The Traps of Black Swan

Sean regretted babbling out everything. He sat back shaking his head under the interrogating gaze of Aeon. 

"Sean." Aeon's warning tone sounded.

Eliza cued Aeon to be cool and sat next to Sean, "It's alright, Aeon won't blame you for anything."

'Blame!?' Aeon's eyebrow raised. He felt like Eliza knows about Leon and Sean far better than him.

Sean looked at Aeon who had calmed down. He slowly revealed everything, "Once Brother Leon sent people to kill my Beauty in Black. I was disguised as her. First I wanted to know if Brother Leon was powerful but they kidnapped me and beat me up without seeing my face.

There I had sniffed rotten blood smells. His men sell drugs and store illegal weapons. 

Then I got to know Brother Leon actually acts in front of me... I-I was scared… I-I had almost thought he would kill me when I got to know the real him… So… So…"

Aeon knew it wasn't going to be anything good. Aarvi had alerted him about Sean stepping in Leon's path so he didn't have any expectations.

He cued Eliza by pressing his right wrist with his left hand fingers, asking her to check Sean's pulse. Aeon didn't want to make himself a fool by acting so he didn't take chances.

Meanwhile, "So?" Unexpectedly Aeon's voice was gentle.

"I-I acted cool and followed his style to save my skin...." 

Eliza nodded at Aeon after she sensed Sean was really afraid and his heartbeats were too high. His face was paled and his jaws were shaking.

Eliza rubbed Sean's back. Aeon completed his line, "He killed your friend."

Eliza didn't react to it. It was like she was used to hearing such words. Sean's eyes widened.

Aeon continued, "If you hadn't acted that day, either he would have killed you or permanently hospitalized you on the bed." The hash truth.

Aeon didn't know if he should be glad Sean was able to save himself or slap him hard for letting his friend die.

Anyway, he breathed a sigh of relief seeing Sean sitting safe and sound. He knew he was selfish over there but Sean his younger brother after all. 

He tried to lift the guilt off Sean's shoulder, "Leon would have killed your friend if you acted or not. He was basically planted behind you by Leon."

A tear trickled down Sean's eye, he asked in a small panicky voice, "You won't send me to prison?" He was really afraid of it.

If they have to send someone behind the bars, it would be Leon Harmon.

"I will," Aeon uttered agitating Sean. He continued before Sean could start crying at Eliza or think of running back to Leon, "If you don't help us to send Leon behind the bars."

Eliza and Sean shuddered by hearing him. Sean faltered, awkwardly laughing at Aeon, "Bro, I had thought you were smart. Brother Leon will kill all of us without a trace."

Eliza agreed with Sean. Going against Leon wasn't as easy as it sounds. She had heard him deal with many illegal cases using his power and money. 

If it was so easy to handle Leon, why would she be suffering so long? Being safe from Leon, her husband, was still a distant dream for her.

Eliza realized she wasn't gloomy hearing Leon will be put behind the bars. 'Don't I love him anymore?' She thought because there wasn't a hint of melancholy.

She felt like she wasn't strong anymore to show empathy either. All she felt in her heart for Leon was emptiness, if not fear.

Aeon didn't bother revealing anything to them, "When the time comes."

'Will that time really come?' Sean and Eliza had the same thought.

Sean laid on the couch, resting his head on Eliza's lap. Silence enveloped them for a long time, Eliza caressed his head while thinking about what Leon would do to suppress the internet.

'Will he create havoc somewhere to divert the attention of the public?' She thought as Leon had done it many times.

Sean suddenly imparted his thoughts incoherently, "I had thought Brother Leon loves me." 

Sean really loved his elder brother who was doing everything he was asking for and demanding. Sometimes Leon did without the need of words.

Isn't that love?

He so wished he wouldn't have got to know Leon was just putting on act, using him as a tool.

Eliza realized Sean dozed off and mumbling in sleep. Aeon went upstairs to get a blanket for him. Letting Sean sleep, Eliza to rest, Aeon took over the kitchen to prepare lunch for them.

----

At Rivas mansion,

Nikun stayed behind with Shea sending his parents to the hotel. The four elders rested after lunch, Aaron cuddled Aarvi to sleep so that she could catch some more sleep. 

When Megan, Karsen went downstairs, they saw Shawn and Nikun having some boring talks while Shea was holding a medical book she got from the study room and discussing it with Aaron.

"Where is my GiggleMug? You guys are so boring."

Aaron teased Shawn and Shea with a straight face while responding to Megan, "Cupcake is catching some lost sleep."

Shawn who always teased his brother couldn't believe his brother knows to embarrass him so much. Shea pinched Aaron's hand under the book.

In hurry to change the topic, Shea queried, "Brother Aaron, why didn't I hear you call Aarvi as Cupcake?"

Shea noticed everyone's expression stiffen at her question including her brother. She thought she might have asked the wrong question and was prepared to apologize, Karsen cut in.

Karsen inquired, taking his wife's hand, "Megan was saying you guys were in a serious talk in the morning. Is there a problem?"

They had already decided to tell to the Rivas family so Shawn volunteered to brief the situation.

Aaron patted Shea's backhand when her face fell, "I will tell you some other day." 

Shea looked up at Aaron. She remembered Aarvi saying, 'The things aren't as simple as they look.' Aaron's unfathomable gaze told her that.

Aaron was single in past years when Aarvi was studying with Shawn. Aaron, who always used to address Aarvi as Cupcake, was just calling her by name and used the nickname when Aarvi wasn't there.

She felt things were too complex for her to resolve herself. She had rooted for Aaron and his Cupcake just like her brother so she was worried. 

She took a deep breath and decided never to poke in about their relationship in front of all. If anything, she should just ask Nikun or Aaron privately.

Faintly smiling at Aaron, she nodded at him in acknowledgment.

Shawn didn't mention Shea spending the night with him. He noted that they obtained a bug in Shea's bag. After the investigation, they found Wade Merton behind the action. However, Leon could be the mastermind helping him from behind.

Megan who was yet to recover from the actions of Leon at the banquet worriedly looked at Shea. Karsen's face darkened as he thought about the situation. 

Connor, who had heard half of it, suggested to Nikun as he sat down, "Nick, it's not safe for Shea to live alone in the city." He stressed politely.

Shea's mind traveled to the negative sense of Connor's words. Her face paled and looked at Nikun in horror. She had agreed to tell the Rivas family thinking they wouldn't tell her parents and they could solve it silently.

Nikun could read her easily, 'I am not going back home. I don't want to get married. NEVER.'

Their grandfather had told them once when Shea wanted to study abroad, 'It's not safe for a girl to live alone, much less in a different country. Search for a match and get her married.'