Lucas had been investigating Violet's parent's whereabouts. He has gotten the lead on where the father is, although he can't say for sure how confident his subordinate is, in what he said.
Aarna regained her consciousness later on in the night. Lucas made Violet and the kids stay in the room reserved for them.
Lucas had also made arrangements for their dinner, and just then his mom called.
📳"This weekend is your birthday and you are yet to be back"
📳"Mom, today is just Monday okay? You know what? I will be back on Wednesday evening".
📳"You don't have enough time to plan. I..."
📳"Mom, just be rest assured, my birthday will not be a disaster".
The mom chuckled.
📳"Okay. I trust you, Lucas".
📳" Trust me on this one. Thanks, mom. I love you mom".
📳"I love you to son".
After he hung up the call, a faint smile played on his lips. He cherished his mom more than anything. Of course, his treasure was the first.
"Hmmm! What did I miss out on?" Violet stood akimbo at the door and had a teasing smile on her face.
Lucas turned around leisurely.
"My mom called so....."
"You love your mom the most?"
Lucas panicked, unlike the cool, domineering, unperturbed boss of the underworld who wouldn't give a hoot about anybody's feelings. He was practically panicking because of a woman.
"No, no, no..... You misunderstood me. This..."
"Oh come on, take a look at your face right now. It spelt panic attack. Okay, I was just teasing you. Don't take it seriously", she slapped him lightly on the shoulders and went into the bathroom.
Lucas stood frozen and forgot to close his mouth. Wait! When did he start being controlled by a woman? It's not just a woman but his woman. Ha! He mocked the fragility of his heart.
"This woman will be the death of me", he licked his lower lip.
Violet stood at the entrance of the bathroom while looking at him. Darn it. This man is filled with hot raging hormones.
"Do you want to have a hot bath and massage, it's free of charge", Violet smiled slyly and Lucas's eyes darkened. Violet curved her forefinger and signalled to him to come to her. Her slender finger traced his hairy, muscular chest and darn it! His abdomen muscles were so firm, not so muscular and she loved it that way.
Violet's eyes looked sultry and the entire bathroom had a fruity yet not irritating scent.
Lucas was all fired up for a long-term action but he got ditched at the last moment.
His eyes were closed and he didn't know he was being left behind. Violet closed the door and let out a hearty laugh. Lucas was caught up in his dreamy passion and before he found out that he has been ditched, it was too late. She had locked the door.
"Violet Miller.....", he growled. She had better not give him an opportunity else she would be tortured cruelly. His lips curled up in a wicked smirk.
Aarna was getting stronger after she woke up from her unconscious state. She often looks absent-minded as she stares into space. She kept looking for opportunities to discuss some things with Violet but Saanvi and her nosy daughters kept showing up at odd times.
"Prisha", she kept looking at the entrance door while holding Violet's hands.
"Grandma, what's the problem? You look scared, who are you afraid of?" Violet was uncomfortable with her behaviour.
"Prisha, those kids..."
"Grandma, I know what you want to ask but they are not my kids. I adopted them".
"Even the girl?"
"Yes, grandma. You will love them when you get to know them better", Violet kept a wide smile on her face
" The girl....", Aarna looked at Violet tentatively. "She looks like your mom when she was that young. I can't mislead you Prisha. You said they are not your kids?"
Violet's breath got hitched and she let out countless gasps while looking shocked.
" I don't know what you went through child. I believe it wasn't easy for you to survive in that family. Your mother kept something important for you, it's only I that knows about it".
'What did she keep for me?"
"In my room, under the bed, you will see a safe on the ground. Open it and bring a box out of the safe. The code to the box is your birthday, everything you wish to know about your mom is there. Everything else can only be figured out by you, I believe in you. I have kept them for you for a long time Prisha, I can't keep them anymore. Go child, go and pick it", she spoke in a low voice. Aarna shooed away and waved at her. Tears gathered in Violet's eyes but she stubbornly refused to let them drop. Her grandma mustn't see her weakness.
