The Traps of Black Swan

Treat everyone with politeness even those who are rude to you. Not because they deserve it, but because you are nice.

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When Aaron went downstairs, Naomi asked him in confusion carrying the innocence on her face, "Aaron, are you perhaps…" She was confused seeing him walk away without asking or hearing her.

She had to run behind him to match his speed, "Aaron… Aaron… Aaron, wait. What's wrong with you?" 

Anyhow, Aaron didn't stop and walked away with a deep frown. He couldn't understand why Naomi's grandfather who had no idea what happened begged him to let go of Naomi.

'Is Naomi really trying to sow discord between me and Aarvi?' Aaron thought.

He only agreed to let go of the matter to investigate throughly. If it takes an ugly turn, the first one to bear the wrath is Naomi. 

He is aware it wasn't a mistake yet he was ready to ignore it for the old man. If it is a plan against him and Aarvi, he will prove to them that his and Aarvi's relationship is far deeper and Naomi couldn't uproot it because of a petty trick.

He was angry for stopping him even though he took a step back to respect the old man and his request. So he didn't want to hear her any nonsense.

One thing was sure, Naomi lost the little lenience around him which she had due to her family.

After hearing from the hospital that Lara was shifted to ICU and her condition wasn't favorable yet, Aaron routed to the Avron mansion half-heartedly.

Again his night was dinnerless and sleepless, aimlessly sitting in the study waiting for Aarvi's message or call.

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At somewhere in the posh regency of the city,

A hybrid sports car came to halt in front of a modern high-tech villa at half-past twelve. The owner of the car peeked his head out of the window rolling the windows down. A laser scanned his eyes before the gate opened for him to enter.

Who else could he be?

Zain Kelly parked his car after his long day at work. He stretched his neck as he went to the main door of the villa. Pressing the passcode, he entered his world of solitary life.

He clicked on a button which turned on the lights on the ground floor. His villa nowhere looked like a bachelor's home but well maintained. Anyway, it lacked life and soul.

He was about to move upstairs when he noticed the cushion on the couch was shifted on the armrest. The laziness blinked away from him and he went to the defend mode.

He looked around the floor very carefully and found a used water glass on the dining table, a chair was moved, the drapes were moved at the bay window, television remote was moved.

Either intruder didn't bother about leaving changes or purposefully left to show him he isn't scared of him. If it's the first case, then it's his Pumpkin, if it's second, they are asking for death.

Anyway, he didn't let his guard down. He grabbed the handgun opening a secret locker from the wall and moved upstairs. 

He saw a room door open, the drapes were open for the moonlight to enter while the rest of the door was still locked. One, it could be a trap to send him in there, two it's really his over-smart little sister.

He was yet to take another step in silence, "Apple Pie, I have no mood to play the police and thief game."

Breathing a long sigh, he first hid the handgun and went towards the room. Even if Aarvi was in the villa, he had expected her to be asleep but the girl was hugging her knees watching outside blankly. 

As he neared, he noticed the bin filled with tissues, her heels lying aside, her sling bag on an armchair while she was on the edge of the bed. He felt like a small blow of air was enough to push her down the bed.

One, the girl broke into his house.

Two, she had cried.

Three, her mood isn't good.

Four, he was guessing her as starving.

Instead of going to her, he stood there and continued to discern as much as possible.

Aarvi pouted after some time, "Are you asking me to leave? Fine."

What do usually people do after that line? They will put on an act of leaving until the owner stops. But it wasn't the case with Apple Pie and Pumpkin.

Zain watched her hug a pillow, buried her half-face in it, and announced continuing to sulk, "I am not going anywhere."

He turned on the lights and saw her nose bright red as she tried to adjust to the light closing her eyes shut.

He first asked, "Pumpkin, don't tell me you are here because you fought with your boyfriend."

Aarvi: "..."

'Do I look like one who ran away from the house after fighting?' She thought and sighed thinking he might have thought it seeing her tear-stained face.

She passed a sarcastic remark, "Thank you for your heartfelt welcome." and threw the pillow at him. 

He easily caught hold of it and chuckled, "Come here…" He said taking steps towards her.

Anyhow, the girl stubbornly shook her head and pouted. He flicked her on the head and pulled her up to hug his sweet little sister. Gently rubbing her head, his voice was deep and magnetic, "You should have called me when you were coming, I would have come soon to accompany you."

Aarvi grumbled wrapping her arms around him, "I wanted to be alone for some time."

Since she chose his place over her private villa, he realized she wants to talk about something with him, sitting her on the armchair, he sat on the bed as she collected what and how to speak.

Her eyes slightly moistened when she said, "I am afraid."

Zain silently waited for her to complete. 

He knows she wasn't least bit afraid of Leon else she wouldn't have sneakily worked at Harmon Industries for three months just to gather some critical information and plant a few spies.

During that time he used to be the one who lived on thorns until she used to call him and say she is totally fine.

Aarvi opened her loose fist, lifted it above her lap, and continued looking at the tremble, "Even the thought of losing Aaron, especially due to a grudge against Leon, creeps the fear to my bones."

'Fear of losing.' Zain thought and held her trembling hand to comfort her.

He had felt that fear when he was losing his mother, when Ava Kelly went missing, then as Aarvi Evans, she pulled all the danger on herself. 

He knows that fear but hers was a little more profound due to her different kind of fondness called love.

Aarvi continued, as she summarized the evening scenario, "I was running in the mall like a madwoman for failing to reach him. I just… lost control, I didn't care about anything that time, other than finding him."

He didn't feel her fear was odd. It was odd to her because she suddenly realized Aaron is her biggest weakness and Leon will aim at the weakness to get her.

Then she bit her lips and looked away from his eyes. She gazed at the moon, her brows quivered as she said, "I… I am not the right one for Aaron."