A chance to start over.

(ARIELLE'S POV)

The days flew by and it was soon the weekend-the time for the family dinner, and it also doubled as the day Jared was supposed to leave my house. It had been three days since our last conversation, and he had kept his distance and avoided me entirely. In return, I remained silent, though the weight of the silence hurt more than I cared to admit.

Even Maverick had picked up on the tension, innocently asking if Daddy had made Mommy mad, one time at dinner. I managed to force a smile, reassuring him that everything was fine, though I struggled to convince myself of it.

"Sweetie, now that you're done eating, why don't you go watch the TV for an hour before bedtime?" I interrupted when he tried to probe further.

I watched him go, feeling sad and guilty. This thing between me and Jared wasn't fair to him. He deserved better than to be stuck in the middle of our issues, and t was better Jared left so our lives could return to normalcy.

As we drove to the mansion, with Jared behind the wheels, Maverick excitedly told Jared about my answers to his question earlier about where we were going. He seemed excited about meeting with his paternal granny and great-granny as he bounced up and down in his seat.

"Mom said we're meeting with my granny and great-granny," he exclaimed.

Jared nodded, his eyes briefly meeting mine in the rearview mirror, before looking away. At that point, I mustered the courage to take in his appearance.

He was dressed in black pants, a crisp black shirt, and a gray tuxedo. Jared was a handsome man, and the way the clothes fitted him like a second skin was proof of that.

I involuntarily compared his dress to mine, and I was grateful I was equally dressed nicely. In a black body con dress and golden strap heels, matching color bags, dropping good earrings, my hair styled up, and my face in nude makeup, I was indeed dressed well for the

occasion.

smiling at Maverick. "They're

he kept chattering, asking

This was what family was supposed to be

nice, Daddy?" Maverick

very nice," Jared

impending Dinner. No matter how hard I tried, I couldn't get rid of the feeling that this dinner invitation was about something. Nana Jean was always up to

in the lot.

lovely to see you all," he said, beaming at Maverick especially. "Please,

face. She looked elegant as well, in a pale pink gown and pearls. "Arielle, darling!

the comfort it brought. She had always been kind to me, welcoming

stepping aside to reveal

widened in

She

and pulled him into a hug, and Maverick giggled and hugged her

with admiration.

and Jared's eyes met, and

quickly looked away. I felt somewhat guilty because he wouldn't return with

I felt almost horrible

to it later. After the pleasantries, Nana Jean politely asked to talk to

Honey, may I briefly have a

rising from my seat to

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