Is this destiny?

~ France, the Chateau ~

June 11

7:32 PM

Sarah and Aiden are at the table with Petar, Lucija, Tereza, Emir, Marija, Mishi and Eliza.

"Are we waiting for someone to join?", Tereza asked, seeing that the food is on the table, but Sarah and Aiden are not eating.

Sarah used Eve-vision to check location of Oni and Michael and confirmed that they are about one and a half hours away.

"No. We can eat.", Sarah responded and sent a message to Oni that they are having dinner without them.

A minute later, Sarah got a response:

[Oni]: "Sorry, we made two stops for Michael's medication and he needs to stay put with eyes closed for at least fifteen minutes after each application, and we stopped for food as well, and it all added up."

Sarah smiled and sent a text back: "No need to explain. There will be food for you in the kitchen whenever you arrive. Drive safely."

"Are you enjoying married life?", Emir asked Sarah and Aiden.

Sarah glanced at Aiden before responding: "I don't see much of a difference."

"You will, when we go back home.", Aiden told Sarah.

"Oh?", Sarah was curious. "Another surprise?"

Aiden refused to answer. He smiled smugly and focused on the food in front of him.

"Seriously. When he told us that the wedding was a surprise, I was like: What?", Emir said while hoping to get some additional information on why Sarah was not aware of the wedding.

Sarah understood what Emir wants. "I tend to overthink and worry for no reason about things which will never happen. For a long time, Aiden is making me answer various questions related to my dream wedding and he was taking notes. And he made it come true."

"You are lucky.", Tereza said.

"Both of them are lucky that they found each other.", Lucija added.

Sarah and Aiden nodded in response.

"How about you guys? Any weddings in the near future?", Sarah glanced at others at the table.

Tereza and Emir didn't think that the question applies to them, Eliza didn't understand and that left Petar, Lucija and Mishi.

Mishi avoided eye contact while responding: "We didn't talk about it."

"Man, her stomach is getting huge!", Emir exclaimed. "When will you talk about it? Or are you suspecting that it's not yours?"

"Of course, it's mine!", Mishi exclaimed. He cleared his throat and added calmly: "We just didn't talk about it."

Sarah saw that it's a sensitive topic, so she turned to Petar and Lucija. "How about you?"

Lucija looked at Petar who was fidgeting. "There is time.", he mumbled.

"Did you guys enjoy the wedding?", Aiden asked.

"Absolutely!", Emir said enthusiastically. "I'm not much of a dancer, but the food was great and I've met many people. They all admire you very much."

"The scenery is breathtaking...", Tereza added.

That started a long discussion about Interlaken and everything related to the wedding. They all had a great time. Well, almost all of them.

"Sarah, can we talk after dinner?", Marija asked.

"Can it wait until the morning?", Sarah responded with a question, and added: "I am tired and not thinking straight. We can talk right after breakfast. Is that OK?"

"Sure.", Marija agreed. Few hours here or there will not change what she has to say.

Sarah was happy that Marija agreed because she wants to talk to Marija as well.

Sarah already decided that Marija needs to go, but she is hoping that Marija will not see it as bullying. 

That is why Sarah and Aiden didn't tell the Sigma army members that Oni and Michael are on their way to the Chateau, mostly because Sarah wants to see how Marija will react when she sees Oni. With a heads-up, Marija can adjust her mood and plan her actions.

After watching the footage from the dock from two evenings ago, Sarah is surprised that Marija has this side to her. She didn't know that Marija can be this calculated.

Marija's interaction at the dock with Oni was extremely unpleasant, and Sarah expected that Marija will bring it up (considering that Oni is her girl), yet here she is… munching on baked zucchinis like everything is fine.

But that footage also showed that Marija will lose her composure quickly, and Sarah hopes that Oni's unannounced appearance will push the right buttons.

…

9:13 PM

"Bienvenue, Monsieur et Mademoiselle. Vos chambres sont prêtes.", the butler greeted Michael and Oni when they got out of the car at the main entrance to the Chateau. 

"Une chambre, s'il vous plait.", Michael responded.

The butler paused for a second before responding with a knowing smile: "Bien sûr".

Oni lowered her head and smiled shyly while following after Michael.

[Translation from French: 

Butler: "Welcome, Sir and Miss. Your rooms are ready."

Michael: "One room, please."

Butler: "Of course."]

"Do you need to announce that we will stay in one room?", Oni asked when they got in the room which was previously prepared for Michael.

"Would you rather that we get two rooms and sneak around? No one will be fooled, including Sarah and Aiden.", Michael responded matter-of-factly while pulling Oni into a hug. "Prepare yourself for everyone to find out that we are sharing a room."

Oni sighed, unsure how to respond to this.

In the next second, Oni paused when she saw the message on her Eve-lens. "Sarah is calling me."

… 

In the study…

Oni observed that only Sarah is there.

"How are you doing? Did you travel well?", Sarah asked.

"Good. Good.", Oni responded shortly while wondering, why did Sarah call her here?

"Will you tell me what is the status with you and Michael, or do I need to ask specifics? The sooner you answer, the sooner you can go and get your dinner."

Oni told herself not to panic. This was expected. After all, Sarah knows everything that happened between Oni and Michael, except for last two days. Right? "We fixed the… issue." 

"That is one way to explain why the two of you are staying in the same room.", Sarah said bluntly. "What will you do at the Cliffside villa? Sneak around or move to an apartment?"

Oni could not believe that Sarah knows already. And did she use almost the same words as Michael? Oni cleared her throat few times and fidgeted nervously while gathering the courage to speak up. 

"I don't want to sneak around like I am doing something wrong. Michael suggested that we move to an apartment. Do you think that is too fast?"

Sarah is not willing to influence Oni. She will provide guidance if she believes that Oni is in the wrong, but Oni needs to decide. "I want to know what you want. Do you want to move in with Michael?"

Oni responded with a nod.

"OK. By the time you return home, Genie will tidy up available apartments, and you can pick one to move in. Don't worry what others will say, everyone will have their opinion, and we are a family. It is not a secret that your eyes are always looking for him, but I am a bit surprised that he is moving this fast." Sarah saw that Oni is anxious and added: "I'm not blaming or judging either of you. I believe that both of you know what you are doing, but I want to know if you are using protection."

Oni's brain was on delay due to the fact that Sarah didn't object or question her wish to move in with Michael, and she didn't get that last part. "Protection?"

Sarah frowned when she saw Oni's reaction. Didn't they talk about those things (more than once)? "Don't tell me that you are sleeping with Michael without using protection?"

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