Unconditionally - Katy Perry

Come just as you are to me...

Don't need apologies...

Know that you are all worthy...

I'll take your bad days with your good...

Next morning, Jennifer and I got ready in our cute summer dresses, we bought in Italy. It's really beautiful and feels like a second skin. It falls on my knees , after Italy ,I have started liking knee length dresses too. But maxi dresses are still my favorites .

Melissa was waiting for us in the living room .

"Morning ..." Jennifer and I said cheerily in unison, the moment I woke up I felt that old early zing in my veins. We are back to normal .

" Morning Girls.! Jennifer and I are taking the Porsche. Arianna, you won't mind going with Marshall , he is our driver and will be coming here in a few minutes .I'm already late for the classes.." Melissa said and I nodded .

I waited for Marshall, for an hour in the driveway. I tried calling mom and Jennifer but they didn't answer. I understand Melissa taking Jennifer with her. Maybe they wanted to talk alone . I was about to go inside when Marshall came. He dropped me at one of the entry gates of Central Park. I couldn't see anyone , and before I could ask Marshall, where they were. He sped off.

Hesitantly, I started walking and looked around for them. I tried calling everyone, but no response from any of them. I kept walking hoping to see them .But no luck . Suddenly, I halt in my steps. I felt him before I could see him as always.

" Sweetheart..."

"Axel..." I whispered . I turn around to see him on his knees.

"I watched so many movies and YouTube proposals videos, Sweetheart. I had prepared one long page of monologue, but I forgot everything. So let's get to the end of the monologue. Will You Marry me." Axel asked , his hands were shaking and so were mine. I was crying uncontrollably and Axel was also tear faced .

With shaky hands he opened the ring box , the sun shone directly into the wedding band, It was similar to the one, I got him , with my small budget.

I move forward my trembling hand to accept his ring. Fresh happy tears rolled down his cheek when he saw, I was wearing our wedding ring. He peered at me with a smile and showed me his other hand .

I gasped in astonishment.

She gasped upon seeing my wedding ring. Did she think that I didn't love her anymore Or maybe I did something stupid again to make her think that. I took extra precaution not to come around any other females in parties that I try to avoid at any cost , in case the media gets pictures and twists it.

I didn't jump in the Ahuja's mansion right away, because Mrs Ahuja told me that they were sleeping like dead. Though I had every plan on proposing her at the airport but I had to drop the idea for other's convenience at the airport .

"You're still wearing that ring... I thought ...I saw.... maybe." She stammered , her body shuddered violently. I grab her hips ,still down on my knees, afraid she would run away from me.

"Of course, I am wearing it. I promised, I would wait for you." Did she really think that I would leave her. Indeed, my patience was running low and I contemplated going to Italy so many times this past months. Both my palms ,hated my nerves, I was afraid to suffer from palmar fibromatosis but not even for a second ,I thought of cheating on her.

"I saw that picture of yours in Forbes, you were not wearing the ring. I thought ..." She whimpered. My grip on her hips tightened , how can I be so careless . I stood up and and cupped her cheeks in my palm ,wiping her tears from my thumb.

"No, sweetheart. You got it all wrong. That picture was taken before our wedding. I didn't want to go for the photoshoot so I gave them my old picture .I am sorry baby , I should have thought about it ." I whisper against her lips.

" It's Okay, Axel. It was my fault too. I thought you might not want to be with me . I made is both suffer." She sobbed , reluctantly wrapping her arms around me.

She has suffered these past 6 months because of that picture. I promise her every time but break it again and again by hurting her.

" Let's just focus on our future , sweetheart. Will you be mine .... Arianna Vitali Knight ,how does it sound ." I ask , bringing our bodies closer.

"Sounds like an Italian chef and a board member's wife's name ." She said cheerfully.

Thank God.!

I wasted no time ,putting the ring on her finger. In case she changes her mind. I kissed her lips and groaned in content . I forgot others were around, hiding along with the photographers to catch the moment, when I proposed to her in the central park. Just like Ari proposed to Briana .

Their claps and sniffs , which must be coming from my mom and Jennifer reminded me of their presence.

I gave Arianna a quick kiss and stepped back to give her some space with Jennifer ,so they could show each other their rings .

Yes, Ranveer proposed to Jenny in the morning . Mrs. Ahuja took her to 'Artoria'. It was difficult to decide who will propose first , So the other could see it , without any suspicions that they will be getting a proposal too. So , Ranveer and I took the mature route to handle things.

We played Rock Paper Scissor.

"Oh my God. You're getting married ." Arianna gasped in surprise.

"We're getting married , Arianna . Ranveer proposed. And ring was on top of a gelato cone ." She said in a awe. Ranveer quirked his eyebrows and gave me a smug look . He knew she would appreciate the gelato, more than the huge rock in her ring.

