The Traps of Black Swan

In the living hall

Aarvi innocently blinked looking at two bright red cheeks of Fiona who fiercely glared at her with red eyes filled with tears due to tight slaps. Aarvi really commended her determination to stop her tears from falling out and she likes those who fight face to face.

She had no idea what promise they were talking about that caused Shawn to be irritated so much and Aaron to be cold as a glacier that Aarvi felt like taking a step away to meet his gaze. She wasn't frightened, somebody's anger or coldness, or fierceness aren't capable of frightening her rather they make her stronger.

'Tramp' She wasn't the least bit affected by it because she had heard far more hurtful words as Ava from her own family and from the family where she had to get married. After realizing Shawn had little cooled down, she left his hand but her other hand still clutched Aaron's shirt tightly.

Fiona still dared to point her finger at Aarvi while her hand was trembling meeting Aaron and Shawn's gaze then she looked at her parents, "Why are you punishing me? Mom, Dad, she is the one who seduced Aaron. Don't we know the Rivas family looked after her because she has my friend's heart? She became greedy for the Rivas family's wealth." Fiona is Ariel Rivas's friend.

Her parents controlled from striking another one across her face while Aaron and Shawn were fuming, Megan, Karsen, and Connor who had already accepted Aarvi as their daughter-in-law were grim craving to teach Fiona a good lesson. Even though Jordan was sitting silently, he decided to keep Fiona away from the Rivas family.

The Knox parents chose to punish Fiona instead of Fiona getting insulted by others. "Fiona, this is the last warning. You better behave and apologize to Ms. Evans right now." Master Knox ordered.

Fiona shrugged her mother's hand and stood away from her. She yelled eyeing everyone, "Apologies? For what? I am the one who is wronged here."

The Fisher family was watching the drama silently without understanding how Fiona could be so audacious when her whole family is mild, soft-spoken people. Hassan silently admired Aarvi watching her on the glass reflection sipping juice occasionally.

Aaron asked last time before he could decide to call security to throw Fiona out, "Ms. Knox, please remind me when I promised to marry you..."

'Ohhh' Aarvi's lips formed O leaving Aaron's shirt crossing her arms gazing at Fiona. According to Zain Kelly, Aaron has loved her for more than nine years so 'Is Fiona talking about promises when they were in kindergarten playing home games? How naive!' She thought it was curious to know about it.

As soon as Aarvi's hand left after his question, Aaron turned to her thinking if she really misunderstood but saw her curious with a lopsided smile waiting to laugh as though Fiona was going to make a fool of herself.

Fiona shrugged her hand down from annoyance hearing Aaron still behave unaware, "Fine, I will tell."

Naomi fancied a cold drink with popcorn for watching the live drama. She was sure Jordan would kick her out even if there was a promise.

Fiona brushed her eyes on everyone before settling on Aarvi instead of Aaron, "Mom, do you remember I had cried all day when Aaron had left the country to country S?"

Madam Knox was prompt, "Yeah!" Fiona had cried as soon as she had returned home after hearing Ariel Rivas mentioning her brother left.

Aarvi calculated the ages of Aaron and Fiona standing silently waiting for her to continue like others.

Fiona then again asked, "Do you remember a week before that we were in Rivas mansion?" She was trying to remind them instead of saying what happened to avoid hearing she was making up a story.

Shawn had enough and hissed, "Come to the point Ms.Knox." While her mother couldn't really say yes because those times, Fiona and Ariel used to be very close and always requested to play together.

Fiona gritted her teeth and uttered out in frustration hearing no one remembers it, "I was here to do school work with Ariel and was playing with Ariel and Aaron. When I asked him, he promised me that he will marry me..."

'Pfft!' Hassan choked on his juice and started coughing while Fiona's tone turned irritated by the disturbance, "Mom, Dad, Ariel, Grandfather Rivas, Uncle Connor, and his wife were standing right there."

Instead of her words, all were gazing at Hassan who was red. They guessed why he was embarrassed while he tried to sit back in composure. Shawn uttered but looking at Hassan, "Why don't I remember my brother ever playing with two little girls?"

Megan didn't know about this episode so quietly waited while Connor and Jordan looked at each other, "He wasn't my son Aaron." Connor said without knowing if he should tell the truth.

