Chapter Seventy seven

***

We were boarding the jet once again, heading back home to LA.

Unlike the last time, Amy was with us and had gone in ahead of me. I took one last glance at the beautiful place I had spent the last one week at and sighed. I'd miss it a lot.

I got in and buckled up for takeoff.

Amy had her mouth agape just like I did when I first saw the interiors of the exquisite aircraft. I laughed.

For the most part of the flight, Damien was absent, doing God knows what. Amy and I were seated next to each other binge watching series on the screens in front of us.

I slept off a few times and came back awake to continue watching movies until we landed, ten hours later.

Damien went out ahead of us. He was now in full boss mode again. I sighed at the thought of what that meant.

"Babe." I called out to him as soon as we got down. My legs hurt from all the sitting and I walked pretty slowly, I wondered how he was able to walk so briskly like he didn't just go through a long flight.

He turned to glance at me but said nothing.

"Why are there three vehicles awaiting our arrival instead of two?" I questioned as we made our way towards the cars which seemed really far away considering how stressed out I felt. We only needed two vehicles, one for us and the other for the guards who usually followed closely.

"One of the cars will take you to the villa." He said plainly.

I frowned, perplexed by his statement.

"Amy and I heading out for something important."

"You want me to go back on my own? What am I supposed to tell everyone when I get home without you coming in with me?" I asked, unable to contain my shock.

"That's pretty simple Ariana. When anyone asks you about my absence, you let them know I went out for something important." He said like it was the most obvious thing in the world.

"But Damien this isn't right-" I tried protesting against his decision.

"No buts please. Get in." He ordered, pulling the door open for me. I was hurt about how he sounded so unfriendly all of a sudden.

I begrudgingly sat inside the vehicle and when I looked up I saw Amy's apologetic gaze on me before he slammed the door in my face, making me stumble backwards in shock.

The driver drove into the night and I fed my eyes with the brightly illuminated LA nighttime. The drive soon seemed excruciatingly long and tiring. I didn't want to think about Damien's attitude but it just kept popping into my mind back over and over and I just wanted to scream.

Arriving at the villa, I felt a weird chilliness creep through me. It looked calm as always but it felt like the calm before the storm. A chaotic and destructive storm.

I took in a shaky breath and pulled on my jacket. The winter had really settled in but here in Los Angeles, it was milder than it was in other parts.

I stepped out with my hand luggage while the driver handed the rest of the luggage to the guards and maids to put in our bedroom. The salutations poured from all over the place and I responded accordingly, but I could see the question in their gazes. Where was their boss? Well, you could ask me but I had no answer to give.

I walked through the wide lobby and further into the large living room and saw that it was void of life. Seemed no one knew we were coming in today. And it was pretty late into the night.

Good for me, I thought.

I mounted the stairs and rushed into the bathroom to answer nature's call. I took off my clothes and took a hot bath before slipping into thick pjs. I found myself on the bed soon and was slipping into a slumber when the door came open.

I glanced at the time on the alarm clock and saw that it was just past 9pm and I got in at eight.

Damien without sparing me as much as a glance, got into the bathroom and soon I heard running water.

Minutes later he came out fully dressed and came over to the bed.

"Where were you?" I asked, turning to him.

"Out." He said coldly in response.

"Obviously but where exactly were you?" I probed.

"That's not for you to worry about. I'm back now, aren't I?" He said tersely adjusting himself on the bed and staring up at ceiling with a blank face and cold emotionless eyes. I scowled.

"Damien what's the meaning of this?" I sat up abruptly.

"Why are acting this way?" I really was surprised at his attitude which had switched so suddenly and as soon as we left Bora Bora.

"Not now Ariana." He said, sounding like a exacerbated an already bad situation.

"You know what? It's fine." I picked up my teddy and slid on my fluffy pair of slippers.

I felt him staring at me as I left the room and crossed over to my former bedroom. I was going to be staying here from now on and it's a good thing I hadn't moved all my things out before now.

I was about settling into the bed when the door came open and you know who came in without a knock.

"What are you doing here?!"

"I'll be sleeping here from now on. Shut the door behind you." I said nonchalantly, not caring about how annoyed he looked or sounded.

"You promised me you won't move out no matter what happens!" He sounded really enraged but I did not care.

"Well, you should treat me better if you don't want me breaking promises." I retorted.

I watched as he grimaced in distaste as well as clench his fist tightly.

