Chapter Eighty four

Ariana's POV:

I trudged down the stairs after the doctor cleared me and advised that I take care of myself always.

Damien was in the middle of a video call with Amy by the time I got to the living room. I joined in and waved at her with a forced smile on my face while he handed me one of his airpods so I could hear her.

"Happy new year, Amy." I responded to her.

"Damien told me you weren't well. Is everything alright?" She asked a little too concernedly.

"Uhm I'm fine." I answered reluctantly.

"Take the airpods and move away from him, I need to ask you something." She said, obviously to his hearing and he had a puzzled frown on his face as he handed the airpods and phone over to me.

"You two better not be gossiping about me." He mumbled as he went over to sit on the sofa. I chuckled.

"So, Amy what's up?" I asked as I moved away from him into the kitchen.

Mom came into my view and I greeted her warmly.

"Amy mentioned you weren't feeling so well. Are you pregnant?" She asked with hopeful eyes.

Now that was a pretty direct question but answering it was the difficult part.

"Uhhhh..." I dragged on and they all seemed like they were eager to hear what I had to say.

I turned towards the kitchen door and raised my voice like I was having an actual conversation with someone from outside.

"Yeah babe? Your phone? Sure thing!"

"I'm sorry guys, Hubby has to use his phone right now." I faked an apologetic smile even as I tuned out their protests and ran off to drop the phone with the owner.

"What were they asking you about?" He asked as he took his phone back.

"Stuff." I said monotonously and walked away.

I walked further into the house and knocked on Dad's bedroom door.

"Dad?"

"Come in Ari." I heard him croak out.

"Feliz año nuevo papa." I said and I dropped pecks on his pale cheeks while he replied warmly. (Happy new year dad.)

"How was your night?" I asked as I sat next to him.

"It was good." He said with a nod.

"How are you feeling now?" He asked with as he caressed my cheek with his oddly cold hand.

"I'm better now."

"Would you ever forgive me honey?" His eyes drooped in guilt.

"Dad it's all so difficult to take in but I've forgiven you already. I just want to cherish all the moments we have left." I said, resting my head on his shoulder in order to hide the tears that had formed in my eyes and were slowly clogging my throat.

"Thank you." He said with a relieved sigh.

"I wouldn't be able to forgive myself if I left this world without you forgiving me." He confessed.

"It's okay dad, let's not think about that right now." I said. I did not want to let my mind register the unfortunate news. Thinking back to the previous day brought shudders to my frail self.

"And Damien?"

"I don't want to talk about him, dad." I mumbled.

"Ariana, he's your husband." He gently pointed out.

"For now." I stated plainly.

"Don't tell me you plan on divorcing him when your deal ends..." He looked at me like I had grown two heads.

"Yes, why not?"

"Ariana you know when I'm gone, you wouldn't have anyone to take care of you and,..." He trailed off.

"I can take care of myself dad. And, can you please not mention that?!" I scowled getting up abruptly and pacing back and forth in aggravation.

"Damien cares for you."

"We can't work out." I countered.

"Why do you think so?"

"Dad I know so. Damien's world and mine just don't fit." I reasoned out, hoping he would finally get the point.

"But you've been fitting in just fine ever since you two got married."

"It's not as easy as you think it is. I've always wanted a low-key life but being married to him comes with a lot of baggage. I can't even step out into the public because every eye is glued to me. I'm no celeb dad, I'm just a simple young woman trying to find her place and now everyone is watching my every move because I'm married to one of the youngest and richest men in the world." I rambled out in haste. I felt a great sense of relief after I poured my heart out.

"It's been one dramatic turn of events to another since we got married and it's not even half a year yet! There's no doubt that we'll never work out. I would break under all this pressure." I choked on a sub as I ended my tirade of words.

My tears betrayed me and let themselves out without my permission.

"So you think the two of you working out is impossible?" He asked concernedly.

"Yes." I affirmed.

"Well in only a matter of months and you'd be free." He said resignedly.

"I can't wait." I sighed heavily.

****

"Would you like for me to have your car shipped over for you to use while you're here?" Damien asked as he prepared for his trip back to Los Angeles later that day.

"No. I'll be fine without it." I muttered without looking at him as I sat staring out into the neighbors' garden through the window of my bedroom.

"Okay..." He trailed off.

"You'll be working from home right?" He inquired.

"Yeah." I said dryly in response.

"I'll miss you." He said.

"Hmm." I hummed back uninterestedly.

"Ariana, what is it? You've been so cold!" He exclaimed sounding frustrated. He hadn't even seen anything yet and he was getting fed up. Typical.

I was in no mood to be all lovey dovey with him especially after deciding I was going to divorce him in no distant time.

I glared up at him briefly and said nothing before turning back to my initial position.

On my father's insistence, I saw him to the front door. Both men shook hands and exchanged goodbyes before he turned to me.

I looked away from him when he gave me one of his heart stopping grins.

Without any warning, he hugged me and I hesitantly hugged him back knowing fully well that I wasn't going to see him for a pretty long time.

"I know you're going to miss me." He said with a confident smirk. I scoffed and was about giving him a well deserved response when my father butted in.

"She sure will." He chuckled.

"Now, don't be shy Ari, give your husband a goodbye kiss." Dad said wiggling his eyebrows suggestively.

I turned swiftly and glared daggers at him who was trying to suppress his laughter.

"You heard him." Damien said with a smirk and once again he drew my unsuspecting self closer and kissed me deeply. It took a lot of self control to not push the kiss further.

I would not lie, I was going to miss his kisses but there was more to life than the sparks that flew and butterflies that danced in my belly whenever our lips locked. I would not tread a dangerous path just because of a few throes of passion.

He pulled away and winked at me before getting into the waiting vehicle with the driver who had been serving my father ever since I got married.

I watched longingly after the vehicle as they left and shook off the familiar feeling of missing him whenever he wasn't around me.

My father's whistling jolted me out of my staring session. There was more to his whistling than meets the eye and I threw him a knowing glance.

"I thought you didn't like him." He said even as his laughter bubbled up and popped in my face.

"Dad, we're just friends." I lied not just to him but to myself as well.

"Right... You two are really cozy around each other to be just friends though." He stated, feigning a thoughtful pose and puzzled frown. I rolled my eyes.

"He said he likes me okay?!" I exclaimed admittedly.

"And you like him too." He said with a confident grin.

"No I don't." I denied. I walked past him with a frown so he wouldn't push the topic further. But he did not let me off the hook that easily.

"How come you looked you wanted to deepen that kiss?" He teased with a lopsided grin.

"I didn't. Dad, we shouldn't even be talking about stuff like this!" I blushed.

"Well, you're an adult now and it would gladden my heart to know that there's hope of me getting grandkids in the nearest future." He said.

"Damien doesn't want to have kids." I deadpanned.

"So you're saying you actually thought of having kids with him?" He titled his head to the side as he spoke with a sly grin.

I paused because I had no smart response to that.

"Bye dad." I scurried away from him even as I heard him chuckle, obviously finding my embarrassment thoroughly amusing.

I went straight to my bedroom after serving him lunch. The next few weeks weren't going to be easy but I had to face them head on. It's not like I had a choice anyway.