Marry Me, Miss Villainess - Chapter 89：FOUR YEARS LATER

“I know. I’ll come visit you soon.” Arianna said before ending the call. She returned her phone in her coat’s pocket and checked the time. “Belle, it’s time to pick up the kids from school. I’ll head out first!”, she yelled to her sister who was standing behind the counter. When they first came to the state of Vorarlberg four years ago, they fell in love with the place and Belle decided to settle there and start a restaurant business for the two of them. She’s been managing the restaurant pretty well, and Arianna didn’t need to do much except for accounting.

Belle nodded with a smile. “Take care!”, she said. Life has been blissful for her, but sometimes, especially during lonely nights, she can’t help but miss someone important in her heart.

A few minutes walk from Belle’s restaurant and Arianna reached the kids’ kindergarten school. She smiled as she saw a couple of kids waving at her near the entrance. A little girl with a long black hair, and little boy with charming eyes. Both of them are four years old. Equally adorable and sweet.

“Mama, you’re here!”, the little girl exclaimed with a smile. “Brother said you’ll be late again!”

“Well, mum is always late.” the boy commented.

Arianna laughed before taking their hands. “I’m sorry about that. Shall we go home now?” she asked. Both kids nodded and they walked home altogether. This is now Arianna’s life. Very different from the life she led before. Four years ago, before she escaped from Howard Finn, she called her father and told him to migrate somewhere safe. Howard Finn hated both of her parents and she was afraid he’ll find them. They decided to move to Canada where Howard Finn holds no influence. From time to time she calls her mother to check upon her condition. She’s able to walk now! Dianna was very happy when she first told her daughter the news. She has gone to visit them twice this past four years but they haven’t met either of the two kids yet.

“Mum, when I told the kids in school I have two mothers, they said you and mommy Belle are a lesbian couple!” the little girl said as they walk the almost empty street.

“Shut up, Aaliyah!”, the little boy yelled. “They are sisters! You’re talking nonsense.” he said with a scowl.

“Albee, please don’t shout at Aaliyah. She didn’t mean it like that.” Arianna told him in a soft voice. She just can’t bear to scold at these sweet little kids. “But Belle and I are really sisters. Although we have different mothers, we have the same father.”

That’s what they told the kids. Even though it was proven that Howard Finn was Belle’s biological father, in her heart, she still take Carl as her real dad. She grew up in his care and was never mean to her. He showered her with love and that was all that matters.

“But mama, why are both of you still single? And where is our father?” Aaliyah probed. At once, Albee glared at Aaliyah as if telling her to stop asking more questions. The little girl shied away, embarrassed. She looked too cute though, like a little rabbit hiding from a wolf.

Ahhh… the kids are growing up very fast. They’re starting to wonder about their existence. Soon, she’ll have to explain certain things to them. But right now, she believes it’s still too early to tell them. “Some people became single parents because they lost the one they loved. But we can still look for another.” she stated with a smile. “Do you want to have a new daddy?” she asked looking at Aaliyah, but the little girl just shook her head.

“Nooo… they said step mothers and step fathers are evil!” she replied with widened eyes. “The fairy tales said so!”

Fairy tale… If only Arianna have Yago by her side, then this life she’s living now would be as perfect as those fairy tales! Living in a peaceful town, in an old but beautiful manor overlooking the Ill river. If only there wasn’t an empty space in her heart.

“Albee… What’s the matter?” she asked when the three of them reached home. “You haven’t said anything since I told you off earlier. Are you upset?”, she asked. The boy only shook his head and didn’t reply though. “Then what’s the matter?”

The boy lowered his head and thought for a while. Arianna waited patiently until Albee was ready to open his mouth. “When uncle Matt visited last time, I heard him say something…. Is it true? Is Duchess Regina’s husband my real dad?” he asked, his clear eyes looking straight at her.

Arianna was stunned and looked away. Three years ago, news of Duchess Regina marrying the newly appointed family head of the dela Vega clan, Santiago dela Vega dominated the news. She didn’t probe further though. It was pathetic maybe, but it hurt so much to accept she has lost him already, and so she lived pretending she knows nothing. She didn’t want to check the news, she didn’t want to hear anything about him. What she doesn’t know won’t hurt her. Dylan though would run off his mouth whenever he visits. Why can’t he just shut his mouth up?

“Can we talk about this another day? I really can’t give you an answer right now.” she said, avoiding eye contact.

“Sure.” he replied. What is there to say anyway? Her expression already told him the answer. So his father was someone who broke her mother’s heart and then married another woman? Aaliyah thinks like a child, but Albee is not like her. They were born on the same day, but Albee’s intelligence is higher. He has mind and comprehension like that of a ten year old. Maybe because of growing up with Callum as his toy, or maybe the combination of his parents’ genes, Albee’s intellect has matured faster than other kids his age.

“Don’t worry about it mum. I don’t need a father. You’re more than enough for me.” he said before giving her a hug.

***

Arabella arrived home at nine o’clock with a sullen face. She throw her bag on the floor and sat on the sofa looking entranced. She was like that, staring into space for a good couple of minutes before Arianna nudged her shoulder and gave her a cup of coffee.

“Did something bad happen?” she asked as she sat beside Belle.

Arabella shook her head, still dazed. “I don’t know. Is it really bad news? I don’t know how I should feel about it.” Belle mumbled.

“Why? What happened?”, she probed.

Arabella took a deep breath, her eyes remained unfocused. “Howard Finn is dead. He died… in Rojo’s hand.”

Arianna was startled. Howard Finn is dead? For her, that’s good news. He’s one of the reasons she’s been living in this foreign land. Why her mother can’t return to her homeland. But to Arabella, this is bad news right? After all, he is still her biological father. She owes him her life.

“It’s alright if you wanna cry.” Arianna told her as she pats Belle’s shoulder. “It’s not good to hold it all in.”

“Should I? I feel so empty inside. I’m so confused. Should I hate Roy? Did he ordered my father’s death? Should I take revenge on him? What should I do?”,she asked as she turned to Arianna. “Tell me… what must I do right now?” she mumbled before bursting into tears.

Arianna hugged Belle. Yes, what must they do right now? Is it about time they return to the real world? Is it about time they continue where they left of? They have been running away for the last four years. Somehow, she knew this four years is just a dream and the time has come for them to wake up.