Ariah was called by the maid for dinner just finishing her letter to Maria. She will just let her driver take it to Maria. She just can't say things personally so writing is the best way.
Ariah went downstairs to the dining table. Her parents were obviously waiting for her. They were still in their business attire and it was obvious that they had just arrived from their business trip. They were worried about Ariah so they attempted to go home as soon as they could. This was probably the first for the whole year that they had their dinner together at their own home.
Mrs. Blake and Mr. Blake stood up and hugged Ariah consecutively. Ariah still tried to be responsive with their kindness as she has respect for her "parents" because despite what happened in her past, they were once her "the best parents". It's just that she dont want to get more involved with them because she was afraid of being betrayed and left out again in this lifetime.
"Are you feeling better already? Baby, we are very sorry because we were not able to take care of you for the past few days." Mrs Blake softly stated while holding Ariah's hands.
"Mom, it's okay. I am fine," Ariah smiled reassuringly. Mr. and Mrs. Blake was stunned with Aria's statement and became even more worried. If it was Ariah in the past, she would probably sulk and try her best to ask her parents to be with her parents. Even if she understands them she will still try to be with her parents even for a day.
"Are you sure? We can go on a trip tomorrow. We can try to adjust our—"
"No mom. I am fine. Really, work is more important." Ariah cut her mom's word. Mrs. Blake wanted to rebut however Mr. Blake suddenly held her hand and signed not to talk anymore.
"Thank you for understanding us. No worries, we can surely buy your favorites." Mr. Blake smiled.
"Thanks dad." Ariah sincerely smiled.
"Your welcome princess. It's just sad that we can't go out for a vacation. Your brother's company was not stable at the moment. Although his company has achieved success it has more problems than it looks. We are trying to help him but our company is also achieving another milestone so we can only help him along the way." Mr. Blake explained. Aris actually called them after leaving Ariah in the hospital and told them of Ariah's changes and wanted them to be with her so he mentioned Aris in front of Ariah.
Mr. Blake felt like it's time for his daughter to be informed of what is happening in their company. He thought that Ariah was even more mature than before. Although he was sad that his princess is already getting older, it's better to equip her daughter than be sorry at the end.
Aria suddenly felt sad and happy. It was Mr. Blake's first time to explain to her about the family's situation regarding business. However, she was sad that she never knew that the problem in the company already started when she was still in highschool. She thought that it only started after she left the house and lived with Vince. She felt guilty about her action towards Aris in the hospital.
Mrs. Blake felt the sudden change of emotion of Ariah so she thought that she didn't want the topic. She doesn't want her to think too much as well so she just wants to change the topic.
"I understand. I will call my brother later." Mr. Blake smiled.
Ariah knew that she needed to help her brother. She cant help but be amazed by her brother. He really started from scratch to open his own company. Their family business is one of the leading food manufacturing companies in Country Y but her brother started a technology company which is totally different from their company.
"That's good." Mrs Blake slightly nodded to Mr. Blake. She asked the maids to start serving the food. Although they rarely talked while eating, the vibes were comfortable and happy.
"Mom, dad. I'm going tomorrow to Country B for an exchange student program. I just signed papers in the headmasters office just this morning." Ariah opened the topic as soon as they finished eating. Mr. and Mrs. Blake was caught off guard, they felt like Ariah was rebelding from them.
"Wait, don't you think you planned abruptly? That is Country B, it was quite far from our country. It needs a 12 hour flight from here. And we don't have much influence at Country B. We cannot guarantee your safety there." Mrs Blake nervously explained. She was terrified with the idea but she was more afraid of conflicting with Aria.
"I know mom. I will just be there for school. It's a good experience for me. Mr. Z gave that opportunity to me and I want to grab it for myself. I think it's time for me to get out of my comfort zone." Aria explained. She purposely mentioned Mr. Z because she knew that they respect Mr. Z too much as he was once their teacher and that he was well known in academics where most of his students become very well known in their own field.
"Did he ask you to be an exchange student?" Mr. Blake asked.
"Yeah and I agree." Mrs. Blake secretly give a look at Mr. Blake. They knew that Mr. Z has a certain fondness of Ariah. It started the moment Ariah entered Lion's high. They knew that Mr. Z was really taking good care of Ariah and that Mr. Z treated Ariah as his own granddaughter so despite the fears of letting Ariah go in Country B they tried to be open minded and agreed.
"Thank you."
"I will call my friend Riva later. You can ask her for help. She is a good friend of mine. You never meet her because she never stepped out from Country B but you will probably love her." Mrs Blake smiled trying to be happy.
"Mom, I will."
"You shall stay with her. It's for your safety." Mr. Blake suggested. He met Riva before. She was the same as Mrs. Blake was soft and sophisticated but way more powerful than her wife. More specially her husband's family is even more powerful which Mr. Blake was satisfied. He knew that with his wife and Riva's almost sibling relationship, the safety of Ariah will be covered.
