Episode 20

Meanwhile, within the confines of a room—Arsen's bedroom, to be precise—the man was deep in a grave phone conversation.

"Everything's secure, bud. Aunt Amber and your wife are enroute home," Niko's voice echoed on the other end—none other than the speaker himself.

"That's good to hear. Anything happen earlier?" Arsenio inquired.

Arsenio's jaw suddenly tensed, his face flushed with a growing wrath, and his eyes sparkled with fury. It was certain that Niko was narrating an incident that almost befell Aozora.

"Darn! So Aozora's stepmother wanted to eliminate Zora, while Uncle Damian was after my mother, is that it?" Arsenio sought confirmation.

"Yeah, it's something like that," Niko replied.

"Damn it! Well, thanks again for this time, Niko!" Arsen retorted, his breaths quickening.

"Don't mention it, buddy! Oh, when do you plan to drop this act? Still curious if Hanum is worrying about you and decides to visit, then you'll wake up, pretending her arrival is what you've been waiting for, right?" Niko shifted the topic with his remark.

"Cut it out, you know nothing!" Arsenio retorted sharply.

"Who says I don't know anything? I'm well aware that Arsen, renowned for being handsome, intelligent, firm, and a whiz in business strategy, turns out to be a fool for a woman. And now, there's a beautiful, kind, and smart woman beside him. If she wasn't your wife, I'd be trying my luck with her," Niko rambled on.

Arsen's face turned an even deeper shade of red, his fists clenching tightly upon hearing his friend's recent remark. Had Niko been in front of him, he would have undoubtedly been the object of ridicule, just like Daren.

"How could he think the same as Daren. Damn!" cursed Arsenio silently.

"Sen, Arsen, why the silence? You still alive?" Niko's voice probed once more from the other end.

"Damn you! Are you cursing me to death?" Arsen burst out.

Niko's laughter burst through the phone. "It's not like that, buddy. You just went quiet all of the sudden, got me worried. Or are you perhaps annoyed by what I said earlier? Not keen on me approaching Aozora?" he joked amidst his laughter.

"Don't talk nonsense! Why would I be annoyed? What reason would I have?" Arsenio denied.

"Oh, is that so? Well, let me know when you're ready to let go of Aozora. I'll be there to take her in. Besides, you haven't laid a finger on her, have you?" Niko teased again.

"Can't you shut it? You're just like Daren! Damn you both!" Arsenio cursed, abruptly terminating the call. It was certain Niko would be laughing on the other end.

...ΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩ...

"Mom, why are we in this car? What about ours?" Aozora finally broke the silence, her curiosity peaking.

"It's okay, dear. I just felt we'd be safer with them escorting us. As for our car, I'll have someone retrieve it later," Amber replied convincingly to her daughter-in-law.

Aozora chose no further questions, as her mother-in-law's reasoning seemed plausible.

She turned her attention back to the window, peering out into the fading streets.

"Who's targeting me? Who sent those two men? Was it Aunt Dona, Dimas, or Tsania? Or perhaps Uncle Damian?" Aozora pondered silently.

Reaching for her phone, she unblocked Dona's number and her fingers danced across the keyboard.

"I know what happened today must be your doing, honorable Mrs. Dona. Seems you're ready to face the consequences? Let's start this game. You sell, I buy!" Aozora promptly sent the message after typing.

Soon after, her phone signaled an incoming message.

"What do you mean by this? I'm lost. What's happened to you? Don't implicate me in whatever it is!" replied Dona.

Aozora furrowed her brows, toggling between belief and doubt. "If not her, then who?" she thought.

"If it's not you, then it must be your daughter or son-in-law. No one else but you three. Oh, and Uncle Damian. Remember, I'm not the weak woman I once was. Don't provoke me again, because I won't stay silent!" Aozora sent another message and after ensuring it had been read, she re-blocked her stepmother's number.

...ΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩ...

The vehicle carrying Aozora and Amber finally halted in front of a grandiose house. After expressing their gratitude to the two men, the two women of different ages walked into the house together.

"You head straight to your room, Zor. You must be tired. I'm going to rest as well," Aozora nodded in agreement and ascended the staircase toward the room where Arsen lay resting.