Prologue
Arianna P.O.V.
Today is the happiest day of my life. Xander and I are going to have a baby. For the past few days, I was feeling nausea so I went to visit to confirm my intuitions. I feel like screaming and dancing with joy. Xander was out of the country for the past two weeks and he is coming back today.
I went home with the reports in my hands. As I enter the house, I see Xander’s suitcase beside the sofa set. Xander was home. I hide the reports in my bags and went upstairs to our bedroom. He was sitting on the floor beside the bed with a bottle of vodka in his hand. He’s drinking, but he never drinks on weekdays. I thought to myself.
“Xand, what’s wrong?” I asked looking at my husband confused.
“Why?” That was all he said before turning around to face me. He walked towards me and immediately the smell of alcohol filled the air.
“You’re drunk Xander lets go to bed,” I say grabbing his forearm and pulling him towards the stairs.
“No,” he yelled removing his arm from my hold.
“What’s wrong Xander?”
“Why? Why did you sleep with him?” He asked glaring at me, clenching his fist so tight his knuckles were starting to turn white.
“What are you talking about? I haven’t slept with anyone but you. Why would you say that?”
“Oh cut the crap Arianna, I know you did it! Why are you lying to my face!” He scoffed looking at me in disgust.
“I’m not lying to you for god’s sake! Why don’t you believe me!” I yelled at him, anger boiling inside of me, getting ready to explode at any moment.
“I want a divorce. I don’t want to see you anywhere near me. God, I can’t even stand to look at you!”
“W-what?” I stuttered, feeling the anger vanish and be replaced with sadness.
“I said I want a divorce!”
I froze not knowing what to do. We occasionally had arguments over small things but none lead to one of us wanting a divorce.
“Xander you’re drunk, you don’t mean it. Let’s talk in the morning?”
“I do mean it, Arianna. I want a divorce. Nothing you say or do can make me change my mind after the things you did.”
“But I didn’t do anything,” I said trying to stop myself from crying.
“Oh really then what’s this,” he scoffed taking out his phone and showing me a video.
I couldn’t believe my eyes. It was a video of his best friend, Zach sleeping with a person that looked exactly like me. I looked at him only to see him looking the other way.
“I didn’t do it! Please believe me!” I pleaded to drop down to my knees, tears streaming down my face.
"You whore! I gave you everything, money, love, happiness, and this is how you repay me. I can’t believe you, you selfish slut! Get out of my house! Grab your things and go!” He yelled not daring to look at me. I couldn’t believe what was happening. I stood up and walked towards him. I extended my hand to touch his shoulder, but before my hand could get near him he grabbed my wrist, harshly.
“Xand please believe me!” I begged, looking into his emerald eyes filled with anger, pain, and hatred.
“I said GET OUT!” He screamed pulling me towards the door, tightening his hold on my wrist making me whimper.
“Xander stop your hurting me.” He let go of my wrist and opened the door in front of us. I looked at him one last time before I was pushed out into the street, and getting a door slammed at my face. More tears streamed down my face as I looked at the now-closed door.
“I loved you, Xander Collins, I might never stop loving you, but I will not come back” I whispered before I ran.
***
After 5 years
“Please help me!” I cried barging into the police station, startling everyone.
“P-please help me, h-he’s gone! I can’t find him!” No, no, no, this can’t be happening. Please, I can’t lose him too.
“Ma’am, calm down. I don’t understand you. Who’s gone?” The lady at the front said trying to calm me down. Everyone in the room was looking now, I turn around shaking to see they were looking at me as if I was crazy.
“My son! He’s gone, you have to find him! Please!” My heart was beating like crazy, everything around me was blurry from all the crying. I felt like the walls were closing in on me, I couldn’t breathe.
H-his name is J-James Nathan. He’s 4 years o-old. H-he has brown w-wavy hair and round emerald eyes. W-we were at the p-park, h-he was playing with his friends. I went to go get him a can of juice, I looked back and h-he was gone. I looked for him, but he wasn’t there. Please find him, he’s the only thing that matters to me! Please!” I said, putting my hand over my racing heart and crying like a maniac. She repeated everything I said on her radio and looked at me sadly.
“We have people looking for him as we speak. It may take a while, I’ll inform you if we have any news regarding it.” She replied, pointing at the seats behind me. I nodded and said a quick thank you before going to sit down.
***
It’s been two hours since I last heard or saw James. They haven’t found him yet and I was begging to panic even more. I stood up and walked over to Amelia’s desk, the lady that helped me.
“Any news?” She shook her head at me. I gave her a small smile before going back to sit down. What are you doing Arianna? Go look for her yourself, you idiot. I thought to myself. I took a deep breath before standing once again. I looked back at Amelia one last time and walked out.
***
I’ve looked for him everywhere, there was still no sign of him. I searched all his favourite places and hiding spots but had no luck. I finally decided to go home and get some rest to look for him tomorrow.
I laid on my bed thinking of him, I couldn’t fall asleep. Should I call Xander? He doesn’t even know about him, why would he care. I argued with myself.
My phone started to ring and I immediately picked it up and answered.
“H-hello?”
“Yes, hello Miss. Moss. I’m calling to let you know, we have located James. He is safe and is here at the station.”
It felt as if a million bricks were lifting off my shoulders hearing those words. I got up and started to pace around the room.
