The Traps of Black Swan

Dax could feel Mr. Wells worried for his wife but he was unbending. He could guess something must have happened in Mr. Wells's life that was making Mr. Wells behave that way.

As a professor, Mr. Wells would have seen thousands of students' lives rising and falling. As the head of the family, he probably had his problems. Those might have changed him, but those weren't the valid reasons to torture his family members.

"Mr. Wells, you have worked hard for your family." Mr. Wells wouldn't let his guard down just because of a single compliment. He was a person who never lowered to anybody or melted to the compliments.

Dax continued, "... But tell me something, how would you feel if you are being constantly controlled?"

Mr. Wells glared at Dax. He didn't feel obliged to listen or respond to Dax. The latter was an outsider and he wanted to keep him out of his family matters too.

Dax didn't bother either as he wasn't waiting for the response. He was bothering to speak because of Tia. Else he had no interest in other's life who wasn't related to him in any way. He already had a lot on his plate to work on instead of poking into somebody's life and family.

He continued, "Do you know what fears you the most? Society. You are afraid of people pointing at you and your family. That never lets you live peacefully and you won't let your family members live either."

Mr. Wells' face darkened hearing Dax. He indeed cared about how society looked at him and his family. He didn't counter him because as much as he got to know about Dax, it was better if he stayed away from Dax. Pissing him off was equal to calling the trouble on himself. He wasn't scared of Dax, rather he cared to protect his family name.

Dax knew he hit the bull's eyes but he wasn't an idiot to think that would open Mr. Wells's eyes. "You have seen the world, always made deep analysis, planned and managed everything for your family members, choosing what's best for them." Dax briefed everything as though he could read Mr. Wells like an open book.

The frowns slowly relaxed on Mr. Wells's face. He felt Dax understood him, nonetheless, he also knew Dax wasn't on his side. Yet, he listened to know what Dax was up to.

"Do you know what was your mistake?" Dax asked and noticed the man's face darken again, almost instantly.

Why couldn't he handle a critique?

Anyway, Dax didn't respond to the question he asked. He first chose to explain his mistake.  He chose how a lot of students in his class used to attend the course under the pressure of their parents, "Do you know? Out of 100 graduates, less than thirty-five succeed in their field, thirty will struggle in that field and the rest will not use their studies knowledge."

Unawarely, Mr. Wells nodded to Dax agreeing with his analysis, as that's what he was seeing his students doing in their life.

Dax continued, "You can't go to a musician and ask him to research medical science. You can't ask a scientist to become a fashion designer. If Steve Jobs's parents had forced him to become an athlete, you wouldn't be using an iPhone."

Dax shook his head to himself before continuing about the person who is near to them, "Forget about such people. If Aarvi Evans had listened to her parents, she wouldn't have employed thousands of people." He meant to say, each person has to live their life, their potential might not be in what their parents choose for them.

As a professor and good listener, Mr. Wells understood what Dax was saying but he wasn't ready to accept it in reality. Hence Dax's words were still ineffective.

Tia silently heard Dax without making a noise. She was overjoyed to see Dax was putting so much effort, just for her when he could have ignored her father just like how he was ignoring her. She hadn't expected him to try and explain anything to her father. He was doing the better work which she and her sister would have failed to do.

Despite being a hotheaded man, seeing him handle the situation maturely, she wished to have a healthy relationship with him. She wanted to melt those walls that were built between them.

Dax came to the main point feeling he was speaking a lot. Well, he could only do that much to avoid worsening the situation, "Have you tried to speak with your children about why you chose that for them? Have you tried to understand why they didn't want to do what you chose for them?"

Dax saw him clench his jaw, that wasn't scary enough for him to stop, "Lack of communication is the root cause." He ended his point of view.

He doubted Mr. Wells will speak so he turned around to check on Tia and caught her staring at him. Tia took her gaze away and pointed to the room, "Mom wants to see you."

Dax didn't respond to Tia. He strode away from her father. He entered the bedroom and saw Mother Wells stopping her elder daughter from giving her any medicine. As soon as she saw Dax, she tried to get off the bed but Dax went closer, "Please take rest, Mrs. Wells."

She shook her head and saw Tia at the door. She cued Tia to go closer and held Dax's hand. She breathily spoke due to weakness. First, she glanced at her elder daughter, "M-my eldest daughter, Lia has got a truly good husband, I-I don't have any worry about her. B-But Tia… I-I can't protect her. I-it's alright if you don't love her, please treat her well. Or- or-..."

Dax glanced at the small hands that were placed on his palm. Treat her well? He had treated her well but what did he get in return? A nest of lies?

Anyway, he didn't want to tire out Mother Wells so he cut in, "Don't worry, Mrs. Wells, I will protect Tia. I am sure she will visit you all often starting today. So focus on recovering."

Mother Wells wanted to shake her head and say, don't bring her to her father but stopped. Running away isn't a solution. She was grateful for Dax when she nodded in acceptance.

Tia left with Dax while Mr. Wells stood in displeasure as he couldn't achieve what he wanted. He wanted to keep Tia at his place but it was impossible with Dax beside her.

The rest of the day went for Mr. Wells without anybody going to him for calling for food or talking. Iris was frightened so she ran away when her eyes fell on him.

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While Dax went to decide the future of Maisie Burnette and Shane Kelly. Aarvi and Aaron had checked out three waterfalls, ate their picnic food at a scenic view. Then they were trekking down the mountain to have a ground view of the small waterfalls. The specialty of the trek was they would cross behind the waterfalls thrice.

She halted when they were closer to the waterfalls after descending seventy percent of the height.

Aaron who was holding her hand, paused and turned around, "What wrong, Cupcake?" He noticed her staring down at the water pool at the bottom of thirty-plus feet.

"Ronron…"

Aaron hummed.

"Don't be mad at me."

Aaron was confused seeing her seriousness replacing her joy. "Are you tired?" She was having double physical exhaustion, playing around him. There was nothing to scold her for that.

Aarvi shook her head as she removed her shoes with the help of her toes and slid off her long shrug.

Aaron noticed her actions, he guessed it, "You-"

Aarvi grinned mischievously, before she leaped off the ridge in one swift graceful move, without a hint of fear to the height or the water.

Aaron: "..."