Leave Me If You Dare

She felt her entire world crumble with the sudden news.

With a shaky hand, Arabella froze. Her unstoppable tears were the only ones left alive. They showered like rain and had no plan to stop.

"Mom are you okay?" Adam was quick to hold her hand.

"Adam, I need to go," Arabella answered absentmindedly.

"Mom, say something." Adam squeezed her hand. His mom could not trick him. Her face was pale and her hands were very cold. Adam knew something wasn't right.

"Your grandma..." Arabella's voice couldn't hold her emotion as it was getting very dispirited.

"Mom...." Without her saying anything, her expression was enough for Adam to decipher what had happened. Adam wailed while hugging her mom.

"I'm sorry." Jayson left Margaret's side and strode towards Arabella. He hugged her again without minding everyone around.

Bill, Kelly, and Trishia were muted.

"Let's go. Let me drive you." Jayson quickly offered and grabbed her hand.

With the sudden news, Arabella's mind had malfunctioned. Her thought was empty and she had only one thing in her mind, her mother. All she wanted was to exit the place quickly and see her mom.

Jayson's offer was helpful and the most convenient for her right now.

"Mom I want to see grandma." Adam's little heart was heartbroken once again.

"You will see grandma but not now, Adam." Kelly butted in, held his shoulder, and pulled him to the side. By his mom's look, Adam quickly understood.

"Jayson," Margaret could only utter on the side. Her sour tone was merely proof of being abandoned.

Jayson seemed to hear Margaret but he neglected her. He was wearing his utmost sympathy for Arabella. No one could be able to break it from him even Margaret. From the start, Margaret knew that Arabella was Jayson's weakness. She could not take Arabella away in Jayson's life even if she tried hard for so many years.

Though Jayson agreed to marry her, Margaret knew that in his heart, she could not replace Arabella.

Arabella's feet seemed to have their own brains as they lifted and followed Jayson's steps but soon stopped when someone grabbed her arm from Jayson.

"She's coming with me." Bill sounded with a firm and imposing tone. His voice and action showed authority. If someone dared to go against, surely there would be great chaos.

It was quick and Jayson was left like something was snatched from him.

“Hmmm… That’s quick karma!” Trishia commented with a mocking smirk.

“I’d rather not hear anything from you Trishia. Let’s go, Adam.” Kelly answered Trishia with a strict scolding tone.

Adam tailed his grandma Kelly while Trishia remained dumbfounded on her spot.

‘What’s wrong with the witch?’

'Is she wearing a halo now?'

‘Is she sympathizing with that bitch now?’

‘Grrr…’

Trishia giggled in anger with Kelly’s sudden change of mood.

Bill got Arabella in his car. His driver drove his car to the school per Bill's order. He planned to drop by his office after Adam's event. Bill personally drove Arabella to the hospital without any words for her. Arabella was muted in her seat. All she could feel was pain all over her. Her heart was torn into pieces that she had a difficulty in breathing. When her father died, she had no time to mourn. She left the city to save Adam in her belly. Now that her mother's gone, the feeling of loneliness slowly invaded her.

'It was one of the greatest feelings in the world to know that no matter what, you always have my back, mom. Now that your gone, I am lost, mom.' Arabella's tears were racing on her cheeks. 'Why do you have to leave me and Adam, mom?"

'Dad, why do you have to leave me?'

' Why do you have to leave your daughter behind?'

'Why fate is so cruel?'

'Why does it has to be my mother?'

She had suffered enough. Enough for her to surrender everything but she refused to because of Adam and her mom.

They needed her. Living without a father was a bitter pill to swallow so she had to be tough and had to be tougher every day.

She had to stand brave for Adam and Jaime because if not her, who would?

No one would.

She had lots of questions but the answers were to no avail.

"Are you happy now?" With tears flowing uncontrollably, Arabella broke the silence inside the car. Her words were mocking. If there’s one person to blame for her sufferings it had to be the man who’s beside her right now.

Bill Sky.

Bill didn't answer. His eyes were focused on the road.

"Bill, tell me. Are you happy seeing me like this? Are you happy killing my parents?" Her sadness turned to madness. Remembering how she lost her father and got her mother ill, her heart wanted to kill him.

Though she was already swallowed by her rage, Bill stayed muted. He didn't even spare her a glance.

"Stop the car!" Arabella roared.

Bill seemed not to hear her.

"Stop the car now or we die together!" This time, she roared the loudest.

Bill stopped the car. He knew the girl could trouble him with her messy state of mind.

Arabella quickly opened the door. She could not be with the man who murdered her parents.

How could she face her mom by accepting help from the man who caused her illness?

The thought that she could go freely was a disappointment. Bill locked her door preventing her to exit the car.

"Open this f*cking door!" She punched the glass portion of the door repeatedly. Her anger was driving her crazy.

Bill didn't move nor follow the order that made her more insulted and blown by intense fury. Her stare was killing him already. Then her heavy punches transferred to him. Arabella couldn't control her anger. Bill didn't dodge and let her punch him wherever her fists landed on his body.

"You are such a devil!"

"You are not a human!"

"Go back to hell! That's where you belong!"

"I hate you!"

"I... hate..."

Arabella lifted her heavy eyelids. A white wall greeted her eyes. She could not feel any strength in her. Her heart was heavy and restless. Looking at the needle on her wrist, she easily got her location. She was in the hospital. She fainted in the car. She looked around but there was no Bill.

Then slowly her real situation took over her again. Her mother's loving face suddenly flashed across her mind. Her tears instantly poured out.

