My Pretty Sweetheart (Arianna)

The next day, I had brunch with Monique before returning to the villa.

Being absent-minded as always, I only realized that I had left my bag and phone in Bronzy Condo.

I entered the villa and noticed that the living room was empty. Minnie was most probably out for groceries; while Hendrix, being the workaholic he was, should be at the company.

I changed into my slippers and decided to look up some parenting education books for reading. The moment I opened the door of the study, the air was fetid with stale tobacco smoke.

It was daytime, but the curtains in the study were drawn up. It was dim.

"Hendrix?" I asked in a small voice as I saw cigarette sparks by the window.

Hendrix was the only one who smoked in this villa.

I reached for the switch and turned on the lights. Hendrix's expression was dark as he bellowed, "Turn it off!"

"What's wrong?"

towards him. "Didn't you sleep well last

icy eyes fixed on me. He stubbed out the cigarette in his

grumpily answered. "I told you yesterday, didn't

rough and ruthless, "Arianna, what else are you hiding from me? How much

me a headache, and I grew irritated at his cold attitude. So, annoyed, I refuted, "What can I hide from you? I can count

to ask you?" His eyes were red, and there

was

dark, so I boldly replied,

got up, clenched his jaw, and asked, "Who

I snapped at him, "Hendrix, were you stalking me?" A fit of sudden anger burst in me.

clutched my shoulders tightly in anger, "Why are you trying

you're Mr. Roberts, of course. You can do anything you want!" Bothered by the foul smell of alcohol and cigarettes from him, I broke free from his grasp

room, he had grabbed me by the arms and pulled me into a forceful hug,