Fiona wasn't ready to believe, she didn't understand other's gazes and failed to look at her parents, "You are still trying to fool me." She cried out finally a tear rolling down her eyes.

The Fisher family was too busy with his son so Aarvi asked in a low voice controlling her lips from smiling, "I am sorry to talk in mid. Ms. Knox, do you remember how Ariel Rivas was addressing her brother on that day?"

Fiona hissed giving her disgusted look for asking such a silly question, "Brother Handsome, you think I forgot, tsk."

Shawn burst into laughter at the very next movement while the Fisher family froze and Connor tried his best to control laughing out thinking that would be disrespectful to the Knox family.

"Shawn Rivas!" The dumb Fiona didn't discern and saw Aaron wrapping his hand around Aarvi who was away silently giggling. She roared at the duo "What's so funny?"

The Rivas family elders didn't answer hoping Fisher's family shouldn't lash out at Fiona. Shawn was very busy controlling his laughter so Aarvi again answered for her, "Ariel Rivas was addressing Shawn as 'Little brother', Aaron as 'Dear Brother' and somebody else as 'Brother Handsome'." In the end, her eyes landed on Hassan who desperately wanted to vanish.

Shawn low-fived Aarvi and saw paled Fiona whose jaw had dropped looking at Hassan, "You- You are all lying to me."

Madam and Master Knox regretted bringing Fiona to the Rivas mansion for becoming a laughing stock due to her. They couldn't understand why she never talked about it with them, they would have at least clarify the matter.

Hassan composed and stood up to face Madam and Master Knox. He wanted to laugh at the same time disappear so his voice was a little animated to hear, "Aunty Knox, Uncle Knox, I am sure you could remember I was playing with Ariel that day when your daughter joined us. I had promised in the game because your daughter pestered me to say the 'Promise' word. If that had misdirected you in any of the ways, I am really sorry." He gave a deep bow for three whole seconds and stood straight.

Then his voice sounded determined as though he was trying to save his skin desperately, "I can't and I will not marry your daughter for that promise."

Shawn wanted to control but failed and burst into laughter striking Aarvi's composure. She turned to Aaron almost covering her face on him silently chuckling. It had been a very long time she had met an original dumb girl. Aarvi never in her dreams thought a girl could blindly force somebody to promise and assume it as valid. On top of that, she played with one and thought of him as Aaron.

After saying it, Hassan quickly went out to laugh until his stomach ached from it imagining paled Fiona's face repeatedly. The Fisher family let out a breath after Hassan managed it. Naomi felt herself trembling by imagining Fiona next to her handsome little brother.

Then Madam and Master Knox repeatedly apologized to all including Aarvi before dragging Fiona away.

Aarvi and Shawn had composed and stood waiting for what was next but all looked at each other and burst into laughter excluding Aaron and Jordan who shook their heads resignedly.

Jordan's eyes unintentionally landed on Aarvi who was chuckling with Shawn and his lips unknowingly curled up looking at her. He understood why Megan calls her Gigglemug. Despite hearing others' voices, her soft melodic chuckle was distinctive and rhythmic on ears, her smile reaching her eyes, those gentle curves calmed him from the earlier annoyance created by Fiona.

Feeling an intense gaze on him, he noticed Aaron's gaze of provocation and changed his look to mocking. He realized Megan was smiling watching him so his face deadpanned immediately.

Fiona's chapter closed without effort so Naomi and her parents were happy too. All sat for lunch while Hassan tried his best to avoid making eye contact with everyone noticing them laugh at him silently.

After a yummy delicious lunch, they had tasty dessert. Then Shawn was telling Aarvi and Hassan about the Bonsai nursery in the Rivas estate when all heard a strong deep voice, "Ms. Evans, In the study room, right now."

After ordering it, Jordan walked towards the study room. Aarvi who stood up saw Shawn encouraging her and Aaron's furrowed brows with others' eyes on her. She moved next to Aaron and whispered to ask, "Does your grandfather raise his hand repeatedly? I might piss him off."

Aaron saw his Grandfather back and turned to her, "I am sure he wouldn't. If he does..."

Aarvi nonchalantly finished his line, "I will dodge.." She stood up and excused herself before following Jordan Rivas thinking what he might be going to ask.