Undying Love: The Billionaire's Second Chance

"I won't marry him" Araine screamed at her entire family tears in her eyes. What had started as a peaceful family dinner suddenly turned so painful for her.

"You will marry him!! He is our choice and you will obey my orders" Her father yelled back.

"Mum say something I don't want to get married to Lucas. I like someone else I won't marry Lucas" Ariane tried to solicit support from her own mother but she too was silent and looked the other way. She looked to her Eldest brother expecting him to at least say something of all her siblings they were the closest but he wouldn't even look her in the eyes.

"You all know what he did to me!! How could you possibly agree to this marriage proposal. He is unstable, I won't marry him no matter what happens." She marched up to her room and slammed the door.

°°°°

An hour later Rachel Ariane's mother unlocked the door to her room only to find it empty.

"Ariane! Honey where are you" Rachel walked further into the room before noticing that the bed had been stripped of the sheets and the windows ware missing their curtains.

Ariane had made a rope from the sheets and curtains, tied them to the bed posts and fled. There was a note sitting on her bare bed Rachel picked it up and her heart stung seeing the four words 'I Hate You All'

*****

Ariane was just dishing out lunch for herself and her boyfriend when the door to his apartment burst open she jumped back frightened till she noticed her Family guards. Their family logo was hard to miss. Also hard to miss were her brother and Father behind the guards.

"What are you doing here? How did you find me? You know what that doesn't matter you aren't welcome here."

Jared walked out of the bedroom in his shorts. He was just coming out from the bathroom when he heard the noises so he didn't have time put on much.

"So you are the boy who has been misleading my daughter" Her father signalled for the guards to grab Jared but Ariane grabbed a knife from the table stepping in the front of Jared.

"You'll have to kill me first!! Only over my dead body will you harm him"

Isaac her elder brother approached her and even though she was the one wielding a weapon she stepped back.

She would never stab her brother and no matter how angry she acted he knew it.

Isaac took the knife out of her hand and tried pulling her away. Ariane refused to be moved out of the apartment so in the end Isaac hoisted her on his shoulders despite her protests.

"If you want Jared to live you will get married to Lucas without making trouble." Those were her father's word as they exited the apartment building. For the hundredth time in a space of two days she wondered if he was truly her father.

°°°°

Ariane sat on the floor in her room everything had been replaced from the sheets to curtains and burglary proof bars had been put in place to stop her from escaping again.

She heard cars arriving and quickly went to her window seat to check what was happening. Her father and brothers were standing just outside the main doors waiting to welcome their guests.

The passenger door of the car in the middle was opened and her heart sank further seeing Lucas. She should have known who else did her family know that was a hundred times richer than them.

Lucas greeted her father before looking to her room's window. Ariane quickly shut the curtains not before she saw him smile. Suddenly she needed to know what he was here for.

"Hey let me out I'm hungry" She banged on the door calling at the guards. Sure they were just outside the door keeping watch incase she tried to runaway. But she wouldn't be running away not without Jared at last

"What do you want to eat i'll have them bring it up to your room." She recognised the voice it belonged to Adam her father's top security chief.

"I..."

"It's okay you can let her out" Adam looked at Isaac strangely.

"Your father gave very strict directives not to let her out" Ariane was quietly listening to the exchange did Isaac finally come to his senses? Was he going to help her run away?

"Her Fiancé is here and he wants to meet her" Adam reluctantly unlocked the door and she stepped out in her pajamas.

"... He didn't ask for you" Isaac finally said something as they walked down the stairs

"I know... you are not the best liar"

"Jared is not in the underground dungeons" Ariane quickly changed directions

"They are not in the living room they are in Father's study"

°°°

"She will be taken care of no harm will come to her..." Ariane leant against the study door eavesdropping on her Father and Lucas while Isaaac watched. She could barely hear anything they said only picking up a sentence or two which in the end didn't make sense to her. She wanted to know why her father was agreeing to this what did Lucas offer him.

The door was opened suddenly and she almost fell down luckily for her face Lucas saved her.

She quickly pushed his hands aside creating a distance. She hadn't heard them stand up or anything so the door opening was totally unexpected.

Lucas flashed her a smile "Hey." She didn't reply his greeting nor did Isaac who instead grabbed Ariane ready to return her to her room.

"Is it okay if Ariane walks me to my car. I haven't had the chance to talk to her in a while"

"Of course" her father didn't hesitate a bit in showing his approval much to her disgust. He was treating Lucas like god butt kissing and all.

