before looking down at my dress.
“Richard is nothing but a chronic liar, Arabel. It is left to you to either believe me or believe that liar. All I am doing is looking out for you. I know you think I hurt Daisy the other day, but I didn't, and I would never hurt you. Just know that. I love you, and my love is incomparable to what that jerk has for you. He just wants to use you like he once did. Eve is the woman he truly loves and will never stop loving.”
I shut my eyes again, letting his words out of my ears. I don't want them to sink in and create another doubt in my heart.
“Eve Rogers is a beautiful woman. Sophisticated and classy. Any man would kill to have her. But she chooses only Richard. They communicate regularly, but here you are acting like a fool and thinking what Richard feels for you is real. Richard can never get rid of his obsession for Eve, and you know that. Eve, on the other hand, is ready to wait forever for Richard. She listens to whatever he tells her, including chasing you until he has you wrapped around his finger before breaking you into pieces again and going back to her. Don't fall for this, Arabel. Not again.”
Pain laces his tone alongside concern, but I won't let that get to me.
Alex isn't who I think he is.
“Thank you for the piece of information. Can you go now?”
He smiles. "When I next come here, I am certain reality will dawn on you, and you will know I have been honest with you all along. Then you'll have no choice but to run back to me. I will be willing to accept you anytime…”
“Get out!” I shoot to my feet, a fresh sparkle of rage threading through my gut.
He goes silent again.
My breathing is heavy as I wait patiently for him to comply and leave. Only then will I be relieved that he won't hurt me or Daisy.
“At LaRosa Club, Seventh Avenue, Eve and Richard are on a date. Talking about how to keep up with the pretense of him losing his memory and not remembering either you or Eve. If you want the truth about who Richard really is and whether I am telling you the truth, go take a look at the two lovebirds.”
He begins to walk to the door as my heart thumps wildly in my ribcage, making it difficult to breathe.
"Text me if it's a lie. But if it's the truth, call me,” he completes and walks out, leaving the door ajar, as he disappears into view just like he came.
I slump on the sofa with my heart constricting forcefully in my chest.