Chapter 7: Moving #1

“What..?” Mr. L, for the first time since coming inside their small house, finally showed such a fragile expression; confusion.

At first he-all of them- thought that they had heard wrong but when they saw the blank expression on her face, they knew she wasn’t joking.

“A-are you-“

“I see… at least Mr. Rivers’s fiancée had accepted my apology on behalf of my wife.”

Mr. L smoothly said as if his previous action of pinching the bodyguard to interrupt him wasn't seen by the family.

To be so shameless must be a gift.

“Of course, it was our pleasure hosting you...” Arya spoke as calmly and fluently as she could muster.

She hoped that all the high-class novels she had read in the city library won't fail her.

“Then I can leave in peace... Goodbye.”

And in less than a minute, the two of them had left their house.

“And also, your home truly is lovely...” Mr. L commented as the car drove off.

The outside of the house wasn't as neat as the inside. Overgrown weeds and trash were scattered carelessly across the lawn but compared to others, they tried.

“Mr. Rivera’s fiancee isn't so bad, is she, Marcus?” Mr. L asked his bodyguard from the backseat.

As expected, he didn't receive the reply he wanted.

He only got a short ‘Yes, Sir.”

“Do you think she discovered our little act? If she told Ryker...that’d be a problem...” Mr. L lamented with a sad sigh before smiling again.

Unlike others the smile he had on his face doesn't seem forced, in fact, it was a bit pleasant to look at.

Slowly, Mr. L stretched out his hand to rub Marcus'- his bodyguard’s- shoulder and upper chest.

“Drive faster.” He ordered coldly.

His emotions switched so fast that even his most trusted bodyguard was a bit confused.

“Yes, Sir.”

❧

“...Arya, I hope you're sure about your decision...” Her father said calmly.

Her mother on the other hand had defense into a pit of fiery silent rage as soon as the two guests had left.

They would never stop seeing her as an immature child.

“I’m sure. Didn't you see the man’s condemning looks even the bodyguard by his side had an arrogant look on his face!” Arya explained as she picked up the cups the two men had used.

“So that was the reason you turned down such a huge amount of money? Because of their expression that only you could see?” Her mother scoffed.

She wasn't always this harsh unless it came to things involving money and work.

“Not only that but the Rivera family is a well-known family that has been dominating the business world and fashion industry for as long as anyone could remember-”

“Get to the point, Arya...”

“Anyways-”, Arya continued as she began to wash the cups.

“To us, that amount of money is huge but for people who live in the same world as them, that money is insulting. So even if I wanted to, I couldn't.” Arya finished and she clenched her fist as she remembered the words Allison had said to her two days ago.

Although they were harsh and unnecessary, they were the truth.

“...makes sense.” She heard her mother mumble under her breath.

Arya sighed as she picked up her old cell phone. She has wanted to call Ryker to inform him of what had happened to clarify her thoughts but then she realized that she didn't have his number.

She had to remember to collect it the next time they meet.

Arya lifted her legs and started to move to her bedroom but as fate would have it;

She was interrupted again.

This time it was because of a call. Arya was puzzled as she saw that it was an unknown number.

“Hello..?” Arya said as soon as she picked up the phone call. The phone call had only made her pause her movement and she was already in her room before the person on the other side spoke.

“This is Allison, I'm calling to make sure you remembered that you're moving houses today. Start packing.” Allison informed her in her regular cold and arrogant tone.

Arya couldn't even get another word in before the phone call ended.

She sighed as she saved the number and went to her parent's room to inform them of their departure.

“Mum, Dad...” Arya knocked softly on their bedroom door. It didn't take them long before they opened the door and allowed her to enter.

“What's wrong?” Her mother asked with a frown.

Arya explained briefly the gist of the situation and instantly they were stunned.

“They’re giving us a house..?” Arya’s father asked again to confirm what his daughter had said.

“Yes, Dad,” Arya answered and she barely held herself back from laughing.

Moments like these were nice.

After that whole scene, Arya rushed into her room to pack her things. The outfits that she had bought with Allison hadn't arrived yet and she didn't have many belongings in the first place so it didn't take her long to finish packing her things.

They only had one large box in their house and that was for both of her parents to share so Arya had to use a bag to carry her things which wasn't a problem for her.

The three of them waited for some time, chatting away and laughing to lighten the tense atmosphere that was becoming thicker as time passed.

What if they messed up and such an opportunity slipped away from their hands?

Thoughts like that corroded their minds until they reached a point where the whole palor was silent.

It was then that they heard a rough knock.

“C-coming..!” Arya’s mother said as she rushed forward to open the door.

“Mrs. Allison...” Arya’s father greeted her with a soft smile.

There was a rough man in front, probably to help them pack their bags, and behind him was Allison with her usual blank expression.

“Let's go, I don’t have time to waste.” Allison sneered and turned back to her car.

Arya, who tried her best not to anger her future sister-in-law, quickly but politely handed her bags over to the man and rushed over to Allison.

It didn't take long before all their things, although small, were loaded into a separate car and all of them were already on their way to their new home.

Arya let out a heavy sigh as she watched the changing scenery. The further away she got from her old house, the nicer the surroundings.

“We’re here.” The driver announced, knocking Arya out of whatever trance she was in.

“Wow...” Arya and her mum exclaimed softly simultaneously.

The house that they were taken to was a two-story mini-mansion, it had a lively lawn and an amazing architectural style.

Just as Arya was about to follow her parents into the house, she was stopped by Allison.

“What are you doing?” Allison asked with an eye roll.

Confused, Arya could only keep quiet at the blank stare Allison sent her way.

“Have you ever seen a married woman sleeping in a different house from her husband?” Allison asked her another question, this time her face flushed a bright shade of red- just a bit brighter than her hair- and she couldn't help but open her mouth in shock.

“I-I’m not married yet...” Arya tried to deny the situation.

“You will be...let’s hurry up and go.” Allison tsked at Arya’s behavior and rushed her.

Arya’s parents who noticed that the two of them were lagging couldn't help but call out to them.

“Arya, Mrs. Allison, what happened?”

“Nothing. Arya won't be living in the same house as both of you.” Allison started frankly making Arya turn her head away from her in discomfort.

She had always thought that all such ladies were reserved and calm but there was Allison who broke the stereotype.

“This house is already furnished as you could tell so there would be no need for us to wait any longer. I still have to take Arya to where she would be staying.” Allison was about to turn around and head to the car where the driver is already waiting for them but sadly, luck wasn't on her side and she was delayed.

“W-wait..!” Arya’s mother called her attention.

“What is it?” Allison asked tiredly.

She hadn't gotten enough rest and not only did she have to ‘deal’ with her brother’s future wife whom she disliked but she also had to deal with her brother and mother, in the same room.

“Where is Arya going to stay?”

“Why can't she stay with us?”

The married couple questioned simultaneously which added to Allison’s annoyance.

She adjusted her expensive watch and pretended to check the time before she looked back at them, her gaze seeming calmer than before.

“Arya is going to be living in the same house with my brother and her future husband, Ryker,” Allison explained once more.

“But-”

“The decision is final.” Allison started coldly as she glared at Arya who wanted to add to her troubles.

She felt like she was babysitting not escorting and helping.

Although her parents were against it, they still let her go. Before anyone knew it, Allison and Arya were on their way to Ryker’s house.

If only the atmosphere wasn’t so awkward.