"Yes dad." Ariah became curious about Riva. She never knew about her existence in her past life but she was excited. Analyzing her dads tone, Riva was probably very powerful to make her dad confident about her safety.
They talked and settled everything about the exchange student program until midnight as her parents will have a business trip the next day already. Ariah suddenly felt like she hated them for what happened in the past life because of the love she had for them. She now thought that she just wanted to spend her time with them peacefully and just leave them after they found their biological daughter.
"You can still call your brother at this time. He was probably still at his office. Better ask him to sleep after your conversation", Mrs. Blake reminded Ariah after she asked her to go and sleep already.
"Yes mom."
Ariah was sentimental. Their family is just like an ordinary family where there are conflicts but she really felt the love and bond of each family member. She loves the attention but at the moment she hates it also because the more love she gets at the moment it will be more doubled than it was in her past life.
Ariah calls her brother as soon as she arrives at her room. Her brother picked it up as soon as it rang.
"Princess" Aris sweetly stated. His voice was suggesting that he was happy behind the call. Ariah was having conflicted emotions as soon as she heard her brother's voice.
"Princess, are you there? Are you okay?" Aris asked nervously.
"Yeah. I uhmm…"
"Do you need anything? Aren't you supposed to sleep at this hour already?"
"I don't. I just want to–... Ummm… know what you are do-ing?" Aris chuckled. He knew that their parents perhaps talked to her and asked her to call him. He was still sad about Ariah's treatment of him but it was enough that she was trying to talk to him.
"I am… working?" Aris looked at his table and sighed. His table was full of papers that he needed to sign and review.
"At this hour?"
"Uhhm… yeah." Aris awkwardly answers.
"Tsk. Shouldn't you be asleep as well?"
"I still have a lot of things to do. It was supposed to be done but suddenly another problem arises. It feels like…" Aris poses as he realises he was already ranting to Ariah. He was comfortable enough to let his sister know her frustration.
"But you still need to sleep even with your problem don't you think so?"
"I guess."
"Brother you also need to sleep, even not for yourself but be healthy for our parents." Ariah seriously advised.
"Yes, I understand." Aris agreed. But confirmed that his sister still has a grudge to him that he never knew the reason why aside from not being there for her or perhaps neglecting her and not executing his promise.
"Uhhm… anyways I actually had a friend that I trusted the most but suddenly life having her was always a roller coaster. I mean it must be life but it's too much of a coincidence. It's enough to experience it once or even thrice but when it is constantly happening there must be something wrong already."
"Are you being bullied at school?" Aris angrily asked.
"Of Course not." Ariah answered calmly. "I… uhmmm… I mean she saved my life so I need to do the same."
"Your life? Did you encounter da—"
"Can't you let me finish first" Ariah stated annoyingly. Aris then shut up.
"It's just that people change. Maybe kind at the start but can stab you later. How do you think people with the most power lost in their battle?" Ariah asked which confused Aris.
"How?" Aris muttered.
"Betrayal by their own lover."
"Are you in love?" Aris was heristrical. He was actually mad.
"Heck no! Eish. I saw Brent enter the Techie Company this afternoon. Be careful." Aris was shocked with what he heard. Techie Company was the best technology company in Country B who wanted to dispose of his company. It was hard to believe that Brent would be associated with such a company and despite Aria's childish behavior before, she never lies to him so he dont know what to say. He suddenly realised that Ariah's story was pertaining to him.
Brent was his closest friend and he was his trusted aide. They become close in college after Brent saves him from his nearly kidnapping incident. Aris trusts him blindly. They had been through a lot of pain together so he dont want to believe Ariah but doubts were still planted in his heart. As he was about to ask more questions Ariah cut off the call.
Ariah sighed after the call. That was the only help that she could give to his brother. In her past life, she knew about Brent's betrayal to her brother that nearly destroyed Aris's company. It was not destroyed because a large company together with their family helped and pulled it to the top but her brother got himself a fiance whom Ariah never met. It was because she was with Vince when it happened and she got to know about it on the internet which was confirmed by Aris.
Ariah doesn't want him to be tied with a marriage that he doesn't want. Although she had a love hate towards Aris, she was still thankful for Blake's family. She was irritated for a while before making a call to Jerry. It was after a minute before the call was answered.
"Hey boss. Can't you see that it's just 1 in the morning. Can't you just call me tomorrow?" Jerry sleepily answered.
"Since you're awake, I'll just say it anyway. I will not be around for a month. I want you to preserve my little home. I just sent a new design. I just want that to be added to it."
"Okay"
"..."
Jerry then ends the call after not hearing a response from Ariah.