The Billionaire Who Saved Me

“Get rid of?”

When Ariel repeated the one-word Ruben had said, he suppressed a grin. His eyes showed disbelief, for it still seemed highly unlikely that Ariel would believe such information. That his mother had ordered the head of his household guards to kill Elice.

Ruben lowered his head again and gave a slight nod that Ariel could barely see.

“Yes, sir.”

Ariel couldn’t hold on any longer. His legs completely lost their strength and he fell onto the chair. Ruben lifted Ariel’s face and the shock on the man’s face was truly pitiful.

For a moment no one spoke. Both Ariel and Ruben were silent. Ariel closed his eyes and felt his heart pounding inside of him. Heat and sweat immediately enveloped his entire body.

Elice. No. Not Elice.

Because Ariel would never forget what Farrah could and had done to Elice before. Farrah hadn’t hesitated to intimidate Elice when she was pregnant with her baby. Not even the presence of the innocent creature in Elice’s womb could soften Farrah’s heart. And what now?

As much as she hated to admit it, Ariel knew for a fact that Farrah would never hesitate to do whatever she wanted. And Farrah’s actions so far only increased Ariel’s fear.

No. Mama must not hurt Elice again. She must not.

When Ariel opened her eyes again, Ruben could see redness in them. A tangible manifestation of the turmoil Ariel was experiencing.

“Can you take responsibility for your words, Ruben?”

“I can,” Ruben nodded as he reached into his pocket. He pulled out a flashdisk and placed it on Ariel’s desk. “Everything I’ve collected is here, sir.”

Ariel looked at the flashdisk without saying another word. A moment later he made a gesture with his hand. More than enough for Ruben to give the man his permission.

Ruben left. Leaving Ariel alone with his eyes fixed on the flashdisk. Until, a minute later, Ariel’s trembling hand reached out.

Ariel looked hesitant. But finally, he opened the contents of the flashdisk on his computer. And it wasn’t long before Ariel was stunned with unspeakable horror.

*

“What time will you arrive in Ashford City?”

The new day had just reached six in the morning when Farrah contacted someone on her phone. She glanced as a housekeeper entered her room. She was heading to the bathroom to prepare for her morning needs.

“Eight o’clock, madam.”

Farrah made sure the housekeeper entered the bathroom first. Then she spoke.

“All right. When you arrive in Ashford City, go straight to the house.”

“Understood, madam.”

Farrah ended the call with a feeling of relief. Teddy would arrive in no time.

“Who’s coming, Farrah?”

Kurt’s voice made Farrah turn around reflexively. Her husband looked refreshed in his gym clothes, damp in places. A morning run, that’s what Kurt had done earlier in the day.

Farrah placed her phone on the nightstand and walked over to the vanity to pick up her hairpin. She casually answered her husband’s question.

“Teddy.”

“Teddy?” Kurt asked, wrinkling his forehead as if trying to convince himself that he hadn’t misheard.

“Yes,” Farrah replied. “I asked him to come. Besides, we still have Anthony at home who can take care of our house in Crestdale.”

It wasn’t a problem that Anthony, Teddy’s deputy, could take over his role. It was something else that made Kurt wonder.

“Why did you ask Teddy to come here? Aren’t we only going to be here for a short time? We’re going home next week.”

Farrah shook her head, a firm “no” escaping her lips. She ignored the housekeeper’s goodbye as she finished tending to Farrah’s needs in the bathroom. She let the young girl leave her room and then answered Kurt’s question.

“We’re not going home anytime soon, Kurt. There are some things I need to take care of here. So, I need Teddy to go with her wherever she goes.”

The feeling of freshness and health that Kurt had felt after his workout vanished instantly. It was replaced by discomfort, causing his expression to suddenly change.

“What are you planning?”

Even as he asked the question, Kurt’s voice sounded different, conveying the worry about possible bad outcomes that had filled his mind.

Farrah, however, rose from her vanity with a smile. She looked at Kurt with a rhythmic shake of her head.

“There’s no plan, Kurt.”

Farrah left for the bathroom, leaving Kurt with a peck that he eventually let go of.

Perhaps for the first time, Farrah didn’t tell Kurt what she was going to do. Not without reason. But because Farrah could see a different attitude in Kurt lately. And Farrah didn’t want to take any chances.

