The Billionaire Who Saved Me

Wilda couldn’t contain herself. The day after the engagement party, she decided to ask Elice directly. She had to make sure that what Farrah had said that night wasn’t true. That the woman was just bragging again. Just looking for a way to embarrass her. Just…

“I’m sorry, Ma.”

Wilda fell silent. One sentence from Elice made her hopes vanish. Disappeared without a trace.

“W-what did you say, Elice?” Wilda asked. “So, everything Farrah said is true?”

It felt like an invisible pair of hands were strangling Wilda’s throat at that moment. It almost made it hard for her to breathe. Especially when she saw how Elice lowered her face, making the air seem even more reluctant to enter her lungs.

“Garrett and Ariel… are cousins? They’re family?”

Elice didn’t want to admit that reality, but what could she do? It was something no one could deny.

“Yes, Ma,” Elice finally replied. “They are cousins. They are family.”

Suddenly, Wilda’s eyes closed dramatically. Unwillingly, Farrah’s voice echoed in her mind. Echoing. Repeating.

“Ariel and Garrett, both excellent choices, aren’t they?”

Wilda wanted to dismiss the voice. But she couldn’t. It was as if firmly embedded in Wilda’s memory, making her grimace as her fingers squeezed the armrest of the sofa.

“How could you, Elice? Of all the men in this world…” Wilda’s voice cracked as she tried to control her emotions. “… how could you come back to this family?”Nôvel/Dr(a)ma.Org - Content owner.

“Ma.”

Elice moved. She shifted to sit closer to her mother. She reached for Wilda’s hand and held it gently.

“Garrett is not like Ariel, Ma. They are different.”

Without opening her eyes, Wilda turned her face away. A palpable rejection of her disbelief in what Elice was saying.

“I really can’t believe you’re doing this, Elice. After everything you’ve been through, how could you let yourself fall back into the same place? How could you?”

Elice shook her head. “Garrett’s not like that, Ma. His mother is not like that. They’re not like Ariel and his family. You’ve met them, haven’t you? They’re not like that, are they?”

Wilda realized that. But they had only met a few times. Could those brief encounters guarantee that they really were different?

“Elice.”

Wilda’s hand moved. Instead of letting her daughter hold it, she was now the one doing the same. She grasped those fingers. She looked into Elice’s eyes.

“I don’t want you to go through this again. It’s hard enough for me to see you in despair. And you have to know that it’s not easy for me to approve of your relationship with Garrett.”

Wilda shook her head several times. Her face, showing signs of aging, revealed her fear. The fear that every mother in the world would always feel.

“Even without the fact that Garrett and Ariel are family, I was already scared by the fact that Garrett is an upper-class person. He’s even more than anything compared to Ariel.”

When the first news broke, Wilda tried to find out who Garrett was. The information she received made her swallow her words. Wealthy and the sole heir to a priceless fortune. The owner of the number one fuel company in Oceana.

Faced with this reality, Wilda had to think long and hard. Convincing herself that Garrett might be the right choice.

“I kept telling herself that you must know what’s best for you, Elice. You decided to marry Garrett because you thought it through. I believe in you.”

Elice held her breath. She looked into those aging eyes. The tension she felt increased.

“But what you’re doing now makes me doubt, Elice,” Wilda shook her head again. “You shouldn’t let yourself fall into the same hole.”

“No, Ma. Garrett and Ariel are not the same. Haven’t you felt that? And now look, Ma. Garrett and I are engaged. We’re already engaged. Doesn’t that mean they’re different?”

Wilda fell silent. Elice’s question made her stare into her daughter’s eyes.

“You remember, don’t you? They welcomed us warmly that night, Ma. Something that Ariel and his family never did. Even Nana immediately discussed my marriage to Garrett. Besides, our wedding is already being arranged. They’re taking care of everything. Isn’t that enough to convince Mom that Garrett and his family are serious?”

That was indeed true. To be honest, since that first dinner, hadn’t Wilda been impressed by Daphne’s actions, which seemed so enthusiastic about Garrett and Elice’s marriage? If not marriage, what else could be the measure of a relationship’s seriousness?

Wilda looked troubled as thoughts flooded her mind. On the one hand, Farrah’s words really humiliated her. To the point where she felt like ending everything between Elice and Garrett. But on the other hand, she could see how enthusiastic Garrett’s family was about the marriage.

“I’m begging you, Ma. Don’t let this all fall apart because of Ariel and his family.”

*

Garrett could only take a deep breath as Elice finished telling everything that had happened. She wiped the tears from her face. Her long, wavy hair fell down on either side of her head, blocking Garrett’s view.

Garrett’s hand reached out and lifted the fine strands. He asked, “Are you okay?”

