854 He Cheated
âHow is she?â Marcel came up behind Arianna without warning, nearly startling her.
She sighed, shaking her head, âShe locked her door and is not speaking to anyone.â Arianna referred to Winters. It has been hours since the incident and she locked everyone out.
âThat is not surprising. Chloe does that whenever I piss her off and goes on a one-woman protest. Teenagers these days are so entitled.â
Marcel narrated to her, âBack in my days, you had no time to throw a tantrum. Daniel was quite creative with his punishments and I was careful not to act on a whim.â
âSame,â Arianna agreed with him, âI could sulk at the corner, but throwing a fit of temper was asking for a whack on the bottom. The worst part is Claudia loved watching her parents punish me,â She shuddered at the memory.
âWe should give her space. Knowing Winters, she wouldnât leave this room until sheâs ready and strong to face everyone.â Marcel suggested, placing his hand on her shoulder and leading her away.
However, Arianna expressed her fear, âAre you sure she wonât do something stupid? Teenagers these days have the flair for drama.â
âThatâs not like Winters and you worry too much. Nothing is going to happen.â
And so she let him take her to the living room. Seated on the same sofa, Arianna turned to Marcel with her opinion,
.....
âIt still doesnât make sense to me. I get that Niklaus and the others donât like her, however, Akim already offered a solution. Moreover, itâs not like they were getting married right away. They are still young and have a lot of years between them, so why would Winters reject such a proposal? I canât help thinking that she was in the wrong here. â
But Marcel told her, âI thought you of all people should know the answer to that? â
âHuh?â
âYou were once in a situation like her, Arianna. Although Akim didnât kidnap her, heâs whisking her into a life that sheâs unfamiliar with. Winters doesnât want a sheltered life. All her life she has worked hard for what she needed and then out of nowhere, this charming prince sweeps her off her feet with a promise to make her life easier. Where is the excitement?â
Marcel continued, âAnd you heard her, itâs not easy to change the mind of adults and they already decided that sheâs bad for their precious son, Akim. Even if Winters goes to Lincolnshire and tries to please them, she would never be good enough for them. In their minds, she would always be the criminal hacker who ensnared their son with her black magic. She would keep hoping to change their mind about her by giving and giving until she loses herself. And trust me when I say I know what itâs like to change someone who canât be changed. â
Judging from the nostalgic expression on his face, Arianna could tell that he was talking about his mother and her heart hurt for him. She reached out and squeezed his arms affectionately. Marcel noticed the gesture and covered her palm with his, smiling.
He said, âHonestly, I think Winters made the right decision. Itâs their loss, not hers. They failed to recognize a rare gem like her and I pray it comes to bite them in the ass later. Moreover, sheâs young and has plenty of time to discover love. By then, she would be stronger and more experienced in the matter of the heart. â
âReally?â Arianna thought over it, muttering, âItâs not easy to forget oneâs first love.â
âSays by who?â Marcel snorted, finding the thought ridiculous, and didnât get to see the way Ariannaâs face distorted.
Arianna said to him with a smile that didnât touch her eyes, âSo youâre trying to say that you forget all about me?â
âHuh?â
âDid you, Stray?â
Oh no, Marcelâs face fell at once. He had forgotten that he confessed to Arianna during one of their chats that they met when they were kids. In one word, Arianna was his first love and he just proudly declared that he forgot her easily.
âDid you?â The glint alone in Ariannaâs eyes was enough proof that he was toast.
He swallowed, âItâs not what youâre thinking, Arianna.â
âWhat am I thinking?â Arianna got on all fours on the sofa and was beginning to crawl towards him with malicious intent.
Marcel slowly shifted back, âI mean, we were kids then, right?â He chuckled nervously.
âEven as a kid, I was ready to make you my boyfriend until you vanished and never kept your promise, you pretender!â Arianna lunged at him, but Marcel already jumped off the seat before she could catch him.
âGet back here, Marcel!â She commanded him all to no avail.
âYou know I love you now, right?â He even blew her kisses to prove that he meant it.
âDonât try to change the subject!â Arianna thundered, coming after him but he was already ahead, the sofa standing as a barrier between them.
âIâm that case, letâs look at it this way. If you didnât forget about your first love, doesnât it mean that you were technically cheating on me,â Marcel tried to find a loophole
âDonât try to wangle your way out of this one, my first love was technically you. So no, I never cheated!â Arianna declared proudly and with a battle cry, leaped over the sofa and was in front of him before he could react.
âYou cheater!â
Beg for mercy, that had been the first thought that came to Marcel, but the instant Arianna lifted her head to hit him, he groaned in pain at once, holding his affected side and her expression softened.
âOh my God, I forgot about your injury. Are you okay?â Arianna was close to panicking. This was all her fault.
However, before she could check him, Marcel already turned her and kissed her breathlessly. He kissed her so hard and passionately that when they came up for air afterward, Arianna wondered why she was angry and chasing him in the first place.
âWhat matters is that we are here now,â Marcel told her with a grin, right before he kissed her once again.