“Please, someone help us! Have mercy!” I shouted loudly, even though I knew no one could hear or help us. I was scared, panicked, and confused. I had no idea how to operate the boat.
Moments later, I heard the sound of gunfire and saw jet skis approaching.
There was also a helicopter above us, its light circling around. Relief washed over me, and I screamed out as my fear melted away—our rescue had arrived. I felt so overwhelmed with joy that I wanted to jump in happiness.
“Mommy, there’s a helicopter,” Gabriella said. We both looked up.
As the helicopter’s light shone on us, Gabriella and I waved up at it.
I hugged my daughter again and showered her with kisses. I couldn’t explain the emotions I was feeling, but tears streamed down my face because I knew God had not abandoned us.
Soon, two jet skis approached us.
“Arlo, the superhero of me and my daughter,” I said when I saw him. He smiled at me.
“Daddy! Daddy!” Gabriella screamed, clapping her hands in excitement upon seeing her father.
Moments later, Leo took Gabriella and placed her on the back of Arlo’s jet ski. Then he helped me onto the jet ski as well, seating me behind my daughter. Arlo instructed me to secure the belt around Gabriella’s waist and tie it to his own waist.
“Thank you, babe. I thought you wouldn’t come,” I told my husband.
“That will never happen, my wife. I will never abandon you or our child,” Arlo said to me.
Arlo started the jet ski, and I held tightly onto his waist. He drove carefully and slowly, ensuring our safety.
**ARLO**
**TWO MONTHS LATER…**
“Babe, is there something wrong? Why aren’t you talking to me?” I whispered into the ear of my beautiful and sexy wife.
I wrapped my arms around her small waist while she baked a chocolate cake. We were currently at the farmhouse Thomas had gifted us. Every Sunday, we held family lunches here at the farmhouse of Lily Davis Bonde and me. I feel like the happiest man in the world since Lily came into my life.
At first, I thought I’d never fall in love again. I lost trust in women and the desire to commit after what happened with Claire. She was my first love, and she broke my heart.
For years, I stayed single. Among my friends and cousins on my mother’s side, I was the only one left without a spouse or child. It seemed I was destined to grow old as a bachelor.
Then my grandfather tried to arrange for me to marry the granddaughter of his close friend. I didn’t agree—I wasn’t about to let him interfere with my personal choices.
When I first met Lily, I couldn’t get her out of my mind. It was as if her smile had cast a spell on me, especially the way her eyes looked at me. I didn’t understand myself—she seemed to be the one my heart had been searching for. Even when I was with other women, her image never left my mind.
I went back to the small hotel to look for her, but by then, she had already left. I thought I would never see her again. But I believe in fate because our paths crossed once more. Honestly, I was pretending to be grumpy when I saw her again, but deep inside, I was overjoyed. If I hadn’t held myself back, I would’ve kissed her the moment I saw her kissable lips again.
During the days we spent together at my house, my love for her grew in secret. Her radiant smile, her beauty—she stood out from everyone else. When I found out she had feelings for me too, I was like a child jumping with joy in front of my friends as I told them.
“Congratulations, Arlo! Finally, your heart beats again,” charles said to me.
“We’re happy for you, bro. Let’s hope this is the real deal,” added Leo.
What started as a pretense between us blossomed into real love. I thought Claire was the only woman for me, but Lily proved otherwise. There were things I didn’t feel or experience with Claire that I found with Lily. I promised myself I would do everything to make our relationship work.
But when I discovered lily’s true identity, it felt like the heavens fell on me.
“I don’t love you, Arlo. I just used you. I love someone else, and it’s not you.” Those words from her lips echoed in my mind. She had only used me.
When my private investigator provided me with all the information about Alondra, I didn’t believe it at first. But when I went to see her at Davis mansion, I learned the truth—the investigator’s findings were correct.
