Rebirth For Him

They haven't seen each other for two weeks, but she misses him terribly. Gifting him a pleasant surprise seems to be the best way to make him remember her even more—and it’s his birthday. She smiles sheepishly, holding her gift with one hand and controlling the wheel with the other.

She tries her best so as not to get it broken. She woke up early so she could get to his flat while he was still asleep. Knowing full well how tight his schedule is, she was very sure he was still in bed. The servants let her in, for they knew how important their relationship was.

Arielle got closer to his bedroom, but then—he wasn't alone. It was not just the voice of another female she heard, but it sounded more like that of her stepsister. With every second, she wheeled closer. Indeed, sometimes our eyes do deceive us, but she did not want to think he was cheating on her with her sister.

“Come on, Ed, you know I love you, and my sister is just a plaything. However, I can't help but be jealous of her. I mean, she will be the one you will be walking down the aisle with in a few weeks.”

Arielle looked through the cracked door and saw her sister lying on the bare chest of her fiancé, all naked with no shame. He gently strokes her hair tenderly. Come to think of it, he has never done that to her or treated her nearly as tenderly as he was with Anabel.

“It’s just for you. You know everything I am doing is for you to have a good future, and everything will rightfully be yours. Just be patient and give me some time.” He showers her with kisses on her forehead, which leads to Anabel giggling out of excitement.

Arielle could not hold back her tears. She uses one hand to block her mouth, to swallow her sobs.

This was the least she expected. So all he wanted was her wealth? And then what? Her thoughts were suddenly interrupted by the words of Anabel.

“I pity her. How will she be when there is no money and no husband? How long do you plan on being married to that cripple? I really feel so miserable not being the one who walks down the aisle with you in three days’ time.”

Anabel suddenly asks. This is something Arielle wanted to know, so she quickly leaned closer so as not to miss a word. Deep down, her heart was still hoping he would at least say something nice. But then, the last atom of love left was shattered by his response.

“And why will I divorce her? I can only walk out of this marriage as a widower.”

Arielle involuntarily leans back, her body goes weak, and the cup leaves her hand, shattering to the floor into many pieces—just as her heart was at the moment.

The noise distracts the two lovers, who rush out only to meet Arielle trying to wheel herself out of that scene desperately. Edward did not know how to react. He was still in his undies, and Anabel only had a towel tied around her chest. There was no way they could make her believe nothing happened between the two of them.

“Arielle, why are you here so early?” he asks, unsure of what he was expecting. It was his mistake, for she would do anything to make him happy on his birthday. He wanted so much to stop the pretense, and it seemed to be finally time to do it. She heard everything, and it would be pointless talking her out of it.

“So what? You would have continued playing me for the fool while you had sex with my sister behind my back? Come on, aren't you shameless? So you want me dead? After all the love—how dare you two play with my feelings like this?”

Edward walks over to her, squatting down to her length.

“Stop acting like you are the victim here. I am to marry a cripple, and you think I should be happy about it? Huh, spare me the drama.”

“Brother-in-law, it's okay. You shouldn't blame Arielle. You can leave; I will explain things better to her.”

“Brother-in-law? Where did Ed go? You are shameless.”

Edward walks back to Arielle, taking her chin into his palm forcefully, making her clench her fist in anger and pain.

“So you think I love you? Come on, Arielle, stop dreaming. I mean, who will marry a woman like you?”

Tears stream down her face when he lets go, and the scar formed by his hands is visible on her pale white skin.

“And have you forgotten how I lost my leg? If I had chosen not to save you, then I wouldn't be sitting in this goddamn wheel. It may be a marriage of convenience set by the two families; however, I wouldn't be in this state if I did not push you away,” Edward sneers.

“And that’s also the only reason why I am marrying you. You have to be good. I mean, you don’t expect me to love you, right? It’s all because of what you stand for. And yes, I plan on getting rid of you after the wedding. So what? It’s not the first time you’ve heard of something like this, so don’t act all innocent when we know you are not.

No one will suspect a thing, and then I can always marry the woman I love. Arielle, you should see this as my way of helping you escape your miserable life. People like you don’t deserve to be amongst us and should be sent to the afterlife to ease their pain and suffering. I will gladly do that for you.

Take it as if I am paying you for all you have done for me all these years.”

Arielle bit her lips, trying so hard to hold back her tears. Her heart was torn into pieces, and every word he spat out went in like flying daggers.

“Haha...” Arielle laughed, tears streaming down her face. God knows what she gave up for Edward.

“Indeed, how could I have thought?”