pte

's inv

's demand. But the thought of actually having to

er her phone, her move

you dialing? I knew it-you're bluffing. The Rickshaws forgot about

a fierce glare

anted proof, s

st digit of Dwayne's numbe

fr

ed on the screen like

ribs, and for a split second

press the wave of unease crawling up her spin

... do you ne

words crisp and direct. "I want to invit

silence

yes widened in disbelief, as

available anytime, Uncle. Whenever

row at

ur

u the address

ka

d finish, the c

her phone, her he

thought things through and decided to se

own her spine

her apprehension gave w

ng Cynthia now looked like a dr

ng? You were all smug a min

stammered, caught be

sudden

ped to h

ng straight yesterday. It was an emergency-your father's in trouble! H

s eyes

ion, she raised

anded across C

a spat. "Don't ever try to set me up again

but she didn't react. Instead, she c

s blinded by desperation! But please,

rt wavered f

wronged her mother, blood ties w

grandfather's fa

a ch

yourself," she said coldly. "I won't b

life-fine! But what about your grandfather? He has a heart condition! If he finds ou

clenched aroun

ning me with my

e hidden forever. You can keep it from the old man for a while, but what about later?

body we

retched be

exhaled sharp

out your

'll think

umph crossed C

d murmured, "Alright... take your time to

didn't

ob tightened until her

ng? Might as w

ring Cynthia she shu

, staring at the ceiling. Her mind drifted to

on rarely cracking into a smile. But after he joined the special

his green military uniform-tall, commanding, exuding an air of strength that made people instinctively st

f that day r

raised by her father. Dwayne had stormed into the

ther r

fou

iving room, fists fl

frozen in the corner, terrifie

she never fully unders

growing smaller and smaller-until it became not

ere reuniting under the most aw

day arrived

ter, Ariana forced herself

potted Dwayne, h

th excitement, but with

m cautiously. "Uncle... no, Mr. Ric

bove a whisper, as sof

d slightly. Was she re

said flatly. "Sit

gh her chest. It was rich and magnetic, almost

est edge of her seat, as if ready to bolt at any

ant to eat? Or

nded her

glance at his long, well-defined fi

saw the

s-for a si

roat w

od is this? Gol

as she debated. Finally, she set

ow. "That's all? A

r, he took the menu and orde

ned. "I'm not on a

oo skinny-it's not healthy.

es

unable to me

ettled be

urry to fill it. But for Ariana, the quiet was suffo

sk, "Uncle... um, is there something s

dark eyes

live. It's time for you to mo

dy, deep-like the

Why... Why do you w

your life over the past ten years. Your father and that woman-Cynthia-have

"No matter how you see it, you are a member of the Rickshaw famil

rled into fists b

h

host to them. Because the Rickshaws had abandoned h

had never truly believe

motions. How could she possibly say it? She had been the one who initially reject

ndured after that-she ha

said, "If you don't want to talk about it, I won't press. The apartment is near your school. I'll deposit your tuition and pocket

se his kindness, but just as she opened he

" Dwayne said, effectively s

oice, she swall

ad expected a modest apartment, something simple. But when

e theater, and even a shooting range. The decor followed a sleek European black-and-white aesthetic-understated yet undeniably lu

really meant

, and despite their supposed familial ties, she couldn't ac

. "Let me know if anything is missing

urmured, biting her lip before hesitantl

ression unreadable. "Do yo

ng in her throat. She coughed a few tim

f you ever feel lonely, you can invite classmates over. Also, I

dly, like a peckin

. "If there's nothing el

licable urge overtook her. Before she could think

body tensed slightly. Realizing what she had done, Ariana qui

ly like a swan's as she finally asked, "Can I

now, all of a sudden, he was showering her with generosity.

ghtly, his expression dark

precating laugh. She had

mocking smile, she spoke

ncle," he

ing all this out of guilt, there's really no need. That

ion. I'm taking care of you because that's what an uncle should

you to meet your grandparents. Once they accept you, I'll bring you back to t

thing in the world, he reached out an

gh her hair, settling on her scalp.

s for that night... let's b