The Deceiver's Game

Chapter 3: The Past

ARABELLA

I don’t know how long I’ve been staring at the ceiling like a disassociated person or a drama’s main character who’s thinking of all the problems she has but I think that it’s not long enough for me to process all the happenings in my life.

Frustrated, I rolled to my side trying to think of some plans or alternative solutions for our problem.

Something.

Anything.

Even just a small idea will do. What if my parents and the others just didn’t thought hard enough? What if there’s another solution than this marriage?

I hate it. I hate the fact that that Darvian did something to save our business when the owners, my parents, couldn’t do anything.

I love my parents but I also hate them. No one really knows this but growing up, despite being the only one who will own all our properties and businesses or whatever my parents have, they didn’t let me handle anything. That’s one of the things I asked them but they always turn me away. They always find a way to divert my attention to other things which I never did. I just thought that they’re not ready to answer yet so I do whatever they want. I let them keep me in the dark for so many years.

Yet they did this…

Is this one of the reasons why they didn’t let me into their own world? Planning to sell me off to someone who knows more about money and everything because they don’t think that I could help? Then why didn’t they just make another one? It’s not my choice to be the only daughter. Daughter and not a son whom they can trust their legacy to.

If they just thought about telling me everything, I could've done what he did.

And what about the bigger reason why I couldn't believe why my father let any of that happen.

Me and that Darvian go way back.

Well, how? He was just the reason why we almost hit rock bottom. And me, being a dumb and spoiled brat teenager, fell for his tricks.

I was sixteen, in my junior year, when I met this guy. I really thought that he loves me, at least he made me feel like he does. We dated and got into a relationship.

That's when I started being rebellious. Sneaking out in the middle of the night to meet him. Going parties with him, even disguising and faking my age so I could go to the clubs in different towns and cities. That's also when I drank my first cocktail. I did so many of my first with him, excluding s*x which is probably one of the things you could think about but no, I wasn't rebellious enough to do that thing.

I was happy. Even thankful to God that I met man like that in my life. I got to experience being a normal teenager who isn't just living a normal and boring life like my parents told me to do and forced me to have. Everything was wonderful when I was with him to the point that I fully trusted him. I believed that sharing all my secrets was a necessary part of being in a relationship with him, that's where I was wrong.

After months of dating, I began to tell him everything that he wanted to know as he told me that it was important to know me better. He asked, I answered. Even the questions related to our business. Like our plans, our biggest project, what we expect for the next few months in our business, everything about that.

I never thought that something was wrong. I thought that he was just curious and rooting for our success. Perhaps he can think of a way to help us in any way he can.

But I couldn't tell him anything even if I wanted to. I'd love to share everything with him. So I decided to ask my father but to no avail, he never told me anything.

We had a huge fight because of that which confused me. That made me think why he was so furious and eager to know everything about our business, is he into this kind of business? Does he want to learn from my parents? But that is not a reason to be furious.

I did everything I could to persuade my parents to tell me everything so I could help them in the future. They refused no matter how hard I tried.

That made me miserable. My parents don't trust me. My boyfriend wasn't talking to me. I was used to everyone's attention. To be always in the spotlight.

Then after some days, he finally talked to me and happily went back to our usual routine of having fun. One time, I told him to visit our house because my parents went on a business trip and left me alone with just the estate's staff.

I sneaked him in to my room to do some fun. Also, because of the frustration o felt towards my parents, I planned to give up the most important thing. My virginity.

We played games, told stories and everything. And when I was ready to do it, he told me that he needs to do something.

He went out, I waited. Waited and waited until I fell asleep. I never saw him after that.

The next time I saw him at school, he was with a guy. A guy from the family my parents told me about. I was mad. Furious. I wanted to ask him why he was with an enemy but he never talked to me again even when I asked him to. I mean, all was so sudden that I felt like I can't live a day without doing what we always did.

Then when I went home that day, everything was wrong. My parents arguing with a worried face. Dad was on his phone, answering calls after calls. Some guys from the company went to our house but I didn't know what the reason was. After observing, I knew it. We were falling. We had all kinds of problems in our company and all I could do was to comfort my mom because I don't know anything about those problems.

What I didn't know was I was the reason for all of that. Some important files were stolen as well as our business plans and ideas. All was stolen by the man I trusted the more. The one I trusted more than my parents. The one who made me felt loved and worthy for attention. All was falling apart and that was all my fault.

I cried all night while regrets and rage filled my heart. That was the only time they've beaten us in something. And I didn't confess. I was too scared and ashamed of what I did. But my parents had known because of the CCTVs around the house where he was seen walking out the hallway to my bedroom, that was when I got a good scolding and faced the consequences. A horror for a spoiled teenager like me. No allowance and grounded indefinitely. That went on for more than a month, with someone to keep an eye on me in school so I won't go anywhere and no gadgets at home so I couldn't contact any of my friends. Thankfully, the problem was partially solved in less than two months which made them ease up my punishment with limited allowance and gave me a phone with limited apps and contacts.

I realized my mistakes after all of that. We saw each other again at school two weeks after my parents lifted up my punishment. He was still with the guy from that family. The guy who, according to my parents, paid my ex a large sum of money to make all those things. I don't know if I could call him my ex considering that what he did was just a part of his job. Making me love and trust him just for that guy to get what he wanted.

But what I can't accept was my family went almost completely down just because of a guy who made him accomplish his goal.

With all those things, I won't ever forget the memories he gave. I was sad and angry at the same time but also kind of happy. He did trick me but all of those times, all I felt was happiness so I'll treasure and surely remember those. But happiness isn't all that I won't forget.

I also won't forget the smirk on that guy's face when we walked past each other. I still have a love for him but loath the guy beside him.

That was also the moment when I promised that after this, I will never trust any guy again. Especially a guy like that Darvian. A guy who can manipulate people by using any means, even if achieving it means hurting other people.

I'll never forget what you did, Mr. Blackwood. I won't ever dance on your palms again, I swear.