"Shh! Just breathe. I'm right here," Amaya murmured, wrapping her arms around Zeya, her fingers gently rubbing her arms to soothe her. Zeya pressed her face against Amaya's neck, her voice trembling. "I don't know what to do anymore. Mom won't listen, and she's determined to sell the house."
Amaya held her tighter, feeling Zeya's body shake with each sob. After a few moments, Zeya pulled back, her cheeks glistening with tears as she wiped them away. "If I remember correctly, Demi and Somi come from wealthy families too, right? I wasn't there when you needed me, but they were. Why didn't you reach out to them?" Amaya asked, her confusion evident.
Zeya shook her head, taking a deep breath before responding, "They're my friends, not an ATM machine." Amaya pressed her lips together, frustration flickering in her eyes as she clenched her fists. "But they're YOUR FRIENDS! Who else do you think we should turn to when things get tough?" Amaya shot back, her voice rising with urgency, desperate for Zeya to understand the importance of leaning on those who care. "If Demi and Somi find out, do you have any idea how much that'll hurt them?" Amaya asked, her forehead creased in disbelief, her eyes wide with concern. Zeya listened quietly, biting her lip, tears once again threatening to spill over. "But just because they're wealthy doesn't mean they have access to all of their wealth. Why would I even bother to burden them with this then?" she replied, her voice barely a whisper, yet heavy with emotion.
Amaya's expression softened as she cupped Zeya's face, her thumbs brushing away the tears that glistened on her cheeks. "Whether they could provide or not is up to them, but if you had told them, they would have tried to help you with whatever they could no matter what. They'd have felt better knowing you trusted them enough to share your struggles. And honestly, it would have lightened your load too!" Amaya's voice was gentle yet firm, piercing through Zeya's heart with its sincerity.
"Fine, if you're set on not asking for help," Amaya finally said, her tone shifting as she released Zeya's face and held her hand tightly, determination radiating from her. "Then, sell the house." Zeya's gaze shot up, disbelief flooding her features. "What?" she exclaimed, her heart racing at the thought, but Amaya's next words left her even more stunned. "To me," Amaya added, her eyes steady and unwavering.
Sitting on the couch, Seth stared at his phone, a smirk creeping across his face as he raised his eyebrows in amusement. Just then, Fred burst out of the bathroom, a towel wrapped around his waist, droplets of water glistening on his skin. He looked around, his hair dripping onto the floor, and wandered into the next room, then back again, confusion etched on his face. "Where is Ama?" he called out, his voice echoing slightly in the quiet house.
Seth licked his lips, trying to suppress a laugh, and replied, "Feather City."
Fred blinked, his brow furrowing in confusion. "Feather City? Why on Earth would she go there today?" He scratched his head, his wet hair flopping comically as he did so.
Seth shrugged, shaking his head nonchalantly, a playful grin spreading across his face. "No clue. Maybe she's off to charm her ex into doing her project again? You know, the classic 'help me and I'll kiss you' strategy." He chuckled, raising an eyebrow as he added, "Or maybe she finally decided to bring back papa's tombstone to sleep."
Fred rolled his eyes, a smile breaking through his bewilderment. "Great, just what I need—Ama off to play games with ghosts while I'm stuck here in a towel searching for my dignity!" He gestured dramatically, the towel slipping slightly, causing both of them to burst into laughter.
Feather City
12 : 37 P.M.
*Vroom vroom*
The bike's engine purred to a halt outside Zeya's mom's house, the sound fading into the warmth of the afternoon. Amaya, her heart racing with anticipation, took off the helmet, and released a trembling breath, her gaze lingering at the house beside her. The man behind her, Daniel, removed his helmet, revealing a friendly smile that crinkled the corners of his eyes, a stark contrast to the serious black suit he wore.
With a deep breath, Amaya approached the door and pressed the doorbell, the sound echoing softly in the stillness. She waited, her fingers fidgeting nervously at her side. After a couple of rings, the door creaked open, revealing Zeya's mom, her thin frame framed by the warm glow of the hallway light. Her face, a canvas of exhaustion, transformed into a picture of surprise and joy. "Ama!?" she exclaimed, her voice a mix of excitement and confusion, eyes widening as she took in the sight of Amaya. A smile broke across her face, illuminating her features as she stepped forward, hugging Amaya tightly.
