Ariella went home feeling defeated. She didn't know how to get her husband, Asher, back to her. She felt him slipping away, and that hurt more than she wanted to admit. If she was going to lose Asher, this posed a threat to her and her unborn children. The Blackwells would never let their blood go. They would want to have the children she was carrying, but she could never give up these kids. She already loved them more than anything else in the world.
Maybe it was time she started looking out for herself and her children. She had to find a way to save her children from Scarlet's hands. Her children were not going to be taken care of by a stepmother, especially Scarlet. Not when she was still breathing.
When Ariella got to the Blackwell's mansion, all she wanted to do was go to bed and relax. But as soon as she entered the house, she found Lily Blackwell and her husband, David Moffat, there.
"Oh, hello, Ariella," Lily said to her.
"Hello, Lily," Ariella answered, trying to muster a polite smile. Since Asher and Lily weren't close, Ariella wasn't really close to Lily either and never knew how to deal with her.
David Moffat nodded at her in acknowledgement. Then Mrs Blackwell came down the stairs.
"Oh, Ariella, you're already back. I didn't know you would be back so soon. I just spoke to Asher, and he told me the two of you would be having lunch together."
Ariella sighed inwardly but answered, "He got an important call and we couldn't have lunch, so I decided to come back and get some sleep."
Mrs Blackwell looked concerned. "Did you have lunch yet? Lily and her husband came to take me out to lunch. Maybe you should join us. It will be fun."
"Oh, no, I don't want to intrude. You just go on ahead," Ariella replied.
Lily looked at her with concern. "Ariella, how are you doing? Is everything okay? You don't look well."
"No, I'm fine. I've just been out for a few hours. I just need some rest, and everything will be all right," Ariella said.
"But you haven't had lunch yet," Mrs Blackwell added as she called for the maid to prepare her lunch. "Please have lunch before you go to rest, Ariella," she insisted.
Ariella nodded. "I'll have my lunch in my room if that's okay."
"Of course," Mrs. Blackwell said, a bit relieved. "I'll have the maid bring it up to you."
Ariella headed to her room with Seraphine tagging along.
***
The next day dragged on, and Asher was now clearly avoiding her. He would come to the house sometimes, and then leave without sitting down to talk to her. It looked like he was only coming there due to obligation and his grandparents' approval.
His behaviour had shifted dramatically, and with the media continuing to show him out and about with Scarlett, Ariella was convinced there was more than just friendship between them. But she couldn't ask, and it killed her. Days would pass without a call from him, without him checking on her or the baby, yet he was always seen hanging out with Scarlett and his friends. This really depressed her.
As she sat in her room, lost in thought and feeling more isolated than ever, there was suddenly a knock on the door.
"Yes, come in," she called out, her voice tired.
Mrs Blackwell walked into her room, a concerned look on her face.
"Hello, Ariella. may I have a word with you?"
"Yes, grandmother. Please come in"
Mrs. Blackwell entered the room and gave Ariella a warm smile. "So, are you excited about tomorrow?"
"Tomorrow? What's happening tomorrow?"
"It's the checkup. We're going for the checkup tomorrow. I was just talking to Asher and he reminded me about it."
"Oh, I had forgotten about that. Of course."
Mrs. Blackwell's smile widened. "Okay, that's good. We're all very happy and excited about this.
"So, is Asher going to be there?"
"Of course, he's going to be there. He's the father. He has to be there. Why would you even ask that?"
Ariella hesitated, her voice tinged with bitterness. "He's just been very busy nowadays with Scarlett."
Mrs Blackwell sighed as she took a seat beside Ariella. "Ariella, look, marriages can be hard, frustrating, and confusing sometimes. Sometimes marriages go through tough times but you have to weather it. He's just doing this to help his friend. But I'm sure he loves you very much. He married you. And you two are making this family," she said, touching Ariella's stomach gently. "Just bear with him these few days and he will be back. I promise you. Just have faith."
Ariella knew Asher's grandmother was just trying to make her feel better but she felt worse because she knew she never would have met Asher or married him if Scarlett had never been kidnapped. She was the replacement wife.
Ariella straightened up, trying to mask her unease but nodded her head.
"Okay," she said softly,
She hoped the checkup tomorrow would bring some clarity and perhaps when he saw the twins on the screen, it would draw them closer together.
The next morning, Mrs Blackwell was super excited as she came to check on Ariella to see if she had woken up, to remind her to get ready so they would be on time and that Asher was going to pick them up and they should not leave him waiting. Ariella got up and when she was ready, the two of them sat and waited with Seraphine hovering, but Asher didn't make it.
Half an hour later, Mrs. Blackwell called Henry.
"Hello, Henry. Have you heard from Asher? He is supposed to pick us up for the checkup today, but his phone is off and he hasn't arrived yet. What's going on?"
"Oh, I'm sorry to hear that, ma'am, but Scarlett called and said he was not feeling well and he wouldn't be coming to the office. I thought the two of you had talked."
"No, we haven't. What is it? What's wrong with him?"
"Mr. Blackwell has been having headaches and Scarlett has been helping him with them. I thought he was doing better, but apparently not."
"Okay, I guess we'll go see him after the checkup. Let's go to the checkup first."Mrs Blackwell answered, still concerned.
"Of course, ma'am, whatever you say."
Mrs. Blackwell hung up the phone and looked at Ariella, clearly in disappointment and sympathy towards her.
"I'm sorry, Ariella. Asher won't be joining us for the checkup today."
Ariella's heart sank. "He's not coming? Why?"
Mrs. Blackwell told her about what Henry had said about Asher's headache and the fact that he was sick and hadn't been to the office either.
"Oh, is it that bad? Then we should go check on him."
"No, it's okay. Let's just go to the checkup and then we'll go and check on him later," Mrs. Blackwell answered.
"No, Asher was really excited about this checkup today. If he couldn't come, then it's bad. I really just want to see him and make sure that he's okay. Let's just go and see him first before we go to the hospital."
Mrs Blackwell thought for a few minutes. "You're right. I'll call the clinic and move forward with the checkup. Let's just go and see Asher first, and then we can go to the checkup with clear minds and clear hearts."
"Of course," Ariella answered and smiled, and the two headed outside to the car to go towards Asher's house with Seraphine close behind.
They drove in silence, Mrs. Blackwell made the necessary call to the clinic, rescheduling the checkup. Ariella stared out the window, her mind racing with worry and doubt.
When they arrived at Asher's house, Thompson came to open the door. His surprise and hesitance were obvious as he saw them. He didn't invite them in, instead standing at the door and looking back toward the house and up the stairs before turning back to them, clearly nervous.
"Mrs. Blackwell, Miss Blackwell…" Thompson's voice was shaky.
"Can you let us in, please?" Mrs. Blackwell's tone was more a command than a request. Thompson flushed with embarrassment and stepped aside to invite them inside.
"Where is Asher? Is he resting? How is his condition right now?" Mrs. Blackwell asked as they entered the house.
Thompson looked surprised as if he had no clue what they were talking about. "Condition? I... I don't know what you mean. Asher is..."
"He's supposed to be unwell, Thompson," Mrs. Blackwell interrupted angrily. "Henry told us he was suffering from severe headaches and couldn't make it to work. Where is he?"
They heard murmurs outside the door before they walked in. Once they opened the door, They found Scarlett wearing a revealing sexy nightdress with Asher between her legs as she massaged his head and murmured softly to him. Asher not wearing a t-shirt as he was half naked, only wearing some shorts.
Ariella went mad with rage. She charged toward Scarlett, yanking her away from the bed and Asher. Without hesitation, she delivered a fierce, hard slap across Scarlett's face.