The Traps of Black Swan

Chapter 168 - A Shallow Heart

'Why did Leon Harmon try to kill her?' Billy was wordless. 

He tried to recover his memory to know what had happened that time, 'Why was Leon Harmon so angry at this girl? What did she do to enrage an animal like Leon Harmon? Was she in love with Aeon Harmon? No, Amiah was his love, then why was Leon Harmon adamant on torturing her the whole day before killing?'

Billy's fright replaced with confusion. He really didn't think of it back then, now it started bugging why Leon Harmon was a maniac.

'What was the reason?' Billy clenched his fist hearing her cold tone.

The fact was, he had no idea, And he couldn't understand why Leon hadn't raped her but chose to torture. That was so not his style. He wanted to ask her how could she be clueless when she was the target and the pressure point of Leon Harmon.

"Billy Craft!" A freezing warning tone rang in the living hall snapping Billy Craft back from his thoughts.

He blurted out hurriedly afraid she might do something to him. "I don't know. I have no idea. I just- I just know Leon wanted to torture you without killing you. Even when we were all bored and you tried to kill yourself, he was resolute on torturing you. He wanted to see you suffer every minute for days but the lockdown of the Mocon announcement left him no choice but to kill you. I swear I don't know anything else. Your..."

Aarvi said through her teeth, "Shhh." 

Billy shut his lips but failed to control his chattering teeth. 'Dead is alive' It repeated in his head.

She had guessed Billy had no idea, she also knew Billy wasn't lying. The easiest choice to know Leon Harmon's reason was Billy Craft which closed.

What did she do that provoked Leon Harmon? How was she going to know it?

'Dylan Harmon? A loyal dog of Leon Harmon?' Aarvi knows it wasn't going to be easy to tame Dylan Harmon. So, is she going to dethrone him without knowing the actual cause of everything?

'Control freakiness?' Aarvi's eyelids slowly widened.

When she was drugged by Grace Wells and sent to Leon Harmon's luxurious hotel suite, she had escaped from his clutch before he could defile her. 'Did it hurt his ego and pride?'

Then why didn't they defile her but chose to torture her?

It wasn't that she never thought of it, but there wasn't a concrete base to them. Her strong ability of intuition always told her, there was something she was missing. Due to that fact, she hadn't revealed her new identity yet.

Aarvi eyes focused back on Billy sniffling pungent smell and realized she scared the wits out of Billy that he peed in his pants ruining her posh custom made couch, 'Yikes'

Billy was staring at Aarvi without discerning she was in her thoughts even though her gaze was towards him. But the more serene she looked, the he lost his composure.

Despite urging to puke, she still had calmness as she stood up, "I will cut each penny for ruining the couch." She moved towards the stair as she spoke to each world clearly as day and void of earthly emotions, "Cut all your communication from the world, exit the villa, enter the black car and…"

She paused and her gaze landed on Billy's frightened face, "Do as instructed." Her eyes narrowed at him sharply.

Billy heard her each word and saw her gaze. He scurried away in seconds, flung open the door and dashed to the black car, and shut the door. He yammered while the driver had an urge to puke, "Drive Drive Drive…" 

Billy had no idea it was his last day in the Mocon and was going to leave like a servant with an abundant bank balance for the rest of his lifetime

Put an end to Billy Craft's chapter - checked

Her aim to get the crucial information - Failed.

---

It was nearing dusk when Aarvi drove towards Rivas Hospital to pick Aaron when her gaze caught sight of the direction signboard, 'Lake Huron'. She changed her direction to the lake.

That lake had two spots to watch the lake and spend time. One was more frequented due to the park and the other one was an unused place. It had a wooden deck over the lake for a few meters. 

It was said that the city administration wanted to open a boating facility for an income and constructed the deck for the boats but it was canceled later to keep the lake water unpolluted.

But false rumors started saying a man died and his spirit troubled the construction labors hence the boating plan was stopped. That caused the public to stay away from it.

