Chapter 4

" Arriane my Dear, can you come here, please. ", Elaine said, calling her daughter.

" Yes, Mother, what is it? ", Veronica came with an elegant red dress she just bought earlier. Her mother got embarrassed after seeing her.

" I know you like it but you're inside the house, Arriane. It is good if—", her mother said but Veronica suddenly answered her.

" It's just a waste if you don't try to wear it, right? ", she said while swinging her dress around. 

" But not... *sigh* By the way, I shall go to work now so take care of the house. And I would like to remind you that a person from your school will come to visit you... ", Elaine said while wearing her shoes and opening the door. 

Right after they went back to their house, Elaine received a notice from the administration of the school about Arriane's absences. 

Veronica was shocked about the visitor. 

" Wait, a visit from the school? But... "

" No but's, Arriane, it is your responsibility to go to school. So it is good if you welcome him and listen to him... See you, my dear ",

" *sigh* Okay... Take care, Mother ", and she waved her hand. Then her mother had already gone out, but Veronica pouted.

" But I hate school... ", she grumbled.

In Veronica's past life, noble women like her were not allowed to go to the academy, but her family provided home tutors for her, teaching them how to dance, ride a horse, read and write, embroid, etc. And as a daughter of a Duke, Veronica aimed to excel in all aspects, and fortunately, she made it and became famous because of being talented. 

But when she recalled about schooling from Arriane's memories, she became listless and began to hate it. Then she added some of her bullies to that school. 

*ring* *ring*

Veronica quickly took her phone, then she saw  the name Sally, calling her. 

" Sally? Why don't I recall her from Arriane's memory? ", she wondered. Then she answered the call. 

" Hello, who is this? ", Veronica asked. But she flinched and immediately put the phone away from her ear when a loud voice came out from the phone. 

" WHHAAAAA!! YOU MEANIE, DID YOU ALREADY FORGET YOUR BEST FRIEND!!! ", Sally cried while weeping from the other side of the line. 

Then Veronica started to wonder what is 'best friend' all about. This was the first time she heard that word. But she assumed that it was just another kind of friend and acted like she knew about it. 

" Hehe, I'm just joking... Then why do you call? ", Veronica sarcastically replied. 

" Please, don't joke like that, did you know that I worried about you all this time... *blah* *blah* You didn't even answer my previous calls, I thought something bad happened to you! *blah* *blah* ", she talked gibberish. 

Veronica was annoyed. 

" She talked so much... ", Veronica thought. In her past life, she really hated nuisances. She was surprised that someone knocked at the door. 

" They came... ", she thought. 

" Sorry... Sally? if I'm right... Let's end the call here, Bye... "

" Wait—"

Veronica immediately cut the call and went to the door and cheerfully opened it because she wanted to have a good first impression. But she was shocked when she opened the door and saw Henry and Dave waiting outside the house. 

" What the— ", she mumbled. 

" Good day Ms. Cruz ", Henry said with a bright face while Dave just stared at Henry with a disgusted face. 

" Arriane, who is this guy? He's so annoying... ", Dave complained. 

Henry turned in his direction, but he didn't utter any words. Then Dave was startled when he saw Veronica glaring at him. 

" You dumb-***, what are you doing here? Go away... ", she said. 

" But — *sob* ", Dave replied while sobbing because Veronica was driving him away. But it made him upset when he saw Henry smiling at him like he's saying, " Get lost... Loser hahaha ". 

" No but's, do you want me to call the police? ", Veronica grumbled. 

" That's too much... Okay, I'm going away... ", Dave answered, then he went away gloomy and disappointed. Veronica sighed as he went away. 

" I think he will bring more problems to me in the future. ", she thought. 

She suddenly felt someone tapping her shoulder, it reminded her of Henry on her side, seeking her attention. But still, it surprise her.

" O, my apologies, Sir Henry...if you don't mind, you may come inside, please... ", she said while bending her knees and bowing her head with closed eyes. Henry was surprised by her greetings, he felt how graceful she was while greeting him. But he got embarrassed eventually. 

" Ms. Cruz... I didn't see that coming, I think you need not do that... That's too formal. ", he said. 

Veronica was snapped out and got embarrassed as well. That reminded her that she's not in her own era to do such formalities. She immediately changed the atmosphere by just smiling and laughing like nothing happened. 

" hehe, can you please forget what you just saw? ", she asked. Henry grinned and answered. 

" Okay, shall I go inside? " 

" Sure... ", she replied. 

" This is such a pain *sigh* ", she thought. 

---

Meanwhile, in the house of Villafuerte, Arabella was walking around, looking for Henry. She was pissed off because she was not informed of his whereabouts. She met the maids on the way, she immediately changed the expression of her face and talked to them. 

" Did you know where Henry went? ", she asked. 

One of the maids answered. 

" Sorry, young lady, but Sir Henry didn't inform us as well where he was going. "

" Okay, thank you very much... ", she replied, and she walked away as the maid continued their walk as well. 

" Where did he go? He didn't even answer my call! ", she wondered. 

Arabella is the daughter of the second wife of Mr. Villafuerte. Through her beautiful face, alluring smile and angelic behavior, she got the favor of the family. But the truth was she's a wolf hiding in the skin of an innocent woman, deceiving every person inside and outside the mansion, making their favors go on her side. Only Arriane knows her true color, but Arriane couldn't speak about it because she was always threatened by Arabella. 

Despite being blood-related, Arabella had feelings towards Henry. But Henry kept on ignoring her with his cold heart. However, Arabella never gives up and keeps on pursuing his heart. Because for unknown reasons, she's really obsessed with Henry. This is not the true character of Arabella, but by someone inside her soul. 

*ring* 

She suddenly received an email. After she read it, she grinned and quickly went out of the front door of the mansion, and she said to her driver. 

" Get the car, I think I know where he is... ", 

---

Henry and Arabella sat in the living room, facing each other over a table. Henry just looked at her with his bright face, but Veronica felt uncomfortable with the settings. To erase the awkwardness, she tried to open a conversation. 

" Ahm, Sir Henry, can you tell me the purpose of your 'sudden' visit? ", she asked but inside her, she was really upset as she emphasized the word 'sudden' . 

" Sorry, if that upsets you — "

" I'm glad you know, dummy ", she thought. 

" — but as the Student Council President, I can't allow such problems like consecutive absences ", he said. 

" Okay, I will go to school starting tomorrow, are you happy, Mr. President? ", she scowled. But Henry smiled and said,

" Then I'll expect your presence tomorrow "

His calm face made Veronica uneasy. This is far from the memories of Arriane that Henry was a cold person. So Veronica began her suspicion, she leaned her head upon her hands and stared at Henry. He felt awkward and said,

" Do you have a problem? Ms. Cruz? "

" Yes, and my problem is you... What happened to the coldhearted Henry I know? I can't help it but to feel irritated if you keep on acting differently. ", and she scowled. 

Henry grinned and answered her, but before he uttered a word, the doorbell rang again. This time, Veronica was furious because of sudden visitors, as she's really not used to it for now. 

" Excuse me... ", she said, and went to the door. When she opened it, she was shocked to see who was outside. Henry saw her astonished face and followed her, he was also startled to see Arabella outside, staring at him. Then she turned her eyes towards Veronica and with a smile on her face, she said, 

" It's good to see you again... Arriane... "

At that moment, Veronica felt her blood rushed to her veins, she clenched her hand, but she immediately hid it in her back and tried to hold back her emotions. Veronica knew that it was not Arriane's emotion kicking in, but hers. 

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