Chapter 45
Areez roughly put the brandy glass in her hand on the table. “Mira is alone, Aldrich. How many times do I have to tell you that, huh!”
“Areez...”
“Stop Aldrich.” Areez shouted loudly. “Whose side are you really on? You’re my best friend, Aldrich. You should have stood up for me, supported all my plans.”
“I always support you, Areez. Support all your crazy plans that have often been opposed by many parties, including Clarke Enterprise which yesterday closed all our paths to make the resort,” said Aldrich loudly. “But for this one thing I can’t immediately agree with your crazy wish, Areez. Mira is a woman and marriage for a woman is very sacred, every woman always has her own wedding dream. Starting from dresses, flower bouquets, hairdos, churches and Of course the one who will guide her down the aisle. Every girl dreams of being led by their father as they walk down the aisle on their wedding day, Areez. And Mira deserves it all on her wedding day with you.”
Areez was silent, his face didn’t change at all. It was as if everything Aldrich seriously said had no effect on him.
“I just want to tie up Mira quickly, that’s all I can think of right now and...”
Slap..
A hard slap landed on Areez’s face.
.....
Aldrich, who had been carried away by emotions could not contain himself, so he had to throw his best friend a slap.
“Forget about Angelina! It’s all over, Areez. How long are you going to live in the shadow of the woman who betrayed you, huh!!”
“Aldrich...”
“What? What I said is true, isn’t it? Everything you did to Mira was the result of that crazy woman’s madness, wasn’t it?” Aldrich shouted loudly, not wanting to lose.
Unexpectedly, Areez who didn’t want to budge suddenly lowered his head when Aldrich brought up his first love affair ten years ago.
“Areez...”
Aldrich’s words stopped when he realized Areez’s hands were shaking slightly, Areez Floyen who had been so cold and hard had a major trauma that only Aldrich knew. The trauma that hurt him so much was caused by the woman he loves so much, Angelina Browman, the youngest daughter of the former New Zealand president who had dumped Areez so cruelly when she was content to get all the luxuries Areez had. Although now Areez’s wealth that was stolen by Angelina and her family has returned, the wounds that Angelina made ten years ago still linger in Areez.
“Come on, Areez. It’s been a decade now, how long do you want to keep that in mind, huh? Hasn’t that money-mad woman already got her reward?”
Areez looked up at Aldrich, the person who had done so much for him. “I don’t know, it’s really hard to forget that incident.”
“If you don’t want to forget what happened then why are you taking it out on Mira now? Mira is innocent, Areez. She is innocent, it was Angelina Browman who sinned against Mira, not Mira,” said Aldrich curtly.
“I love Mira, I really fell in love with her, I was afraid of losing Mira...that’s why I locked her in this mansion, cut off all ties with the outside world, hid her from the world and...”
“And?”
“Change his identity.”
“What?!”
****
With a hoarse breath Suri finally managed to return to her room, a few moments ago when she was intending to take a drink on the first floor she accidentally overheard Areez and Aldrich talking in Areez’s study where the door was not completely closed.
At first Suri didn’t feel interested in the annoying conversation between the two friends, but when Aldrich started mentioning the wedding plans, Suri finally canceled her intention to drink and chose to stay standing in front of Areez’s office, listening to what Areez and Aldrich were discussing.
Suri almost screams loudly when Aldrich mentions the family company that is currently managed by his brother, Clarke Enterprise. For fear of being caught if he overheard Areez and Aldrich’s conversation, Suri finally decided to go back to her room and canceled her desire to drink.
“So yesterday Areez met my brother,” said Suri stammering. “Clarke Enterprise ruined Areez’s plans? Oh my God, is this paving the way for me to return to my family?”
Suri’s body shook violently, imagining her beloved brother beating Areez to a pulp made Suri’s eyes immediately flooded with tears.
“Christ, haven’t you been looking for me all this time, Christ? I’m in Auckland, Christ. There’s being held captive at Areez Floyen’s house...the person whose business you destroyed, take me home Christ. I miss you guys, I miss Mommy, miss Daddy sob sob... Suri
suddenly stopped crying, mentioning her brother’s name made her remember Areez and Aldrich’s previous conversation. “Wait, if Areez met brother yesterday, that means I have a great opportunity to show my existence to my brother,” Suri muttered quietly. “Yeah, looks like I have to act this time. I have to tell my brother that I’m in Auckland...but how? What should I do?”
Suddenly Suri’s body stiffened, her eyes widened. “Areez,” said Suri again. “Yes, I have to take advantage of Areez, that way I can get a chance to contact my brother or at least send word to him that I am in the custody of that mentally ill Areez....Come on Suri, suppress your ego to Areez Floyen.”
When Suri was making plans in silence, suddenly Areez appeared from the door of Suri’s room which was not completely closed.
“You haven’t slept yet, Mira?”
Suri was shocked, her eyes were bloodshot with hatred looking at Areez who entered her room without permission. But it didn’t last long, because Suri immediately remembered the big plan she had just made. Forced to be nice, Suri smiled slightly at Areez who was still standing at the door.
“I’m not sleepy yet,” replied Suri softly.
Areez almost fell and slipped hearing Suri’s soft answer, Suri’s very friendly attitude really surprised Areez. For a moment Areez was silent, staring at Suri in confusion.
“How about you? Why haven’t you been sleeping this late?” asked Suri back, behind the blanket Suri’s hands were clenched into fists. Holding back her anger.
Instead of answering Suri’s question, Areez walked slowly towards the bed where Suri was. Without permission, Areez touched Suri’s forehead with her right hand. “Y..you’re not sick...”