Her gaze shifted to Daniel, who stood patiently beside Amaya, an office bag in his hand. "Oh, Aunty, this is Daniel Franklin, my long-lost uncle!" she introduced, her grin stretching from ear to ear, radiating happiness. Zeya's mom's expression softened further, her eyebrows raising in surprise. "Hello," Daniel replied, his voice smooth and inviting, as he offered a polite nod. "Please, come inside!" Zeya's mom urged, her body leaning slightly forward, eager to welcome them inside.
"What are you doing here? Shouldn't you be at Aqua City?" she asked, her hands instinctively reaching for the colourful bags Amaya had brought. Amaya smiled, her eyes sparkling with warmth as she stepped into the house, the familiar scent of home wrapping around her like a comforting blanket. As she removed her shoes, she noticed several pairs of polished leather shoes lined up neatly by the door. "Do you have a guest right now?" Amaya asked, curiosity dancing in her voice.
Zeya's mom's eyes widened, a flicker of realization crossing her face as she recalled her visitors. "Oh! I almost forgot. Why don't you two stay in Zeya's room for a bit? I have a little business to wrap up." Amaya nodded, her heart fluttering with excitement, a rush of nostalgia washing over her as she stepped further into the house, memories of laughter and whispered secrets flooding her mind.
"Amaya," Daniel called, his forehead creasing as he spotted the two men in black suits lounging in the living room. "Is something wrong?" Amaya asked, her instincts kicking in as she sensed the urgency in Daniel's voice. "They're from H.S. Company. The guy with the black watch is the CEO's personal assistant, and the other one is their notorious lawyer. He's never lost a case," Daniel explained, moving closer to her, a protective aura surrounding him.
"So you two haven't crossed paths in court yet," Amaya whispered, a smirk playing on her lips, knowing Daniel had a flawless record too. The men sitting on the sofa turned their heads to Zeya's mom but looked surprised to see Daniel. "Oh! Isn't it our famous lawyer Mr. Franklin?" the assistant exclaimed, eyes wide with recognition. "Hello, Mr. Geller. Long time no see," Daniel replied, shaking his hand firmly, but a hint of tension lingered in the air. "We dropped by Sid Enterprise yesterday to meet the important figures of theirs, but you were missing in there, Mr. Franklin." he added, forcing a chuckle that felt more like a challenge.
Amaya narrowed her eyes, a flicker of disgust crossing her features as she took in the sight before her. "I didn't expect to see you here, Mr. Martin," Daniel said, extending his hand to the lawyer, his tone clipped and formal, as if he were trying to maintain a facade of civility. Zeya's mom glanced between them, confusion etched on her face, while Amaya's smile was a tight line, devoid of warmth.
"And you, young lady, you seem familiar. Have we met?" the assistant inquired, his polite demeanour faltering under the weight of Amaya's icy glare. "Not that I recall," she shot back, her voice sharp and unwavering, leaving no room for doubt. "Unless, Mr. Geller has a talent for blending into the background." she remarked, the corner of her lips twisted in distaste, her eyebrows furrowing as she regarded him like an unsightly piece of litter.
Daniel chuckled softly, a hint of amusement dancing in his eyes as he wrapped an arm around Amaya's shoulders, grounding her. "Allow me to introduce you to our future Mrs. Bernard," he said, his tone playful yet proud. The assistant and the lawyer of H.S. Company widened their eyes, their expressions changing from disbelief to shock as they took in Amaya, who stood confidently, defiance radiating from her.
"Since everyone knows each other, why don't we sit together? I'll bring tea for everyone," Zeya's mom suggested, her tone light in an attempt to diffuse the tension. Mr. Martin shifted his gaze to her, his voice steady as he replied, "That's kind of you, Mrs. Ansaldo, but let's focus on the paperwork and finish up for today." He pulled out a document from his briefcase and a pen from his pocket, sliding it toward her. "If you could sign this, please."
Amaya clicked her tongue in irritation, snatching the paper from the table. Without a glance at the contents, she flipped it over, concealing whatever was written there. "Mr. Geller, you wouldn't mind letting me finish my work first, would you?" she asked, her smile chillingly devoid of warmth. Mr. Geller's lips twitched as he fought to maintain composure; his fist tightened at his side. He forced a smile, teeth clenched, and replied, "How can I say no to our Junior Mrs. Bernard?" The bitterness in his tone was palpable, the strained smile barely masking his frustration.