Alan tried to call Aria's number but it was switched off due to low battery. He thought to talk to her in the evening and left for his office without having a mood to eat anything.

Aria straight went to the Cooper mansion knowing Eva was in there. Eva didn't have her uniform and she wanted to skip her class.

​​

Aria didn't have a mood to do anything so she went straight to her room and laid on the bed. Since she hadn't slept the whole night and was physically tired, she soon dozed off.

Before sleeping, she had called Isaac to inform him to take Eva out who wasn't going to school thinking to accompany her.

Eva checked on Aria to make sure she didn't have a fever or wasn't crying and just sleeping. After asking the housekeeper Sophia to take care of Aria, she went out with Isaac.

Rian had thought Aria might go to school but she wasn't there. Noah and Rian called her but her number was switched off. After knowing from Eva, they went to meet her after school

The housekeeper Sophia had forced Aria to eat something at two in the afternoon. Seeing Aria again laying on the bed, Sophia tried to talk but Aria whined and sent her out.

Sophia anxiously paced worrying about Aria until Rian and Noah reached.

Rian filled the bathtub and the duo sent her to the bathroom seeing her still in previous days' clothes.

Aria halfheartedly soaked in water. She didn't expect Alan to outrightly reject her without properly talking to her. She didn't cry but she didn't know what to do.

She wasn't ready to back off. She didn't want to make a choice between them.

Her train of thoughts broke when she heard a knock on the door followed by, "Hey! Little Devil, did you sleep inside?"

"Coming," Aria responded and soon exited in leisurewear.

Two boys knew she wouldn't agree to drop off the education abroad and they couldn't talk to Alan either so they cheered up Aria. Since Eva wasn't going back home, Aria stayed behind letting the boys leave.

But her smile didn't stay long and Alan grimly entered the mansion.

"Why is your mobile off?"

Aria pouted and didn't reply.

Alan checked it to know she hadn't charged it. He had probably called fifty times to reach her before going there directly after knowing from her bodyguards.

Seeing her safe he ignored it and kneeled in front of her to talk, "Is it really important to study over there? I'm here if you face any problem during college or work, I will help you out."

Aria didn't reply.

Alan continued, "I will help you whenever you are stuck. The education here and there doesn't make much difference."

Aria contradicted his statement, "Alan, If education between that university and here doesn't make much difference then why is every higher-level employee under you have studied in top best universities."

Alan wanted to sit and calmly coax her but Aria rejected at the beginning itself.

"You are heiress of Skyline Industries. How does it matter where you study?"

Aria's contemptuous smile appeared on her face. "Alan, I might be heiress but I never intended to go straight up to the higher position because of it. I will only take over if I'm worth to that position."

Alan frowned but didn't lose his temper. "What do you mean?"

Aria spoke calmly, "I and Dad had long back decided I start from white-collar employee and make my way up to director before taking over from Dad. I don't want to sit in that position just because I am the daughter of Oliver Cooper."

Alan clenched his left fist tight. He knew it would be hard to convince her so easily but he didn't expect it to toughen by her every response.

"Alright, how about I work till you feel as capable? You can go to the business school in the capital city." It was the top business school in the country.

"Do you mean the business school which gave a fake certificate to its heir who didn't attend even a single class? Alan, that school was never on my list."

"Aria" Alan grunted as he stood up. "Can't you understand my intention? I don't want to send you to faraway places."

Aria who had jerked back when he shouted her name, bit her lip looking down.

"Alan, Hadn't you said your dream is to 'Grow old with me'? How would it feel for you if I say, 'Kill your dream'?"

Alan's breath twitched hearing her. He knew he had said 'kill your dream' but he didn't expect her to use it on him about them.

He threw the thing which was in his hand and pulled her up. Seeing her look aside he held her chin to face him, "Are you saying your studies abroad are more important than us? Aria, you are really heartless."

The tears rolled down on her cheeks as she responded, "You don't know how much you mean to me and I can't explain either. I never had and never will have Love or education as a choice. I want a career with love."

Alan left her hand tried to wipe her tears but Aria ran towards the wall and collected the broken pieces of her mobile which Alan threw.

Alan realized he had broken her mobile in anger. He remembered what she had told about the mobile one day, 'This is the first thing you bought for me.'

He felt something tug his heart painfully.

Aria was leaving upstairs, Alan called her, "Aria, I will get a new one. Throw them away."

Aria bit her lip hard controlling her emotions and turned to him, "No Thank you. I can buy it..."

She paused before continuing, "You know very well, I don't like to depend on anybody when I do anything. Even with the company, when I take over, I will work independently without burdening you. For that, I want to and I have to be strong. If you help behind me then there is no meaning whether I'm handling the company or you."

After finishing, she ran upstairs and locked herself in the room.

Isaac and Eva had entered to hear only the last part.

Alan was frozen in his place.

Of course, he knew very well Aria didn't and never liked to depend on anybody. The more he tried to make her depend on him, the more she was trying to be independent.

Even though she shows her weak side only to him, about the rest of the things, she voluntarily and efficiently handled.

He had thought to spoil her to the extent she could laze her full lifetime letting him look after both the companies but nothing happened that way.