On Our First Attempt

Chapter Fifteen

SUN CITY, LAS VEGAS

A DAY TO DYLAN'S BIRTHDAY

Ariana slept through out the night without waking up till the next day. Though they were worried about her being asleep for such a long time without eating anything at all, they still had to heed to Dr Hawkins warning about not waking her up.

Logan helped Valeria with the morning chores as Carlos had went back to their house to take care of their children's on his wife's behalf. Logan was arranging the table for breakfast when Ariana finally woke up and walked in to see him. At first she doubted her eyes, but after walking closer to him, she realized she'd seen right though Logan was unaware as he thought it was Valeria that was walking towards him.

"Hey Val, where do I put this........." Logan was asking a question when he stood up and saw Ariana standing instead of Val. He was astonished to see his sister after such a long time.

"Ana!" He called excitedly.

"Log-Logan." She stuttered. Ariana ran over and gave him a tight hug which lasted for over five minutes, all the while Valeria watched silently with a smile on her face. She didn't want to interrupt their reunion so she went back to the kitchen and waited for sometimes before bringing out the food there were to eat.

Logan had to break the hug as Ariana's stomach kept rumbling from hunger. Without saying anything to her, he sat her down and rushed to the kitchen to help Valeria bring out the food on time so Ariana could eat.

When Valeria walked to the kitchen, Ariana wanted to start a conversation with her but Val stopped her and gestured her to eat first before there started any conversation. They ate in silence even though they had a lot to talk about.

"You finally meet my big brother, Val." Ariana said immediately she finished her food.

"Yes and I must say you were absolutely right about all you said about him." Valeria commended.

"Hmmmm, looks like you guys talked alot about me." Logan said.

"Just when she misses you." Valeria said.

Logan took a thoughtful and pitiful look at his sister once again. "How's your health? I hope you don't hurt as much as you look?" Logan asked out of concern.

"Am doing great now, thanks to Val and Dr Hawkins." Ariana commended, smiling as she did. "Does it mean we're good now? I know you'd be very upset with me." She added.

"We ain't good girl. I just want you to recover fully first, then we start from where we stopped four years back." Logan said, changing his mood totally.

"I will take whatever punishment you might have for me but I have to go to Puerto Rico today, Dylan's birthday is tomorrow and i know very well he meant his threats." Ariana said worriedly.

"That kid is very stubborn just like you. No one would doubt you're his mother." Logan said.

"I would really love to see this chap soon." Valeria said. "I made arrangements with my husband to fly us over to Puerto Rico since you have to return on time to complete your treatment." She added.

"You'd be going with us? That'd be too much stress for you." Ariana said worriedly.

"You're still not strong enough to do things yourself and I can only feel at ease when I can see you and know how you're doing so don't be stubborn and let me come." Valeria convinced.

"It's not like I can ever win you on anything." Ariana said, giving up hopes of changing Val's plan. "But what about Carlos and the twin?" She asked.

"My husband takes care of us even when am around so what's the great deal about my being gone for a few days. Secondly, he actually suggested that I go with so we could all be rest assured that you're safe." Valeria explained

"You're so lucky kid sis. You always make people fall for you. That said, I have to go get three tickets before it's too late because we have to fly tonight if we want to get there on time." Logan said and was about to go get dressed to leave when Valeria stopped him.

"That wouldn't be necessary, just get yourself and your passports ready, Carlos and Oscar are coming to take us to the airport by 10pm." Ariana said.

"Did you already get the tickets?" Logan asked.

"About that, we would be flying our private jet......." Valeria replied.

"Woah. That's cool, but don't you think that would be too much stress and money too?" Logan asked out of concern.

"No need to worry about that, we've got that much money to spare." Valeria replied.

"That's how she always makes me feel like a golddigger while am here." Ariana said to Logan as she glanced through her phone. She went through her social media and was surprised to see that she was tagged on so many posts about an article which seemed to have been trending online for sometimes now. She decided to click on it and then she saw Kyle's comment on their scandal. She made an eye contact with Valeria immediately she watched the video and Valeria felt a change in Ana's expression. She peeked at her phone and immediately she understood what caused the change in her mood.

"Ana! Is not what you think. He didn't mean............" Valeria tried to explain to Ariana but she didn't give him that much pleasure.

