I Swear, Let Me Love You Again

3RD POV:

“I understand. Please just keep me updated and drive safely.” By the time she was done speaking, Andrew was most likely down the hallway rushing to the ground floor.

I hope everything goes well with him and Ariana. Lydia muttered to herself.

Andrew and Ariana had met up with her last week, she told them about her curiosity on why their relationship had to be such a secret and Ariana informed Lydia it was due to the problems Ariana’s family had caused. Her family, mostly her father, ran a drug company and the company had been known for creating a lot of fake drugs and being involved in the trafficking of drugs. Her father was arrested a lot of times publicly but when they couldn’t find anything on him they released him. So which wealthy family would want to be associated with such a family? Especially after her mother had run away and abandoned after her birth to embrace the fast life.

It was a lot but Lydia knew Ariana and Andrew loved each other dearly and she hoped one day they would be able to love each other publicly.

She whined to herself realizing that without her car, she would have to ride with her father and Patricia.

******

About fifteen minutes after they had arrived at the classy restaurant, the staff were discussing amongst each other about Patricia and Lydia being as observant as ever, she could tell Patricia was rather hurt than discomforted.

The manager and the rest of the employees were trying to be on good behavior after noticing the presence of Mr Miller.

“Would that be all?” The waiter asked after they had placed an order.

“Yes, thank you.” Lydia responded and the waiter told them that he would be right back.

“So aside from work, what’s going on with your private life? A little birdie or rather of birdies informed me, Aaron was back in the country and you had a date with him few weeks ago.” Mr Miller began to stir up the conversation and Lydia looked from her phone which had her message thread from Lorena opened.

At the mention of Aaron’s name, Guilt filled Lydia’s heart. On Saturday last two weeks ago, Aaron had invited Lydia to be his plus one for a tech event and surprisingly Lydia had met Nathaniel at the event as well, as he was there to support one of his high school friends.

Nathaniel’s world seemed to have come to a stand still when he saw Lydia in an altar-neck royal blue gown with her hair packed up like a queen. She looked breathtaking and Nathaniel wished she was next to him rather than being next to Aaron. Aaron must have caught Nathaniel staring at Lydia, so he asked Lydia if she knew him and she informed him that was her ex-husband. Aaron became extremely touchy and affectionate after hearing who he was.

But at the end of night, when they got outside and Aaron was this close to kissing her. Lydia turned her face sideways then took her step back.

“Look Aaron, you are as handsome as a Greek god and have all the qualities of the man of any woman’s dream…”

“But..” His blue eyes pierced into her soul gazing at her intently.

“But … . I just got out of a stressful, heartbreaking marriage and though it’s been a while I can assure anyone that I am almost healed completely. I’m still not ready for a relationship and I have no idea when I would be. Right now, all I’m focused on is being the best CFO in the company and country at large and being a good friend, daughter, boss and sister to the people around me.” Aaron nodded slowly, taking in her words.

After a brief agonizing moment of silence for Lydia, Aaron licked his lips, “I understand but I’m never giving up on you, Lydia. Never ever.”

“Get home safely.” He placed a kiss on her cheek, opening the door to her car for her. She was baffled, taken aback, shocked.

“Yes dad, we did hang out but just as friends.” Her father hummed in response as if not believing, she chuckled and got excited as food was served. She was famished as she hadn’t eaten since the cracks of dawn except having a bagel and coffee.

The next few minutes, Lydia tried to give her father and Patricia her undivided attention but Lorena kept texting her on the list of things they had to do before Lorena’s wedding a few months from now.

“Manners, Lydia! You’re at the table.” Lydia instantly apologized, placing her phone face down and digging into her phone.

“So when did you two start messing around? You know dad, I was so angry that you did that in the same house mum used to stay but I let roll off my back. Now, you’re about to lose your daughter, even Andrew, over some girl who could just be after your money and the opportunity to work at a popular restaurant.”Nôvel(D)ra/ma.Org exclusive © material.

Lydia did not even know where this was coming from, but it had been on her mind for a while and it felt so good to actually say it out loud.

“I have said for the dozenth time, I’m not after his money. I’m happy with the little coins I get rather than having to sleep around for money. I respect you so much Lydia so please accord me that same respect as well. Right before anything even happened before us, your…Mr Miller had offered me the position after tasting something I had made. So please, don’t. I do apologize for things escalating at your mother’s house. I truly do apologize.”

Lydia came to read the sincerity in her voice and face, she began to feel bad for feeling the way about her and even saying it to her face.  Sighing deeply, Lydia rose to her feet placing her napkin on the table.

“Excuse me.” She excused herself storming out of the VIP room and calling Andrew’s driver. After calling the driver and he assured her he was almost there, she got a call from an unknown number.

“Hello?” She answered, scrunching up her face.

“Is this Miss Lydia Taylor?”

Lydia replied, “Yes, this is she.” as Andrew’s car pulled up in front of the restaurant where she was standing.

“We seemed to have found your name on Mr Andrew Miller’s important call logs and Mr Andew has been rushed to the hospital after a tragic incident which happened at……” Lydia’s eyes were spinning, her mouth became dry, a single tear fell from her eye and her heart was beating so fast and loud. Fear overcame her and she began to breathe loudly as if about to have a panic attack but she took deep breaths as she couldn’t afford that right now.

“Miss Taylor? Miss Taylor, are you still there?” The person’s voice called out repeatedly.

“What hospital?”

**********

On her way to the hospital, she had told Roseline to clear off all her meetings and she had sent a message to Ariana, Lorena and her father informing them of the accident. Her fingers were trembling as she typed away but she filled her mind with positive thoughts.

It’s just a minor accident. Andrew is okay, your big brother is okay…it’s nothing serious…

She assured herself and the minute the car arrived at the large hospital, she sprinted into the building asking for Andrew’s room as she waited for their response, she heard someone crying loudly in the hallway with nurses and doctors trying to hold the woman back.

Looking into the hallway with a tear stained face, her eyes went wide seeing Ariana crying her eyes out, screaming and wailing on the hospital floor. She instantly ran towards her, trying not to think of the worst.

“Ari, Ari, what’s going on? What’s happening? What did they say?” Arianna continued crying, holding onto Lydia’s arm tightly.

“Lydia…. Lydia, they said he’s….” She began to cry loudly and Lydia’s anticipation was killing her.

“He’s what?”

“Andrew is dead.” Arianna cried out and Lydia’s head was spinning and she heard the loud scream of “Nooo!!” coming down the hallway.

But all her head kept processing is Andrew was dead.