The Traps of Black Swan

Aaron placed the pen down from his hand and thought about Aarvi's question. 'If Charlotte hates you, why would she come here with the evidence against me?'

Aarvi sat opposite to him and cupped her face waiting for his response. Watching his eye-striking face, Aarvi thought about how she got this stunning creature to her side. She used to be very quiet and do her work without grabbing anybody's attention when she was in school. She used to blend in with the crowd so 'How did I get his attention?' She wanted to think of the past but knew she would get a headache and he would be worried so she sat and admired the creature named Prince Charming… Oops, Aaron Rivas.

Gazing her eyes, Aaron wanted to read her mind instead of thinking about her question. "Charlotte Parkinson wants to win on me."

"Huh?" Aarvi tilted her head without understanding it completely. Both were in different fields so what's there to win and lose.

Aaron continued as much as he could remember what Charlotte used to tell him, "She wants to prove marks and intelligence aren't the requirements to have a successful career and life."

Aarvi nodded, accepting Charlotte's way of thinking. Many people who had flunked in exams are doing far better than the rank holders. But why does Charlotte want to prove it to Aaron who doesn't care about her?

Aaron continued, "I think…" He wasn't certain as it was his deduction, "She wanted to prove me despite being smart, I chose the wrong one as my wife. She wanted to gloat at my misfortune but…" Aaron shrugged his shoulders and smiled looking at Aarvi who was at a loss for words.

Aarvi didn't like Charlotte's personality even though she was a strong woman. Charlotte's victory was at Aaron's hardship without understanding she hated him because her grandparents were comparing her with him.

Charlotte hadn't realized that she was wasting her emotions on a useless game. How could she take pleasure at someone's misfortune and pain?

Wait, 'Even, I do the same for Leon?' She thought as his mistakes are leeway she gets to torture him more 'If I don't like Charlotte, that means I don't like myself?'

Aaron, who glanced at Aarvi while flipping a page of a file, noticed her face had fallen lost in thoughts. "Cupcake, what's wrong?" He immediately asked.

Aarvi was about to shake her head but asked to know what he would say, "Charlotte Parkinson takes pleasure from watching your misfortune. Isn't it detestable?"

Aaron asked back right after her without understanding why her thoughts were jumping around, "Why are you comparing yourself with her?"

Aarvi pouted at his question. She wasn't comparing, it was the fact. She felt like Charlotte was her mirror replica.

Aaron sighed, "One, I don't care what about Charlotte Parkinson. Two, she has a mindless aim in her mind whereas you have a valid reason to stand against Leon Harmon."

Aarvi bit her lips. Yes, she has a strong solid reason to be against Leon. 'Why am I being negative?' She chided herself before asking him, "What will you do if grandfather Jordan stands against me after knowing I am torturing Leon?"

Aaron knew Aarvi still needed a lot of time to understand Jordan well. "You will know soon." He didn't reveal as she was going to the Rivas mansion to tell them about Leon.

Since his family had already accepted her, she wanted to let them know so that they could be prepared for Leon's unknown attacks. He could see, she was nervous which she was masking well.

Both had lunch once Alex dropped the takeaway. Then Aarvi went to the Rivas mansion.

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At Rivas mansion

Megan and Butler welcomed Aarvi at the door and took her inside. Aarvi was still jelly thinking about the reactions of four. Aaron, Zain, Shawn, and Dax know her well so she wasn't nervous with them but elders?

She was very really nervous after a long time. The Rivas family never really had to go against any family or faced life threats over them. They always stayed safe from such problems as far as she knows. They weren't obligated to bear with her past and the problem she was bringing on them. 

At the same time, she could easily guess how her biological parents would have reacted to this matter. So the thought of the Rivas family following the same made her heart squeeze.

Why?

Even though she had recently got along with them, deep down, she knew she had already accepted them as her family. A family who will stand by each other during tough times. She didn't want them to help her tackle Leon, she was enough for it. She didn't hold any high expectations either. Just a simple wish, the Rivas family elders to show their acceptance to her even after hearing her past.

Connor knew about her and Leon but not the back story. So he took a day off, mainly to support her, encourage her. Karsen had returned early as Aarvi had spoken to Jordan that she had something important to speak. Aarvi had chosen the day Megan was free so she was at home.

Four of them could easily guess what Aarvi wanted to talk to them about. Hence they made sure to make time out for her. They knew well that Aarvi didn't choose morning because she didn't want to spoil their start of the day and didn't choose the evening because she didn't want them to go to bed with a heavy heart. Hence they tried to be accommodative.

After entering inside, her nerves ever so slightly calmed down when she saw them speak and laughing. She greeted everyone before she sat on the luxurious couch.

Karsen and Megan were sitting together in three seats in front of her. Jordan was on her right, hiding his anxiousness. Connor was sitting on a single-seater next to her left. Aarvi could already guess they had an idea what she was going to talk about. Her main intention wasn't her past but who she was against.

The butler noticed Jordan's commanding gaze hence he quickly vacated the mansion taking all the maids away if in case anybody overhears.

Karsen smiled warmly at her, tried to ease her up, "Don't think too much. Speak freely." Similarly, the other three added a line or two.

Nothing simple could end her up in such a barbaric state so they knew it wouldn't be easy for her to speak.

Aarvi took a deep breath before she started to brief from the time her wedding was canceled with Vance Hays during Ariel's accident. She didn't go too deep with each event but brief up each incident in a line or two.

Her heart was beating erratically, her breath had twitched recalling everything and also looking at the four trying their best to control their emotions. She didn't want to check on their reaction to each event so she focused on completing everything until the military comrades, who were her last hope and didn't help her.

The four were yet to take a breath, Aarvi continued her main motive to speak about all these. She mentioned thirteen out of fourteen who were involved in torturing her and bringing her to that state.

She disclosed how she had already ruined ten people in them and the three more were left. She also stated the evidence wasn't enough to sentence them or give them life imprisonment.

The ones who felt their heartache hearing her suffering turned grim or aloof after knowing she was a crafty, shrewd, heartless woman. 

Connor became nervous for Aarvi who was feeling her heart heavy looking at the other three.

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