Love Worth Fighting For

“You’re not eating?” asked Suri curtly, continuing to be watched by Areez made Suri feel uncomfortable.

Ares shook his head slowly. “I’m full, after all right now I have more important tasks to do.”

“What important task?”

“Making sure that you finish all the food on the plate,” Areez replied with a smile.

Hearing such an unexpected answer from Areez made Suri choke, fortunately Areez acted quickly by directly giving her a drink. Because if not, maybe Suri will continue to cough.

“I’m not a kid to watch out for,” protested Suri, annoyed.

“Oh yeah? So what’s just happened? Only a small child would choke like that,” Areez said casually, teasing Suri.

“Areez!!”

.....

“Hurry up and eat and don’t talk, after that we relax in the garden. I want to enjoy the view on the lake behind your house,” Areez said, quickly diverting attention.

Suri frowned. “Enjoying the view behind my house? Aren’t you working today?”

Arees shook his head. “Especially today I am completely yours, princess.”

Suri’s cheeks reddened. “Do not talk nonsense.”

“I’m not talking nonsense,” Areez answered quickly. “I really belong to you today, Aldrich, who takes care of all my work in the office today. So now hurry up and finish your food and then we have a picnic behind the house.”

“Picnic?”

“Yeah, why? Have you never had a picnic before?”

“Of course I have, but when I was little,” Suri answered honestly.

Arees smiled. “Well then we’ll have another picnic after this, so now hurry up and finish your food. You don’t want me to feed you, do you?”

Suri who didn’t want that to happen immediately grabbed her fork back and began to focus on her food, she didn’t want to be a spectacle for the maids if Areez really fed her. Areez, who was happy that Suri had complied with his request, took another sip of his bitter coffee.

After Suri really finished her food, Areez then kept his previous words by inviting Suri to go behind the house. Currently near the lake, there is already a sitting mat that has been arranged in such a way on the grass by the maids. Baskets filled with fruit and drinks seemed to complete their little picnic this time.

“How? Is there anything missing?” Areez asked quietly to Suri who looked so mesmerized by the sight in front of her.

Suri shook her head quickly. “No, it’s perfect. It’s exactly what Mommy used to prepare when we had a picnic.”

“Thank goodness for that,” Areez said with a smile. “Okay, let’s sit down, let’s enjoy the sun this morning by relaxing.”

Suri immediately took off her shoes and sat down on a daisy patterned mat, at first glance Suri looked like a normal girl out there, who didn’t have the slightest sense of trauma. Seeing Suri sitting down, Areez did the same.

“Ahhh it’s warm,” said Suri with her eyes closed, her hands spread out to enjoy the warmth of the beautiful morning sun. “I didn’t know the morning sun could be this much fun.”

“You’re too spoiled to stay indoors, so how do you know if enjoying the morning sun is a fun activity?”

Suri immediately turned to Areez with her eyes wide open. “Pampered? Who are you calling spoiled? I’m not spoiled.”

“Oh yes?”

“Yes, I’m already working. I have my own income now, I’m very independent now,” replied Suri confidently.

Areez chuckled. “If you’re not spoiled, prove it to me then.”

“Prove what?”

Arees smiled. “Tell me all about yourself.”

“What does that have to do with me telling you about myself and proving that I’m not spoiled?” asked Suri, confused.

“I want to know the courage of a Suri Mireya Clarke whose name is so famous everywhere, I want to know if a Suri Mireya Clarke is like what they say all this time,” Areez answered softly with a smile.

Suri tilted her head. “I do not understand what you mean.”

“Your name is so big in this country because of the many charities you have done over the years, many people adore you for your kindness, Suri. You know that, don’t you?”

“Yes, I know,” replied Suri briefly.

“Then show me if you really deserve that kind of treatment from your fans out there, show me that Suri Mireya Clarke is really a beautiful princess with an extraordinary heart. Tell me all about you that I didn’t know.”

Suri’s cheeks flushed with embarrassment. “Ok, what do you want me to tell you about? About how I started doing charity work or about...”

“About the incident at the hotel where we met.” Areez cut off Suri’s words quickly.

The red blush on Suri’s face immediately disappeared, the beautiful face with a wide smile immediately turned pale when she heard the words that had just left Areez’s lips. Areez who was ready for whatever happened immediately acted quickly.

“Suri, listen,” Areez said firmly, his hands immediately gripping Suri’s shoulders firmly. “I just wanted to know what happened to you at that time, Suri. And didn’t you promise to tell me earlier, did you?”

Suri shook her head in panic, her eyes immediately filled with tears. The image of a chubby man trying to touch her resurfaced in her mind.

“If you don’t want to tell me what happened then let me confess to your parents,” Areez said again. “Let me tell them who’s been holding their daughter for the last three years in Auckland.”

Suri shook her head again.

“You don’t want me to tell them?” Areez asked urgently.

Suri’s tears fell, her tongue was too stiff to speak.

“Answer Suri, don’t confuse me. I can’t understand if you cry like this, crying doesn’t solve the problem. Because honestly Suri, I always feel sorry for your mother. Your mother who has been so trusting and kind to me makes me feel uncomfortable, I feel like I’m cheating on her. I want to start all over with you, Suri. That’s why I need to know everything about you, including what happened at the hotel before you met me,” Areez insisted again.

Suri lowered her head with her eyes closed, again having to remember the incident at the hotel when it made her chest feel tight. Areez who already understands a little about Suri slowly lifts Suri’s chin up, Areez gently wipes Suri’s tears using his fingers. “I know you’re still pure, I know you haven’t been touched by anyone. So you don’t have to be afraid to tell me everything, honey.”

Suri’s two tear-filled eyes stared at Areez who was so close to her without blinking.

“I feel sorry for your parents, Suri. I feel that what happened to you was my fault and to be honest I’m afraid your parents wouldn’t approve of us if they found out that I was the one who kept you in Auckland for years. That’s why I beg you please help me, cooperate with me. Tell me what really happened to you at that time, help me find an excuse to talk to your parents if one day they find out about our little secret, Suri,” Areez said seriously. “I want to have a serious relationship with you, Suri... I want to build a small palace with you in the future. So please tell me what really happened to you then, before you enter my hotel room.”