Escaped My Ex, Got Snatched by His Rival - Chapter 465

Chapter 465: A step closer
Trigger warning: Sensitive Content ahead.

Little Ari stared at her mother with a helpless gaze, her mind was churning as she stared at her mother before turning to look at the man who was smiling at her.

Her heart continued to beat against her ribs as she stepped away from Roman.

“No…” Ari, who was looking at the scene in front of her like an onlooker, glanced at her mother who was staring at her little self as if she had committed an embarrassing scene by refusing to get close to the man who seemed to be filled with evil intentions.

Mrs Harlow smiled at Roman with an apologetic smile before saying to him, “I am sorry. She is yet to learn how to respect you, Master Roman.” After she finished speaking, she turned to look at little Ari before saying to her, “Stop making trouble and come here.”

As she spoke Mrs Harlow walked over to where Little Ari stood and caught hold of her hand and pulled her towards Roman.

Ari, who was watching the scene, unfold felt a surge of anger as the remaining guilt that she had for killing Mrs Harlow vanished from her heart. She watched the woman pull her towards Roman who stared down at her child-like self with a smile behind that terrible mask.

“Master Roman, would you like to drink something?” Mrs Harlow asked in a soft and simpering voice while looking at the man.

“A cup of black coffee will be great,” Roman said to Mrs Harlow, but Ari knew that he was lying, he only wanted Mrs Harlow to leave as quickly as possible such that he could have Ari to himself and treat her how he wanted.

“Right away,” Mrs Harlow was more than eager to make Master Roman happy, she didn’t even glance at Ariana who was shaking her head at her fervently while begging her to not leave her alone.

“Mom! Mom… Please take me… Mom— don’t leave me alone,” little Ari said to her mother; however, Mrs Harlow did not listen to her words or pleas. She turned around on her feet and then walked away leaving Little Ari alone with Roman.

Even though Ari knew that it was a memory that she had long forgotten, she could not help but feel nervous and anxious for her childhood self.

“Ari… My little darling,” Roman cooed as he stepped forward and picked Ari up from the floor in his arms.

“AHHH!!” Little Ari screamed as she tried to get away from the man, her arms, and legs flailed back and forth as she said to the man, “Let go of me!”

Roman, however, did not let go of her, instead, he brought her to the couch where he sat down with her on his lap. One of his arms was wrapped around Ari’s waist as he said to Little Ari, “Why are you so angry? Look, did I not bring you a gift?”

As he spoke, he showed Little Ari the lipstick in his hand.

“I —I don’t want it,” Little Ari struggled against his grip, but Roman tightened his hold. He glared down at her through his empty eyes before saying, “Now… Now. Sit still, darling, or else I will be angry.”

He raised his hand and placed the red lipstick on Little Ari’s lips.

Ariana could no longer watch the scene in front of her, she felt tainted, embarrassed and humiliated. A surge of disgust rose in her heart as nausea rolled in her throat. She raised her hand and grabbed whatever she had next to her.

And stabbed hard.

“ARIANA!” Nicolai’s voice snapped her out of what she was seeing and experiencing.

Suddenly, Ari was no longer standing in her house nor was she stabbing Roman. She stood in front of Nicolai, and the pen in her hand was embedded in his shoulder so deep that blood oozed from his skin.

“Ah!” Ari gasped as she pulled the pen away from his shoulder. “I —I am sorry, I … I didn’t mean to, I am … I am …” words failed her as she pulled Nicolai to the examining table. “Si—sit down, I… I will do something.”

“Ariana, breathe,” Nicolai did sit down, but he didn’t let her fumble around. Ariana was way too vulnerable and was feeling too raw at that moment. He dared not to let her touch and move things that could potentially hurt her.

Only he knew how scared he was when he saw her stare at the horizon as if she were here right in front of him, but at the same time, she wasn’t. It was a feeling so terrifying that Nicolai had no words to describe it.

Because he had seen this happen to someone. A person so dear to him that he wished and begged to the lord above that he would give that agony to him instead.

His mother.

And now that he was looking at Ariana going through the same thing, he had no idea what to do anymore.

All he knew was that he wanted to make her feel better.

Ariana stared at him for two seconds before doing as he asked her to, and when she didn’t feel calm at once, she breathed a few more times.

“Now,” Nicolai said to her when he saw that she was looking much calmer than before, he asked her, “Tell me what made you lose control like this?” His eyes never looked away from those baby blues as she stiffened.

Seeing the hesitation in her eyes, Nicolai said to her, “You know I will never judge you, princess. I am the last person to judge you.” The fact that she was willing to stay with him, even though he had slept with more women than the number of men Ari had known, was good enough to make Nicolai understand his position.

“… To be honest with you, I am not as pristine as you think I am.” As she spoke, she lowered her head with an ashen expression.