The curtain was pushed to the side revealing the morning sunlight from the outside that stirred her from sleep.
“What the hell?” Arianna groaned in irritation, blocking her eyes with the back of her hand. What now?!
The housekeeper must have seen the annoyance on her face because she quickly explained to her, “Madam says it’s high time that you woke already. There’s a lot of things to do today, chop-chop.”
Arianna stared at the woman and then back at the clock with an inexplicable look. She didn’t know what to say to her; Arianna was speechless. It was merely seven o’clock in the morning and she wanted to sleep more. However, thinking about it now, Arianna found it quite funny because just days ago, she found sleeping when she had been wallowing in heartbreak. But now, she could sleep the whole day if permitted.
Moreover, Arianna had not slept much last night thanks to the wedding arrangement. If you thought planning a wedding was stressful, then wait until you plan an emergency one. Her mother was making efforts to improve their relationship and hence asked about her opinion on all of her plans. By the time Arianna slept last night, it was almost three in the morning, only to wake up early.
Arianna felt like a walking zombie and doubted her mother would be energetic enough to move on with today’s wedding. With yesterday’s stress, she should have even slept later than her. Her mother should have given a gap between the wedding date to have enough rest, but then it was her wedding and her decision and she had no right to interfere.
But to Arianna’s shock, her mother was as excited as a rabbit in heat when she found her downstairs conversing with some unknown people that were probably involved with the wedding. She was kind of dumbfounded because Natalie looked even more beautiful than when they met last night. There was just this familiar glow about her that she couldn’t grasp until it hit her.
Her mother was in love.
.....
Damn.
She means, what had she been thinking? What had she thought about her mother and Eric so far? Arianna simply felt that her mother was marrying the man out of gratitude for saving her life and secondly, because she wanted a companion. Arianna didn’t really think that her mother loved Eric until now.
Arianna forgot that just like her, Natalie was a woman with feelings too, even if she was a mother to twenty-three years plus adult. Her mother had the same emotions and craved love and attention. Natalie deserved a life to live too.
“Arianna!”
Natalie waved at her, rousing her back to reality and Arianna walked over to her.
“This is my daughter, Arianna,” Natalie introduced her to another stranger, “Arianna meet Mrs. Brown, she manages my hospital in my absence.”
“You have a hospital?” Arianna blinked up at her in surprise.
But it was too late for Arianna to realize her mistake because Mrs. Brown was now staring at her as if she emerged from the planet of apes. Of course, she was dumb enough not to know that her mother had a hospital and probably a doctorate in medicine. At least, now she could see where her love for science came from.
Arianna felt proud and guilty at the same time. It was kind of pleasing to know that she and her mother enjoyed the same career – even though she didn’t go into it full-time – at the same time, Arianna knew nothing about Natalie except the story of how she turned out to be her mother and the reason she abandoned her.
Natalie stepped in to resolve the situation and smiling at the woman politely, she took Arianna’s hand with affection as he said, “Arianna and I just reconnected recently,”
“Oh,” Mrs. Brown nodded in understanding, “If that’s the case, I wish the both of you success as you both get to know each other. And congratulations once again, Natalie.” She kissed her mother on the cheek before leaving.
Natalie turned to her with a deep breath, “You’re up!”
“Yeah, the housekeeper is not exactly subtle.”
She groaned, “Just bear with me today, Arianna. I’ll leave with Eric for our short honeymoon and you can sleep all you want afterward,”
Yep, and I would meet Marcel behind your back, Arianna said in her mind.
The both of them walked outside to the lawn where the wedding would be taking place with Natalie giving instructions to the staff about the decoration every once and then.
“By the way, I invited Mimi to the wedding. I just wanted you to know since we decided to be open to each other from now on.”
“Huh? Who’s Mimi – oh,” Natalie remembered. However, she figured something out and stopped, staring at Arianna with suspicion, “Mimi had already left by the time I let out the news of my wedding. So how did she get to hear about it?”
“I told her,”
“You told her?”
“Through this,” Arianna lifted the cell phone.
Natalie opened her mouth to say something but Arianna was quick to say, “I’m not a prisoner here, remember?” She reminded her of her words and Natalie was not able to go back on her words.
She continued, “Mimi gave me the phone to be with me, her bestie, since Elijah wouldn’t hand me my cell phone and my own mother doesn’t remember that I’m an adult that lives in the twenty-first generation addicted to technology.” Arianna added, “This is me being truthful.”
She said, “I did not...”
“And I haven’t chatted with Marcel yet if that’s what you’re worried about.” She informed her on time, lowering her face to the ground and kicking at the grass begrudgingly.
Natalie was left speechless by the time Arianna was done speaking. She then placed both hands on her shoulder and made her face her.
“Look at me...” Natalie pleaded with her when she wouldn’t look at her. In the end, Arianna did focus on her, albeit reluctantly.
“Listen, you have every right to be mad at me, I understand. In fact, I deserve it. All of this wouldn’t have happened If I were by your side and I know what it feels like to lose one you love. You forgot that I loved your father too.”
Arianna didn’t say anything and Natalie went on to say, “However, I am your mother and I would only do what’s best for you. And let’s agree for once that Marcel is different from his father, the both of you are still not going to work out, not with Daniel being in the picture.”
Natalie traced her features with her hand, “You don’t know Daniel as I do and it’s better I have the bad memories rather than you. So as your mother, I’ll do everything in my power to keep you away from that monster, do you at least understand that?”
Arianna nodded her head and Natalie smiled brightly at her, “That’s my girl! My brave little girl. It’s not going to be easy but I’m sure you will pull through. You will get over him.” She said to her and Arianna gave her a weak smile in response.
As expected, Natalie’s attention was needed and she said hurriedly to her, “You get prepared then while I settle this.”
Arianna stood at the spot watching her mother as she talked with the staff, her gaze filled with determination. Natalie was right on one thing, she would not have an easy relationship with Marcel if Daniel kept being against them. The bastard even has an unhealthy obsession with her mother, eww.
But then, there was no success story without risk and Natalie can’t keep shielding her forever. She has grown enough to take responsibility for her actions. Arianna was sorry to her mother because she was going to have to disappoint her again.
“Arianna!” Rose was the one calling her name. The girl came over and took her hand, saying, “Come on, our dresses are here already. It’s time to get ready for the wedding and also, your sassy friend is here again.”
“Mimi?” Arianna’s heart leaped in excitement when she heard her best friend was here. At least with Mimi by her side, she wouldn’t feel alone and out of place. While Eric was going to marry her mother and they became one family, Arianna knew she truly didn’t belong here – the house, the room, the people, everything. It wasn’t hers.
Arianna didn’t waste time to go see Mimi and damn, she looked hot in her dress – she wondered if Victor saw her wearing that or perhaps, Marcel was the only controlling one.
“Arianna!” Mimi quickly ran to her side and pressed kisses to her cheeks.
“Thank God, you’re here because I don’t think I can survive this wedding without you by my side.” Arianna was so nervous that everything they had planned would go wrong that she couldn’t relax.
“Well, I’m here now and I’m ready to party! ... wait a minute, why does it seem like I am too early?” Mimi looked around while Arianna shook her head in amusement.
Mimi made everything seem so easy and she felt confident in her plans as well.