HEIRESS REBORN: MARRYING HER EX-FIANCÉ-Chapter 50: Their First Chat (2)

Her voice sounded muffled through the hand against her lips, and trembled through her threatening sobs. At the moment, Ayana did not bother if her fiancé grew suspicious.

’’Ayan—’’ Just when he called out her name, She abruptly ended the call and lowered her arm with her phone in silence.

’’...F-Fool.’’ The word escaped her lips in a barely audible whisper, carrying a tremor that mirrored her wavering composure.

This time, she felt it deeply—she had been a fool.

If Axel in this life could harbor such cautious assumptions about her, who was to say the Axel from her past life hadn’t thought the same?

The thought wrapped around her like a suffocating shadow, and she didn’t push it away. Standing frozen in place with her head bowed, Ayana’s shoulders trembled with the weight of unspoken emotions.

Meanwhile, several miles away, high above the bustling city on the topmost floor of a tall building, was the President’s office of the Kratos corporation.

Inside the furnished office with minimal interior décor were two men seated face-to-face; one in casual wear and the other in corporate attire.

Behind the sleek desk sat a man in the corporate attire, and he was currently staring at the phone in his hand where a call ended just now.

’’What did she say, Axel?’’ The man in casual wear questioned, eyeing the slight crease on his friend’s forehead and rare confusion across his usual indifferent features.

’’...’’ The man, Axel Kratos, remained silence.

’’Axel?’’

The silence stretched in the president’s office until Axel placed his phone on the office desk and went back to the contracts that he was reviewing and needed his signature.

’’You should leave now.’’ He flatly dismissed the man before him with the kind of indifference that only he could muster and was capable of.

The one opposite him, however, was far from deterred.

Matt Easmond, young master of the influential Easmond family and Axel’s longtime friend, wasn’t one to leave so easily.

However, those words definitely ticked his nerves and his eyebrow twitched repeatedly.

Moments ago, Matt had been scrolling through restaurant reviews on his phone, planning his next date, when he noticed Axel doing something out of character—picking up his personal phone during work!

And that wasn’t all. Axel had even asked for advice on how to respond to a certain message. Matt had nearly dropped his phone in shock.

An imaginary explosion instantly exploded in his head. He almost suspected if his friend had been momentarily possessed by another.

Who could make the rigid Axel Kratos used his personal phone during work? Matt wondered and adding more to his shock, was the mysterious person who was none other than his other closest friend.

Ayana Kingston.

Another rigid person who took the initiative to converse with her fiancé on the phone!

If not for the help that his best friend needed, Matt would have rejoiced on the spot and call his acquaintances for a quick celebration with alcohol.

However, now that he wanted to know what the rigid pair conversed on the phone, his best friend became ungrateful. His usefulness was gone, and the latter was already chasing away.

What happened to their saying ’pals before gals?’

How unforgivable!

Matt Easmond gave his best friend the stinky eye, equally lamenting about his friend’s stinginess.

’’I won’t go until you accept my invitation to Freya’s birthday banquet.’’ He declared with folded arms, behaving like that of a sulky child after several denials of his candy.

This upcoming birthday banquet was important to him, and he didn’t want his best friend to miss the celebration because of the unending work.

’’...’’ Axel didn’t look up, the steady sound of flipping pages serving as his only reply.

Matt’s lips twitched in frustration at his actions.

"Fine. If that’s your decision, Ayana and I will just enjoy the night together without you." He heaved a defeated sigh as he stood up and turned away.

"...Ayana?" Axel’s voice stopped him mid-step.

Matt’s lips tugged up into a knowing smirk that seemed to say ’got you,’ but he masked his satisfaction quickly before turning back.

"Yes." He replied, forcing a reluctant tone.

"....."

Axel’s indifferent expression didn’t waver, but his gaze lingered on Matt a moment longer before returning to his paperwork.

"I’ll see what I can do.’’

"Alright!’’ Matt’s grin returned in full force at his words.

’’Don’t go back on your word, Axel!" He warned, pointing at his friend with narrowed his eyes before turning away and exiting the office on lighter steps.

