The Billionaire Who Saved Me

Elice had just left Garrett’s side less than five minutes ago. She wanted to go to the toilet. But here she was now. Not in the toilet. Instead, in a secluded corner covered by plant leaves. With one hand covering her mouth. Suppressing any possibility of expressing her surprise, or even a gasp of shock.

Elice’s eyes widened, the only physical expression she could muster for the shock and anger she could not articulate.

It was Ariel. Since the beginning of Elice and Garrett’s arrival, he had not taken his eyes off them. He was waiting. Extremely patiently. Like a predator unwilling to lose its prey.

Finally, the opportunity came. Almost after an hour and a half of holding his breath because of the intimacy that was forming between Elice and Garrett. Especially with the fact that he had to admit. How beautiful and charming Elice looked that night.

I should be the one standing next to her. I should be the one with her.

In the end, Ariel said it. In a whisper full of grumbling that he made sure only Elice could hear.

“You should have been with me, Elice. Not with Garrett. You should have come with me.”

With all her strength, Elice pulled Ariel’s hand away from her mouth. And when she succeeded, she answered the whisper.

“Have you forgotten?” Elice asked sarcastically. “You never wanted to take me to your events, Ariel. In the past… you were always embarrassed to bring me.”

Ariel was silent. Only hia eyeballs moved, trying to respond to Elice’s unwavering gaze. Ignoring the fact that a pair of hands were now clenched tightly together.

The scars and bruises had completely disappeared from Elice’s skin only two days ago. But the memory of the fear Ariel had instilled in her would not be so easily erased from her mind.

It was all perfectly recorded. Not a single second missed. Etched into Elice’s subconscious. That the man standing before her was truly a lifetime of regret. Elice knew that meeting Ariel had been a fatal mistake.

“Now that you see me with Garrett, you act like you’re the one who’s hurt?”

Elice chuckled ironically. Her shoulders trembled slightly from the low laughter she was deliberately doing to provoke the man.

“Don’t play the victim, Ariel. You don’t have to act like you’re the one being victimized here,” Elice said seriously. “You know, I can show the world who you really are. You’re nothing but a coward.”

Ariel’s face suddenly hardened. Elice’s words were more than enough for his hand to rise, grab the woman’s chin, and lift her face.

“You’ve never been like this before, Elice,” Ariel shook his head several times. “Ever since we met that night, I knew you had changed. From the first time we met, you looked at me differently.”Text property © Nôvel(D)ra/ma.Org.

Elice did not deny it. Instead, she sharpened her gaze as if to confirm Ariel’s suspicion.

“Why have you changed? Did Garrett change you?”

Without answering, Elice just gave him a quick snort. Maybe it was because she was in a crowded place that she could muster a little courage to suppress the bad memories of that night. At least Elice was sure. In this place Ariel would not be able to bother her. Not if Ariel had any sense left.

“Did you sleep with him?”

A fleeting glance from Elice infuriated Ariel. The grip on Elice’s chin tightened, causing pain that Elice refused to feel.

“You slept with Garrett, you bitch,” Ariel hissed with full hate. “How much did he pay you?”

“Shut your mouth, Ariel.”

“Your mouth is the one that needs to be shut, Elice,” Ariel replied, his eyes searching Elice’s. Then his focus shifted. To the sensual red lips, half-opened by hie grip. “Did you satisfy Garrett with those lips? Is that true?”

Elice held her breath as long as she could. Really. She never thought the man she once loved would have such a vicious tongue.

“Stop it, Ariel. Don’t make a scene.”

The glint in Elice’s eyes brought a grin to Ariel’s face. A moment later she was giggling with a rhythm that made Elice wonder. Was she the one who would cause chaos there? Instead of Ariel?

“I’m not surprised Garrett wants to sleep with you. You really are beautiful, Elice. And looking at your lips makes me want to taste them again.”

Elice did not want to make a scene. It would not only hurt her, but also tarnish Garrett’s name. But she did not have many options. She had to defend herself.

Elice tried to push Ariel. It did not matter if the man fell and caused a commotion. Fine. As long as Ariel didn’t touch her.

Elice’s chin was pushed up. Rising helplessly because of that grip. No matter how hard she tried to escape, Ariel would not let her go.

Elice closed her eyes with both hands, still making various efforts. But she really could not bear to see the reality. The realization that Ariel was about to kiss her made Elice really unable to cope.

However, just as Elice felt resigned to her fate, she noticed that the grip on her chin was suddenly loosened. Suddenly, she opened her eyes to find everything happening so quickly.

There was a hand pulling at Ariel’s body. Until the man turned around to find a fist landing on his face.

Ariel fell backward. He hit the lush plants worth millions and then landed on the ground.

Elice covered her mouth with her eyes wide open. The name echoed in her mind.

Garrett!

It was indeed Garrett. Who, after a while, was puzzled because Elice had not returned to the party. He was worried. He went to look for her and found a sight that made his body move reflexively.

Staring sharply at Ariel groaning on the ground, Garrett immediately approached the man. Squatting down, he grabbed her collar and pulled. Ariel immediately choked.

Elice paled. She wanted to remind Garrett, but she was afraid it would draw the wrong attention from many people. She did not want Garrett to be cornered by the wrong looks from people.

Garrett’s right hand clenched and rose again without hesitation, landing on Ariel’s face for a second time. Still dazed from the first blow and being knocked to the ground, it was clear that Ariel was unprepared. He could not retaliate. And just as he was about to throw a punch, Garrett got up. Only to kick back at Ariel’s attack.

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