Chapter 3 Eric , looking flustered , gently held Ariana's face and quickly said , " Mandy and I are just trying to complete the task as soon as we can ! I swear , if I , Eric , ever betray you , Ariana , may I get hit by a car and die when I step outside . " Ariana abruptly placed her hand over Eric's mouth . She thought to herself , just one more time , just one more time to trust . Eric . Noticing that Ariana was no longer pressing the issue , Eric finally felt relieved and embraced her even more tightly . " Sweetheart , I can't live without you ! " As dawn neared , Eric was nowhere to be found . Ariana quietly made her way downstairs and , just as she suspected , discovered Eric in the first - floor guest room . Inside , Eric was kneeling and tenderly holding Mandy's foot , a frown on his face " You're injured and didn't say anything ? " Mandy's knees were marked with bruises from their passionate encounter . Feeling bashful , Mandy averted her gaze , her nightgown slipping off her shoulder without intention .. " Mr. Gibson , you were quite intense . " Chapter 3 11 Eric paused while applying the ointment , a look of desire flickering in hist eyes . He stood , gently lifting Mandy's chin to meet her eyes . " Don't let Ariana see you again . She's my boundary ! " In the following moment , Eric bent down to kiss her , his other hand expertly moving toward the edge of Mandy's dress , his fingers playful . Mandy's breath caught abruptly , her cheeks reddening as she lifted her head to respond to his kiss . " Mr. Gibson , Ms. Harlan is still upstairs . " " She took sleeping pills . She won't wake up . " They fell onto the bed together . Ariana froze in the doorway , her pupils constricting and her mind going blank . Her body shook uncontrollably . Eric had given her sleeping pills . Yet he had just promised he would never betray her . Ariana drifted back to the second - floor bedroom in a daze , sitting with her eyes wide open until dawn . Early in the morning , Eric returned and spoke to a friend outside the door . " Once Mandy confirms her pregnancy in a month , I'll marry her . " She stayed with me despite having no title or status , and now she's carrying my child . It's only fair to give her a wedding as compensation , right ? " I've given you the title of Mrs. Gibson and all my love . Isn't that enough ? " Ariana stood inside the door , biting her lip hard , her fingers clenching tighter and tighter . She could taste blood spreading across her lips . Just then , her phone rang . " Ms. Harlan , Mr. Harlan has fully recovered . Are you certain you want to keep the child a secret from Mr. Gibson and erase all traces of you and the child ? " " I'm certain . " " Okay , the arrangements will be finalized in a month , and we will organize your and the child's departure . " A month was all she needed to set everything in order . After that , Ariana and Oliver Harlan would cease to exist in this world . She thought , " Eric , you always feared losing me . Now you truly have - for good ! " " You'll never find out that you once had a child . " Yet , Ariana never imagined that a month later , Mandy would become a persistent obstacle , lodged between her and Eric . Now , she and Oliver were stuck here , unable to ever leave . For the next two weeks , every night before bed , Eric ensured Ariana took 11 sleeping pills . Then he would vanish into the night . Ariana was aware that he had gone to Mandy's bedroom on the lower floor . Several times , Ariana quietly made her way downstairs , barefoot in the dead of night , and stood outside the bedroom door , listening to the fervent sounds emanating from within .