The Billionaire Who Saved Me

For a while, Elice seemed to experience what people often describe as the world standing still. Time stopped. Her world stopped. In a moment, she realized that sometimes fate can offer more than she dared to hope for.

Elice never expected that one day a man would kneel before her. Armed with a beautiful ring. With a question full of desire and hope.

“G-Garrett….”

Elice’s tongue could no longer find words. She could barely speak. Instead of being able to express her thoughts, she found her body almost non-functional now.

Elice froze. Immersed in a tension she couldn’t prevent from enveloping her. All over her body. From top to bottom. And if she could shake off the stiffness in the next moment, it was the visible trembling.

Garrett looked at Elice. Just as the woman had suspected. In a look like a dimmed sun. Appearing calm. And he waited. Though the answer he would get was already certain.

But Garrett needed confirmation. In the form of a word he wanted to hear. A word he didn’t get. Because…

“Oh, Garrett. This…”

Elice’s clear eyes misted over. Covered by tears she couldn’t stop. She quickly bit her lower lip. Perhaps she was trying to hold back the sobs that threatened to escape her throat.

Not getting the answer he wanted in the form of a single word, Garrett almost stumbled as Elice, unable to contain the outpouring, rushed toward him. He felt his chest burst. In splashes of color and blooming flowers. For he was well aware that he wouldn’t dare dream of such a thing in his most beautiful dream.Copyright Nôv/el/Dra/ma.Org.

Garrett’s hands went up instinctively. They embraced Elice’s falling body. Her smile blossomed in the curve of her neck.

There was the scent of Elice that filled the air around them. There was the warm breath of Elice that touched him. And there was the face of Elice that cast a shadow into his future.

“Does that mean yes?”

Truly the best rhetorical question of the year. With Elice’s attitude, Garrett shouldn’t have to ask again. Everything had been answered even before the question was asked.

“Of course.”

A small sob escaped. Accompanying Elice’s answer at that moment. Pushing him to wrap his arms even tighter around Garrett’s neck. Hugging him as if she didn’t want him to let go.

Garrett wouldn’t do that. Instead, he willingly let Elice hug him as tightly as she could. Tighter wasn’t a problem. Because it brought a thought to his mind. That it seemed as if Elice was more than accepting their marriage.

It took a few minutes for Elice to regain control of herself. Garrett used this opportunity. To loosen their embrace. So that he could slip the ring onto Elice’s finger.

One of Elice’s hands rose and covered her mouth. She didn’t want to sob louder in the midst of tears she couldn’t control.

For Elice had been at the lowest point in her life as a woman. She had been abandoned in a most embarrassing situation. Hurt and bleeding, she thought that love was just an illusion.

Elice had buried all her youthful dreams. She no longer dared to fantasize about a prince on a white horse. She threw away that dream and accepted the bitter reality that had become her life.

But who would have thought? As she surrendered to the fate that guided her steps, there was Garrett. With a proposal and a precious stone ring.

Elice didn’t want to hope. She didn’t want that hope to grow and blossom into lofty desires. But she was greedy. Like people in general. So she asked herself.

Can I dream that this will be a happy marriage?

For with Garrett, Elice realized it. One by one the things in her life changed. Slowly, Garrett changed everything.

Just like the shiver Elice felt when Garrett’s lips gently kissed the ring on her finger. Then his eyes looked at Elice and reflected many emotions that words couldn’t express.

“Garrett.”

Elice couldn’t say a single word either. Only this one word she could say. That one name. Along with the hug, she showered Garrett again.

It was more than enough to prove to Garrett. That he wasn’t the only one flying at that moment. Elice was flying with him.

*

When there was an agreement between two families, there seemed to be nothing left to wait for. Everything had to be prepared. Starting with the first step. That is, the proposal.

The proposal was not just a proposal. Thanks to Garrett, who was the main character, the proposal was no different from a wedding reception. It would be held in a luxurious hotel and attended by the extended families from both sides. Everyone was invited without exception.

And through it all, Daphne put her money where her mouth was. She managed everything, through Carolus of course. She made sure that from the very beginning everything went perfectly. Without any mistakes.

“How are the preparations so far, Carolus?”

Carolus smiled thinly. “Everything is ready, madam. Nothing has been overlooked.”

