Three weeks later:
"Sweetie, come with me to this dinner party. I need to introduce you to this great lad I met last time." Howard Finn told Belle during breakfast.
Arabella sighed. There he goes again. He's been introducing him lately to countless men and all them are filthy rich. But so what? Roy is so much better than them! Wait.... why would he think of him at a time like this?
Watching her strange reaction, Howard Finn narrowed his eyes. "Are you still thinking about that Vander? Forget about him. His family business just went bankrupt a couple of months ago! You can't be together with someone like that!",he said with scorn.
That guy has been sending people to find her daughter since he took her away but he was able to stop them from finding her. He admits that his persistence is commendable, but he's useless. His daughter must marry a powerful man!
Arabella glanced at his father. Was that why he took her away from Roy? Because he thought Roy was broke? Well, who could blame him? Roy has been playing a good for nothing son all this years to deceive his father. He had hidden his wealth and accomplishments well. She thought it was good that way too, so that women won't latch on him for money.
Sigh... "Weren't you also flat broke when you were young? Do you now agree that my mom made the right decision by marrying rich man Carl than waiting for beggared you?", she asked with a mocking smile.
Howard was enraged. How dare this girl mention that incident in front of him! How dare she talk to him like this? Does she think she can insult him all she want just because he was being nice to her? He glared at her with gnashing teeth but Arabella stared back unaffected.
"I'm going on a cruise after this weekend." Belle said out of no where as she stood up from her chair. "I need some time to relax. I'm tired waiting for Roy to come get me." she stated before turning around and leaving the table.
A cruise? Howard Finn was stupefied. From the way she said it, Howard can tell Belle was not asking for his permission, but instead just letting him know. Even if he try to stop her, she wouldn't listen to him. What a spoiled child! But that was great too! She's finally willing to forget about that pauper! And she can meet a lot of prestigious men on the cruise ship too! He hope she finds a good catch this time! Unlike those Bates and Vander, whose families business collapsed under their watch!
***
Roy Vander was having a conference call when he received a message on his phone. He glanced at it for only a second before focusing on his laptop again. It has been several weeks now but he hasn't found Belle yet! He was starting to get very impatient!
Immediately after the conference call ended, Roy's phone which was resting on the vibrated. It was a call from Yago Evans. Roy narrowed his eyes at once. He hasn't heard anything from Yago Evens for the past few weeks. He wondered what he's calling now for.
"Oh, you're still alive." is what Roy uttered instead of saying hello. "How are you doing?"
"Did you all think I'm dead?" Yago asked. "I had a few difficulties but it's all good now. I'm calling to ask about the Valentine's day post of Arianna dating. What was that all about?",he said.
Roy was exasperated. He only knew about that now? What has he been doing? Right now, everything related to Belle and that post makes him furious and he actually called to ask him about that? "We think you're dead? Nope. I didn't think that way but you're about to be dead I guess. From now on, stop asking me about Arianna. I have no Idea where she is."
Yago was confused. What was he saying? Why is he angry? Did something happened? "I don't understand. What do you mean you don't know where she is?"
"Sure you don't know a single thing! You were busy flirting with a duchess! The news of you are all over the internet and I think this might just have angered Miss Reid. She run away with my wife and I still can't find them! Go find Arianna yourself. I'm busy looking for my woman!" he roared before pressing the end call icon. Yago better blame himself for this instead of pinning this on Belle. He doesn't care about them anymore! He only wants to find Belle right now!
After the call ended, it was only then that Roy remembers about the earlier message. He opened his inbox to check on it and was stunned by the message sent by one of his hunters. It said Belle booked a cruise to the Caribbean! This is the best news he received for the past two months! He'll make sure to follow her on that cruise and make things right between them! Plus, isn't a cruise ship a good place to propose marriage?
Roy smiled. All the weights on his shoulders seem to have been lifted. At last, he'll be able to see Belle once again... or so he thought.
Yago on the other hand was frowning. He was detained by the clan elders for seven weeks. How was he out flirting with anyone? Something isn't right. Did his family actually sold him off? He can't afford to lose Arianna. He needs to find her soon and explain to her what was happening. But first he got to find his brother and ask him for an explanation. They better give him a good answer or he won't hesitate to forsake them! He didn't care about all of this wealth or title anyway!
***
"Bijou, I'm done packing all your new clothes. We're going to execute the plan in three days. Are you ready?" Belle asked as she check their luggages.
"What? Those new clothes I'm not supposed to wear?" she said with a chuckle. Arianna was actually excited. It's just a pity she couldn't see things unfold. That would be more fun!
"Well, yeah! You can't wear the props! These luggages are things we will be sending to our crew ship. Come on now! We're all set!" Belle answered.
Arianna sighed. Alright. She won't be able to wear them anyway. Her tummy will be growing bigger by next month!
Arianna and Arabella went out the house with their luggages in tow. They rode Belle's red Ferrari and drove off, marking the start of their plan to flee...
Their first stop was a hair salon. Not a lot of people were in it, but among them were two women with the same physique as Arianna and Belle. Arabella smiled when she saw them. They'll do! They haven't done any make up yet but she can clearly see their resemblance to them!
One of the hairstylists approached Arianna and another one approached Belle. The two of them and the two actors did a make over at the same time. Arianna changed her dress to a simple pair of jeans, a white blouse topped with a gray jacket. The hairstylist straightened her wavy hair and dyed her hair blonde. Arabella on the other hand changed her designer dress to a black suit. She had the stylist cut her hair short and gave her a male K-pop idol look, and it was both successful as well as gorgeous!
When Arianna and Belle finished their makeover, the actors dressed in the sisters' previous clothes, met them in the lobby. Seeing them up close, Belle couldn't stop staring at them. After a little make up, it was like she's looking at their own doppelgangers. It felt weird!
"Listen. I already told you what you have to do. Now, take this luggages and follow my instructions. There's no room for any mistake!" Belle told them.
The two imposters nodded and Belle watch them leave. She smiled as she watch the red car speed away followed by her body guards' black car. She can't believe it was just that easy to shake them off!
"Let's go! We have lot of things to do!", Belle said as she grabbed Arianna's wrist and pulled her towards the exit.
Yes. There's a lot left to do. A helicopter is waiting for them to help them cross the country border faster. Then they'll drive to the airport to board a plane. Well, it's a private plane. Dylan arranged that one for her. If the plan goes smoothly, they'll be able to reach their destination in two days.
"I don't like the role of being the second female lead. I'd rather still be the villain." Arianna commented as they drive off in a white BMW. "You have more dialogues and screentime than me."
Arabella chuckled. "Stop whining. You have to seek treatment for your eyes first if you wanna compete with me."
"I know that. But I'm still worried. Can those actors really imitate us? Specially me. It's hard to pretend to be blind." she asked.
"Don't worry. They'll only have to pretend as us for a day. The bodyguards will only escort them to the ship. They're not taking that cruise. No one would be able to tell they're not us. They just have to board the ship as us. After that, they can return to being deck crews again. We will be reported as missing passengers and no one will know we never set foot on that ship." Belle explained. She doesn't need to mention to her about the blood bags, right? That's to help the 'crime scene' look more realistic.
Arianna sighed. They are now executing their plan to escape. Both of them wanted to leave this place and be free. Arabella wants to start anew and live independently. She wanted to prove that she can stand on her own. Arianna on the other hand only wished to give birth to her child and raise her in a safe and peaceful place. They are about to leave their pasts and their hearts behind. If they succeed on escaping, what awaits them is a very different future. Different from what they have always dreamed of.