The Traps of Black Swan

When the couple reached the ground floor, Aarvi saw the empty dining table and ran towards the kitchen. Seeing nobody inside, she turned to Aaron, "Will grandmother scold me for leaving her hungry for so long? There is nothing prepared in the kitchen." She started imagining the sour face of Zelda and her tantrums.

Sophia who entered the house, saw Aaron chuckling and Aarvi pouting her lips at him. She had met Aaron before but she always found him less approachable due to his indifference. She liked him due to his politeness. Seeing him and Aarvi together, she felt like they were still kids.

She interrupted them when she heard Aarvi whine, "Young Master, Young Madam… The dinner is arranged on the lawn. Old madam is waiting for you two."

Aarvi ignored the part mentioning the dinner and focused on waiting. 'I am dead today.' She thought, walking towards the door.

Aaron was speechless when he saw how Aarvi changed from his Cupcake to Young Madam Rivas. Probably only he was the one who knows every side of her.

Aarvi flashed a polite smile to Sophia, "I am sorry, Aunt Sophia. I wasn't able to help you in the kitchen."

Sophia gently chuckled, "That's alright. Let's eat while the dishes are hot."

Aaron shook his head in resignation and asked while Sophia led them out, "Why are you so concerned about grandma? Relax."

Aarvi gave him a 'You fool' look before she answered, "I am concerned because she is your grandmother. Our family."

Why would she care if Zelda was somebody else?

Aarvi didn't have any plans to hear Zelda exclaim Aarvi was perfect for Aaron or she couldn't have chosen a better girl for Aaron. It's stupidity to expect everyone to like her.

She didn't even hope to be accepted as a granddaughter-in-law. She hoped Zelda could spend the rest of the years with Jordan after knowing and seeing Aaron get his love despite the hurdles, many years yearning.

Aaron wanted to say 'It's alright. Don't stress about it.' but he knew she gave importance to family which she never had before.

Seeing her eyes brighten up, he followed her line of sight. There was a round wooden table under the tree, The pendant lights hanging down the tree were carrying the candles providing enough light to the table.

The four wooden chairs had cushions and simple dishes on the table with a small vase holding beautiful flowers. Everything looked cozy and warm.

"Like it?" Aaron asked.

Like was an understatement, she loved Luxembourg village. Aarvi smiled at him as she nodded faintly. Nevertheless, Her eyes were telling something else. Those were sparkling like diamonds, very pleased and willing to live in the village if she could.

Aaron rubbed her head as they looked back at the table. Their eyes fell on Zelda. The latter was displeased due to their irregular dinner time. "Grandma…" He greeted her. "Elder Madam." Aarvi wished and apologized, "I am sorry for changing your dinner time."

Even if Zelda wanted, she couldn't blame her as she already accepted her mistake. Zelda nodded as she took her spoon, "Let's start."

Aaron held the chair for Aarvi and took a seat. Aarvi was surprised that Zelda wasn't interrogating them. She thought if she should ask Zelda about her day. Unsure how Zelda could react to it, she chose to eat.

Sophia broke the silence as it was common to talk general light topics, "Young Madam, are you a chef at a restaurant?" Since Aarvi had said she learned in classes, she had that assumption.

Aarvi had a faint smile as she responded, "No, Aunty Sophia. I learned cooking in my free time. I have studied Business and financial management with Shawn." She cleared her doubt without answering the main response Sophia needed.

Sophia's smile widened, "That's amazing. You could help the Young Master run the business." She never watches the news or reads newspapers so she had no idea about Aarvi.

Aarvi hummed as she turned to Aaron. The latter interrupted their conversation as she would never speak about her work or goals or success.  "Aunty Sophia, Aarvi is founder and President of Skylar Industries. She has various small to medium scale private businesses under her."

Aarvi: "..."

'Was that required?' She would be happy just to hear she is the wife of Aaron Rivas.

Sophia was surprised even though she didn't know how big or small the companies were. Hearing it as an Industries, she thought it would be too big to employ hundreds of people. "Oh my god… Then you two must be busy all day." She felt bad at the end thinking they wouldn't get time for themselves.

Meanwhile, Aaron looked at his grandmother. Zelda's hand briefly paused in the air before she resumed her dinner. He understood Zelda was aware of Aarvi having a company hence she was picking on Aarvi thinking she might not be able to look after Aaron well. He was satisfied to see the surprise on her face for knowing Aarvi wasn't just having company.

Aarvi responded to Sophia who looked worried, "Saying No would be a lie. Aunty Sophia, we make sure to keep time for each other, family, and friends." She flashed an assuring smile.

Zelda placed her spoon down and asked her before Aarvi could have a spoon. "So what is your goal for having so much business?"

Zelda was a lot calmer else she would have thrown her grumpy behavior as 'are you running behind money?' The Rivas family's focus was always the hospital, helping people. And to protect and grow their hospital chains, they need to grow their business accordingly. Hence Zelda wanted to know what was Aarvi's view. She would certainly dislike Aarvi if her focus was money.

Aarvi didn't lie. "As a businesswoman, I will never do anything that will end me in losses." Profits! Money is important. Saying it as unrequired would be a big lie.

Zelda was patient to wait for Aarvi to complete, which amused Aaron. Because Aarvi purposefully spoke about the profits first, instead of her goal. Even his little Cupcake knew what her goal was, that she was following.

Aarvi still didn't respond directly, "The profits will help me acquire more, and earn more."

Aaron: "..."

Why was his wife trying to enrage his grandmother? Is it because Grandma isn't irritated today?

Zelda would have mocked Aarvi if she hadn't read between Aarvi's lines. If she scolds Aarvi, that means she would be scolding the Rivas Industries too.

Isn't Rivas Industries also doing the same?

Feeling Aarvi was testing her, she gritted her teeth and asked between her clenched teeth, "So?"

Aarvi bit her lip. Zelda was indeed a smart and level-headed person. It was just that she loves Aaron too much, she needs time to accept her.

Aarvi was never used to talk high about herself so she kept it in fewer words, "To employ people." She controlled the grin, hearing Zelda, breath in relief. The latter knew that from Teenage Aaron. She appreciated Aarvi for being able to achieve her goal without changing to materialistic things.

Sophia wasn't into business stuff so she didn't comment on anything, she gave a satisfied nod when she heard Aarvi at last.

The dinner fell into silence till the end. Zelda turned to Aaron, "I need to talk with your wife. You can leave, Aaron." There was no gentleness in her tone.

Aaron felt uncomfortable leaving Aarvi with Zelda. "Grandma, you are tired, why don't you talk in the morning?" He tried to stall time so that Aarvi could at least grab a good night's sleep.

However, Zelda's face turned darker, and ordered him, "I said, go to your room."