“Thank you, I’ll be right there,” I said and hung up. I looked around in search of the keys and found them in the drawer next to my bed. I quickly got them and ran out of the house. I drove as fast as I could to the police station.
***
I arrived at the station ten minutes later, I walked in slowly trying to prevent myself from crying. I missed her so much.
“Mommy!” yelled James, when I walked in. He ran to me smiling, I got down on my knees and gave him a tight hug. “I missed you, Nate,” I said, kissing him on his forehead. “I missed you too,” he responded excitedly.
“Where did you go?” I asked trying to remain calm. I let him go, and he started jumping up and down laughing. He stopped and said, “I’m sorry momma, I just wanted to see dad.”
I froze. He couldn’t possibly know him. Could he? No, everyone promised they wouldn’t tell him.
“D-dad?” I was starting to shake.
“Hello, Arianna.” Said the voice of the man that broke my heart. I stood up and looked at him. He hasn’t changed one bit. He still looked like the man I fell in love with, those emerald eyes I adored, which my son inherited. His brown messy hair, made him look like he had just woken up. I didn’t realize how much I missed him until now.
But at the same time, I remembered the betray that he gave in return for my trust.
“Mr Collins,” I said trying to sound calm but really I was freaking out. I was still trying to figure out how James knew about him and where to find him.
He frowned at me and then keep staring at me, but there was something about the way he stared at me that made me feel like I was home, safe. At one time I missed that feeling, but now I hate it.
“Why didn’t you tell me you were pregnant?” He asked, stepping closer to me, making my heart beat faster. I gulped and took a step back.
“Y-you are not the father,” I responded, my voice cracking on each word. A look of disbelief flashed his eyes but was quickly replaced by his normal bad boy look. You know, the one where they look all mysterious and evil, yeah that one.
There was a moment of silence. None of us said a word, we just stared at each other. “Mommy I’m hungry,” whined James breaking the tension between us.
“Where do you want to eat,” I asked, kneeling in front of him.
“The burger place with the arcade,” he smiled looking at us both. I don’t think I’ve ever seen him this happy. Would this have been our life if none of the events that lead to this happened? Could we have been a happy family together with no problems? If only he had trusted me and supported me.
“Okay, let’s go,” I said grabbing his hand.
“Is dad going to come?” He asked looking up at me with his adorable emerald eyes. My eyes widened, I didn’t want him to get sad if I said no.
“He is not your fath-” he cut me off. “Yes, dad is going to come.” Said Xander, making me nervous. I didn’t know why, but the way he said it with such a fatherly voice scared me a little.
What if he decides he wants Nate to himself? If it leads to a fight for custody, he would most likely win, seeing as he is a famous billionaire that could rip him away from me without me knowing, and since he knows many influential people.
Like hell! He can go to the high court if he wants but I will never let him win even if it means fighting with him forever! Maybe I’m just overreacting and he just wants to get to know his son. I hope so.
I hesitated at first but nodded in agreement. We walked out of the station and into his car.
***
At the pizza place
“Hello I’m Ethan, and I’ll be your waiter. May I take your order,” asked Ethan, getting ready to write on his notepad. He looked at each of us, spending no longer than one second until his eyes landed on me. He smiled.
“Yes, we would like a large pepperoni pizza, and,-“. Ignoring every single word Xander said, Ethan continued to stare at me, and then he did the most unpredictable thing. He winked at me and Xander saw. I shifted uncomfortably in my seat. I felt disgusted, seeing as the boy looked around 17 years old.
“Can you stop eye-fucking my wife and actually do your job,” barked Xander at Ethan making him squirm and say a quick sorry. He quickly wrote it down on his notepad and left.
“Xander,” I warned. I always hated him for being such a jerk to people that looked at me for a second too long. But somewhere in my heart, I used to like it. Keyword: Used To. Not anymore. He is no longer a part of my life and will never be again.
“Ex-wife,” I corrected him. Seconds later, James left to go play games in the arcade. He sighed and looked at me.
“Look, Ari, I’m sorry for not believing you six years ago. I want us to be a family. You, James and me. I want the things we had before all this happened. Can you give me a second chance?” He finished, looking at me with a pleading look.
That look used to melt me in a second. But the faith he showed me that day, explained all his love for me.
“Mr Collins, I am again telling you-”
He frowned. “Please, Ari. Stop calling me by my surname. I want you to call me by my name. I want you to give us a chance. We can be a family again.” he got up and sitting next to me. "Don’t you miss us?” he whispered to my ear, sending a shiver down my back.
I moved my seat to create some distance between us. I looked at him and saw him staring at me with guilty eyes.
"Xander, stop. Okay! I moved on a long time ago. I don't want to keep any relationship with anyone who doesn't trust me. I admit you are James's father but that is it. I don't want you in my life. You can be in James's life. Spend the weekends or something. I don't care what you do but if you try to snatch my son away, I will not hesitate to fight for it!"
I closed my eyes and take a deep breath.
I felt his lips on my neck and opened my eyes in shock. I turned to look at him and our lips touched each other. I moved back and jumped out of the chair.
"I-I am going to see what James is doing." I stuttered.
He smirked at me and that was the last thing I saw before going towards the arcadeWARDS THE ARCADE