“Good,” Daphne nodded. “And don’t forget to make sure there are no problems with the guests’ accommodations. Check their hotels. Make sure there are no complaints. Give them the best service.”

“Yes, Madam.”

When he said he was ready, Carolus thought their conversation was over. But Carolus was wrong, for he received another question.

“Speaking of the guest list,” Daphne said, looking at Carolus with slightly narrowed eyes. “Have Farrah and Kurt arrived?”

For a moment Carolus took a deep breath. He answered the question with a nod, as expected.

“They arrived this morning, madam. And they went straight home.”

Daphne did not comment on the information. She simply nodded several times before raising one of her hands. With a raised index finger, she gave instructions to her personal assistant.

“Don’t forget to keep an eye on them. I don’t want that crazy family causing chaos at Garrett’s engagement party.”

“Very well, madam.”

“And if they look like they’re going to do anything threatening during the engagement event, I want them thrown out.”

A slight wrinkle appeared on Carolus’ forehead. Clearly, he knew that kicking Farrah and her family out was an action that seemed frontal. After all, Farrah was Daphne’s daughter. Literally, Farrah was part of the extended Morales family.

Daphne looked at Carolus again. She seemed to understand the man’s concern. She sighed.

“Or at least,” Daphne corrected. “Make sure they don’t cause any trouble.”

That order sounded more human to Carolus.

“I will, madam.”

That was the last commitment Carolus made in their conversation. For after that, Daphne closed everything. She let Carolus leave her room and rest. In beautiful thoughts that filled his mind. Making him aware of something. That lately he seemed to smile more.

Like Daphne smiling, there was a smiling face elsewhere. But with a different impression. In this series of smiles, there was a mocking expression. Mocking her own son.

“Are you still thinking of approaching Elice? Hah! Look at this, look!”

Farrah tossed the engagement invitation with Elice McLean and Garrett Alexander Morales written on it. The object landed on the table, right in front of Ariel, who clamped his mouth shut. His jaw clenched as he looked away. He didn’t want to see it.

“Enough, Mom. You don’t have to say that to Ariel.”

Kurt spoke up and let out a long sigh. He leaned back on the sofa, feeling a little tired. He tried to find a comfortable position.

“It’s pointless. I’m sure Ariel already knows what’s going on.”

Farrah snorted. She clasped her hands with a contemptuous look at her own son.

“I’m asking you, Ariel,” Farrah said later. “Do you know what is happening now? The reality that is now before your eyes?”

Ariel remained silent. He said nothing as his face grew redder. Emotions raged in his chest. It felt like it was on fire. But he couldn’t let it explode. Until the embers could only smoulder.

“Tsk. You really are stubborn, Ariel. I told you over and over again. Elice never loved you. She was only after your wealth and riches. And now it’s proven, isn’t it? After she broke up with you, she’s after another man.”

There was a mocking laugh from Farrah’s lips as she said this, as if what she was saying was something funny. Really! It made Ariel feel sick.

“So, I’m asking you, Ariel. This time you really have to forget about Elice. Because instead of thinking about that cursed woman, you better think about what you can do to help me. Oh, God. You’re wasting your precious time thinking about Elice.”

Farrah snorted, exhaling sharply as she became more emotional seeing her son’s attitude. She had tried her best to make him realize that, but apparently Ariel insisted on his desire to approach Elice again.

“Imagine all the wealth and riches you could get if you could get rid of Garrett! Imagine it all, Ariel!”

Ariel’s eyes closed dramatically. Even though his mother was obsessed with the wealth Garrett now possessed, he was the opposite. He didn’t care about all that wealth. Only Elice was on his mind.

As time passed and days passed, Ariel finally realized the emptiness of his life without that woman. Until he found regrets accompanying the moments of his life. He was determined to fix it. Unfortunately, he was too late.

Elice was gone. Not only had she left Crestdale. She had left him as well.

Ariel cursed his tardiness until he saw it with his own eyes. That Elice was with Garrett now. A reality that really made him unable to contain his anger.

“Elice is not more important than the wealth you can get, Ariel. If you can get rid of Garrett, imagine all the wealth you can have. Everything Garrett has will be transferred to you.”

The flames were blown into the air. There was a brief pause, followed by an even larger burst.

Ariel realized something. Something from Farrah’s words. Something that made him freeze.

Everything Garrett has will be transferred to me.

*