The Billionaire Who Saved Me

Freddy helped Elice tidy up her things. At that moment the clock showed half past nine in the evening.

“Are you coming home with me?”

Elice’s car was still at the garage, and she had come with Freddy earlier, but of course not for the return trip. Someone was waiting for her somewhere else.

Elice shook her head. “Thanks, but no. I can take a cab from here.”Têxt © NôvelDrama.Org.

“Okay. If that’s the case,” Freddy said as he slung his backpack over his shoulder. “Going up front? Or are you still waiting for your cab?”

“I’m still waiting.”

“Good, then I’ll go ahead. I don’t want to get stuck in traffic.”

That was exactly what Elice was hoping for. Fortunately, Freddy was not the chatty type. Eventually he left, leaving Elice alone.

Without wasting any more time, Elice grabbed her work bag and walked casually, intending to meet Garrett. But the face she met at the door made her eyes widen, along with a question.

“You haven’t gone home yet?”

Of course, Elice was surprised. “Ariel, I…”

“Calm down, Elice. I won’t do anything to you.”

Ariel smiled. Still, Elice did not want to take any chances. Quickly, she created a safe distance and stepped back a few steps, along with the terrible possibility if the man persisted. Strangely, Ariel stayed where she was.

“I understand you don’t trust me. I know that. Everything I’ve done to you in the past was truly terrible. It can never be forgiven.”

Not only did Elice notice the oddity that Ariel did not try to approach her, but she also noticed something else. She blinked once. Was that a look of remorse in Ariel’s eyes?

“The last few days I’ve been thinking. Thinking about everything that happened between us,” Ariel said in a whisper. His face seemed to convey remorse and guilt. “And I don’t know if there’s a better word to describe how cowardly I’ve become as a man.”

“Ariel-”

“Forgive me, Elice.”

Elice found her words cut off again by Ariel. This time, her statement was interrupted by a sentence Ariel uttered in a trembling voice.

“I apologize not to seek your pity or sympathy,” Ariel said, shaking his head repeatedly. “No. I apologize only to relieve myself of guilt. I am truly sorry.”

At that moment, Elice could not find a single word to say. She could only listen to every word Ariel said. She clearly saw expressions of regret, guilt, and even despair on his face. But something felt wrong. Somehow Elice sensed that her heart remained untouched by this apology.

What are you up to, Ariel? I haven’t known you for a year or two. It’s been almost countless years. In all that time, apologies and maturity have never been a part of you.

“I know it may be hard for you to forgive me. I understand that. But there’s something you need to know, Elice. For now, and in the future, all I want is for you to be happy.”

If there was anyone who would be the first to vomit upon hearing Ariel speak so humbly, it would undoubtedly be Ariel himself. If he did not have a plan, he would not talk to Elice like that. But one thing he said was true.

Later you will know, Elice. Your happiness lies only with me, not with Garrett or any other man.

Elice took a deep breath. She decided not to say anything, adopting an attitude as if she were a true listener, charged only with hearing the man’s every word.

A faint sound was heard and the adjoining door opened. Garrett stepped out and his eyes immediately met Ariel’s. He glanced briefly at Elice.

“Garrett.”

Reflexively, it took Elice only a moment to move next to him, holding his hand as if Garrett were her protector. And indeed, he was.

“Garrett, I didn’t expect you to be here.”

Ariel seemed to rub his hands together, suppressing his ego. He put on a friendly demeanor.

“Uh… this is a happy coincidence. Since you’re here, I thought this would be a good time.”

Garrett looked at Ariel with a curious look. “For what?”

“I want to apologize for everything I’ve done all this time. Including what Mom did to you and Auntie,” Ariel replied with a gentle look. “Also, for what I did to you and Elice.”

Just like Elice, Garrett remained silent, offering no reaction to this sudden apology.

“As of tonight, I will forget everything that happened in the past. And I hope you both can live happily ever after.”

Not content with surprising Garrett and Elice with this sudden apology, Ariel did something even more unexpected. He walked over to Garrett and gave him a hug.

“I’ll take my leave.”

And then, without saying anything more, Ariel left. Holding his breath, he walked away. When he felt he was at a safe distance, Ariel quickly loosened his tie. He felt suffocated.

“Do you want to see me dead, Ruben?”

Inside the car, Ariel immediately vented his frustration to Ruben over the phone. Sweat was pouring down and his stomach felt sick.

“S-Sir, I apologize. But you have to win them all over. Because if our plan is to go smoothly, I don’t want you to be doubted in the slightest.”

Ariel grumbled in annoyance and abruptly ended the call.

“Argh!”

Ariel pounded the wheel to release his anger. He never thought there would be a time when he would say such disgusting things to Elice and Garrett. Especially by hugging the man like they were siblings.

Ariel closed his eyes. Ruben’s words echoed in his head and made him take a deep breath.

This is only temporary, Ariel. It’s only temporary.

As the cool oxygen entered his lungs, Ariel managed to regain some of his composure. Finally, he realized that what Ruben had said was true. He had to control himself. Just be patient for a while, so that all the plans they had made could work out perfectly.

Of course. It’s only a matter of time.

*