Because Teddy’s arrival was surely for the task she had given him. Regardless, Farrah wanted to finish it quickly. She really did. Patience wasn’t Farrah’s virtue, and everything that had happened lately had made her mood worse.

As she enjoyed her delicious breakfast, Farrah didn’t expect Ariel to come to her house that morning. But even more unexpected was the condition of her only son.

“Ariel?”

Ariel sat down. Looking disheveled and disheveled, he called out to a housekeeper and instructed her to prepare a strong cup of coffee and breakfast.

“What’s wrong with you?” Farrah asked with a furrowed brow. “Why do you look so disheveled this morning?”Contentt bel0ngs to N0ve/lDrâ/ma.O(r)g!

Instead of answering immediately, Ariel stared at his mother for a moment. He held his breath for a few seconds, trying to control the turmoil in his chest. But Farrah’s look really stunned Ariel.

How could Mom be so heartless?

Because Ariel’s arrival that morning wasn’t just a casual visit. It was because he wanted to make sure for himself that what Ruben had said was true. Regardless, Ariel needed concrete proof as his last hope. Evidence he would have to get himself.

“I had to work overtime last night,” Ariel lied. “As you know, Lostic is in bad shape. I have a lot of things to take care of.”

“Oh.”

The only response Ariel received to his lie was a short sigh. Then silence. No sound hung in the air.

Ignoring the coffee and breakfast being served for him, Ariel looked back and forth between Farrah and Kurt. There was something different about them. The atmosphere between them was cold.

Farrah and Kurt both enjoyed their breakfast in silence. There was no conversation to be heard. And although Ariel knew that his parents often didn’t talk to each other, this time it felt different. Ariel could sense it from Kurt’s distressed expression and Farrah’s indifferent demeanor.

“Madam.”

A housekeeper approached Farrah. Farrah wiped her lips with a clean napkin. Without turning, she asked, “What is it?”

“Mr. Teddy has arrived.”

The movement of the napkin on Farrah’s lips stopped abruptly. The napkin fell, and this time Farrah turned.

“Where is he now?”

“Outside.”

Farrah finished her breakfast. “Tell him to come in and fix him a drink.”

“Yes, madam,” the housekeeper said with a nod before leaving.

Meanwhile, Farrah wasted no time upon receiving the news of her security chief’s arrival. She got up from her seat immediately. She left the dining table. Leaving Kurt and Ariel, who were immediately lost in their own thoughts.

Because in the end, Ariel didn’t need any more proof. Because Teddy’s presence in his parents’ house was now undeniable proof.

Mom is not allowed to touch Elice. Not anymore.

So, Ariel got up immediately. Seemingly in a hurry, which startled Kurt. But when he saw Ariel’s reddened eyes, the man was stunned.

Those eyes suggested an unbearable fear. Tears were ready to break through his son’s defenses.

“Ariel?”

Ariel cleared his throat. He tried to remain composed as he spoke to his father.

“I-I have to go to the office, Dad. There’s a morning meeting.”

Without waiting for Kurt to say a word, Ariel stormed out. He walked quickly and caught a glimpse of his mother talking to Teddy.

As he drove away from his parents’ house, Ariel didn’t actually go straight to the office.

A meeting? There was no meeting. It was obviously just an excuse for Ariel to leave. Because he wasn’t going to waste the time he had.

Ariel parked his car. He quickly pulled out his cell phone and dialed Elice’s number, which he hadn’t called in a long time. A number Ruben had gotten months ago. A number that had also been stored on his phone for months.

But Ariel had hardly ever contacted Elice during that time. Except for the fact that he had sent her a message. After the attack on Garrett.

As the dial tone rang in Ariel’s ear, his body shook. He gripped the wheel tightly. With a groan, he could no longer hold back.

Fear was present. Bringing back memories of the past that often haunted Ariel. When Elice moaned in pain. When she couldn’t keep her baby.

When Elice suffered so much because of him. Elice was always crying and hurting because of him. And this reality almost drove Ariel crazy.

“I’m begging you, Elice,” Ariel pleaded, panic overtaking him. “Please, answer my call, Elice. I beg you, pick up.”

*