The Chased Billionaire Heiress

The night outside was still, with the moon casting a pale light through the thin curtains of the hotel room. Ariana had barely settled in after a long day when she heard a soft knock on her door. She sighed, feeling the weariness in her bones as she made her way to the door, wondering who could be visiting her at such a late hour.

As she opened the door, she was greeted by the sight of Alice, the hotel manager, standing in the dimly lit hallway. Alice's normally bright and welcoming demeanor was absent; instead, she looked tense and uncertain, her eyes shifting nervously as if she carried a heavy burden. Ariana noticed the tension in her posture, the way her fingers fiddled with the edge of her jacket, and she immediately felt a chill run down her spine.

"Alice?" Ariana's voice was soft but laced with concern. She had only met Alice briefly when she checked in, but something about the manager's demeanor now set off alarm bells in her mind. "Is everything okay?"

Alice hesitated, her gaze dropping to the floor before she finally forced herself to meet Ariana's eyes. "Ariana, I… I need to talk to you about something," she said, her voice shaky and uncertain. "Can I come in?"

Ariana's heart began to race. She stepped aside, allowing Alice to enter the room. As the door closed behind them, the small space seemed to shrink, the air heavy with an unspoken tension that made it hard to breathe.

"Please, have a seat," Ariana offered, gesturing to the small chair near the bed. She herself remained standing, unable to shake the feeling that something terrible was about to happen.

Alice sat down slowly, her movements stiff and awkward, as if she were fighting against the weight of her own thoughts. She looked down at her hands, clasped tightly in her lap, and took a deep breath before speaking.

"Ariana," she began, her voice barely above a whisper, "there's something I need to tell you. It's about Maria…"

Ariana's breath caught in her throat at the mention of Maria's name. Maria, the patrol officer who had helped her so much recently, who had booked this hotel room for her, who had become something of a friend in a short amount of time. The sudden seriousness in Alice's tone made Ariana's heart pound with fear.

"What about Maria?" Ariana asked, her voice trembling. She could feel her chest tightening, her pulse quickening as dread began to settle in.

Alice hesitated again, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. "Maria… she's gone," she said, her voice cracking. "There was… there was an incident tonight. She… she was shot."

Ariana's world tilted, and she stumbled back, barely managing to catch herself against the edge of the bed. "Shot?" she repeated, her voice hollow with disbelief. "What do you mean, she was shot? Is she…?"

Alice nodded, tears now spilling down her cheeks. "She didn't make it, Ariana. She… she was killed in cold blood by her husband." Alice stated 

The words hit Ariana like a punch to the gut, knocking the air out of her lungs. She felt as if the room was spinning, her legs giving way as she collapsed onto the bed. "No… no, that can't be true," she whispered, shaking her head as if denying it would make it go away. "She was just… she was just here. She was helping me. How could this happen?"

Alice reached out a trembling hand, placing it gently on Ariana's shoulder. "I'm so sorry," she said, her voice choked with emotion. "Maria… she got into an argument with her husband. Things got out of hand, and… and he shot her. The police came, but… it was too late."

Ariana's mind was reeling, struggling to comprehend what she was hearing. It felt surreal, like a nightmare she couldn't wake up from. "Her husband?" she asked, her voice weak. "But… why? Why would he…?"

Alice shook her head, her expression pained. "I don't know the full details," she admitted. "But it seems they had a troubled relationship. Things just… spiraled out of control tonight."

Ariana buried her face in her hands, tears streaming down her face as the reality of the situation began to sink in. Maria was gone, the woman who had been a beacon of support in her darkest hours, taken away in an instant by senseless violence. The pain of the loss was overwhelming, crushing her beneath its weight.

"Ariana," Alice said softly, her voice filled with regret, "I know this is a lot to take in right now, but… there's something else I need to tell you."

Ariana looked up, her eyes red and puffy, struggling to focus on her grief. "What is it?" she asked, her voice barely audible.

Alice sighed, looking down at the floor as if gathering the courage to continue. "The room… the room you are staying in now," she said slowly, "was only booked for one night. Maria had arranged it for you, but… I'm afraid you will need to leave by tomorrow morning."

Ariana stared at her in shock, the words not fully registering at first. "Leave?" she repeated, her voice tinged with disbelief. "But… where am I supposed to go? I have nowhere else to stay." Ariana inquired 

Alice's expression was filled with sorrow as she shook her head. "I'm so sorry, Ariana," she said, her voice heavy with guilt. "I wish I could do more, but… but I don't have any more rooms available, and… and with what happened, I'm afraid I can't offer any more help." Alice stated

The sense of abandonment was suffocating. Ariana felt as though the walls were closing in on her, trapping her in a situation with no escape. Maria was gone, her one lifeline had been severed, and now she was being cast out into the unknown with nowhere to turn.

"I don't know what to do," Ariana whispered, her voice trembling as fresh tears welled up in her eyes. "I don't have anyone else. I… I'm all alone."

Alice reached out to take Ariana's hand, squeezing it gently. "I know this is incredibly difficult," she said softly, her voice full of empathy. "But you are not alone, Ariana. There are people who care about you, who will help you. You just need to reach out to them."

Ariana looked up at Alice, her eyes filled with despair. "Who?" she asked, her voice cracking with hopelessness. "Who do I have left? " Ariana inquired. 

Alice hesitated, her gaze sympathetic but firm. "Do you have any family?" she asked gently. "Anyone who can take you in, even just for a little while?"

Ariana shook her head, the sense of isolation growing more profound with each passing moment. "My father… my father's remarried, and we're not close," she admitted, her voice filled with a deep sadness. "I don't even know where to start.... " Ariana voice was cut short. 

Alice's heart broke for the young woman before her, but she knew she had to be strong, to offer whatever support she could. "It might be hard, but maybe… maybe you should try reaching out to him," she suggested cautiously. "Even if you are not close, he's still your father. He might be able to help you, or at least offer you a place to stay until you figure things out."

Ariana bit her lip, the thought of reaching out to her estranged father filling her with anxiety. Their relationship had always been strained, and she wasn't sure if he would even be willing to help her now, especially after so much time had passed.

"I don't know if he will want to help me," she whispered, her voice filled with uncertainty. "We haven't spoken in so long…"

Alice gave her hand another reassuring squeeze. "It's worth trying, Ariana," she said gently. "You deserve to have someone in your corner, especially now. And if he cares about you at all, he'll want to help."

Ariana nodded slowly, her heart heavy with the weight of everything that had happened. She knew Alice was right, but the thought of confronting her past, of reaching out to a man who had become almost a stranger to her, was terrifying.

"Okay," she said softly, her voice barely more than a whisper. "I'll… I'll try to call him. But… what if he says no? What if he doesn't want anything to do with me?"

Alice looked at her with compassion, her own heart aching for the pain Ariana was going through. "If that happens," she said quietly, "we will figure something out. You are stronger than you think, Ariana. You have already been through so much, and you have come this far. Don't give up now."

Ariana nodded, wiping away the tears that continued to fall. "Thank you, Alice," she whispered, her voice choked with emotion. "I don't know what I would do without your kindness." Ariana stated before Alice left the room. Leaving Ariana seated on the bed.