Breaking Free, Loving Again -The Flash Marriage with Mr. CEO

The next day,

Aiden and Arwen had returned home. Having a hearty breakfast together in the morning, both of them had to leave for work.

No matter how reluctant they were, both Aiden and Arwen had tasks on their schedule that they couldn't bear to postpone any longer than they already had.

While Aiden had to return to the office and see through the work that had been pending for weeks, Arwen had to return to wrap up the few meetings that she had delayed since the last day.

"Ma'am, with this done, we have almost wrapped it all. You no longer have any meet-ups in your schedule," Mia said, marking a tick on a checkered box in her tab.

Arwen took in a deep breath and nodded. "Great!" she said, "This means we have nothing pending on our list, and we are all ready for tomorrow."

Mia nodded, giving one last glance at her tab. "Yes, we are all set for tomorrow." She glanced up at Arwen and added, "But ma'am, that's on the work side. We are still not prepared for tomorrow." She then glanced back at her tab and continued. "You have yet to visit the Aurora at six in the evening to finalize your dress today."

Arwen checked her watch. It was still noon, and there was time left. She nodded to her assistant and said, "I will go there later. For now, let's go and have something to eat." She stood up to grab her bag before gesturing for Mia to tag along. "You have worked really hard. I should at least treat you to a good lunch today."

Mia smiled and nodded. And soon they both left for the restaurant.

After finishing lunch and settling the bill, Arwen and Mia were about to leave when a familiar voice called, halting them in their steps.

"Arwen!"

Arwen froze for a second while Mia turned to look in slight confusion. She stared at the man before bowing in polite greeting.

"Mr. Quinn," she greeted.

But Idris looked at her, confused. He didn't recognize the girl, but given that she was there with Arwen, he took her as her friend.

Smiling at her, he nodded back, reciprocating to her greeting.

His gaze then returned to Arwen as he stared at her. His lips curled in a sad smile when, even after seconds, he didn't see his daughter turning to him.

Mia has been working with Arwen for a long time, and hence, she was well aware of Idris's identity. But when she didn't see Arwen reacting the way she should have, she was briefly thrown off.

Leaning in, she quietly informed, "Ma'am, it's your father. Should I —"

Arwen's expression was unreadable, but soon she blinked as if snapping herself out of a reverie. She turned to look at her secretary with a faint smile.

"Mia," she said softly, "could you wait outside for a moment? I will be there soon."

Mia glanced at Idris briefly, then nodded. "I will be waiting outside."

Arwen gave her a small nod of appreciation as Mia turned and left.

Idris watched her go and then signalled to his secretary. Robin nodded and then quietly stepped away to give them privacy.

Once they were alone in the corridor, Idris approached Arwen. His gaze was filled with guilt —the kind that had only deepened since he had realized the extent of his mistakes.

"Princess," he said, his voice thick with emotion, "won't you even look at your Dad now?"

Arwen's fingers clenched when she heard him call her like that.

It still hurt. How easily he could say it —yet how rarely he had ever treated her like one.

She hadn't blamed him in the past. She had convinced herself he was simply being the husband her mother needed.

But later… she realized that while trying to be a good husband, he utterly failed at being the father she needed.

In the past, she accepted it.

But not anymore.

She had learned that sometimes, being selfish for yourself wasn't wrong —it was necessary.

"Mr. Quinn," she greeted, her tone cool and formal, as she turned to face him with a clipped smile. "Were you looking for me?"

The indifference in her voice was unmistakable.

Idris's heart sank at the coldness in her gaze, but he didn't protest. If anyone deserved blame, it was him.

After all, it was he who had pushed her away. Neglected her.

He forced a small smile, though it didn't reach his eyes.

"I didn't expect to see you here," he said. "But I am glad that I did. I have been missing you a lot lately. How have you been?"

Arwen saw the sorrow in his gaze, and despite herself, it pierced through the walls she had tried so hard to build.

She felt a lump rising in her throat, but she cleared it and replied smoothly. "I am doing great, as you can see."

Her gaze then drifted to look behind him, where Robin had returned and was escorting someone toward a nearby meeting room.

"You seemed to be here for work, it seems," she noted.

Idris followed her gaze and nodded. "Yes, I came for a meeting here. But it's fine, we c—"

Before he could say that he could delay it for a bit, Arwen interrupted him smoothly, speaking just against that idea, her voice calm but resolute.

"Then I won't keep you. After all, work has always been your priority."

Her words held weight. But as soon as she said them, a pang of guilt struck her.

She felt guilty for taunting him with that —especially when he had never avoided her using work as an excuse.

But just because he never used that as an excuse didn't mean he hadn't made her feel that his work and company stood above her.

Every parent-teacher meeting they missed. Every performance they never made it to. Every celebration of her wins, where they left her alone —they made her feel how unimportant she was to them.

And now, of all, she couldn't bring herself to forget it.

She pressed a smile to her lips and turned to leave without speaking any further.

Idris watched her go. He wanted to make amends, but the more he thought about it, the more it felt like it was impossible to make up for the damage they had done.

"Arwen," he called out, desperate.

Arwen paused in her steps but didn't turn to look back at him.

"I am sorry."

She heard him say, and a tear rolled down her cheek that she didn't even know she had been holding in.

"I won't ask you to forgive me," he continued softly. "Or to come home. I just want to let you know … I realize my mistake. And I am truly sorry for neglecting what I shouldn't have."

He paused, then added with quiet hope, "I know I don't deserve it, but still … if ever, someday, you choose to give me a chance to make up for my past mistakes —I promise I won't disappoint you. But that's up to you to decide, and I won't force you."

A small smile curved his lips. "So, just know this —even though you left us … left your father —Dad will still be waiting for you. Don't hesitate to come back. Not to abandon the happiness you have found, but to share it … with this poor man who couldn't even cherish his beautiful daughter."

Arwen stood still, her back still turned to him.

For a moment, it looked like she might respond.

But instead, she wiped the tear from her cheek, took a breath and walked away.