Aarvi lied on the deck basking the evening soft sun rays waiting for the sunset or probably to clear her mind. She actually didn't know why she wanted to be there for sometime hence she assumed she was there for sunset.

After forty minutes, she heard footsteps on the wooden deck. She wanted to sit to check but, "It's me." The man announced his arrival to avoid panicking her.

Aarvi's lips involuntarily arced and she didn't get up, "Who is that ME?" The mixed emotions she had a few seconds back cleared out replaced with a hint of content with lots of mischiefs.

She felt light as soon as his face came to her vision towering over her causing her lips to tenderly curve and her lids slowly closed as he pecked on her forehead dipping his head deep.

Aaron was glad she hadn't suspended her legs in the water, he sat down with his right leg crossed on the deck and right leg folded facing the sky. Carefully lifting the woman to his arms, he leaned her weight on his body, both facing the west.

He answered her question seeing her snuggle in his embrace, "Your soon-to-be husband."

Aarvi chuckled and opened her palms to ask, "Then where are the rings?"

Amused, Aaron moved her to lean on his arm so that he could see her expression, "You serious? Are you really going to wear it?" 

Aarvi chuckled looking at his disbelief, she took her handbag and removed a small white brocade box as she spoke, "When I had gone shopping with Dax and Shawn, I was buying accessories when they said that there are three types of couple rings; wedding ring, engagement ring, and couple rings while dating thinking I was dating Shawn or Dax. So I ordered it and it was delivered to the shop today."

Aarvi showed him two thin rose gold rings, one had tiny diamonds adorned around the ring at slight gaps and another one was a plain band like two lines linking in the center.

Aarvi continued, "I don't like gaudy big diamonds so I went with my style." She explained despite knowing he would have understood why she chose thin stylish yet classy rings that might not be visible easily on their hands.

She turned to look at him to ask if he would wear it or it was troublesome due to his profession.

As Aaron knows his Cupcake, she won't wait for him to do things thinking 'The man should do.' She bought it without a hard feeling or waiting for him to get it. 

He wrapped his arms around her, took the men's ring, and was wearing it to his ring finger when Aarvi stopped, "That finger is for a wedding ring." She took the ring and slid it onto his middle finger.

Even though he wanted to question how does that matter, he silently obliged and also put it on her finger. Both had faint smiles looking at their hands and rings together.

Aaron wanted to ask why she was at the lake but she yawned as she turned around. Wrapping her arms around his waist cozying against his chest to sleep. "Why did you come here?" She mumbled.

Aaron responded as he hung his blazer on her bare shoulders, "Shadow said you were here for half an hour and I was nearby." She only hummed knowing the Shadow team must have been afraid thinking she might jump to the lake.

Aarvi was enjoying his warm embrace, peaceful surroundings, and a cool breeze for some time until Aaron asked caressing her head, "Don't you want to watch the sunset? Why did you come here?" He wanted to know if everything went as she had planned for Billy Craft or something went wrong.

Aarvi opened her eyes and sat straight, "I think I was waiting for you." Because she was content upon his arrival. 

Aaron was confused. He himself didn't know he was going there until the last minute, 'Was she expecting me to fetch her?' He thought.

Aarvi again faced sunset leaning on him as her hazy tone sounded speaking her heart, "You know, I always came here and sat when I was in school. I don't know why I wanted to come here. It was like I was waiting for something but always went home with a shallow heart. I wasn't content watching sunset but I still came here numerous times."

Aaron's brows knitted, he didn't know what he was expecting but still asked, "What was your age?"

"Hmmm…" She glanced at his gentle gaze and responded, "Fifteen…" She realized Aaron's arms tightening around her and tried to look at him but he distracted her, "Look…"

Aarvi watched the sun reaching the horizon changing the colors of the sky while Aaron was feeling his heart sink aching terribly. He couldn't forgive himself knowing she was unaware and silently suffered all these years because of him.

Even though she said as a passing comment, he really wanted to tell her that she was waiting for him and it took him nine years to fill that shallowness in her heart he had created.