The Billionaire Who Saved Me

“Saturday night, at the Azure Hotel. It’s the annual charity event that I used to attend with Grandpa when he was alive. For the past few years, I have gone alone. But starting this year, it feels like you two can accompany me.”

Dinner went on as usual, with delicious food filling the table and light conversation in between. And as always, Daphne dominated the conversation.

“We’ve always been regular donors every year. And I hope it will always be a tradition that you will continue,” Daphne added. She turned to Elice. “I’m sure you’ll enjoy this event. There are many paintings and other artworks that will catch your attention.”

Truth be told, Elice had no interest in paintings or artwork of that sort. But it seemed that the lives of the upper class always revolved around such things. Now that she had become part of that upper class, whether she liked it or not, Elice would have to learn to adapt. She would try. Maybe she would learn to like it. Elice nodded.

“And you, Norah.” Daphne looked at her daughter-in-law now. The middle-aged woman who had really turned into a housewife in the last few years. “Don’t just stay quiet at home. You’re still young. You should get out more often. Travel or socialize with your friends.”

Pausing briefly during dinner, Norah nodded. Daphne, seeing the nod through her glasses, seemed incredulous.

“Never mind,” Daphne said nonchalantly. “You’re coming Saturday night, too.”

In the midst of the ongoing conversation, Garrett simply watched. His eyes remained fixed on his grandmother. At first glance, he might appear to be just another grandson listening to his grandmother’s words. But who could guess what was going on in Garrett’s mind?

After the information from Amber was recorded in his mind, Garrett couldn’t stop thinking about Daphne. The strangeness of it all made him think.

Why?

Until, on a few occasions, Garrett found himself unable to resist. He rose from his seat. Only to sneak into Daphne’s room. He opened the door slightly and saw his grandmother with Regina.

“I’m going to the charity event on Saturday night. You remember, right? My husband loved such events.”Copyright Nôv/el/Dra/ma.Org.

“Of course, I remember, madam. Didn’t he once give you an expensive painting from the auction?”

“You remember that very well.”

“I always do. It was such a romantic story.”

“Um… actually, I didn’t really like that painting. Abstract art isn’t my taste, Regina. But, you know, it’s not easy to get an auction item in front of collectors. And this painting was indeed very famous in their eyes.”

Garrett retreated. He quietly closed the door. Then he decided to finish his work for the night. He went to his room.

Just as Garrett entered the room, Elice rose from her dressing table. She had just finished combing her long, wavy hair, which shone in the lamplight.

Elice was wearing a pastel brown nightgown, a soft color that complimented her skin beautifully. She smiled.

“Are you done working?”

It was ten o’clock at night. Elice climbed into bed and tucked her body under the covers. The plush mattress sank slightly as she sat down.

Garrett’s footsteps stopped in the middle of the room. Nodding, he replied, “I’m done, though there are still a few things to do. They can wait until tomorrow.”

Elice just smiled, well aware that her husband’s work was always there, especially in his first year. So many things to do.

After finishing some end-of-day routines in the bathroom, Garrett found Elice almost asleep. Her eyes were already drooping and almost completely closed.

Garrett turned off the main light, leaving the bedside lamp on to give the room a dim, warm glow. He lay down next to Elice.

“Um.”

Elice moved into Garrett’s embrace, resting her head on his arm and letting consciousness slip away. As for Garrett? He kept his eyes open for a while. Without looking at anything in particular, he let his mind wander. Until finally the tiredness made his eyelids really heavy and Garrett fell asleep.

*

Farrah and Kurt had not decided when they would return to Crestdale. Until now, nearly two months later, they were still living in their home in the elite Ashford City neighborhood.

That morning, as they enjoyed breakfast, Ariel arrived. With calm and measured steps, he walked to the chair across from his mother. He sat down. He raised his hand slightly, gesturing to a housekeeper standing nearby to prepare breakfast for him.

“Aren’t you going to the office?” Kurt asked after taking a sip of coffee. His eyes seemed to be searching his son.

Without saying a word, even after his breakfast was served on his plate, Ariel looked at his father. There was no expression on his face.

“It’s nine o’clock,” Ariel replied. “There happens to be an internal meeting. And I took the time to come here. I haven’t had breakfast yet.”

Farrah scoffed. Her movements were graceful as she sliced through her breakfast bread filled with assorted vegetables and half-cooked eggs.

