The Traps of Black Swan

It wasn't out of his expectation, Aaron had expected that reaction from Aarvi, in fact, he had anticipated far worse. Hence he had sternly asked the man to be in the car by promising to give him a glimpse of Aarvi.

If he knew she had arranged so much for him, he wouldn't have even agreed to let that man step in his car. He had thought he could call her out or take her out for a walk for him to see but everything ruined.

He couldn't believe he spoiled every date plan of hers unthinkingly, unknowingly. He didn't only cancel, in return he hurt her repeatedly yet she stood watching nothing but him.

This time, she wasn't just unhappy but broken-hearted that she desperately concealed behind her poker face.

His patience didn't waver a bit and tried again without reaching for her, "Hear me out once." He insisted, trying to calm her.

'Hear you out?' She thought and chuckled self mockingly. She felt wronged, let down, and also compelled. Shouldn't he ask her first? Talk to her once? She would have really heard him without losing her patience.

"Hear you what? Hear you say that you unintentionally revealed that I am unfortunately alive?" She asked unemotionally which was stabbing him straight in the heart.

Aarvi continued to ask without glancing at the man who looked at her with mixed emotions that mainly filled with longing and shock.

"Or do you want me to hear you apologize for deceiving me that none knows about me?" 

"Aarvi…" He called, helplessly.

He is aware she was trying to vent her anger but she looked more hurt than hurting him for bringing that situation to her.

"Or will you tell me how fun it was to play me dumb?" She continued trying her best to get angry at him but she just couldn't.

The more she tried to taunt him, her eyes stung, tears threatened to roll down, her lips trembled by seeing him controlling himself from rushing up to her, seeing him regret, seeing him hurt.

She was angry at him but couldn't show it, she was broken but neither she wanted to be weak nor show her real emotions.

Like an iron hutch was building around her, she felt like being caged, taking away all her freedom to express herself.

Aarvi glanced at the man who eagerly wanted her speck of attention but she didn't want to see him, much less talk.

Aaron went closer to her and cupped her face. Before he could speak, the man uttered heartbrokenly, "Ava…" 

It was more like a whisper but both heard it. Aaron quickly diverted her attention before she could lashes out at the man, "Look at me."

Aarvi ignored as though she didn't hear the man address her 'Ava'. She mused looking at Aaron without shrugging him off, "Do you know? I still believe whatever you did was because of me and for my good."

Aaron pressed his lips to a thin line. He knew she would understand, hearing him or without the need for words but he didn't want her to look lifeless facing him.

He tried to trace a silver line of expression but he felt like he was holding a lifeless doll that had no earthly feelings.

Aarvi continued, "Whether you hid it or you told him or brought him here, I still believe you didn't want to hurt me."

Aaron felt his throat dry. He was the last person she could think of hurting her but he was repeatedly making her suffer. He embraced her hoping she could calm down.

Another voice again sounded, "Ava…"

Ignoring the voice, Aarvi didn't evade Aaron and didn't return the hug. Her mind was in complex protest that her brain didn't bother releasing oxytocin.

"Aaron, shouldn't I be angry at you when I am feeling betrayed? Why can't I hate you but detest myself? Why can't I distrust you but blame my ill fate?" Her voice was a whisper in his ear.

'Betray.' His arms slacked around her and Aarvi took the chance to push him away and take a step back.

Anyway, Aaron held her arms, 'Betray?' He couldn't understand why it was dangerous if her identity was revealed to her grandfather. He wanted to ask if her grandfather was really linked with any of the events but the voice repeated.

"Ava, it wasn't Aaron's fault. I forced him to bring me here." Grandfather Kelly aka Hayden Kelly's voice was laced with regret, longing, and panic seeing her push Aaron away from her repeatedly due to his presence.

He was in the city Coasta airport waiting for the flight boarding time when Aaron was going to his private jet departure gate.

Aaron offered a ride showing his respect but he made him helpless pleading him to let him see his granddaughter once when he had heard Aaron call her to tell him he landed safely.

Aaron was reluctant but Hayden's yearn to see his granddaughter made him use his old age and softened Aaron. He didn't want to get off the car but seeing Aaron quicken his footsteps towards the magnificent but darkness-filled mansion, he couldn't stop himself thinking his granddaughter might be hurt or in a problem. 

He alighted and went closer until it registered to him there were candles and roses around. By the time he could react, the lights turned on and brought his granddaughter in front of his eyes.

He was so stunned and surprised seeing her happily living her life, he forgot to leave. And now it was too late.

He never wanted him to be the reason to distort her life and happiness but he stood at the end where there was no return.

'Ava.' That name was taboo for her. She stopped everyone using it but Hayden successfully provoked her repeating the name.

Shrugging off Aaron's hand, Aarvi's eyes turned sharper than the knife turning to her grandfather. 

Neither her relationship with him nor his age stopped her from hissing in annoyance, "She is dead. I dare you to repeat that name." She awfully sounded cold.

Hayden was taken aback. As soon as he saw her, he knew she had changed drastically, she wasn't a naive, obedient girl anymore but he didn't expect her to speak in that tone with him.

His granddaughter was always mild, soft-spoken, and very understandable. She needed no words to understand their problems and worries. She often made sure to be helpful and less trouble to everyone. 

He had thought she might refuse to talk with him or vent all her frustration but now, she left him in an awkward position.

How could he call her a whole different name instead of the name he named her when she took birth?

His brows quivered when she moved away from Aaron. He wanted to apologize for dropping there at the wrong time and for forcing Aaron to take him to Aarvi, "I am sorry, I sho…"

"Sorry?" Aarvi let out a mocking chuckle cutting him off.

"Aarvi…" Aaron could guess what she was up to. She wanted to prove that she was no longer the same Ava Kelly who nodded to everything Hayden was saying.

She was showing in an action that she is wholly a different person who doesn't care about others' feelings. Whereas Aaron didn't want her to feel bad later.

Aarvi's bitter tone sounded, "President Kelly, what are you sorry for? How about I make a complete list for you to choose an appropriate one to define your good reason for it?"