"She's not feeling too well" Isaac tried to make up an excuse and Lucas brows quirked up he obviously wasn't buying it.

"I'm sure I can make it to the main entrance without collapsing" Ariane wanted to give him a piece of her mind. Asides that she was tired of being cooped up in her room. A little fresh air wouldn't hurt anyone

Once they were outside and away from her father she began to say everything on her mind.

"I don't want to marry you... Don't interrupt me, we both know why I can never marry you. I'm letting you know personally so you can go back inside and call off what ever deal you have with my father. I'm a human being with feelings not some item that you can just get because you are rich and powerful "

"How many times do I have to tell you that I have changed for you to believe me"

"You've changed? That's what you said the first time, second time till the end. You haven't changed Lucas even if you did I wouldn't marry you. You disgust me!"

Lucas laughed a little even though you could tell from his expression that he was anything but amused.

"Is this about me or about that little pussy you call your boyfriend. He can never be half the man I'm to you. What's his networth? Can he ever take care of you the way I did? Does he fuck you like me? Just wait till I find him Ari he will regret going near what's mine and I'll make sure to deliver his head..."

'Smack!'

Ariane was breathing hard watching his face change expressions she felt slightly satisfied and terrified at the same time. She had wanted to do this since the day her father informed her of his proposal

"Ariane get inside" Isaac appeared from no where stepping in between them.

"Or what? He'll hit me till I'm comatose? It wouldn't be the first time"

The bride dressed in white about to delivered to her husband. More like the white little lamb about to be offered as a sacrifice to a predator. Ariane walked down the aisle with her father these thoughts in her head. She looked like a normal bride nothing was missing except a smile. No tears she had promised herself not to cry not a single drop he wasn't worth it they all weren't.

Her father lifted her veil before handing her to a smiling Lucas. She wanted to wipe that taunting look off his face. He had won this time but she would find a way out of this it was only a matter of time.

As the priest said his words Ariane looked at the people present in the church then back at Lucas. Seven years ago she would have died in order to make this possible at the age of 16 this was all she could dream of. Now it was a nightmare her mind slowly drifted off to the time when she was innocent, happy and in love.

~~~

** Flash back **

16 years old Ariane stood on the stairs watching Isaac and his friends her eyes trained particularly on a dark haired boy. He looked back up when his friends weren't watching and they both smiled at each other.

"... I still think we shouldn't be hiding this from everyone. Except you for some reason are ashamed to be with me publicly?" Lucas paused the kiss and asked her. He was tired of sneaking in and out of her room whenever he came to see Isaac.

"But it makes it more exciting"

"I'm being serious Ari"

"Isaac wouldn't like it and I don't want your friendship to suffer because of me..."

~~~ Flash back ends~~~

Ariane felt someone squeeze her hand and looked up to see Lucas staring at her intensely.

"Do you take Lucas Morreti King as your lawfully wedded husband to love and cherish in health and in sickness, the good times and the bad times till the day you die?" Ariane looked round the hall then at her father remembering his threats. Her own father threatening the life of someone she loved.

"I do" She didn't feel happy lieing in the presence of God but she had no other choice.

"With the power vested on me I now declare you man and wife. You may kiss the bride"

°°°

The moon was out but the wedding after party had just began. Ariane was in her father's compound sitting on a swing yet she didn't feel safe. People were mingling but she wasn't interested in socialising.

"Can I join you?" She looked up at Isaac before looking away. He acted like he'd voluntarily leave if she asked him to.

"Cheer up Poo" his words would have been funny on any other day as it was an inside joke but today was different. There was nothing to cheer up for.

"How dare you tell me to cheer up? You of all people, you should know better than ask me to act happy"

"I just wanted to tell you I found Jared and I'll get him out tomorrow morning you just have to make it through tonight without any problems" she watched her brother walk away with slumped shoulders. Deep down she knew her words hurt him, he blamed his self for everything that happened in the past when it clearly wasn't his fault. But it was for these same reasons exactly that she couldn't understand him being in support of this marriage

*****

Ariane laid on window seat of the room dressed in a pink lingerie waiting for her groom. She had fallen asleep waiting for Lucas wanting to be awake when her predator struck. The room was purely identical to her room back home. If you didn't look out the window at the view you'd mistake this for her old room.

Lucas unlocked the door and walked in for a moment he panicked not seeing her on the bed or couch. He however calmed down when he noticed her on the window seat sleeping, the moon light highlighting her shape.

