The Traps of Black Swan

Chapter 154 - True Colors

When the silence enveloped, Aaron gazed at each one of their reactions before asking the three to confirm whether the information he had is accurate or missing details.

Their meeting wasn't only because Zain and Aarvi wanted to see and meet each other face to face but also to gather the information that they didn't know and also to analyze more about the situation in a clearer way.

"How did you all leave her alone right at the same time without feeling anything suspicious?" He asked and saw the trio deeply sigh in regret.

Aaron blames himself because nine years back, he didn't only leave her alone and went to country S, when he returned, he was two days late to visit Grandfather Kelly due to his mother's funeral and post burial rituals.

Then why three are repenting? Aaron wanted to know the reason if in case it could lead him to further the investigation process.

Shawn slacked on the couch telling the other two, "Bro doesn't know what happened."

Zain spoke after Shawn but his tone had lost its charm laced with regret, "Our need, insecurity, escapism is the result of that day." 

Aaron noticed Zain's gaze and realized Zain's need, Dax's insecurity, and Shawn's escapism made them leave the Mocon city falling into the ploy that was created for them to send them away from Aarvi. 

'Then what about Aarvi's grandfather?'

'Why does somebody have to create such a big net just for Ava Kelly?'

'What did Aarvi do that attracted such disaster for her?' Yet, they just knew Ava wouldn't have wronged anybody.

--- Three years back ---

Zain Kelly lost his father when was at the age of nineteen. His mother was bedridden right after it. He was only twenty-one when he got to know his mother has a terminal illness.

He was busy searching for a doctor to extend her mother's life due to life-limiting disease and also with his job as a new trainee. He was failing to get an appointment with a famous doctor for three whole years with his uncountable tries and connections.

Then Ava returned to the city and started her business. He had met her in the country S a few times and he was happy that she had changed for good but he forgot her weakness towards her parents.

When she wanted to move out of her parent's place and stay alone. Her budget for her stay was too little to save each penny for the business hence she didn't have a good locality in hand. As soon as he got to know about her plan, he straight objected to the idea of hers due to the safety. 

Even though she was ready to share a flat with Dax and Shawn, Zain didn't allow her by accurately knowing how her parents would create a ruckus for her. In fact, even her grandfather didn't agree with her.

The Kelly mansion was too far and she didn't have time to waste on travel, she had a choice of staying with Zain and his mother but most of the time his mother would be hospitalized and he would be on work at an irregular time.

Zain didn't want her to stress her out with his mother's health with her business so Ava again settled back in the villa of her parents who didn't care if she is home or not. At least the neighborhood was safe and pretty near to the work.

Of course, her plan was to move to the nearest apartment once Skylar has a strong foundation.

He was out on duty and returned when she broke the news, "Apple Pie, I am getting married." Then he saw her smile to say, "Mom and Dad are so happy these days."

He didn't know if her parents really changed but he knew she was only happy with the thought of her parents being happy. "Pumpkin, focus on your career, no need to get married so early."

She knew why he was serious about it, but her response was, "Mom and Dad are thrilled. They are excitedly preparing everything themselves. They even asked me to rest and enjoy, they are taking care of everything."

Zain wasn't convinced at all and he was angry, very much displeased by seeing her blindly follow her parents. "You are getting married, not your parents. What's wrong with you? You are just bloody twenty-one."

However, Ava sat straight and tried to convince him, "I know I am twenty-one but I don't love anyone. Marrying a stranger now or later doesn't matter at all."

"A stranger?" Zain lost his cool, "Have you ever met him? At least saw his picture? If your parents are selling you off to a cripple, are you going to cry later?"

Ava was taken aback by the outburst but she was still convinced, "They are from the Hays family. That guy was at home with his parents. Even though I didn't see his face clearly, he must be sightable and he was walking and talking normally."

Zain really wanted to punch somebody's face hearing her say she didn't see his face, "Were you shy?" He controlled and asked, hoping to hear yes.

"Shy for what?" She guilelessly asked without understanding why she should be shy.

Zain held her arm, threw her out of the study room, "Sit there. Don't dare to move from there?" 

Then he had checked about Vance Hays, Nothing was wrong with the data, Vance was mild and soft, his friends' circle was praiseworthy so Zain cooled down hoping Vance would look after her well. 

Zain didn't expect anything from Vance, he didn't care if Vance could love his sister, he just wanted him to respect her, give her space and hear her opinion. Nothing else.

Never been loved by her parents, love was something that's written in books, sung in songs, and watched in movies so he cooled down himself knowing his stubborn sister wouldn't step back for a 'superficial thing' as love.

When he sat back with her, he calmly asked, "Do you know why your parents suddenly started loving you?"

Even though he saw her gloomy there was still hope in her tone, "They want to use Hays family reputation for their improvement in the company. At least, they will treat me well in later days too because of it."

She wasn't dumb as he thought. She was letting them push her despite knowing why they were standing with her. What could he do when she already knows the reality and accepts it?

He supported only for her happiness. Probably he should have also kept an eye on Vance Hays, then he would have had a strong reason to stop her, or even drag her away from her parents.

The wedding got canceled, by the time he went to fetch her from the room, her parents had shown their nasty true colors throwing all the curses right in front of her pretentious school friends who didn't help her but despise and leave.

He had seen her becoming numb to her parents' curses walking out like a lifeless doll that lost all its enchantment. However, it didn't end there. Hayden was threatening the Hays family and their behavior but the Hays family heard her parents so they blamed her too.

"Haha... No doubt why you all wanted to marry her off so soon. She is a jinx, she plagued my son. If anything- if anything happens to him, I am going to make you suffer…"

Hays parents and elders took the upper hand due to her own parents. Seeing her leave hearing them all, Madam Hays was infuriated by the ignorance and slapped her. Zain could only manage to save her from the next strike.

Swollen cheek with a lost aim, she walked out without a word. Dax and Zain had followed her repeatedly trying to speak. 

She only reacted when she remembered she didn't have a mobile, "My mobile."

Dax ran to get it, Zain followed her all the way to Skylar's three-floor office. "Brother Zain, you were right." That's all she said before locking herself in her office room.

Zain has to return to look after his mother so he was prepared to leave once Dax reaches.

Seeing Dax's knuckles hurt, "Who did you punch?"

"Who else? Dum Dum's useless father and that Hays's man was holding grandfather's collar, if grandfather hadn't stopped me, I would have broken his bone." Dax said through gritted teeth.

Asking him to take care of himself and Ava, Zain stayed with his mother in the hospital.

He soon got to know, there was a huge fight between Ava's parents and her grandfather due to fake photos delivered at home.

He wanted to check on what was happening with his Pumpkin and how she was doing but got a call from the doctor's assistant that her mother got an appointment and a chance to get treatment by the best-known doctor.

They needed to leave as quickly as possible else they would lose the chance.

Stuck between two, he had informed Ava about his mother's treatment, his schedule and he might be out of the country for a pretty long time. 

He knew he was prioritizing his mother over Ava but he couldn't neglect his mother's health. The displeasure he expected to see didn't come but Ava wanted to join him for a little changeover.

"How about I come with you? I will help you look after aunty." The weak ailing voice of Ava undoubtedly hurt him. Ava added, "I feel suffocated here, I need a change too."