Ranveer told Arianna about our schedule for the next two weeks before the opening of 'Arianna' and 'Artoria'.

" You two do everything together. So , I thought it's only fair that Jenny gets married twice too ..." Jennifer hit him "... After our 3 day marriage event, Indian style . We will get married in church." He said kissing her.

Ranveer wanted to marry according to Indian customs, bieng a Hindu. And in the Church for Jennifer. His father also married his wife Melissa following both customs.

Everyone congratulated us. I hoped Jennifer and Arianna were up for another big surprise.

☆★☆★☆

" I can't believe this , Axel . Are you serious ." Arianna asked.

" Yep, We knew you two would love to be neighbors but Ranveer and I were not so sure about ourselves . You know, we shared a house for the past two months for trial." Arianna laughed thinking that I was joking.I wasn't . We really did that .

We're once again looking at our new house. This ,we have every intention on making our permanent residence. We're currently standing in a sidewalk looking at both houses, The Ahuja and mine. There are two other houses in the middle. But this is best we could get in busy Manhattan. Our first priority was the distance form work to home. It worked. We wanted to be next door neighbors but this is also good.

"I love you , Axel." Arianna said ,kissing my cheek.

"I love you too , Arianna."

"How about we go inside , because we're standing in front of someone else's house." Ranveer said. We showed them their new house. Both the two storied house with a back yard. Ranveer's house has a mancave for us and mine has a pool and barbecue space.

The same night Jennifer and I were going to Daphne's shop to collect our dresses . When I saw a familiar girl coming out of the shop with her. I couldn't recognize her but the resemblance was too uncanny. Mrs. Schneider said leaving us alone with the girl "I need to hurry girls, Jasmine will give you your clothes ." Daphne left and the girl was still standing there, smiling .

" Arianna , Jennifer ..." She said.

"Jessica.?" "JBell....??? "

" Do I look that different ." Jessica said shyly. A totally spooked ,Jennifer excused herself and left us alone .

I didn't try to talk to Jessica this past year. I wanted to know how she was doing but the kind of person she is , I was afraid she would think that I'm rubbing salt on her wounds. But I don't think she is the same person anymore .

" Ask me, Arianna. We have never been close and it was all my fault . But you can trust me now." She said feebly.

" How are you ..." I ask hesitantly.

" Great better than ever before ." She answered confidently in a normal voice , It is indeed unrecognizable but the hint of her previous voice is there.

" I am ... Happy ...." I looked at her form head to toe. She wasn't wearing anything colorful .Just a simple blue jeans and a V neck white T-shirt , with a thin gold chain on her neck. Her face was free of the loud party makeup she used to do everyday .

Noticing my scrutiny ,she said " Daphne helped me ... I changed, Arianna and I'm not just talking about my wardrobe. I did everything to please my mom. Albeit ,I had fun tormenting you too. But , The hunger of making my mom look my way was so powerful, I didn't think of anything and hurt you in the process. And look what happened, Karma got to me . I wanted to ruin you , And life hit me back."She chuckled darkly.

" I forgave you ,long ago ,Jessica ." I say, pursing my lips.

" And I forgave myself too , And took a page from your book. I am independent now. I no longer look for my mom's approval or any man's. I wear what I like , I don't need to put on layers and layers of makeup to stand out " She smiled.

It was always Marion's idea to look presentable and her idea of that was to stand out by wearing electric colored clothes and makeup.

"... I still do that makeup sometimes .. reminds me of old times. But I don't do it get attention , I do it for myself." She said .

" You never needed anyone's approval . Be your own boss ."

" Yes, I get that now. When you opened that cafe, I thought you were being stupid to leave the luxury. Grandpa left me a lot of Money so I took that and threatened to take my shares back from the company if my parents don't pull the lawsuit back." That was her doing ...???

"... And I .. I made mom and dad come together again. You must hate them and I understand that, but they're my parents I couldn't see my father suffer like that. So they're going to be together and I' have hired someone to invest my money in safe places." That's really smart of her , because Marion and Brandon cannot be trusted. Even with their own daughter's money.

"I'm getting married . Jennifer too , Would you ..." I begin to say but she didn't let me.

"Its' too early for that , Don't you think .... Maybe you have forgiven me, but it would be right if you have your loved ones present their. . But ... When I get married ...." She said suggestively.

" Who is the guy ..." I asked.

" My lawyer. I mean, I can't really talk about it until everything else settles, my parents made a huge mess. It will take more time to put things back together but we're getting there." She said and left after meeting Jennifer .

"Why do the unexpected keeps happening to us, Arianna. I have a hard time taking it all in." She said ,her mouth was still gaped open.

"Tell me about it ." I shake my head in wonder.

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