After changing, she walked out to the living room, only to to meet two angry faces of her aunt and cousin, shooting daggers at her.
"Aigu!" She exclaimed in a low tone as she inched backwards.
"Didn't you hear my call?" Her aunt asked, with her hands crossed over her chest.
"Ah.... good morning, aunt" Arianna greeted with a feigned smile.
"What's so good about the morning?" She asked with a frown settled between her brows.
"The weather is quite cool...."
"Shut up!" She yelled .
Arianna straightened her back while she looked at the floor. She clearly wasn't ready for a slap.
"I'm going out with Sally" Yoo Na said "You must do all the chores. No one is left out, am I understood?"
Arianna feigned a smile, she nodded "Yes"
"Let's go, Sally" Yoo Na said, walking away.
Rosalie shot Arianna a glare, "Hmmph" she walked away.
Arianna blinked repeatedly. Was that for her?
"Damnit" she cursed "I would have plucked out those eyes of hers. Arrghh..!" She ran her fingers through her hair in anger. She walked to the kitchen to wash the dishes while humming a song.
Life's been so hard, she tried to be strong. That's what her mother would've wanted. She won't give up so easily. If not that she didn't have enough money, she would have left this house. And she didn't want use her mother's insurance money. She'll just keep pushing.
She hurriedly finished the chores, took her bath and left for work. She took in the fresh air of the city and a small smile crept to her face
*...*....*....*....*....*....*....*...*....*.....*.....*
"Tick, tock, tick, tock, tick, tock....." Ryan followed the rhythm of the clock on the wall. His legs were crossed on the desk and his head tilted upwards. He clearly forgot Leonel's presence in the room. Leonel was left in awe. What's wrong with him? He looked a little friendlier than the last years.
"Chairman Park" Ryan called slowly "What news do you bring today?" He asked. This was the second time he called him that.
Leonel cleared his throat "Young master, the profit of goods in Han group has increased up to 5% , and about last month we bought 25% shares in Taesan corp and its profit has increased by 10%....."
"Tick, tock, tick, tock....."
Leonel's lips parted. Was he even listening? Zariel knocked on the door lightly before opening it and walking in, with a tray in her hands.
"Your coffee, young master" she said and placed it on the desk. She bowed as a sign that she was about to leave.
"Hold on" Ryan stopped her. Bringing his legs down, he faced them, twirling a pen in his hand. He looked at Leonel then Zariel, then back to Leonel again, then Zariel. They gulped hardly. Why was he staring? Did they do something wrong?
Ryan inhaled deeply "How long has it been?" he breathed.
The duo looked at themselves, then back to him "Pardon?" they said in unison, confused.
"How long has it been since I was banished?" Ryan asked again.
The duo looked at themselves again before turning to him.
"Five hundred years....." Zariel said
"Two and a half decades" Leonel completed .
"And how old am I?" Ryan asked again. The duo were confused. Where are all these questions coming from? This wasn't the business of the day.
"Five hundred and twenty five years, young master" Zariel replied
"So why haven't I found her?" Ryan asked. His question struck them, but they still couldn't understand what he meant.
Leonel leaned forward "Who?"
"My bride, of course" Ryan replied. If he needed help, he has to open up.
The duo looked at themselves with wide eyes, then..."Hahahaha....." they laughed.
Ryan's gaze darkened. Why are they laughing? They laughed not more than ten seconds before their eyes fell on his angry face, and they stopped that instant, clearing their throats.
"Sorry, young master" they apologized with their heads lowered. Ryan looked at them for a while. "I need answers" he finally said.
"Maybe because you're too isolated from women" Leonel said
"What did you say?" Ryan asked, totally confused.
"You don't get yourself to be around women and understand them, young master " Zariel clarified. Ryan leaned forward, placing his elbows on the table and his fingers clasped under his jaw.
"So you're saying.... If I make friends with women, I'll find her soon?"
"Yes" Zariel nodded "But, it has to be one at a time"
"Ah...." Ryan leaned back on the chair "Why haven't I thought of this? What a pleasant idea." He smiled. It wasn't so bad to ask for opinions anyway.
"Thank you" the duo bowed with smiling faces.
"Go" he gestured for them to leave. They did their final bow and walked out the door, closing it gently.
Ryan laughed. God! He's so happy. Leonel and Zariel laughed underneath their breaths. If he finds her, he'll be free, and that means there'll be no one for him to vent his pain on. Haha!