"Let's go." He spat in his deadliest tone. I shivered a little bit but still firmly stood my ground.

"Now Ariana!" He growled.

"No!" I shouted back.

He held my arm and pulled me roughly. I drew back and slapped him hard on his left cheek. My hands flew to my mouth when I realized what I had done.

"How dare you?!" He gritted fiercely and I found myself shaking.

I stepped backwards and he came towards me menacingly. For every step I took backwards, he took a step a forward until I was trapped between him and a wall.

He raised his clenched fist and I shut my eyes awaiting impact until I felt him hit the wall next to me with so much force it would have left a crack but for how solid the walls were.

I was even more terrified when I looked up at him and saw how furious he was at this point. He was red with anger and looked like he could kill. I shook like a leaf under his gaze, feeling sorry for myself for what I just did.

He soon marched out, banging the door heavily behind him.

I broke down in tears just after he left. I picked up my phone and called the only person I could.

"Miel, are you back from your honeymoon already?" That was the first thing he said as soon he picked up.

"Dad, I don't want to stay married to him anymore. I just want to leave this marriage and have peace." I cried out.

"Wait, take it easy Ariana. What happened?" He asked in worry.

I narrated all that transpired in between sobs and torrents of tears.

"It's alright. Take a deep breath and calm down." He said gently.

"Dad, I can't do this anymore." I was a wreck.

"Baby girl, marriage isn't a bed of roses, you know that right?"

"Yes but this isn't something I chose for myself. I didn't ask to be married to someone like Damien. I just wanted a simple life." I practically wailed out to him.

"I know but you can make this work. Just endure for a little while longer and if you can't take it anymore, I'd understand. Please."

"Dad I'm really tired." I sighed heavily.

"I know but just try for me. You know I love you right?"

"I know." I mumbled with a sad pout.

"Now wipe your eyes and get some sleep." He said.

"Good night dad." I croaked out and hung up.

My head was blank from all that crying but I still couldn't bring myself to sleep. I was emotionally exhausted.

***

Damien's POV:

I checked out my face in the bathroom mirror the moment I got into my bedroom. I saw Ariana's palm print on my face and it heightened my anger even more.

No one had ever raised their hand to hit me. Ariana was the first person to ever do that and inasmuch as I cared for her, it really irked me.

She promised me she was never going to leave our bedroom no matter what happened and I was going to hold her by it.

I couldn't let her know that I was taking my sister somewhere else so she could make an entry the next day. I just wasn't in the right frame of mind for such conversation.

I was tired and her constant questions were adding to my presently pounding headache. The next day was going to be really eventful and I didn't need the extra stress and with how angry I felt, I wasn't going to get any sleep for a long time.

I went downstairs to get myself some water or probably warm milk. It was late into the night and I was pretty sure everyone was asleep.

I trudged into the kitchen with a headache and a throbbing left cheek and of course a hungry stomach.

I trudged into the kitchen and checked the fridge for a snack as well as an ice pack for my face. Thankfully, I saw both and was soon munching on some cream cake while I massaged my cheek with the ice pack, giving me a sort of relief.

I heard some footsteps and to my surprise, Ariana walked into the kitchen. She froze when she saw me but soon acted like I wasn't present as she walked past me towards the fridge and got herself what I assumed was some water to drink.

I ignored her too, though, my hawk like eyes, noticed her bloodshot swollen eyes. No doubt she must have been bawling her eyes out after our altercation had gotten out of hand.

I forced the cake down my throat and soon exited the kitchen quickly. The fact that I made her cry once again made me feel terrible about myself. I hated having to see a woman cry especially when it was my wife in question.

I couldn't think about that at the moment though, because my thoughts were muddled up with how the turn of events for the next day was going to be. I knew for a fact that it was going to be one of the toughest times in my life but I had to face it head on because I had been working towards it for such a long time and nothing could stop it.

Lots of hearts were going to break. Lots of tears to flow and lots of pain to live with for a really long time.

I did not need the fight with Ariana at this point, I didn't need it at all. I needed her by my side but things just had to spiral out of control as usual.

I needed her warmth, her comfort. I craved it so badly. But she wasn't going to be there for me when I needed her to. Just great.

I rolled back and forth, tossed and turned but still couldn't get any sleep. It felt like my head was about to fall off and painkillers weren't even helping.

I can't even count on my fingers how many times I dunked my head in cold water. I felt utterly useless and migraine was unbearable.

"I hope I survive this night." I whispered to myself in the darkness.