"Be careful of your aunt and cousins".
Violet was confused and didn't know what to do. She dialled Lucas's number but It didn't go through.
Lucas was out to prepare for their departure the following day. The jet was ready and in good condition, he wanted to go back home as soon as possible and plan for his birthday. Although he had employed the service of an event planner, he was still confident in doing it by himself.
Lucas was worried about Violet's anxiousness over her grandma, he had already made arrangements concerning Aarna's proper recuperation. Violet brought up the suggestion of getting her back to America so that she can take proper care of her and also keep an eye on Aarna.
Aarna refused to go back with them. Savya's ears perked up when she heard that they will be returning to New York and would take Aarna with them.
"Mom, we have to do something", she narrated the whole incident to her mother.
Diya wasn't left out, she couldn't bring herself to marry a man she doesn't love. She would be a fool not to grab this opportunity and she needed a good life. She fantasized about how her life would play out when she gets to America.
"Grandma, this will make me worry less about you. I promise we will find a serene and quiet place for you to stay".
"Prisha, I can't leave the memories behind, everything here reminds me of your mother which is my consolation", she held Prisha's hands".
"Grandma, I promise you that as soon as you get well. I will send you back to India", Lucas came in at the right moment to rescue Violet.
She heaved a such of relief and gave him a glance indicating her gratefulness.
Aarna particularly loved this grandson-in-law of hers.
"I believe you", she smiled and her eyes narrowed into a slit.
Violet pouted and she laughed.
Saanvi came in at the moment and coughed lightly.
"Who will take care of your grandmom in that strange place?" She fixed her gaze on Violet.
"I have hired maids to do that and I will also help".
Saanvi sneered mentally, As expected of the bitch's daughter she has hired maids to clean up after her. While she and her daughters were left to fend and grovel for food for themselves, she on the other hand was being pampered just like that bitch of her mother. What right does Prisha have to live a life she Saanvi had always wanted for herself and her daughters?
"It will be difficult for your grandma to recuperate fast in an environment she barely knows and the people around her..."
"Enough of it Saanvi!" Aarna cautioned her and she looked wrong.
"Grandmom, it's okay. We will sort it out", Violet rubbed her back gently.
"Mom, I was just trying to make her see reasons she should take us along. At least with us around you, things will be easier for you".
Saanvi wanted to blackmail Aarna emotionally and she succeeded. Aarna looked at Prisha as if Saanvi's idea wasn't bad.
Violet looked as if she would explode any moment from then. Good, just good. She must clip their wings as soon as possible. Violet couldn't bear to reject the grandmother's request so she instinctively threw Lucas a glance. He caught the coded message and cleared his throat.
"I will make arrangements for that".
They began to pack up and brought the kids downstairs, the ride to the airport was filled with silence and nobody made any noise.
Violet's mood took a downturn and she gritted her teeth silently. Those darn mother and daughters duo.
Lucas squeezed her hands and she calmed down a little bit.
Saanvi and her daughters couldn't get over their shock when they knew that they were travelling on a private jet. Diya and Savya made sure that she took enough pictures to wow their friends online. Savya had already ditched her boyfriend immediately after she got the confirmation that she will be leaving for America and Diya was happy to escape the clutches of the so-called arranged marriage.
Violet shook her head at their irrational behaviour and then took her grandmother to a separate and exquisite room in the jet.
She slept off while Lucas entered the Kitchenette to prepare something light for her and the kids.
He also made sure Aarna was well-taken care of before he settled down to work in an open space. Savya had been taking a tour around the empty rooms in the jet and took pictures too. She looked at a certain room and suspected it to be her cousin's room. Without knocking, she barged into the room and scanned it enviously. Previously, Lucas had instructed his subordinates to fill hers and the kid's wardrobe with enough wear due to the emergency flight they had to take.
Savya ran her fingers on the transparent closet and her eyes almost popped out in envy when she saw the beautiful shoes and clothes in there. She grabbed the closet handle and was about to pull it open.
