Arya drank two bowls of soup and still did not find anything odd. Just as she was about to voice her doubts out, the man opposite her already started devouring his dinner...
After dinner, Xavier did the dishes. Arya was done bathing after he was finished and she went upstairs. She also applied some medicine on her wound.
"Did you hurt your wound?"
As Arya was sitting on the soft sofa, watching TV in the living room, she turned around as she heard Xavier speaking to her. He wore a dark blue sleeping robe and was walking out of the bedroom as he was tying the sash.
"Hmm?"
Arya did not react in time and stared at him in shock. He stopped behind her with a frown on his face as he studied her left shoulder with his sharp eyes.
"I saw the disposed bandage in the bathroom trash bin," he explained.
"Oh, I accidentally hurt it a little, but the wound did not open up. It just stings a little."
Arya moved aside and opened up some space for him as she was going to pour him a cup of chrysanthemum tea.
As her fingers touched the pot, Xavier's big hand swiftly went past her. She felt the spot beside her sink in while he sat down.
"Be careful. I'll get Uncle to take a look at it."
He sipped some tea and then picked up his phone on the table. Arya quickly grabbed his arm and insisted,
"It's alright. I'm really fine. It's late already anyway."
Xavier stared at her for quite some time before putting his phone away.
She slowly let go of his arm and looked away from his intense gaze. She curled up on the sofa before grabbing the remote control and started switching the channels randomly...
Thud!
Suddenly, the remote control in her hand slipped from her grip and fell onto the carpet.
Frowning, she quickly bent over to pick it up, but just as her fingers were just about to reach the control, they reached a warm palm instead.
He gently grabbed her hand and sighed. Then, he put the teacup away with his other hand and started picking up the control. His voice sounded magnetic.
"Do you think your Mr. Knight looks like a monster?"
Arya was shocked and she looked at him seriously for some time before replying,
"Not at all."
Xavier smiled.
"Then, why do I always feel that you're afraid of me?"
"I'm not. I think you're a pretty easy-going person." As Arya gave her earnest reply, her face started blushing as she threw him odd glances. She gave it some thought before replying,
"I just... feel... a little not used to it."
"Hmm?"
Xavier stared at her longer, then he asked,
"Are you being shy now? How old are you already? Do you think you're still a little girl?"
"Of course not! Do you think I'm still a school girl who'll be shy? I've graduated from university many years ago!"
Arya would never think of herself as an innocent little girl. She was a modern woman, so why would she be shy?
"Really?"
His dark eyes squinted as he looked at her with an odd smile.
Arya raised her eyebrows and nodded. Her little face looked even more charming as they basked under the faint yellow light.
"Do you dare to try?" His deep and sexy voice brought forth an overwhelming charm. The deep vortex in his eyes was inescapable.
Arya was a positive girl and her eyes brightened up as she looked at Mr. Knight with determination.
"How would you like to try, Mr. Knight?"
She could feel the palm holding her hand start to tighten. While he advanced towards her, his pleasant fragrant was all over her. He lowered his body and their lips became closer to each other. Before she could even react, he left a cold kiss on her similarly chilly lips...
She was shocked at that second.
The man patted her head, the gap between their lips starting to infiltrate her territory. A warm and fresh breath entered her nasal passages, his unique smell feeling very clear and real, unlike his usual behavior. Even though he was nearby, it felt like he was far beyond her reach.
Her eyes blurred and her brain went hazy. She could feel the warmth assaulting her cold hand as the kiss earlier chased the coldness away from her lips.
As she came back to her senses, she tried to struggle but his large hand stopped her.
They could hear each other's heartbeats. When he felt her struggling, he stopped his movements and just looked at her quietly.
Arya took a deep breath, her eyes still seeming blurry as she looked into his eyes. She was going to say something, parting her lips a little, yet after a while, she just looked at the TV screen quietly instead.
Her beautiful face turned bright red while she clenched her fists.
Xavier suddenly laughed and patted her head with his big hand again. He could still taste her fresh scent. It was far better than he imagined...
She shook his hand off her head and narrowed her eyes at him. Angrily, she accused,
"You're trying to trap me again!"
"Why don't you just admit that you're stupid?"
Xavier seemed indifferent now as he sat back normally and his eyes glimmered triumphantly.
This man was a big, mean wolf even though he looked so calm and polite on the outside!
Arya frowned and stared at him coldly. Cracking her knuckles, her frown turned into a cold simper.
"Xavier, what did you say just now? I didn't hear it. Why don't you say it again?"
Xavier seemed shocked. He moved away slightly and squinted at her.
"What's the matter, my dear? Are you sure you're going to use violence against me now? You're revealing your ferocious nature..."
How terrifying!
The next afternoon, the sun was shining brightly high up in the sky.