Elice shook her head. “I’m just thinking about Mama. And even though Mama didn’t say anything in the end, this isn’t what I was hoping for, Garrett. I didn’t expect our relationship to be like this.”

Wilda gave in. Of course, she did. She was always powerless when it came to her daughter’s wishes and happiness. In the end, she no longer questioned Elice’s determination to stay with Garrett. Regardless of the possible hardships that might come her way again. Or at least the likelihood that she would have frequent contact with Ariel and his family.

Wilda only hoped that Garrett truly upheld the essence of marriage. She was confident that he would see to it that Elice wasn’t humiliated. Garrett had to protect his daughter, just as she and her husband had guaranteed her happiness all these years.

Elice felt the same way. She hoped and prayed to be happy with Garrett. Like any marriage, she wanted her relationship with Garrett to bring happiness to those around her, especially Wilda.

“I’m sorry.”

Garrett reached for Elice’s hand and squeezed her fingers gently. Elice turned her head and shook it weakly.

“It’s not your fault, Garrett.”

A dark smile appeared on Garrett’s face. “You don’t know that. But that’s exactly what I thought the night we first met.”

Elice’s forehead creased slightly. She remembered that time and speculated. A hesitant question escaped her lips.

“Why do I know Ariel and then meet you?”

Garrett nodded. The dark smile on his face turned into a restrained grin.

“Do you regret it?” Elice asked afterwards. Her eyes seemed to search inside the black orbs. This time she seemed unable to guess. “Because you met me that night and approached me?”

After a short silence, Garrett didn’t answer the question right away. Instead, he stared into Elice’s eyes. His hand, still on her head, moved. He pulled Elice closer, and she welcomed it.

Garrett and Elice’s eyes closed at the same time. Their lips met in a brief kiss.

“No,” Garrett replied over Elice’s lips. “There are absolutely no regrets.”

Their breaths collided. Sweeping over each other. Caressing each other.

Garrett’s hand moved to Elice’s cheek, caressing it gently. In that utterly insignificant distance, he looked at Elice.

“Even if I could go back to that time, I’d do the same.”

Elice remained silent, just looking at Garrett.

“I would still approach you. I’d still introduce myself. And in the end…” Garrett lowered his face again. “… I’d still propose to you.”

Garrett finished his words with another kiss, bringing them together again.

*

“I will stay here.”

Saying this with full confidence, Ariel did not even lift his face from the food he was enjoying. The spoon and fork in his hands moved nonchalantly. As casual as his expression.

Farrah took a deep breath. With dramatic eye rolls, she was ready to lecture her son again. But a moment later, Ariel’s voice was heard again.

“I’m going to work here. Can you handle my transfer to Lostic, Pa? I see it’s being pushed aside more and more by Progun.”

Kurt furrowed his brow. He stopped eating for a moment to listen to Ariel’s request.

“You once said you weren’t interested in dealing with Lostic.”

“I’ve changed my mind,” Ariel replied casually. “I used to think Lostic was strong with craft. But it turns out I was wrong. It seems that since Andreas took over Progun, the market is going back to him.”

Farrah looked at Kurt. Through the silent look, it seemed that both of them couldn’t come to a conclusion about what Ariel was actually planning.

“I’ll take care of Lostic here, and besides that…”

Ariel took a deep breath. His dinner was finished. Spoon and fork closed at the side of the plate.

“… I’ll help Mom.”

Farrah’s eyes narrowed in curiosity. “What do you mean, Ariel?”

“Garrett.”

Ariel pronounced the name with a hardened jaw, causing Farrah to look back at her husband. Although now, of course, there was a hint of joy on both of their faces. Especially Farrah’s.

“I will take care of it. In any way possible to get Garrett removed from his current position as soon as possible.”

A smile appeared on Farrah’s face. It was undoubtedly the best thing she had received lately.

“But what are you going to do, Ariel?” Farrah asked as she finished her meal. Gracefully, she grabbed a napkin and wiped the corners of her slightly moist lips. “Isn’t it almost too late? Garrett is already at the head of Pacific Energy, and his wedding is imminent. In a month…” Farrah’s smile seemed meaningful. “He’s going to marry Elice. And that means all the inheritance will go to him. There’s nothing more we can do.”

What Farrah said was true. There was literally nothing more Ariel could do. Especially in the last few months, it seemed that the public was beginning to appreciate Garrett’s accomplishments. It was still too early to tell, but the trend that had emerged suggested it.

Ariel took a deep breath. His hands clenched on the dining table. Occasionally, his thumb and forefinger rubbed together just below his chin. His eyes moved repeatedly from right to left in thought.

“There are many ways I can do this. Subtle or forceful…” Ariel whispered. “… I can do it all.”

*