She wanted to see her for the last time but her mind was opposed to it. She was scared of reality.

Just when the door opened.

"Mrs. Sky, how's your feeling now? I’m Dr. Miley. " A female doctor strode in with a wheelchair.

“What time is it? How long I’ve been here?” She quickly asked frantically.

“Don’t worry. You just slept for 1 hour. Your body needed to rest. Do you feel better now?” Dr. Miley explained.

“Please let me see my mom." Instead of answering, she directly pleaded.

"Let me check you first then we go. This is per your husband's order." The doctor announced not knowing the real tension between them.

Arabella heaved a sigh of frustration but she let the doctor do her job.

After the check-up, the doctor brought her to the final viewing of her mom.

When they were about to enter, Bill showed up. He came from inside.

"What did you do to my mom?" She roared angrily.

Bill nodded at the doctor signaling her to leave.

The doctor hurriedly walked away.

Without wasting her time, she stood and was ready to leave her wheelchair behind but she got dizzy. She thought she would collapse directly to the ground but someone got her.

Bill was quick enough to make her stabilize.

She hated to be touched by him so she quickly pulled out herself from him but the things around her started to spin. She quickly grabbed his arm to gain support.

Bill wrapped his arm around her waist and his other hand was holding her hand.

"I don't need you." She remarked with full of hatred as she followed his steps.

Bill didn't say anything.

"You killed my parents, Bill." She would never get tired of reminding him how cruel he is. Let his conscience kill him if he has one.

After her words, Bill's grip on her waist tightened. He stopped walking. She stopped walking. Bill finally looked at her but didn’t say a single word.

After a quick minute, Bill assisted her inside.

The moment of reality came when she entered the room.

Jaime seemed to be just sleeping. Her face was no trace of suffering. She rested in peace.

Arabella kissed her mom’s forehead and hugged her. “No more pain, mom. Rest in peace.” She lovingly whispered with tears rolling down from the corners of her eyes.

Seeing her mom’s calm face, Arabella sobered. She was sure that her mom was in a good place right now. She had to let go of her happily.

The next days were gloomy for her. After the funeral, Adam was still saddened by the sudden loss of his grandma, Jaime. Arabella was trying to pull herself together for Adam. Farrah was always there for her and Adam.

“So, what’s your plan now?” Farrah urged Gab to visit Bill so they could talk freely. Arabella dragged her to Adam’s room.

“I… I don’t know.” Arabella answered still feeling lost and weak. If she just could stick to her plan, she should be packing her and Adam’s things now. There’s no point in staying in Capital Z. She had to bring Adam back abroad and get back her peaceful life.

But now, how could she do that?

Adam met Bill.

Bill would not let her go with Adam.

She could not just leave Adam with him. With them. She didn’t expect her plan would be ruined. She should have followed her plan carefully. Now, she regretted that she didn’t send back Adam abroad. If she did, her plan would be perfectly followed. She would not have a problem flying back to N city.

“Bestie, I know you can get over with this. Especially now that you have another angel watching you.” Farrah sat beside her and tapped Arabella’s shoulder.

“Thank you. I appreciate that you are here.” Arabella hugged her only best friend. Farrah’s presence always lightened up her mood.

Farrah hugged her then Farrah began to sob.

“What’s wrong?” Arabella was alarmed.

“I… I will be having a baby.” Farrah announced sobbing.

Arabella was surprised. She was very happy for her best friend. “Oh… Gosh! Congratulation, Bestie! That is happy news!” Arabella added. She lost her mom but there would be another member added to their family.

A baby.

Farrah’s baby.

Farrah was still crying and she wondered. “Oh common, don’t be such a baby.” Arabella hugged her again. “I know you are happy that you could cry,” Arabella added.

“Yes. I am happy but sad at the same time.” Farrah answered sobbing.

“What’s wrong? Tell me.” Arabella said worriedly.

“I… I am leaving.” Farrah answered staggering.

Arabella was surprised again. “What do you mean?”

“Gab and his family were still not in a good term. Gab was trying to reach out to them so we came back but he failed. Now, he decided that it was good for us to start our family away from them. Her mom would never accept me and our baby. She keeps on insisting on the divorce with us. Gab didn’t want to be tied up with the Ming family and with his family. But I don’t want to leave you and Adam with this state.” Farrah’s voice was sad and bitter.

“Shhhh…” Arabella hugged her tighter. “Listen up. You have your own family now. Do not worry about me and Adam. I know you will be a great mother and a wife. We can always visit you wherever you go, okay?” Arabella was trying to appease Farrah but deep inside, she was very sad but she had to let go of Farrah. Farrah deserved all the happiness in the world.

“Who’s gonna protect you here and Adam?” Farrah sobbed helplessly.

“Don’t worry about that. Don’t forget that your best friend is a tough woman.” Arabella tried her best to put up a joke amidst the loneliness in her heart.

Farrah sobered.

“Just promise me that we would see each other again. Best friends forever?”

“Best friends forever,” Arabella answered and they hugged each other again.

Farrah bid goodbye to her once again.

It was already late at night. Adam was already sleeping. Arabella couldn't sleep so she decided to go to the pool area.

The city was not sleeping but the cozy lights were wonderful from where she could see it. The silence was deafening. She looked up to see the stars.

It's beautiful.

Then her tears started to pour again.

She missed her mother so much.

It's been tough for her and she could not cry so much in front of everyone especially in front of Adam.

Now, she could not control her tears from falling. She let all her tears out when someone suddenly hugged her behind.

"It's okay to cry.." Bill Sky muttered hugging her.