"Do you think Zaria is coming back?" Ryan asked when the match he and Theodore were watching ended. It was already late at night and the match was his way of stalking for time so Zaria would return. However, she seemed to be taking much longer than one would when seeing people off. It was almost as though she had followed Desmond to his house!

Damned Desmond. He cursed when he thought about it. That man must have lured her to his mansion.

Theodore's words merely confirmed his fear. "If you ask me, no she isn't."

His heart sank. That fool really did lure her away. "Uncle,"

Theodore knew what he was going to say, and he patted the young man's shoulder. "Ryan, if I were to choose a match for my daughter, it would have been you in the past."

Ryan smiled when he heard the words that sounded like a compliment, only to hear the last part of his words. "In the past? You mean your opinion of me changed?"

"Yes." Theodore honestly answered, making Ryan immensely disappointed.

Ryan let out a sigh, understanding why Theodore would no longer think of him as the best kind of man for his daughter. He rubbed his palms together. "Uncle, I'm sorry. I may have pushed her too hard thanks to my selfishness but I love her."

"It's not about that." Theodore frowned slightly. "The fact that she didn't notice you says it all."

It was a fair point, he had to admit. "I understand."

"That doesn't mean I regard you any less than I did before. I still see you as a son." He patted Ryan's shoulder like he would if he had a son. Sometimes he wondered what it would be like if Zaria had a brother. Would she still be independent, or would she be spoiled rotten by having two men who cared for her around her? Or perhaps, her brother would have turned out to be so naughty that he would prank the hell out of her. He chuckled just thinking about it. In reality, he and Lucy had already discussed having a second child—but things didn't work out between them.

Ryan sighed in defeat when he saw Theodore's expression change faster than the flip of a page. He must have thought about Desmond, and he must have a better impression of him.

"At least you think of me as a son. That makes me feel better, I guess?" though the last thing he wanted was to think of Zaria as his sister.

"How is Nina?" Theodore asked.

He gladly changed the topic. "She's been having better responses to her medication. The doctor says she will be better soon."

"Send my love to her." Theodore could only send his greetings, since the girl's emotions might be triggered by the sight of people she was not close to.

…

Zaria curled in Desmond's bed as soon as they arrived, and wanted to fall asleep even though Desmond had other plans in mind.

"Des, I feel sleepy." She hugged the duvet to her chest while trying to keep her eyes awake.

He kissed the top of her head. "Go ahead, honey. I'll hold you and keep the ghosts away." He held her head against his lap as he covered her, patting her back.

"Can you not act like I'm a little girl?" She pinched him.

"You can be one if you want to. Don't be shy." He rubbed her back soothingly.

She laughed and punched him, though she had to admit that he made her wish to be a little girl again.

When she fell asleep, he tucked her in and continued gazing down at her. She looked so adorable while sleeping that he couldn't help caressing her face a little longer.

His phone rang, making him frown. It was an unknown number. Why would anyone call him so late at night?

"Who are you?" He asked in a low tone so he wouldn't wake Zaria.

"Hello?" He probed when the latter didn't say a word. "It must be a lunatic." He hung up with a frown. Perhaps that was one of his mother's antics, in her attempt to ruin his night with Zaria.

He was wondering whether to get the contact number checked the following day when Zaria stirred in bed. She looked restless with beads of sweat forming on her forehead.

"No…" She whined.

"Zaria?" He shook her awake.

She woke up in a daze and threw herself into his arms. "Desmond."

"Nightmare?" He patted her back as he asked.

"No...Not really." She pulled away so she wouldn't make him worried. "I was just a little restless."

He took her hand and caressed the back of it lovingly. "Are you having trouble with anything, my love?"

She shook her head. "No. It's just… I'm a little worried about my mother." She rubbed the back of her neck. "She must have a lot going on. Running a company like Twilight as well as Preston and Fort Group doesn't seem easy."

He pulled her into a hug. "She must have done that to be with you. I'm sure she has it all figured out. Even if it's going to be difficult, she will feel the joy more than the tiredness."

"You're actually right." She thought about his words. While it was true, it wasn't the only reason why she was restless lately. She was thinking about Zeus—who she had recently found out to be her brother.

She had tried to find out why Lucy hid him away and the only reasonable explanation she could think of was that she was trying to protect Zeus. Perhaps it was the same reason as whatever it was that was keeping her away from her family?

She had millions of questions, none of which she could share with Desmond because it was not her story to tell.

It was only troublesome that it was starting to creep into her brain more often, so much that she was starting to have nightmares about her mother's and brother's lives being in danger.

"Go back to sleep." He hugged her comfortingly, and she hummed as she rested her head against his chest.

_

The following day, Preston and Fort Group.

Lucy arrived a few minutes after Zaria, and she was surprised to see her daughter who looked anxious.

She ensured no one was around and locked the door. "What happened to you?"

"Mother!" Zaria threw herself into her arms emotionally.

"Did anyone bully you? Is it the Sparks?" She sounded like she would commit murder, making Zaria smile as she pulled away.

"No, it's no one. I just missed you." She confessed. "But, do you have something against the Sparks? You only think the worst of them."

Lucy shook her head indifferently. "Let's just say I have something against all the aristocratic families in Imperium. They're my competitors after all."

It did make sense, so Zaria nodded. "It must be hard, isn't it? Not having any real friends because they could as well be faking it to take advantage of you or find loopholes to use to take you down."

"Friends, Zaria?" Lucy seemed amused by her analogy. "You are your own friend. No one else is worthy of your trust—not even your parents."

"Okay…" It did sound like something Lucy would say. Since she was a strong believer of fighting solo.

"I don't have much to do this evening. Would you like to accompany me somewhere?" She asked.

"It's my duty, ma'am." Zaria jokingly switched to her working mode.

"Then meet me in the parking lot at five." Lucy exited her office only to bump into Desmond.

"Good Morning, Miss Roatta." He greeted her teasingly. "You don't seem to have had enough rest. Did you stay up late last night?"

"Don't get me wrong." He pinched his nose bridge when he realized the misunderstanding his question could cause. "Someone was idle enough to give me a blank call last night. I have a feeling it was not a mistake. Was the idle person perhaps… you?"

"No." She huffed. Was he insane?

He believed her, because she was always smug about causing trouble and had no reason to lie about it. "Hey, can I borrow Zaria for the day? I'm yet to meet my new assistant." He tried to ask nicely, only to be met with a wave of her forefinger.

"Your new assistant should be here soon. Zaria and I have things to do."

___

The mall was not one of the things in Zaria's mind when her mother talked about going somewhere, so she was taken aback.

"Try this on." Lucy handed her the umpteenth gown, and Zaria was officially confused.

"Why do I need to try on so many clothes anyway?"

"I would like you to accompany me to an event." Lucy held an emerald dress to her chest before setting it aside with a frown. "I forgot to tell you about it. Will you be my plus one?"

"Yes, but what kind of event?" She was curious.

"The mayor's wedding banquet."