“On several occasions… you always try to avoid having breakfast with your parents, Ariel. So, what’s the deal today?”

Ariel didn’t argue with his mother’s words. But that didn’t mean he was happy about it.

“I just want to know how long Mom and Dad are going to be here,” Ariel said. “When are you going back to Crestdale?”

Farrah shrugged her shoulders with an indifferent gesture. Her eyes, which had briefly glanced at her son, returned to the bread.

“We will return to Crestdale when we want to. And for now… we’re still comfortable here.”

Ariel nodded as he started to sip his drink. It was then that Farrah spoke again. This time she deliberately interrupted her breakfast.

“Oh, Ariel. I want to know if you’re close to someone now?”

A slight shake of his head preceded Ariel’s answer to his mother. He easily understood the implication. So Ariel asked immediately, without hesitation.

“Emily,” Farrah replied quickly. “You know? During Elice and Garrett’s engagement, I ran into her. And wow!” Farrah shook her head in disbelief. “She’s really beautiful. Uh… did you know that she owns the hotel where Elice and Garrett got engaged?”

A quick nod from Ariel was enough for Farrah to see.

“She owns a hotel and her business is thriving. She’s really a perfect woman. And I really like her.”

Of course, she did. It wasn’t surprising that Farrah liked Emily. The reason was simple: Emily was wealthy.

“I am sure that you two are a perfect match. You’re handsome and Emily’s beautiful. A perfect couple.”

Ariel didn’t comment. Instead, he continued to enjoy his breakfast. Farrah narrowed her eyes.

“Don’t tell me you’re still hoping for Elice.”

Ariel’s hand went for his coffee cup. He sipped it slowly. He shook his head, even though there was a pang of discomfort in his chest. The discomfort that came when his mother started talking about Elice and Garrett.

“Not at all. But, you remember, right, Mom? There are more important things than me having to think about women right now.”

What Ariel said was true. And she managed to silence Farrah. If only for a moment.

“When you have free time… I will introduce you to her later. The more you get to know her, the more you’ll agree with me, Ariel.”

This time, Ariel really didn’t react at all. He just continued to enjoy his breakfast with his head down.

Honestly, Ariel’s intention to come to his parents’ house wasn’t just to ask when they were coming back to Crestdale. No, it was more than that. Ariel actually wanted to dispel his curiosity and disbelief about the bad possibilities that had lingered in his mind lately.

It couldn’t be possible.

Because every time Ariel saw Farrah, he became more insecure. Even if Ariel had plans to get rid of Garrett, it seemed impossible that Farrah would use similar tactics to get rid of Allan.

After all, Garrett and I are only cousins. But Mom and Uncle Allan?

Farrah’s bright and beautiful face, her impeccable grooming, her wide smile when she spoke. All of this clearly didn’t make Ariel suspicious at all.

*

As he drove to the office, Garrett grew impatient. There was something he wanted to tell Amber. However, the presence of Dariel behind the wheel made him think twice about talking in the car.

Garrett shifted his focus to examine Dariel’s appearance. The private driver who had been prepared for him since the first day he set foot in Ashford City. Somewhat lazily, Garrett realized that he had never really known anything about the driver, who he estimated to be around thirty-five years old. From Garrett’s perspective, their ages couldn’t be too far apart.

Dariel had a neat and dignified appearance, which was always characteristic of personal drivers for people like Garrett. He was sure that Dariel was not just an ordinary driver. It seemed he also had a role as a bodyguard, which must have been arranged by Daphne.

“Amber.”

By the time Garrett and Amber were in the elevator, it was almost two in the afternoon. They had just returned from lunch with a client. Realizing how often his mind wandered, Garrett decided to act quickly.

“Yes, sir?”

Garrett blinked once. Without turning away from his secretary, he was sure the elevator was the safest place to talk.

“Contact the two people from yesterday.”

Amber was silent for a moment. Instead of immediately indicating her readiness as usual, she took a moment to inhale deeply.

“Are you sure, sir?”

Garrett nodded. Seeing that, Amber nodded reluctantly as well.

“Very well, sir,” Amber said. “I will contact you immediately. I will try to arrange for you to meet them as soon as possible.”

At the right moment, the elevator stopped. The doors opened and Garrett stepped out. This time, Amber did not immediately follow in her boss’s footsteps. Instead, she paused for a moment. Only to sigh and mutter to herself.

“It must be Mr. Nelson.”

*