Lies

Arthur attempted to get close to Helena, but she halted him. "Baby, what's the matter?" He asked, his voice gentle.

"Arthur, when would you tell me? Or will you ever tell me the truth about your family? About you... About who you really are?"

Arthur was taken aback by what he heard. What did Helena know this time? He knew there was more he had to say about his family, but he was carefully considering the timing before he broke it to her. But he has run out of time.

"Gabby called me; she told me about your dad's passing. In the news, they said you'll replace your dad's place as the chairman of Hendricks Group. The phone call this morning. Who was it? Was it your mom?"

Arthur had no choice but to admit he lied. "Yes. It was Alicia. She told me about the news you heard."

"I couldn't believe you could lie to me that easily." Her disappointment was plain to hear, leaving a long and painful pause between them. "I thought everything we had was real."

The disappointment was apparent as she spoke, each word like a sledgehammer to Arthur's heart. Arthur could feel her hurt, confusion, and betrayal like an icy breeze.

"Baby, it is. Everything we have, everything I said, everything we've shared was real. Look, I am not perfect, and I know I haven't shared everything about my family as I was trying to figure out the right time to say it."

"Arthur, you had your chance. I talked about Israel, about what happened to us, to our relationship," she pressed her lips, stopping herself from saying something more. "I was so stupid. You once mentioned meeting Israel. I should have thought that you were one of his kind. How did I ever miss that?" She shook her head in disbelief.

"Baby, it was my last time engaging in a business event. After that, I left the company and the city for good."

"You told me you have worked as a photographer for years, and that's your bread and butter."

Arthur's eyes shut. "I've been lying to you from the beginning; I'm sorry. I had to because I didn't want my old life to catch up. I planned to keep this job for good and never go back home and work in any of our companies again."

"And now, you must because you are the only man who could save your family's empire. Is that it?" Her voice is laced with accusation and disbelief as she questions Arthur's motives. The words are spat out in a cold, measured tone that cuts through the air.

Arthur's shoulders slump as he exhales sharply, his chest rising and falling slowly in a deep breath. "There is more to it that I can't say now. I have to ask Daniel more about what happened in the city."

Helena was on the brink of tears. "If you don't plan on telling me now, then I guess I won't bother waiting for it," she said, her eyes dim in sadness. She closed her eyes and shook her head to try and keep her tears in check. "Why do you have to get so close to me and make me think that the thing we have is never gonna end when you know it's not. Why do you have to hurt me this way?"

"No, baby," Arthur replied. "It's not going to end."

"Arthur, how would I trust you? Everything you said right now is so hard to believe anymore. I don't know if I should listen to what you say." Helena's voice was laced with pain; her words cut her heart out of her chest.

Arthur stepped toward her and tried to take her hands in his, but she stepped away. He had caused this pain, and he hated himself for being the cause of it. He wished he could turn back the clock and do things differently, but he couldn't. All he could do now was try to make things right.

"I don't wanna talk to you right now. Please, I want to sleep alone in my tent later tonight."

Arthur nodded, his eyes blazing with regret. He watched Helena walk away, her back stiff with anger and hurt. He knew he had to make things right but needed to figure out how. He felt like he had lost her trust and had no idea how to regain it.

All night he lay awake, his mind racing with thoughts of Helena and his family. He knew he should have told the truth, but he also knew it could destroy everything they had together. He didn't want to lose her, but he also didn't want to live a lie.

Arthur was so worried about Helena because she refused to eat her dinner and stayed in the tent after they talked. He had no choice but to do the last resort and the most complex path for him and Helena. He thought it would be easier for Helena to cope since she already hated him for coming into her life.

After writing a letter, Arthur packed his things and waited until the lights on Helena's tent turned off. Hen then gathered his things and left the note on the small table outside the tent.

It wasn't easy for him, but he had to make the hard decision to protect Helena. Just when he was about to step away, he walked back and peeked at Helena's tent. It was dim, and he could only see Helena's face from the light outside the tent illuminated by the moon. She was peacefully sleeping, probably tired with an empty stomach.

Tears stream down Arthur's face as he wants to touch Helena's face for the last time before leaving, but he can't take the rest of waking her up. He can't go that way. In the meantime, he has to bear the pain while ensuring Helena's absolute safety.

While in his rented pickup truck, he dialed Aston Stern's number, his former secretary.

"Hello? Who is this?" A man's lazy voice could be heard on the other line.

"Ashton, this is Arthur. Remember?"

"Yes, Mr. Hendricks, I recognized your voice," he answered with a much more lively voice. "Is there anything I can do for you, Mr. Hendricks?"

"Absolutely. Ashton, would you like to work for me again?"

The man on the other line gasped. Ashton was excited to work with Arthur again, knowing he was the only boss who treated him humanely. "Of course, Mr. Hendricks, I will work with you again. But the thing is, I have to leave my current company first, and then I can work with you again."

"I'll take care of it, Ashton. You can start working with me now. And I have a task for you if you don't mind."

"No problem, Mr. Hendricks. Let me know what I can do for you." Ashton believed Arthur could help him get out of his current job. He knew what Arthur was capable of.

"Get the contact number of Mrs. Lauren Lewis. I need it first thing in the morning."

"Sure. I'll give it to you first thing in the morning, Mr. Hendricks. Consider it done."

"Good. That's all. I apologize for disturbing your sleep Ashton."

The call ended. Arthur turned on the engine and then drove off. As he parked the truck far from the campsite, Helena wouldn't hear the engine's noise. Before getting far from the place, he surveyed the possible vehicle entry and if there were uninvited cars in the surrounding that could invade Helena. When there were none, he drove away, knowing Helena was safe and he would be safer when he talked to Mrs. Lewis. He stepped on the gas even more with a pain in his heart, leaving Helena alone in the woods.