Chapter 34: Chapter 34

After Mabel entered the bathroom, I sighed softly and closed my eyes. I could tell Ashton still wanted Mabel, the way he hated me was still clear. A smirk appeared on my face as I sensed how I had pissed him off earlier. It was a reply after making me feel jealous. Did he think I was stupid not to find out everything about Mabel before proposing to her?

Of course I had found out a lot about Mabel. My only fault was that I forgot her important day, her birthday. I should have remembered, because her bio was the first I read.

The ringing of my phone made me open my eyes. It was a call from my grandfather. I sighed, preparing to hear his long ramblings.

Mabel was still in the shower as I heard the sound of the water splashing unfinished. So I thought of picking up the call out of the room.

The rain had stopped, leaving its mark on the earth. Puddles were everywhere as my feet carried me to the front yard. "Yes, grandpa?" I asked, picking up the call.

"Hello, Adrian, my dearest grandson. Sorry to disturb your rest time, but I missed you and wanted to talk to you for a while."

"Can you just get to the point of what you want to say?" I asked, rubbing my forehead in frustration. I knew something unpleasant was about to be heard.

My grandfather chuckled for a moment, then answered his intention of contacting me. "I've prepared everything for you and Mabel's engagement. Everything is ready, just waiting for your vacation time to end."

I paused, remembering that our engagement would coincide with Mr. Castello and Sarah's wedding. "I'm in love with her, grandpa." I sighed, not knowing why I had to tell him that. "I guess you were right I was too weak for any mission I took. I just can't keep lying to myself about this feeling,"

My grandfather didn't answer, there was only silence on the line.

"Sorry," I said one last time, about to end the call.

As if knowing what I was about to do, my grandfather held me back. "Wait a minute, Adrian. You haven't given me time to talk," I didn't end the call and put the phone back to my ear. I was waiting for what my grandfather would say. I was ready if he would scold me or call me weak as he pleased.

"I'm glad to know that,"

I almost wanted to throw my phone when I heard that. My eyes widened in shock. Did I hear wrong? Valentino Moretti, my grandfather just said he was glad to know I was in love again?

"I told you about it, but you kept on denying it. What you feel can't be forced, Adrian."

"Yeah," I sighed knowing I was falling even deeper in love by continuing to deny the fact.

"So what about your revenge against Ashton?" My grandfather asked then cleared his throat. "I'm glad you finally opened up to me, that's why I've decided to let you take revenge on Ashton in another way. You don't have to use Mabel for that anymore if you don't want to,"

"Hold on, what?" I almost screamed, too shocked. I smiled broadly at that, not caring that my men looked at me strangely.

"Yes, Adrian. Now I'll let you decide," My grandfather didn't even sound like him anymore, I meant in a good way. It was like I heard another man speak. "Forgiveness is not the path we have chosen, it has always revenge. But now I state whatever your decision is, just do it. I will not be in your way ever again,"

Hard to believe, but it really happened. My grandfather was not a man to change his mind easily, but he was doing it now.

"I'm sure you're smiling right now, right?" My grandfather chuckled on the other side.

My smile suddenly faded when I realized there was one other problem. "What about your cooperation with Rainy? You know Anthonio is with her,"

"I can stop that, so now it's up to her what she will do to keep Mabel and Ashton apart. You don't have to interfere with them," My grandfather's voice sounded calm and resolute.

My mouth twitched slightly, and then I smiled. "I didn't expect to say this, but thank you. This means a lot to me," I whispered slowly.

"Now just enjoy the rest of your vacation in Bali, and prepare for the engagement ceremony when you return. I'm waiting for you," With that our call ended.

I went back inside and Mabel was standing at the end of the stairs. She had finished her shower, and looked very sexy with wet hair. I smiled mysteriously at her, making her look at me confused. "Where have you been?" She asked, rubbing her hands.

"It's a secret," I answered shortly and immediately carried her on my shoulder.

"Adrian, put me down!" Mabel shouted, but I completely ignored her.

"I have something to tell you," I opened the bedroom door and gently placed Mabel on the bed. She looked at me even more confused, maybe because I couldn't stop smiling. "You have to listen to me so attentively,"

"Looks like you need to catch your breath first," Mabel said, wanting to get up, but I kept her lying under me.

"Coming back from Bali, we will soon be engaged." I told Mabel, but her reaction was nowhere near the one I showed her. She raised an eyebrow instead, scanning my eyes.

"It's nothing new, we've talked about that before. And everyone already knows about it,"

Mabel was right.

"Why are you freaking out about it now?" Mabel continued in a quizzical tone. "I mean-"

"You don't understand," I got up, moving away from her. "I'm excited to realize that we will be engaged for love, unlike when I planned it." I couldn't possibly explain to Mabel that apart from that, I was glad that I was free from my grandfather's entanglement. Although I really wanted to explain that part to her. But I was afraid it would make her question my love for her. Everything was starting to go well, and I didn't want to spoil the happiness at all.

