"When did she say she would come?" He asked Chris while glancing at his watch.
"It's 5:30 pm so in 30 minutes she should be here," Chris answered and the three men walked inside the house.
Angel greeted them and so did Aria. "Is my mom not here yet?" Aria asked.
"No, not yet soon." Noah smiled. "Can we wait outside?" She requested, her eyes shining bright.
"Of course." Noah held her hand and they walked out of the house. Inside, Angel turned to Chris.
"I have an assumption. Don't you think it's weird? She suddenly comes back from the dead and also the girl who looks just like her claims her mother will come to pick her up soon? Am I the only one seeing the connection here?" He asked them.
Kelvin shrugged, not very aware of what was going on. Chris shook his head. "Impossible. Aria was adopted by her mother." He patted his shoulder and also walked out of the house.
Angle frowned but he followed him out too. Kelvin sighed. "Fine, I'll go out too, I guess."
Per Noah's instructions, Chris and Angel were sent to the front door of the house where the guards are securing the entrance. He asked them to wait and inform him when Aria's mother arrives and also to check that she isn't armed or something like that.
"Will you talk to my mother? She is very strict I'm not sure if she will allow us to meet again." Aria smiled sadly. Noah gave her a reassuring smile and he patted her head.
"I promised didn't I?"
Aria hugged his leg gratefully. It was quite an experience for her. She met new people and she also ran away from home for the first time.
She couldn't wait to meet her mother but an hour passed and nothing, she wasn't anywhere.
"Let's go wait inside," Noah told her. Aria pursed her lips. Suddenly she looked in front of her and a smile bloomed in her face.
*****
Adriana finally asked Ralf to drive inside the house because she was nervous. After composing herself she told the guards her identity as JUSTINE so that they could at least trust that she is here for a legitimate reason.
Ralf was the one who talked to Angel and Chris first. He explained to them that she came to pick up Aria. She heard him explain it to them from the back seat and with the shades covering her face.
She took deep breaths in. 'For Aria.'
"Alright, you can park here our boss is waiting further ahead." Angel gave Ralf a professional smile.
Ralf drove to where the other three cars were parked. He picked the empty spot and he turned off the car.
"Ma'am if you aren't ready I can do it." He offered. "No, it's fine Ralf. This time would come sooner or later so I might as well do it now."
Ralf smiled and got out of the car to open the door for her. Adriana came out and took off her shades.
"What the hell is she doing here?!" Chris was the first to yell. His eyes bulging out with shock.
Angel stared at her from a distance. 'My intuition is never wrong.' He glanced at Aria and Noah and he gulped.
'I'll just watch the show unfold then.'
"Mommy!" Aria let go of Noah's hand and she ran to Adriana's side.
Adriana felt relief wash over her. She opened her arms and knelt to her size. "Princess." Adriana closed her eyes hugging her tightly.
Chris tried to step in to stop whatever was happening in front of his eyes but Ralf pushed him away protecting his Madam and Young Miss who he is loyal to.
"What the actual f*ck?!" He took a step back. Adriana opened her eyes and glared at him. "You dare curse in front of a child?"
Chris covered his mouth immediately. "Sorry." He apologized.
Angel glanced at Noah who was rooted on the ground with a dark expression. 'God, is this a sign that the world is ending? It's like world war III will start.'
Kelvin wanted to get out of this situation badly. He's just a family doctor! He doesn't want to be in the drama at all!
He worried about Noah of course but still. It's too complicated for his brain that only has space for medical knowledge.
"She's your mother?" Noah asked, taking a few steps forward. Aria wiped her tears away and gave Noah a bright smile.
"Yup! I'm so glad you finally met." She said cheerfully. Adriana caressed her cheek and stood up finally looking at Noah straight in the eye.
She opened and closed her mouth but no words came out. "Hi….?" She greeted him.
Noah: "...."
Chris: "...."
Kelvin: "...."
Angel: "...."
'Hi? After 7 years this is all you want to say?' Noah suppressed his anger because Aria was with them.
Adriana bit her lip. 'Oh well, I said what I said.'
"Ma'am, should we take our leave?" Ralf asked. "I-" Adriana was interrupted.
"We should discuss it first. Aria was adopted by me as well so we must settle this before you take your leave MS.PRICE." Noah placed his hands in his pockets staring at her coldly.
'Huh? Oh, so you want it to be like this? Noah you jerk!'
"Of course! Where should we take this conversation to MR.PRESTON?" She asked with a fake smile.
There was a clash between them for a short moment. Both were glaring at each other but remembering Aria they acted as if it where the first time they have met.
Frankly, it was very hard for both of them to act like that. The emotions were very complicated....
Aria gave Noah a hopeful smile as if reminding him about his promise. He smiled in response while clenching his fists.
"My office. Chris take her away." Noah gave him his order but when Chris tried to get close to Aria Ralf stopped him.
"It's fine Ralf. Calm down. If they had intentions to harm her I wouldn't let them even be here." She tried to pacify him.
Aria nodded and willingly walked to Chris. Ralf sighed. "Please allow me to follow you in." He requested but Adriana declined.
Kelvin excused himself and Noah, Adriana, Ralf, Chris, and Angel all walked inside the house.
Ralf stayed standing by the door. Chris and Angel took Aria to play in the living room with her.
Meanwhile, Noah led Adriana to his study room upstairs. He dismissed all the servants and he locked the study room.
Adriana sat in front of his desk and waited for him to speak. "Is she mine?" He asked. "I mean ours." He corrected himself.
Adriana swallowed. 'So sharp. I'm so grateful it wasn't James or else I wouldn't be able to deny it.'
"No. She's my adoptive daughter. Like I said in the email. I found her in a dangerous situation and I saved her." She responded in a neutral tone.
"I don't believe you. She looks exactly like you and me!" He slammed his hand on the table.
"Mr. Preston. That's exactly why I adopted her. I saw myself in her. You know I was once an orphan too. Please don't make things more complicated than what they already are."
"Did you let her approach me on purpose then? You faked your death and suddenly came back to life with an adopted daughter. Explain that." He took his seat and stared at her in the eye. He wanted to catch lies but her eyes looked straight into his with no fear.
"Fake my death? You are joking, right? I don't remember ever getting a funeral and my corps was never found. I never faked my death. It is you who assumed I died." She rolled her eyes.
"Fine. Let's say you didn't. Why are you here? Your identity was so secretive, why suddenly reveal it?" He questioned.
"It was recklessness on my part. Someone leaked my photos." Her lips twitched. Is he interrogating her now?
Noah glared at her, clenching fist fists. His head was aching and this was bringing him to much stress. So many mixed emotions….
He was finding it hard to stay awake.