The Billionaire's Promise
Chapter 73: The Seeds Of Doubt

Chapter 73: The Seeds Of Doubt

Aryana waited restlessly in their hotel room. It was already 9:00 pm but Erik was not back yet. She has already taken her shower and was in her nightgown.

Aryana was still bothered by Erik’s reaction earlier. Who did she bump into?’

She heard a message notification from her phone. It was a message from Emma, her best friend from college.

Emma: Girl are you here in Italy?

Aryana: Yes. Just finished eating while enjoying the view of the Pisa Tower.

Emma: What a coincidence. I am here too. How about we meet up tomorrow? I missed you.

Before she can type her answer, Emma called her.

"Are you here on vacation or business?" Emma’s excited voice was heard from the other side.

"We are here for business. I am with my boss and five others from the company." She narrated.

"So you really worked with your crush? That handsome guest speaker during our graduation?" Emma shouted in her high-pitched voice, Aryana has to move her phone away from her ear.

What would her reaction be if she told her that she married Erik?

"I’ll pick you up tomorrow. Send me the location of the hotel. I’ll show you around then we can watch a fashion show and have dinner afterward."

"I’ll ask permission from my boss first. I’ll keep you posted." She hesitated.

"Come on Yana. It’s after work and your personal time. I really want to see you. I’ll be disappointed if we miss this opportunity." Emma sounded piteous on the other side of the line.

"Okay." Aryana agreed then she sent her the location of the hotel.

It was 11:00 pm and Erik was not back yet. Aryana felt alone and dejected in the room. She opened the balcony, the cold breeze hit her. It was autumn in Tuscany. She closed the balcony and went inside the room. She hesitated and sent Erik a message.

’It is getting late. What time are you getting back? Please take care.’

She saw that Marlon’s status was green on messenger.

Aryana: Erik is not back yet. Do you know where he is?

Marlon: Worried about him?

Aryana: Shouldn’t I worry about him?

Marlon: Hmmp, you just missed him. Don’t worry, he can take care of himself.

Aryana: Are you hiding something from me?

Aryana saw that Marlon was typing something. She waited for a long before Marlon’s message finally appeared.

Marlon: Don’t think too much. Go to sleep.

Aryana frowned. Did he spend a long time typing those few words?

Marlon opened the balcony to his bedroom. He lighted a cigarette and tapped something on his cell phone.

Marlon: Erik bumped into Cassie today here in Tuscany. He is with her as of this time.

Alex: ...

Franco: Did you see her?

Marlon: No. He left in a hurry when we were having dinner and did not come back.

Alex: Does Aryana know?

Marlon: No. I’m worried. Erik has just gotten married.

Franco: That’s indeed a big problem. You wanna bet? I bet Erik will abandon Aryana.

Marlon: He will not. If you lose, send your Ferrari to my garage.

Franco: If you lose, your Maserati will be mine. How about you Alex, are you joining?

Alex: No thanks. To be honest I like Aryana for Erik. I have to go. I still have surgery.

At 11:30 pm Aryana lay on the bed and dozed off. After some time, she woke up, and when she checked the time it was already past midnight. She heard the door creak open. She did not move but pretended to be asleep.

Erik headed straight to the bathroom and took a quick shower. After drying his hair he changed into his pajama and sat down on the edge of the bed.

Aryana felt the bed dip with his weight. Erik kissed her gently on the forehead before lying down. He switched off the bedside lamp and closed his eyes but sleep evaded him. Cassie kept appearing in his mind and her confessions troubled him.

Was he happy because she said she still loved him and she wanted to be strong and be worthy of the title Mrs. Lee? Did he act recklessly when he married Aryana?

He sighed and finally fell into a restless sleep at dawn.

Aryana woke up at six am. She propped herself on her elbow and studied the man sleeping soundly beside him. His brows are furrowed and he looked haggard. Aryana left the bed silently and entered the bathroom to take a quick shower.

Her face scrunched up as a lingering fragrant smell of a female perfume assaulted her nose. She looked at Erik’s discarded suit in the hamper. She held it up and noticed that the smell was concentrated in the chest area.

’I am overthinking things. I should ask him before concluding anything.’

She took a shower and changed into a yellow blouse with sleeves that covered her elbows, and a dark-colored jeans. She wore a pair of boots and took her trench coat. She checked on Erik one last time before gently closing the door. She had looked forward to sharing a morning stroll with him but he was so sleeping soundly she did not want to disturb his sleep.

Aryana did not go far but just strolled around the park adjacent to the hotel. She saw the park yesterday when she opened their balcony and she took pictures.

Aryana walked leisurely in the park, her hands inside the pocket of her trench coat. She closed her eyes and listened as the dry brown and orange colors, like the hues of an erupting volcano that comfortably carpeted the earth, crackled under her feet with each step she took.

She felt the morning breeze on her face, rich with the aroma of the earth. She took in a long breath. She felt a unique calmness surround her. Her gaze focused on a big tree in front of her and her steps were drawn to that tree. It was her first time to see firsthand how a tree was clad in the many hues of the soil, and how it was speaking to her as it continue to shed its glorious leaves one by one.

If only Erik was here to share this precious moment. Didn’t he promise to take a stroll with her today?

"Aryana. Is that you?" An almost familiar voice took Aryana out of her reverie.