Lucas opened the entrance door immediately and she froze. Darn him! She would have taken a few shoes and clothes before he came. It's not like Prisha will complain because she is sure her closet resembled a departmental store already.
Turning around with a sweet smile on her face, Lucas was surprised to see a certain person but he was so sure that Violet has a better body figure than this person. How could people lack courtesy? So disgusting.
" Uhmm, I came to check on Prisha but I didn't know she would be asleep by now. I will take my leave now and will meet her tomorrow then", she went out and Lucas locked the door right after she stepped out. He made a mental note to talk to Violet about keeping her eyes on her things.
The jet touched the private gateway the next morning by 10amGMT in NYC.
A line of expensive cars lined up with bodyguards who looked imposing standing by the cars.
Saanvi was too excited for words as she kept gaping at everything. Diya and Savya hid their emotions well.
Lucas, Aarna and the kids boarded Maybach, one of Lucas's luxurious cars. Saanvi and her daughters took another vehicle. Lucas drove into a highly secured high-end estate. They dropped off Aarna and the trio. After making sure that her grandmother had settled well in her new environment, she left reluctantly. The maids took a bow wherever they met Lucas. Savya committed all these things to mind and narrowed her eyes. What did she do in the past life that made her have it all? A rich and handsome fiance, she snorted and threw the direction the Maybach went a glance.
The next few days were so busy for Lucas and Violet on the other hand had secretly been planning how to surprise him at his party. She decided to go to a high-end shop to get a suitable gift.
Stepping into the shop, she radiated warmth, beauty and gentleness. Heading towards the gift section she bumped into Stephanie, her shopped items fell and the latter scolded her.
"What? You want to tell me you are blind or..."
"I'm sorry madam, it's a mistake on my part", Violet bent to pick up the items that fell.
" I do not care, you must compensate me. Do you know how much this evening dress cost? I bet you wouldn't know since you are a lowlife. You probably came to window shop", she sneered and Violet had to clench her first to avoid doing something irrational.
Her face looked like she had had enough of Stephanie's rambling.
"What? Do you want to beat me up? You feel that you are in the right?" Turning to the attendants, "Is this how your shop treats her golden customers?"
The attendants were afraid of losing their jobs so they immediately boot-licked Steph.
"I'm sorry Miss but you have to give the compensation. She is one of the customers that spend the most in our shop. We can't afford to lose our jobs or else we will get the police involved", the attendants sneered at Violet.
Just then, Violet heard the most annoying voice in her life
"Mom..... Oh, Who do we have here?" Sandra had just shown up from another section when she encountered this situation. Oh, so karma is real? She just had to grab the opportunity and teach this bitch a lesson.
"Oh mom, this is my paternal cousin. It's like she offended you".
"Of course, I wouldn't be wrong if I say that your family doesn't train people well". Stephanie knew that Sandra wanted to borrow her hands to deal with Violet, she wasn't a fool".
Sandra's face got twisted, what is this old fool trying to say? She then feigned a sweet smile.
"It's like this, my sister hasn't been socializing and most especially she lived in an attic and never knew what proper manners were. Later on, I heard she had a sponsor..... so forgive her...". People would think she was speaking up for Violet but she was indirectly burying her in a grave of shame.
Every matured person around there understood the unspoken meaning. They all thought she was a loose woman and lacked morals. They gave Violet dirty and judgemental looks.
You want to play smart, hump! You have to seek my permission before you do so.
"Oh, I guess this is your mother-in-law. Like attracts like, I see. I heard your parents are trying to marry you off so that they can settle their debts. I also heard you guys are on the verge of bankruptcy", Violet smiled innocently while Sandra looked like a boiled pig.
"I heard from a little birdy, you don't need to take it seriously", she waved her hands awkwardly.
"Violet..., don't push it too far....." She ground her teeth in fury and was hopping mad.
She didn't want anyone to know about her dirty linen, well, Violet is here to unveil and reveal things.