"Sir Erik, save me!" she begged.
Aryana then succumbed to the darkness that engulfed her.
Erik was bewildered. Did she know him? He scanned his memory to see if he met this woman previously.
He took a closer look at the woman's face. The moonlight made her face look deathly pale but ethereal. Erik frowned and for a moment he was transported back in time to a hospital room where he was holding the hand of the dying Robert.
"Promise me, that you take care of my daughter," Robert said with difficulty.
"I promise." He vowed. His voice was hoarse as he tried to control his emotions.
Robert smiled and said faintly. "Thank you. Tell her that I love her so …" His grip on him loosened and his eyes rolled back. The monitor screeched and a doctor started to revive him but failed in the end.
The woman before her, with her eyes closed, reminded her of Robert. Even with just the moon to provide the light, the striking resemblance was hard to ignore.
"Aryana…" His voice was so soft that Marlon who was nearby did not hear his word.
He remembered her name.
"Hey, get off her. She's my girlfriend." Alex shouted as he attempted to push Erik away. But Marlon blocked him.
"How dare you!" Alex barked angrily.
He threw a punch at Marlon but he dodged it with ease. Marlon fought back. It only took three punches and Alex was knocked out cold.
Erik lifted Aryana from the sand. His villa was still far away. Earlier he decided to walk to clear his mind and sober himself up but now with extra baggage, it will be difficult for him to carry Aryana.
"Boss, what's your plan? Why are you holding her? Isn't she his girlfriend? Looks like it's just a lovers' squabble." Marlon said as he hastened his steps to walk alongside Erik.
Erik threw him an icy glare.
"You talk too much. Didn't you hear she asked for help? Call Ace and tell him to bring the speedboat over." He ordered him.
Marlon wanted to say something but knew better. He closed his mouth and proceeded to make a call.
Within a few minutes, the speed boat arrived. Once Marlon and Erik safely boarded the speed boat left in a hurry and headed to the northern tip of the island where a few luxurious villas were located. Aryana lay unconscious in Erik's arms.
"You know her? I heard her call you Sir Erik." Marlon asked. He has been working with Erik for four years now but has never seen the woman before.
"Yeah. I think she is Robert's daughter. I am not sure though" Erik answered nonchalantly.
"Robert who?"
Erik glared at Marlon.
"Stop asking too many questions!"
"What if this is a trap? What if she will accuse you of kidnapping or sexual assault?" Marlon wanted to play the devil's advocate. He does not understand why Erik would pick up a stranger and hold her. It was totally out of his character.
Marlon offered to carry Aryana because their villa was still a ten-minute walk from where the speedboat docked.
Erik refused. Looking at the pale face before him, he was reminded of a promise he made a few years ago. A promise that he has forgotten.
Marlon looked back at Erik with a confused look. Just who was this woman?
They arrived at the villa and Sarah the housekeeper hastily prepared the guest room. Erik laid Aryana on the bed. With the lights on, he can now fully see her features. She looked like Robert but not exactly like him. She was a more beautiful female version of him. Perhaps she has gotten some of her features from her mother.
Her jet-black eyelashes were long and curled up at the tip. They cast a shadow on her face. Her brows were perfectly shaped and arched above the outer corners of her eyes. Her lips were luscious.
Her sun dress was torn at the lower part and her arms were green and blue with bruises. The left side of her face was slightly red from a slap he supposed.
'Did that bastard succeed with his evil intent on her?' He pondered and he hoped not.
"What a beauty!" Marlon suddenly blurted out. "What pretty legs!" His gaze lingered on her exposed legs which were long, slender and flawless.
"Don't even think about it," Erik warned him in a stern voice for he knew Marlon all too well. He was a playboy and has a lot of flings.
"Get out!" Erik shouted and pushed him out of the room.
"What happened to her? Why is she still not awake?" Sarah asked. She placed her hands on her forehead to check her temperature.
"I suspect she was drugged," Erik said.
"Take care of her Sarah. I'm tired, I'll go to bed."
Sarah nodded.
"I have this gut feeling that she is Robert's daughter. She knew me."
Sarah looked at him, surprised written on her face.
"I just guessed. Let's confirm tomorrow when she wakes up"
He looked at the woman lying on the bed one more time. She seemed different from the girl she met 6 years ago. But of course, she was just 15 back then.
Erik passed by Marlon who was lying on the sofa. Marlon sat down abruptly like he was about to ask something but decided not to and lie down again.
Erik was very tired and yet he cannot sleep. Was Robert haunting him because he forgot about his promise and so he delivered his daughter straight to him?
He has been restless these past few nights and was always dreaming about that unfortunate day Robert died.
When he was told that the CEO of Amaya Corporation was at Paradise Island he took the opportunity to meet him there and at the same time took his well-needed vacation.
He closed the deal tonight and was on his way back to his villa when Aryana bumped into him.
Why was Robert always in his dreams? He helped Aryana, didn't he? He gave her money 6 years ago and regularly sent her allowance for her studies.
With that in mind, he finally fall asleep.