"Stop it Val! Just stop it." She said sobbing. "How on Earth did I wrong him? You know what Val, it's a shame he is your brother because he can never get better so just give up on him and take care of your family before he kills you with worry." Ariana advised and went straight to her room. "I will go get prepared." She added as she walked off.

Logan was confused and doubtful about what could be going on between them. She tried asking the worried Valeria about it but she didn't give him a clear and direct answer.

"What's going on? Why's she like that?" Logan asked.

"Ariana would let you in when she feels like. Go get prepared and also return your rented car on time." Valeria said in a low, sad tone before going into her room.

Logan respected her words and also acted to them immediately.

BRYCE & BRAYDEN'S SCHOOL

Kyle drove into the twin's school as soon as he felt there where about to close for the day and luckily for him they just ended the last program for the day and where already out in the school compound. He quickly went to the securities and asked to pick his nephews since they knew him well but he was informed that someone else already came to pick them up.

"Is it my sister or her husband?" He asked hopefully thinking that his boycotting worked perfectly.

"No sir, it's none of them, they sent the young man over there." A security guard said.

Kyle turned around and saw the guy who had bent down to pick his nephew and that posture reminded him of only one person, Ariana's saviour. He went closer to check the car he brought to the school, lo and behold it had the same plate number as the one from the dash cam. He went closer to the guy to check his face and see whom it was but his nephews came jumping at him immediately they saw him.

"Uncle.......did you came to pick us?" Bryce asked.

"Someone's already here to pick us up, didn't you talk with Mom?" Brayden asked.

"Guys get into the car I need to speak with your driver privately before he takes you guys home." Kyle said and the twin took heed to it and went into Oscar's car.

"Thanks alot for saving her. Where's she?" Kyle asked anxiously.

"Whom are you referring to?" Oscar asked.

"Of course you know exactly who am talking about. I saw you, I-I saw you lift her up from the ground like this, and then placed her in your car." Kyle said, demonstrating as he explained. "Look, am grateful you saved her so just let me know where she is, give her to me and I will pay you a really huge amount, any amount you want." He added.

Oscar gave Kyle a disgusted look and tried getting into his car when Kyle pulled him back and punched him on the face, causing him a little scratch on his face.

"I was being nice and you were being totally arrogant. Now tell me where the hell she is." Kyle scolded.

Oscar stood back and touched his face to see how hurt he was before he retaliated by giving Kyle a hard punch on his face and also causing him a nicely shaped cut on his lip.

"You wouldn't have sent her out if you really cared or were worried about her." Oscar said and entered into his car before Kyle could make anymore move and then drove off with the kids. The kids were unaware of the fight as the glasses of the car were tinted and one could barely see through it.

Kyle relaxed on his car for a while reflecting on what Oscar had said to him. "Maybe I didn't really care about her." This thought kept ringing on his head. "But why do I feel like I do now?" He asked himself and then an answer struck him. "Obviously it's because of Valeria." He said, trying to convince his conscience.

"What would have made Valeria make me go through all this stress if she knew where Ariana was?" He wondered as he drove home and all through the day.

As he sat in his living room watching TV when the answer to his all day question finally strucked him.

"What if she died?" He exclaimed and a sudden fear hit him. "What if Val did this so I couldn't find out she is dead because she was worried about how I'd feel." He said to himself and made up his mind to go see her at home tomorrow at any cost.

LUNA HOTEL, PUERTO RICO

ON THE DAY OF DYLAN'S BIRTHDAY

Ariana, Valeria and Logan logged in a hotel at San Juan, Puerto Rico which was just few kilometers away from Ana's family house. They prepared for Dylan's party and since Ariana was still not feeling too well, Valeria did not allow her to involve herself in stressful engagements but then she wouldn't want anyone to dictate to her where to go as it had been long since she last visited her home town (Puerto Rico) and she was also out to get a birthday gift for her boy. Valeria pleaded with her to be careful and also come back home on time so they could go over to their house before the party begins proper.

SUMMERLIN NORTH, LAS VEGAS

Very early the next day, Kyle drove to his sister's house and as usual the securities apologized for not being able to let him into the house. He tried calling his sister severally but it wasn't reachable so he called Carlos and pleaded with him to let him in which he did.

"Why are you here in my house? Or have you forgotten you ain't allowed here?" Carlos asked with utmost disregard to his presence.

"Please Carlos you need to hear me out." Kyle pleaded.

"You've got to hurry with what ever you have to say and you have exactly three minutes to do that." Carl said.

