Page 64 of Arianna

We shop until we drop or until Benjamin says he has had enough.

We leave the last store with a sleepy Ellaiza, an amused Benjamin, and a brand-new wardrobe for the Kenton princess.

Her father may bite my head off, but it will be worth it if she smiles at me the way she did our entire time here.

If I must max out her father’s cards, then so be it.

Ella is worth it.

ARIANNA

Not So Cold

“You brought my dead

heart back to life.” – A

What was the most fun I’ve had in days, maybe years, took a turn for the worst.

Shortly after arriving at the mansion, Ellaiza woke up from her nap in the car, acting so unlike herself that it made us worry. She looked flushed and couldn’t keep her head up. I recognized the signs because my sisters used to act the same whenever they felt under the weather.

We made it home safely, and Benjamin turned on the babysitter mode, quickly taking her temperature to find out she was running a fever.

She is.

My heart instantly broke.

Did I do something wrong?

Did I make a mistake by taking her out?

God, is she sick because of me?

“It’s okay, baby girl.” I coo at her and cuddle her while Benjamin finishes talking on the phone with her pediatrician.

We can’t get a hold of her father, and it is only making Benjamin act more agitated.

It’s almost six o’clock in the evening, and the fever is settling down, but we’re still not out of the water.

“Daddy.” She mumbles weakly, breaking my heart even more so. There are tears in those beautiful blue eyes, so much like her father’s, and her skin is red and flushed.

An ear infection, the doctor believes. Benjamin had one of the other security people run out and get her medication, and now we are waiting for it to work.

I want to console her by telling her that her father is on his way, but I refuse to lie to her. It feels wrong to do it, even though it is for the greater good. Benjamin said Sebastian is attending a business meeting with some investors for his overseas hotels, and he has no signal.

“Close your eyes, darling girl.” I push her dark curls back from her face while she lies back in her crib. “You’ll feel much better once you get some rest. You’ll see.” I whisper.

“I’ll be right back.” Benjamin looks down worriedly at her and then heads out, leaving me alone with a very sick toddler who has my barely functioning heart in her tiny little hands.

I nod at Benjamin but remain quiet, not wanting to startle Ellaiza as she’s slowly but surely finding sleep. Her blue eyes become groggy as the medicine starts to take an effect.

At first, I didn’t understand what it was about this little girl that made me feel so much at once. She was just a girl, but then I realized by spending time with her that she was not just a girl.

She reminds me of my sisters and me in a way. The only difference is that Ellaiza has people that love and would die for her.

We didn’t.

She slowly but very strongly started creeping through every broken crack of my heart and made herself a permanent fixture there.

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