"Jayden, why aren't you at the dinner banquet arranged by the Lee's?"
Arianna was curious. Jayden needs the business connection he can get through those dinner parties. Why did he choose to show up on her doorstep? Arianna's father attended that dinner. He even brought Belle with him. He thought Jayden would go too. But here he was, carrying bags of stuff, standing on the main door.
"Didn't I call you a while ago? Let's watch movies and chat like old times!" he answered with a smile.
" But Jayde, I think that wouldn't be appropriate. If Belle finds out..."
"We already broke up." Jayden cut in, not letting Arianna finish her sentence. " What I do now has nothing to do with her."
Arianna raised her eyebrows. She did hear them talk about breaking up when she came home, but she thought it was just a petty lovers' quarrel that would be resolve once Belle shed some tears. Afterall, it had always been like that all this years. Was it really over? She called for a maid to prepare the bag of food Jayden brought and have someone prepare the latest movies for them to choose from. She then led Jayden to the theater room to probe further.
"Are you really sure you want to break up with Belle? Didn't you love her very much?" She asked as she sat on the long sofa. "You'll forgive her soon."
"No. I'm serious this time. I don't like her anymore." he replied while looking straight at her. "I like someone else."
Arianna was surprised. She never thought she'll ever hear Jayden say he doesn't like Belle anymore! And it felt like Jayden was getting into something.
Arianna looked away, contemplating. She waited until the house helpers were finished setting up the home theater and the food before she continued probing. When the movie started, and the maids left the room, she glanced at Jayden once again with a smile.
"Can you tell me who it is?" she asked. "The girl you like."
When Jayden stared at her, Arianna's heart skipped a beat. Somehow, she had an idea of what Jayden's answer would be. "You." Indeed, it was his answer.
"I realized I'm starting to fall for you." he confessed.
Arianna can't find her voice at the moment. Was it a dream? Did Jayden just say he likes her? But, was it really the truth?
Arianna focused her eyes on the movie and didn't say a word about Jayden's confession. Somehow, she was unable to comprehend what Jayden was thinking. All these years, he didn't even look at her properly. He had always been distant. Just what changed his attitude that he even confessed to her?
"Jayden..." After a long while, Arianna finally broke the silence. But her eyes didn't leave the large tv screen. "Even if we just remain friends, I'll still help you with your problems. There's no need to say such things."
It was the only possible reason she could think of. Jayden might have chosen to chase after her because of the financial difficulties his company was experiencing. It's impossible for Jayden to suddenly have a change of heart, right?
Jayden remained calm and compose. He glanced ar her and smiled. There was a distance of about half a meter between their seats. It's like the distance Arianna already put in her heart.
"It's alright if you don't believe me. It's my fault, because I didn't treat you well before. But I'll make sure to treat you better this time!" he announced with a smile.
Arianna didn't say anything further. Jayden liked it though. He liked this version of Arianna. A more reserve and hard to get Arianna. He liked challenges, and her hesitation boosts his determination to obtain the woman. If she was still like the girl he remembered in the past who chase after him shamelessly, he wouldn't be a bit interested in her. But lately, Arianna showed this side of her to him. Cold, and distant. Was this a new strategy of hers to get his attention? Or did she really move on and let go of him already? He wouldn't let that happen!
"You're not happy about my confession? Is it that, you don't like me anymore?" he asked.
Arianna thought for a while. It's true that she didn't feel happy when she heard his confession. She wasn't sure why, but she thinks it's just because everything is unbelievalble.
"You're overthinking." She said and then again focused her attention on the movie.
Love Reborn. That was the title of the movie. A romance-drama about two youngsters who grew up together and fell in love. She thought she and Jayden can relate to the movie since they've known each other since they were young. But when she saw the scene where the guy left his female best friend to be with someone else, she suddenly thought of Yago. It affects her emotion so much that she cried while watching how the girl tug at his sleeves as he was leaving.
Beside her, Jayden was watching Arianna's facial expression. He smiled a little upon having the idea that Arianna might be remembering the times when she held onto him, asking him not to go, when he was supposed to fetch Arabella for a date. It didn't happen just once. It happened a lot of times in the past. Did she cry like this too during those times? Was this how much she liked him? The thought really feed his ego.
Arianna took her phone out from her pocket and dialled Yago's number. He left the house about a couple of hours ago and haven't come back yet. She was hoping he would answer his phone but it was turned off. Did he do that on purpose? Was he really ignoring her now?
"Arianna, I'm sorry..." she suddenly heard Jayden say from the side. She turned to him with confused expression.
"Sorry about what?"
"That scene.... I hurt you before." he said.
Arianna was stunned. It was only then that she realized what Jayden was talking about. She managed to smile and shook her head.
"It's all in the past. If I were you, I would've done the same."
"Really? Would you leave me for someone else?" he asked.
Arianna hadn't processed the question in her mind yet when both of their phone rang. It was a social app notification. When Arianna clicked the video, her eyes widened as she saw what it was all about. It was a recording of Belle's night with Roy in the hotel that was set up by them! And it was editted to make it look like Arabella was willingly having an affair with Roy!
Jayden saw it too. But he had no idea about that set up, and so he thought it was one of their wild nights. He really was glad he broke up with the *hore!
Arianna looked at the man beside him studying his expression. "Jayden... this...."
"It's alright." he quickly answered. "This will hurt my reputation, but certainly not my heart."
Arianna nodded. Jayden was still calm and unaffected. Was he pretending? That wasn't like him. But staying calm at a time like this wasn't like him either. Did he really, already let go of Belle? That would be best.
But the video... only she and Yago knew about it. Now, it's going around the social media, trending like a storm has hit the platform. Was it Yago who did all this?