"Where's my sister? Please I really need to speak with her, it's important." Kyle asked anxiously.

"She isn't home." Carl replied.

"You can't tell me she isn't home. I came this early to see her because I know she wouldn't be out by now." Kyle affirmed.

"Oh really? Why don't you go search for her with your remaining 2min 40secs." Carl said, feeling irritated by Kyle's confidence.

"Come on Carl, you of all people should be on my side at times like this." Kyle said

"Why should I do that? Any outstanding debt?" Carl asked mockingly.

"No.....no! I know you owe me nothing but you're supposed to be my in-law, so please just let me see her for a moment." Kyle pleaded.

Carlos laughed like a damn hyena at Kyle's statement. "In-law you say? I already told you she's not home." Carl said.

"How could she have left the house so early in the morning on a weekend with her children still asleep?" Kyle wondered.

"That's because she didn't leave the house just this morning, she left yesterday." Carl answered. "She's not in Vegas so don't bother coming to see her here for now." Carl said and was about to walk out on him when Kyle stopped him.

"I know Valeria had Ariana all this while but what I don't know is if she's..........if she's.....uhmmmm.......alive or de..ad." Kyle stuttered.

Carlos turned around to face him, not surprised by his revelation. "Just as you guessed, she's dead, she died on you. Got it now? That's why she doesn't want to see you around because you remind her of your mischievous act towards Ana." Carlos said angrily making Kyle to breakdown in absolute guilt.

"Leave my house when you're done." Carl added before heading straight to his room.

Kyle was devastated and pained by the news. He had hoped it wouldn't be true but then his greatest fear happened. "So am now a murderer?" He muttered to himself before he sluggishly stood up from Carlos house and went for his car.

He couldn't go home as he feared he might see Ariana again just like the last time as memories of her keeps showing up wherever she'd being to so he decided to go to the one place he knew Ariana had never been to; his father's grave yard, but before then, he stopped by a mall and bought few bottles of alcohol that he'd be drinking with his father.

SAN JUAN, PUERTO RICO.

Dylan stayed in his room as everyone prepared for his birthday. He was dull and sad as he thought of how much his life has changed without his mom. They've always being close while she was with them but why the hell did she run away from him if he ever meant anything to her? He wondered, as he played with the last gift his mom had gave him on his 6th birthday.

"You better come mom, or I really will never speak with you again." He muttered to himself as he looked at his mom's picture. He was still brooding when his grandma came into the room and asked him out as everyone was prepared for him. They sang him a birthday song as soon as he stepped out of his room just to uplift his mood but nothing seem to be working on him.

"Where's uncle Logan?" He asked his grandma.

"Uhmmmm.........he's still not back from his business trip son." Isabella replied because that was what Logan said to them when he left.

"So he's also going to miss my birthday as well. What a birthday!" He muttered to himself as he walked to the garden where his friends and other kids who had came for his birthday were already awaiting him to cut his cake, but then one of the kids asked about his mother.

"You promised to tell us your mom's condition before you cut the cake." A kid said which resulted into numerous cheers as other kids where reminded of his promise.

Isabella tried to calm the crowd and also prevent the kids from pestering Dylan but he was rather very ready to answer the question.

"You want to know about my mom's condition right?" He asked in a sad voice.

"Yes." The crowd cheered.

"It's really a sad thing to announce to you that I lost my mom." He announced shocking the kids and also his grandparents.

"Do you mean to say that your mom's dead?" Another kid asked.

"Yes." He answered with tears falling down his eyes.

The kids where still sympathizing with him when the door propped open and Logan entered into the garden with Ariana and Valeria. "If your mom's dead then who am I?" Ariana asked Dylan.

He was in the greatest state of euphoria when he saw his mom walk into the garden. He ran over to her and hugged her as tightly as possible not leaving the slightest space between them. They remained like that for almost ten minutes before Logan's interruption.

"Be careful Dylan, she's hurt." He whispered to Dylan and that was when he realized his mom had a bandage wrapped around her head.

"Mom! What happened to your head?" Dylan asked worriedly.

"Mom's fine, it's just a minor injury and I'd by fine soon now that I've seen you so don't work yourself up." Ariana replied as she caressed his son body from head to toe.

Everyone cheered her and also celebrated her return except her parents who were still very angry with her for her unruly behavior, though they were still worried about her health.

The party lasted for few hours before everyone dispersed and went to their various abode.