On his knees beside her he watched her sleep in awe of how peaceful and innocent she looked. She hated him now but he never stopped loving her. He was wrong to hurt her but now that he had her again he was never letting go he'd make up for everything they would be happy together. She would love him just like before and bear his kids.

Lucas leaned in to kiss his sleeping beauty but her eyes shot open and she shoved him hard. Fear was clear in her eyes when she realised what she did.

"I just wanted to take you to bed if you sleep there your back will hurt... Goodnight"

Ariane went back to sleep hours later she was tossing around a bit from a nightmare

~~~

"What were you doing with Ken I thought you said it was over between you two?"

Lucas yelled in her face and she replied non-chalantly.

" He just wanted to congratulate me on winning the award." She didn't want to go down this path again with him. Ken was her ex-boyfriend she started hanging out with Lucas after she broke up with him. At first she wasn't really into Lucas back then only liked the fact that he was attractive and sexy. So when Ken came back two weeks later she didn't hesitate to take him back and make out with him only to be caught by Lucas. Even after they made up Lucas never really forgave her for it. He was always bringing it up and after fifteen months of apologising she was done.

"And I told you to stay away from him why is that so hard for you".

She already planned to break up with him the next week but since he wanted to act out why wait.

"You know what? Fuck you! It's over between you and me" She couldn't bare it anymore what was the point in dating someone if he wouldn't trust you. Yes she fucked up before but it was in the past. A past he didn't want to let go of

"Baby don't say that to me please."

"I said it Lucas and I'm not taking it back. I'm dumping your jealous ass so I can move on with guys who would love me enough to forgive and trust me" Ariane marched to the door ready to leave when she realised it was locked.

"Open the door I want to leave!"

"Sit your ass back down on the bed Ari!"

"Open this door right now I don't have time for this okay?" Though she was yelling the fear in her was rising.

He was angry and so was she. Logic told her that Lucas had had a couple of drinks that night and that jealousy and anger didn't mix well but she just wanted to go home.

He approached her and though she tried to act unmoved at the very last minute she went running to the window screaming for help.

It was futile in the end Lucas room was too far away from the party and the music didn't help. "I'm sorry please Lucas let's just talk it out"

"You want to leave is that right? Ari answer me!! You want to move on with some guy? Didn't I tell you I wouldn't let any other guy have you have you except my self from the start"

She was trembling, the alcohol on his breath increasing her fear even as he grabbed her neck from behind. He had told her that indeed but then she had taken it as mere romantic words. Ariane found herself pleading and stuttering. Her best friend was right she never should have stayed after the first time he hit her because of her relationship with Ken. She should have told her mom or Isaac now there was no telling what was going to happen.

"If I can't have you nobody can" He threw her against the window but he didn't expect that it wasn't shut properly down she went tumbling towards the concrete side walk.

****

"No! No! No!!!" Ariane woke up screaming from dreaming she slowly sat up sobbing into her arms totally unaware of the person in bed with her who had woken up hearing her screams.

"Hey hey its okay it was just a nightmare" Lucas tried rubbing her back to calm her down but she scooted away. "Don't... Don't touch me" it wasn't just any nightmare it had actually happened. It still felt so real the fear in her heart as she tumbled down, the instant pain she had felt when she hit the concrete ground.

It had been long since it disturbed her dreams she actually managed to bury all those memories deep down but it seemed everything with Lucas had brought them back.

"I'm sorry"

Ariane didn't acknowledge the apology instead she looked to the alarm clock that showed the time to be 6:00am thinking she might as well start getting ready for work

***

"Hey I'm almost done serving breakfast" Lucas called out to Ariane as she walked past the open dining room door. She looked into the dining room for a second before continuing on her way

The chef and servants were dumbstruck. It had been surprising enough to see their master in the kitchen cooking and now the woman he made all this effort for just treated him like he was invisible.

"Ari Hey wait up" Lucas chased after her.

"Where's my car?" She finally stopped to talk to him realising she didn't know anywhere in this entire estate. But if he could move her entire wardrobe it was possible he collected her car too.

"Where are you headed to? We have to meet my parents for Lunch today and it's our honeymoon we should be spending it together"

"Thanks but I'll pass. I still work and as far as my superiors are concerned I'm single as can be. I'd like it to remain that way, I don't suppose you were planning to keep me locked up in this place forever even though I wouldn't put it past you to do so"