I sat on the edge of the bed with my back to Mabel. The bed moved and I could tell she was approaching me. She pulled me in her arms. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to spoil your mood."

I closed my eyes, inhaling Mabel's soft scent. "I can't wait for that day too," She whispered against my hair.

Silence captivated both of us for a while.

"Um, Adrian?" Mabel gently stroked my shoulder. "Can we visit Selena before our engagement day?" The question took me by surprise.

"Are you okay with that?" I suddenly turned to look at Mabel. And she was already looking at me gently.

"I want to tell her about our engagement," Mabel then added and smiled. "I want to ask her direct permission,"

I was enchanted by the way Mabel smiled. Her smile looked adorable. "It settled then, a day after returning from Bali, we can directly visit her grave."

I had never been happier than that day. Mabel nodded then we lay down on the bed together. "I have a question for you. It doesn't really matter, but I need to know." I said for a moment we both stared at the ceiling. "What is your favorite color?"

Instead of answering, Mabel laughed in response. "Why do you ask such a question?"

"So what?" I tilted my head at her. "I just want to know,"

"Is it still about the game earlier?" Mabel asked in a curious tone. I couldn't lie to her, so I answered with a hum. I wanted to know more about her than what Ashton knew. "Well, I like a lot of colors. Nothing specific,"

"Favourite food other than ice cream?" I asked again for the question that popped into my head.

"Ashton and I have other favorite places besides the ice cream parlor," Mabel whispered quietly. "And I like to eat fried chicken there,"

"We should have a favorite place to eat too," I whispered to myself, but it was probably too loud for Mabel to hear. She giggled and got up, looking straight at me. "What?" I asked innocently.

"Oh don't pretend I didn't hear you," Mabel said with a smirk on her face. "By the way how about you? I feel like the only one who doesn't know much about you,"

"You know about Selena, and that's enough for me. It's something that's deeper about me than just a favorite food or favorite color," I looked her straight in the eye, showing that the moment she knew about that, she had become a very important person to me.

"Well," Mabel whispered, leaning back next to me. "What about your parents?"

"They died, Mabel. You don't need to feel sorry for it, it happened and I won't comment badly on fate." I didn't really like talking about it, not because I didn't love my parents, but because it made me question how my destiny would have been if they were still alive.

After I explained, Mabel was silent, digesting my words. She then asked me again. "Do you miss them?"

"Always, every second my breath blows." I whispered softly.

"I also want to visit their graves, may I?"

Again, I replied with a hum. "We'd better sleep now, I heard tomorrow we'll be skydiving." Got no answer from Mabel, I turned to her. And she had her eyes closed. I couldn't believe her.

"Don't bother me, I'm sleeping." Mabel muttered under her breath.

I laughed watching her drift off to sleep knowing that tomorrow we would be skydiving. She was hard to believe. I cuddled her close, closing my eyes too. That's what I had been waiting for every night to come. Cuddling her and being with her for a long time calmed me down, even helped my body relax from the stress of the day.

We only had a few days left on our vacation in Bali, unfortunately the island had been raining continuously lately. We had canceled our outings a few times, so hopefully we could go skydiving tomorrow.

Unknowingly, I also fell asleep together with Mabel. I then woke up in the morning feeling a tingle in my stomach.

Mabel had apparently gotten up early, but she hadn't left the bed. She just stared at me so deeply that I blinked and she averted her gaze.

"Morning," Mabel smiled down at me sweetly. "Let's go skydiving!"

I laughed and got up from the bed. I meant to take a shower, but seeing Mabel hadn't showered and was still wearing last night's clothes, I picked her up and got her down in the bathroom. "I'll take shower after you," I didn't let her make a comment and immediately closed the bathroom door.

I left the room right after, and was almost startled when someone bumped into me. "Watch where you're going!" I turned around and saw Daniel was the one who bumped into me. His face was so red, and strange to me. "You look like you've been very drunk," I commented to him then realized he didn't come out of his door, but Miranda's door.

"I'm screwed, Adrian." Daniel said blankly.

"What's wrong with you?" I was still trying to ask him in a playful tone the way that he did.

"I spent the night in Miranda's room," Daniel explained then flinched at his own words. "I mean we didn't do that, I just fell asleep in her room."

"You spent the night in her room," I nodded as I repeated his words. "Then what's screwed you?"

I had never seen Daniel so nervous about explaining who he slept with last night, but he looked so complicated just to explain about it now.

"I think I like her,"

"You think?" I raised an eyebrow and choked. "You like Miranda?" I repeated, surprised.