’’Hm...Hm...’’ Matt hummed happily as he strode down the hallway. His steps were light, almost carefree, as he approached the elevator. Just as he pressed the button, his phone vibrated in his pocket and he took out the device.

Matt unlocked his phone and looked at the notification. He saw that he received a message from his mother.

*Don’t forget to buy Freya a birthday gift, Son.*

Matt’s chuckle was light, almost amused, as he read her message with a faint smirk.

"Freya will be most definitely happy with my birthday gift, mother." He muttered under his breath as his eyes flickered with an icy glint.

**** 𝚏𝕣𝕖𝚎𝚠𝚎𝚋𝚗𝐨𝐯𝕖𝕝.𝕔𝐨𝕞

’’Perfect!’’

’’Beautiful!’’

’’Let’s get a little more movement in there.’’

’’Give me a twirl, Miss Bella.’’

At the moment, Arabella was having a photoshoot for a fashion magazine. Her body was adorned in a delicate ivory gown that shimmered under the lights. Her hair, styled in loose waves, framed her face, and her makeup was subtle, emphasizing her sharp features and the intensity in her eyes.

’’Look straight into the camera.’’

’’Strong and intense.’’

’’Yes, that’s it.’’

The photoshoot lasted until the photographer was satisfied with a pleased smile.

’’Great work, Miss Bella.’’ He did not forget to give Arabella a generous praise and then turned to the surrounding staff. ’’Alright people, that’s a wrap!’’

The staff immediately began buzzing around, breaking down the set and carefully packing away equipment.

Arabella stepped away from the backdrop, her elegant gown swishing softly as she walked. Her two assistants were quick to surround her, one of them draping a towel over her shoulders while the other handed her a plastic water bottle with a straw.

*murmur*

*murmur*

’’What’s happening outside?’’ She asked after having a long sip of water. Her ears were sharp to catch the sudden burst of noise that was coming from the outside.

’’They are your fans, Miss Bella.’’ Her manager, standing nearby, answered immediately.

’’My fans?’’

’’Yes, Miss Bella. News spread about the location of your photoshoot and your fans arrived here to give support.’’

’’...How sweet of them.’’ Arabella remarked with a soft smile.

’’I should at least greet them for coming all the way here.’’ She decided with a thoughtful look.

’’Why don’t you change into a suitable dress then, Miss Bella?’’

’’Of course.’’ Arabella agreed to her manager’s suggestion and went to her personal changing room.

Her voice wasn’t low, and the commotion outside was loud. So, behind Arabella were praises and comments from the staffs about her kind and thoughtful character towards her fans.

Inside her personal changing room, Arabella swiftly changed out of the gown with the help of the stylists and her assistants.

Now in a flowery summer dress, Arabella sat in front of the mirror and her personal makeup artist wiped off the intense makeup and redid her simple yet elegant make up.

Not long after, Arabella was done prepping herself for the sudden fan service. With her head high and shoulder squared, she walked out of her personal changing room in an elegant manner. Her manager and assistants followed her in tow.

’’Miss, the reporters are also waiting outside.’’ Her manager leaned in and reported in low voice. As they neared the exit, the sound of camera shutters filled the air, followed by the familiar excited screams of her fans.

’Good work.’ With this pleased thought, Arabella’s lips curled into a confident, poised smile. The cunning glint in her smiling eyes deepened as she raised one hand in a graceful wave, acknowledging the crowd.

Her social media post engaged with over two million followers, the talk show, this carefully planned out fan service, and the paid trend searches and news.....

The buzz grew louder since her social media post. Her birthday banquet, once a known affair to her fans and families like hers, was now one of the most anticipated events in the celebrity world. With her father’s power and family name, every social media platform was filled with her birthday banquet and name.

Fans and non-fans could not stop speculating about the guest lists, the venue, and the possible surprises she had in store for them.

Of course, her cousin’s name was mentioned at every chance, and she would like to see how that orphaned cousin of hers would miss out on her birthday banquet with the many expectations and pressure of her arrival.

Just as Arabella expected and planned out, the unexpected fan service became another trending search within a few hours, and her words of her birthday banquet being exposed live on camera became known on the social media.

Under her fans’ eagerness, the anticipated birthday banquet arrived quickly.