"I'm not going to keep you locked up It's just that I told my parents we'd have Lunch with them but since you have to work I can move it to dinner."

****

Ariane walked into her father's house and her mother came running down the stairs.

"Ariane what are you doing here? Does Lucas know you are here?"

"Thanks for the warm welcome mom. You don't have to worry you won't have to look at me for too long I just want to pick a couple of my things and I'll leave."

"Baby I didn't mean it like that" Ariane slammed the door to her room shut behind her and almost ran to her wardrobe. Her mind had been on this all day she quickly checked her safe box to know if it had been tampered with by whoever Lucas sent to get her things.

Inputing the code she opened her safe and pulled out everything in it. Confirming the contents were complete she took out all the love letters she had gotten from Lucas and foolishly stored, tore them up and put the rest in her hand bag.

"What are you doing here?" Ariane looked at her father who was standing outside the door.

"Didn't mean to bother you daddy dearest I'll be gone soon I just need 20 minutes max"

****

Ding!

Ariane pressed the door bell to her best friend Amy's apartment.

Ding! Ding!

"Whaat?" Amy drawled the minute she opened the door.

"Why isn't anyone happy to see me" Ariane pouted making her way into the apartment before Amy could ask her to come in.

"Because you just disturbed my beauty sleep. Hold on is that what I think it is" Amy seemed fully awake after seeing the time capsule Ariane was clutching in her arms.

"Yup I dug it up since I'm no longer going to live there I thought to take everything I owned"

Ding!

The door bell rang again.

"It's probably Pamela I asked her to come over so we could open up the time capsule."

"Oh great invite the entire group over when I look so unkempt"

"... Haha guys do you remember Mr. Finn our coach and how we frustrated him every day during football practise" It was dark outside and the three girls sitting in Amy's living room were reminiscing about their childhood over bottles of wine that Ariane had brought

"Yo we were crazy kids. I could tell why he was so frustrated everyday who knew adulthood could be so damn terrible. The responsibility, bills, people expecting something from you all the time..."

"Speaking of expectations. I certainly don't think that Keith expects you calling in hung-over for work tomorrow" Ariane stared at Amy who was already pouring her self another glass.

"Keith can go fuck him self okay besides when else am I going to get the chance to casually catch up on old times over wine costing $700 a bottle. Oh shit guys I just remembered something!!! Remember when we were horny teens you and Pamela had this like huge crush on Lucas and I was head over hills for Freddie. Look at you now Mrs. Ariane Moretti King."

"Wait what? You are married? To Lucas? How come no one told nothing? His sister didn't even tell me about it" Ariane mentally slapped her self sighing at Amy's blabber mouth.

"Yh it kind of happened in a rush. It wasn't meant to happen crazy story. Jessica didn't even attend. She probably didn't know about it or she might have known. I mean it wasn't really a long notice. You know what Amy I think you've had enough drinks for tonight let me get you ready for bed." Ariane was casually blabbing out any thing that came to mind not sure what to say.

"You know it's been a fun night and all. I gotta go I have an important meeting with my boss tomorrow see ya." Pamela quickly excused her self and they both bid her goodnight before Amy stumbled her way into the bedroom with Ariane's help.

"Hey guys did any one see my car keys reached the parking lot before I realised it wasn't on..." Pamela walked back into Amy's apartment 10 minutes later and noticed both Ariane and Amy were in the bedroom. She proceeded to search for her keys, she had just found them when someone's rang out.

"Hey Ari your phone's ringing. It Lucas Mo..." She didn't complete her sentence but instead frowned at the messages that Lucas had been sending for the past hour. Ariane had left her phone on vibration and was too distracted to notice it.

Watching the door for signs of movement Pamela put the phone on airplane mode not before going through it with a sinister smile.

******

Ariane walked through the main door humming a tune after successfully finding her way back with the aid of the GPS she had the chauffeur input on her phone in the morning. She sure as hell couldn't go back to her father's house, she could stay with Amy but she didn't know what would happen to Jared if she didn't 'Behave'.

Maybe it was the alcohol in her system she was in a lighter mood and failed to notice the gloomy aura when she walked into her room.

"Where the hell have you been?"Ariane jumped back scared by the sudden angry voice she heard realising it was Lucas she hissed.

"Fuck off!" She pulled off her jacket and headed for the bathroom ready for a shower before she slept. He on the other hand had different plans blocking her way and pulling both her arms

"I asked where have you been? WHERE THE FUCK ARE YOU COMING FROM?"