Chapter 5

"How did that woman get into the lives of the Armanis? Even her worthless brother is there too! They have the nerve to mingle with us rich people! Their ambition is scary!" Divina threw her bag on the sofa. She walked back and forth while holding her forehead. She was still thinking about how Arya became close to Don Fridman in such a short time!

"Don't change the subject, Mama. You've been dragging the Villanueva siblings into the conversation. Let's talk about your infidelity! How long have you and that Rupert been in a relationship? How could you betray Papa? How could you fool us?" Dionne said, furious.

Divina stopped walking. She slowly raised her gaze to Dionne. "You child. You too! When are you going to use your brain, huh? You really made a scene at the Armani mansion! Do you know how much media was there? Do you know that almost all of our big investors were there? Why won't you believe me that it's all edited? Again, we are now living in a modern world! It's so easy to deceive using technology! Even those videos can be edited," she said.

"Those photos and videos don't look like they're edited," Dionne murmured.

Divina's eyes glared. "Can you stop it, Dionne? You're only going to hurt and stress yourself. WE DON'T HAVE A RELATIONSHIP, ME AND MR. RUPERT HAMILTON! End of conversation."

"MAMA, STOP LYING! YOU WERE CAUGHT RED-HANDED AND YOU'RE STILL DENYING IT! DO YOU THINK DIONNE AND I ARE STUPID? WE KNOW MORE ABOUT TECHNOLOGY COMPARED TO YOU SO PLEASE! PLEASE STOP YOUR NONSENSE ALIBI! INSTEAD OF SAYING SORRY TO US, YOU'RE MAKING US LOOK LIKE THE BAD ONES!" Damon took a deep breath. It was the first time he shouted at his mama, so the shock was obvious on her face. He lowered his voice.

"You accused Papa of having another woman. But you're the one who has another man. Papa is far more handsome and richer than Rupert. Why did you do it, Mama? Don't you love Papa anymore? What? Did you fall out of love? GIVE US A FUCKING REASON SO WE CAN UNDERSTAND! WAS THAT MAN SO WORTH IT THAT YOU WOULD RUIN OUR HAPPY FAMILY?" He sighed. "Now, I regret that you're my mother. You know how much I hate cheaters."

Divina laughed. When she stopped laughing, tears welled up in her eyes. She gave Damon a hard slap.

"I may have lacked for your father, but I never lacked for you two siblings!" Divina pointed at Damon and Dionne. "Happy family? We're only pretending in front of you. Your father cheated first before I did. OVER AND OVER. He hurt me over and over, made me hope that... that he would change but what? It was all lies! Until one day, I just woke up and I didn't love him anymore. Do you think I wanted this? No! I never dreamed of becoming someone's mistress! Ten fucking years! Your father cheated and betrayed me for ten fucking years! And I also shut my mouth for ten fucking years for you!"

Damon smirked. "You already know how it feels to be fooled. Why did you still fool us? If you don't love Papa anymore, you can leave. File an annulment. Why do you have to show me and my sister that both our parents are cheaters?" Damon said quietly but firmly.

"You're also a cheater, Da—"

"STOP IT, MAMA! We all know that I NEVER CHEATED ON ARYA! I want to divorce her because Greta is back! I don't want to cheat nor to betray her. If I hurt her, it's better that it's because of divorce and not because I cheated on her. I may be cold and rude to her but I respect her. I learned that from you, Mama. I grew up seeing how strong you are. Now, I regret looking up to you."

Damon looked at his youngest sibling before he completely left the living room. She was crying when he left. He wanted to take her with him but he just let her be, she might still want to talk to their mama. He slammed the door shut. His steps were large until he got out of his parents' mansion.

Damon kicked the tire of his car. He also punched the window, causing red liquid to flow from his fist. He was about to punch another window when someone suddenly held his shoulder.

"Boss, we found where the doctor you asked us to look for is. We're just waiting for your go signal. Should we kidnap him?" asked a man in his thirties. He had a long beard and a thick mustache. He had a tattoo beside his left eye. A serpent.

Damon removed his subordinate's hand from his shoulder. He held his right arm very tightly. He looked around.

"What are you doing here? Didn't I strictly tell you never to come here?"

~~~

"Daddylo." Arya knocked on her grandfather's bedroom door and then slowly opened it.

"Can't you sleep?" Don Fridman asked.

Arya walked closer to Don Fridman's bed. She fixed her clothes and then sat on the floor.

"Don't sit on the floor. You'll get cold. Sit here on my bed." Don Fridman sat on the bed. He took his glasses and put them on. Arya sat beside her grandfather. She leaned her head on his shoulder.

"Daddylo, why did you—" Don Fridman already knew what his granddaughter came for.

"Because I will not allow them to keep stepping all over you. I respected your decision to conceal your true identity for the time being, but I disagree with your plan of becoming one of our maids! It's too much. You were gone for three years and suffered greatly as a result of chasing the love of your life. Please be gentle with yourself, apo. Let me grant you some protection against them. Hin—"

Arya hugged her grandfather, which cut off what he was going to say.

"Daddylo, I don't want you to get involved in the mess. Please promise me that you won't get involved in my plans again. I don't want to stress you out." Her face was serious while leaning on her grandfather's chest.

"They are the only ones who stress me out, so now, I will be the one to give them a headache." Don Fridman stroked Arya's hair. "I don't know how deep the wound they caused you is, apo, but I will make sure they will never be able to add to it again."

Arya looked up at Don Fridman. Her eyes were teary.

"When your mom and dad died, I promised to love and take care of you more than my own life. I already gave you time to do what you want, and now it's time to listen to me, apo. It's my turn to have my way."

Don Fridman looked at the wedding photo of Arya's parents. It was stuck on the wall, opposite his bed.

"Besides, I also don't want to be bullied by the Waltons anymore. Did you see Divina's face earlier when you said I was promoted as General Manager? It's my first time seeing her like that! It was so satisfying. Thank you, Daddylo! You're the best!" Arya removed her hands from Don Fridman's waist. She stood up from sitting on the bed.

"I'm so excited for tomorrow," she said with a smile.

Don Fridman's eyebrows raised. "Apo, don't be soft, okay? You might get swayed by your EX-HUSBAND's flowery words," he said jokingly but with meaning.

Arya laughed softly. "Daddylo, I wouldn't have left his mansion if there was still love left in my heart. Three years of being foolish is enough. I will meet him because of business. No more, no less."

"How about revenge?" Don Fridman smiled.

"Kind of." Arya looked at her grandfather's wristwatch. "It's time to sleep, Daddylo. Goodnight." She kissed Don Fridman on the forehead.

"Good night, apo. Go to sleep too. Your room missed you." Don Fridman smiled before lying down properly. Arya left her grandfather's room. She sighed.

"Let's see what will happen tomorrow. Will it be Plan A or Plan B? It depends on your actions, Damon Walton."

"Ate Arya, why are you still awake? It's late at night." Aiven rubbed his eyes. Their rooms were right next to Don Fridman's. He was given a permanent room because he was often at the mansion.

"Ah, I just talked to Daddylo," Arya replied briefly.

"I'll walk with you to your room," Aiven said out of nowhere.

"It's okay. It's close anyway and there are lots of security and CCTV. I won't get kidnapped again. Don't worry," Arya said with a smile before walking away from Aiven.

'Her back looks pretty too.' Aiven scratched his head because of what crossed his mind. He quickly went back to his room. He lay on his bed and stared at the ceiling.

"This is not right. I need to do something so it doesn't get worse," he said while wrapping himself in a blanket.