13: Prince Charming

"How could you? Why?!" Arabella asked softly trying her best to remain logical despite her anger.

"Arabella, please. Let's talk inside. I don't wanna make a scene here," Jason said as he grabbed her wrist to lead her to his room. The two receptionists were amused by the situation but pretended not to pay attention.

"Get off me!" Arabella shoved his hands.

"I am so sorry," he said.

"I clearly don't understand why you lied? Is it because I am gullible, huh? So, all of those dreams we made together were all lies? Now it makes sense to me. Those times when I asked you to stay for a night and the times when you have to suddenly cancel our appointments. I believed all your explanations! But--- all of them were lies!" Arabella said softly in pain.

"I didn't mean to. I loved you. I did. But when my wife found out about you and asked me to choose, I had to do the right thing," Jason explained.

"Of course, you had to choose them over me. How noble," Arabella cried quietly as Jason hugged her.

Then, a short and plump woman came rushing to them from outside and without a word pulled her hair. Arabella screamed in pain. Recognizing his wife, Jason's face turned pale.

"Tina? How?" he asked, confused.

"I'll deal with you later. For now, I will teach this lewd woman a lesson," Tina replied, still grabbing Arabella's hair making her twitch in pain.

"Stay away from my husband, you bitch!" she yelled before pushing her hard on the marbled floor. Arabella cursed and impulsively held her forehead that hit the edge of a table when Tina pushed her. Thankfully, the table had round edges so it didn't scratch her skin.

"Tina, it's not what you think! Stop!" Jason said while standing between his wife and Arabella.

"Hah! Now you're defending this woman?" Tina shouted at her husband who looked scared.

The guard went inside and pacified Tina.

Then, he helped Arabella stand up and took her to her car. But, before she opened her door, Tina ran to her and slapped her face.

"That's for the stealing my husband and nearly wrecking our family," Tina shouted.

The pain Arabella felt was tearing her heart apart that she didn't have the strength to fight back. And Tina's raucous voice caught some people's attention.

"Is it your habit of stealing people's lovers? You already hooked Luke Adams, are you not contented yet that you have to try charming my husband again?" she continued. Then, she raised her hand, itching to slap her again. Arabella just closed her eyes waiting for her hand.

As soon as she mentioned Luke's name, people started to gather around with their phones as they were happily taking videos.

Arabella just cried silently. As people insulted her.

"Shameless bitch!"

"Whoah! She's not even beautiful!"

"I am sure she's good in bed!"

"Whore!"

"That's enough!" Jason said while gripping his wife's shoulders to stop her from hitting Arabella, who was standing catatonically in front of them.

"Get away from my wife!" Luke's voice thundered as he got out of his car. People gasped when they saw him.

"Hit her one more time and you'll regret it," Luke said in a soft but firm voice. Tina's furious expression suddenly turned to scare. Jason immediately apologized to Luke as he dragged his wife away.

"Are you okay?" Luke asked worriedly.

Arabella just kept crying silently.

"It's gonna be fine!" Luke assured her as he led her to his car.

Once inside his car, Luke hugged Arabella tight. Knowing that she's already in a safe place, Arabella let out all her anger, frustration, and pain. She cried and cried. Luke just let her cry her heart out until she fell asleep, tired from weeping.

Luke watched her puffed eyes and felt so worried. He exhaled harshly.

"I will never let this happen to you, Arabella. I will surely ruin the life of the next person who'll dare hurt you, babe. I love you so much," Luke said as he stroked her cheeks.

Then he put her seatbelt on and drove home where Sheryl waited worriedly for them.

"Kuya, is ate okay?" Sheryl asked as soon as they entered the room. Luke was carrying Arabella in his arms.

"She will be. For now, she needs to take a rest. She's been through a lot today," Luke answered. Then, he brought her to his room and laid her on his bed.

Inside one of the best houses at the heart of Mevious city, Regina celebrated as she watched the videos of Arabella being slapped by Jason's wife.

Her original plan was to use Jason to make legal actions to take full custody of Arabella's son, but she found out that he was already married while dating Arabella--- to her disappointment. So, she turned to his wife who was more than happy and willing to help her.

Jason hesitated to help them at first, but he ended up doing it when his wife scared him with a divorce paper. The plan was simple. Lure Arabella and make it appear like she's rekindling her relationship with Jason.

"It worked," she said happily while blowing smoke through her shiny red lips.

Then, she threw the wine glass she was holding when at the end of one video, Luke came saving Arabella from public humiliation. The video caught how he went to Arabella and lovingly hugged her with worry and anger painted on his face.

"How dare she take you from me? How dare she!" she said with her voice shaking in anger. She clenched her fists and banged the table.

"It should be me you're hugging. It should be me you're kissing. Me, Luke--- just me!"

In Isla del Fuego, Luke stayed by his wife. Sheryl was long gone after they ate dinner. And Saraknib was sleeping soundly beside his mom.

Luke was outside in his balcony calling Keira when Arabella woke up.

"I'll call you again. She's awake. Thank you again," Luke ended the call when she saw Arabella walking towards him.

"How are you feeling, babe?" Luke asked as he hugged her and kissed her forehead.

"Good, I guess. Thank you for asking," Arabella answered while resting her head on his chest.

"Are you hungry?" Luke said. She nodded. Then, they went to the kitchen hand in hand.