Arya planned to stay at home and continue working on the South River project when suddenly she received a phone call. After giving it thorough consideration, she stopped her work on hand and went out.
The Cayenne soared through the cold wind and surged through fallen leaves as the car headed towards the busy commercial area of the city and parked in front of a rustic cafe.
Arya wore a black windbreaker. She let her hair down and pushing a pair of large sunglasses on top of her head, she opened the door and got down. She locked the car and headed into the cafe.
"Miss, do you have a reservation?" A waitress went up to her as Arya stepped into the cafe.
Arya nodded and replied, "Table 15."
The waitress smiled. "You must be Ms. Arya, aren't you? Ms. Victoria has been waiting for you! Please follow me!"
Arya did not say anything. She followed the waitress and went past a huge lounge. Soon, they arrived at a quiet corner.
"Sis, you're here!"
When she arrived, Victoria stood up with a smile. Her eyes were filled with genuine joy as she went up to Arya to hold her arms, but Arya's icy cold aura forced her back. She was stunned for a moment and bit on her lip before sitting back down with a pained expression.
Arya was observing Victoria carefully.
Dressed in a white spring outfit with beautiful, wavy blonde hair over her shoulders, she had put some light makeup on which made her look gentle and charming. She was the ideal definition of a cute little girl. It was an interesting sight to watch her with the hidden pain in her eyes.
Arya's expression seemed calm as ever without revealing an ounce of her emotions. She sat down opposite Victoria.
"Do you want anything to drink?" The waitress asked.
"Nope, I'm fine," Arya replied indifferently, but her gaze was fixed onto the frail-looking Victoria.
The waitress somewhat felt the odd tension, but she did not say much and quickly left.
"Sis, I thought you'd never come. I'm really thrilled that you came!" Victoria smiled at Arya, her smile sweet and innocent like that of a holy angel. It seemed so pure and beautiful that it could make anyone who saw her feel a need to protect that smile.
Arya grinned coldly. Under her dark sunglasses were a pair of watchful eyes. Her voice sounded calm.
"Why shouldn't I come? Do you think I'm silly like my mother? Where's the stuff?"
"Sis, Mother and Grandmother didn't do it on purpose. It's just that Johns Media is in big trouble and we can only save it by doing that. You know Johns Media is really important to Mother and Grandmother. They could never take it if they had to witness the downfall of Johns Media! Can't you try to be more considerate about their feelings?"
Victoria grabbed Arya's hand on the table.
"I really have no intention of fighting with you to gain anything. Our parents' issues belong to them. Can't we let it go and face our future together?"
"Future? Then, tell me what I am tomorrow. Will I become the lover of Smith's master and treat myself as a bargaining chip? Or will I give you and Ethan my wishes with a big smile on my face, and sacrifice everything of my own for the Johns family, for Johns Media, for you? Like what my mother did back then?"
Arya laughed coldly at Victoria, her voice devoid of any temperature.
"If you were in my shoes, would you be willing to do it? Didn't you say that you want to compensate me and you'd be willing to do anything to get my forgiveness?"
"Yes! Sis, if you can let go of the past grudges, I'd do anything!" Victoria was determined.
The smile on her face grew wider. Arya finally took her sunglasses off and looked at Victoria with her icy cold eyes.
"Good, then I want you to marry Smith's master and declare that you'll give up the right the inherit Johns Media. Then, I'll forgive you. How does that sound?"
Victoria was stunned as she heard Arya's words. She stared at Arya with her large doe eyes as she clenched her fists. The tears in her eyes were on the verge of falling.
Arya laughed when she saw Victoria's reaction and she mocked her,
"See, even someone as kind and gentle as you can't accept it. How could someone as evil as me accept the terms?"
Victoria's expression changed and she bit her lip as sadness shrouded her face.
"You just want to take revenge on me, don't you? Sis, Ethan doesn't love you. Don't you understand? He'd never love you even if I let him go. Why can't you just wake up?"
Arya smiled. "You're mistaken. I'm wide awake now. Didn't you guys label me as an evil and stubborn person? I just think that I should do something deserving of that label. If I can see you guys being unhappy, then I might be able to feel better."
"Sis! Why did you become like this?" Victoria looked at Arya in despair as more tears welled up in her eyes.
"Why?" Arya mumbled quietly, her eyes suddenly turning cold. She stood up and walked to her to say quietly beside her ear,
"Victoria, now it's just the both of us. You don't have to put up an act anymore. When you were 16, I saw you use the lighter to burn the clothes in your wardrobe, including the expensive dress Grandmother bought for you from France... I remember that was your favorite outfit and you always felt it was too precious to wear out. Then, many things happened that summer, including me getting forced out of military school. Do you remember that? Do you want me to tell you one by one and find out exactly how much I remember?"
Victoria's face turned pale and her eyes were filled with doubts.
"Sis... I don't know what you're talking about..."
"Actually, there's something you really impress me with," Arya paused, then she continued,
"You're a born actress. It'd be unfair not to award you with an Oscar for Best Actress!"
Victoria's face went even paler and she almost chewed through her lip. Her tears were on the verge of falling. Comparing her innocent face with Arya's cold expression, it seemed as if an angel was facing a witch.
Arya was used to this look of hers. She sat back down and looked at her indifferently, her shoulders shaking while she was trying hard to not let her tears fall. Even Arya herself thought that she had transformed into an evil witch.
Victoria blinked her eyes and forced her tears back. Looking at Arya, she spoke in her gentle voice,
"I don't care how you see me. It doesn't matter what you've misunderstood about me... I just hope that we can go back to how things were before. Can we, please?"
Arya was starting to lose interest. She turned away and looked outside the window, not even wanting to look at that woman anymore.
"Impossible! Give me the stuff. I'm short on time."
"Sis! I'm already begging you. You... Do you really want me to kneel down? Do you know about Grandfather's condition now? He still forbids us to look for you. He loves you the most! Are you even ignoring Father's words now?" Victoria clenched her fists tightly.
"You know Father looked for me?" Arya stared at Victoria with her narrowed eyes.
Victoria bit her lip again and thought for a long time. She then replied,
"That day I noticed that Father wasn't in a good mood after he came back. I overheard his conversation with his secretary and I found out that he went to see you, so..."
Victoria then grabbed her bag and took a folder out. She hesitated for a while and looked at Arya, her eyes filled with a laughable guilt and unease.
"Grandmother asked me to give you this. She hopes you can understand what she tried to do. It's not that she doesn't love you, but you're always like this..."
Arya stared at Victoria and did not take the folder immediately. Instead, she asked coldly,
"Why isn't she giving this to me herself?"
Victoria was stunned for a moment before she replied quietly,
"Grandmother's been busy lately, and I was the one who offered to send you this. I've been wanting to talk to you, but you never gave me a chance, so I..."
"I don't think I have anything else left to talk to you about. If it's about Ethan, I'm pretty sure I've told him clearly. I kept my promise and didn't bother you both. On the other hand, you guys keep bothering me."
Arya took the folder and a chilling light lit up in the depths of her eyes.
"Victoria, actually three years ago, I've already decided that I'll never forgive the both of you the moment Ethan betrayed me to be with you. Even if we aren't enemies, we can only be strangers. I stepped away and fulfilled your wish, so I hope we'll mind our own businesses. You're the one who forced me to say this."
"No, Sis! You're Father's daughter. You can never erase this relationship of yours. Who doesn't want to have a happy family? Johns Media's problem isn't solved yet. Father wanted you to come back and have a talk. Mother even went to University A yesterday to have a word with your mother..." Victoria shook her head and explained.
Arya's body tensed up and her eyes seemed morose.
"You guys went to University to look for Mother? What for? What else do you guys want to take from her? She's been silent for so many years all because she wants a peaceful quiet life, and you guys still won't let go of her?"
Arya's hands clenched the folder tightly, her fingernails turning white from the pressure. She stared at Victoria as several flashbacks appeared in her mind. Her eyes darkened as she put on a bitter smile.
"I understand now! It's about the 20% shares my mother has in Johns Media, isn't it?"
Back then, when Arianna had divorced Benjamin, he had transferred 20% of shares in Johns Media over to her. Benjamin had signed his name on the document before she left, so the 20% of shares would belong to Arianna the moment she signed the document.
However, Arianna was a prideful woman. She took the document but did not sign it right away. Nevertheless, the document was still legally recognized and there were records at the administrative office. Arianna had to let them go willingly, otherwise...
Arya took a deep breath. She scoffed and then asked in a bitter tone,
"Does Father know about this? Is it Father who wants the 20% shares back, or is it someone else's idea?"
Victoria looked downwards uneasily under Arya's sharp glare.
"You can choose to not answer me. I'll ask Father myself if it was his idea to do so!"
She then took out her phone and was about to call Benjamin. However, Victoria grabbed her shoulder and stopped her!
"Sis, it's not Father's idea, it's Grandmother and..." Victoria tried to explain.
"It's her and your mother's idea?" Arya looked at Victoria threateningly, her voice sounding determined!
"No, it's not my mother. It's me. It's my idea. Johns Media's shares are falling..."
"Are you sure it's your idea?" Before Victoria could finish her sentence, Arya asked.
"Yes! It's my idea, not my mother's..."
Thud!
"Ah!!!"
As Victoria was still talking, Arya slammed the table and stood up. She grabbed the cup of coffee in front of Victoria and splashed it all over her face. Tossing the cup aside, she turned around and stormed off with the folder.
As if she did not hear Victoria's shocked cry, her slender figure swiftly vanished outside.