Aria and Eva had thought Noah would have a sweet love story but they didn't expect him to go through so much.

She really wished Norah to gather her thoughts soon.

​​

After sending Noah towards the door, she stood in front of Geoff, "I'm sure you won't break with your family. If... I'm saying if, if you want to leave Hanes industries, Skyline will welcome you wholeheartedly... And yeah, I'm not scared of your father."

Geoff slightly nodded in response.

Aria went to Elder Hanes. She took a letter from Levi and placed it in front of him.

Her voice wasn't dominating. it was plain from any emotions.

"The road is intact. The blast you heard was actually a siren for the marathon which started five miles away from here and ends at the 3D painting spot. This is a permission letter from the administration for organizing a marathon and using the road. I have a license to use the firearm for my protection.

I might be an orphan but I have the best family who is supporting me endlessly. I might don't have a father now but his upbringing never proved me wrong."

She didn't wait for his response and left with Levi who asked, "Are you alright?"

Aria just hummed. She didn't want to leave Noah alone so she sent Levi to Noah's car calling Noah with her.

"Let's hope for the best and I'm sorry, I shouldn't have treated them rashly."

Noah faintly smiled rubbing her head, "Thank you for giving me one last chance to try. I will not have any regrets even if her fear dominates her love."

Hearing his depressed tone. Aria pouted innocently blinking her eyes, "I'm not a puppy."

Noah smiled resignedly and retracted his hand back. He couldn't understand how she manages to bring his smile easily.

Remembering what Elder Hanes said, "Arrie, you have us. Don't take Chairman Hanes's words to heart."

Aria's tightened her grip on the steering wheel to control the sharp pain in her heart and forced a smile to stop him feeling bad for herself, "Of course. I will break your leg if YOU forget that. Hmph."

Noah didn't blow her cover from her fake nonchalance. He was about to change the topic but they reached the 3D painting spot where Rian and Roxy had worked hard the whole night.

It was a 3D earthquake painting on the road.

"Hey, Alan is here... Sister Zara too." Aria purposefully sounded excited parking her car.

Alan walked towards them as soon as he got a glimpse of her car. Aria didn't care about the media around who were covering the artistic painting of the couple. She went to Alan's arms.

Noah slightly bowed his head at Alan and went ahead towards the other three and Zara who were eager to know what happened in the Hanes mansion.

Alan realized Aria was hurt by something just by the way she was hugging him. He caressed her head wrapping his arms around her.

Levi greeted him with a small bow and sighed looking at Aria who had buried herself in Alan's embrace. He created a reasonable distance from them to wait for Aria.

"Honey, what happened?" Alan's deep soothing voice sounded near her ear.

Aria shook her head and tightened her arms around his waist, "Are we as strong as blood relationship?"

"No" Alan's response was instant.

Frowning, Aria punched his waist and heard him continue, "We are stronger than any other relationship."

He cupped her somber face gazing at her flickering eyelashes which were controlling her tears from her moistened glistening eyes. He felt his heart tug looking at her state, "Missing Dad?"

Aria nodded promptly while her tears trickled down.

She wasn't a child to call her an orphan but it hurt her as if she was a small child who just lost her parents.

Alan gently wiped her tears, "Let's visit Mom and Dad."

Aria hummed rubbing her little face on his chest to wipe her tears on his clothes.

Alan held her head and pecked on her forehead as he heard her ask, "Why are you so good to me?"

Alan lightened her mood saying, "Because... You are a dummy."

Aria chuckled hearing him say it seriously, "Your way of confessing is really unique."

"Oh." Alan led her towards his car making sure she was fine as he continued, "Be dummy, why are you getting smart?"

Aria smiled hearing him and spoke to Levi, "Why don't you take a day off? I will see you tomorrow."

Levi: ●_●

'What can I do by taking a day off?' He had just thought to himself Aria turned to him.

"Go shopping with your mother. Have a good day." She tossed her car key fob at him with a faint smile.

Levi: #_#

'Did you just read my mind?'

He saw her happily chat for a few minutes with her friends to keep them worry-free, calmed Noah for a few minutes before bidding them.

It was hard to dislike her and understood why most of her people like to spend time with her and why Finn loves her unconditionally with zero expectations.

He took her car left after her.

---

Hanes family mansion.

Geoff sighed once Aria left and walked towards stairs. His father growled at him, "Stop right there..."

"I don't have the mood to argue now, Dad." Geoff continued to take stairs holding his wife's hand.

"How dare you disobey me?"

Geoff paused and turned to him, "I had only promised to let you bring up my children and never interfere with it."

After finishing he left for his room sending his wife to check on Norah.

As soon as Geoff left, Elder Hanes slammed his cane on the coffee table glass top breaking it into hundreds of pieces.

"Seven, block all the networks and lock them in the mansion." He ordered and stormed into his study.

---

In Norah's room

Norah had curled on the bed crying her eyes out. Madam Hanes caressed her head as she spoke about her experience.

"Norah, you know in our time love marriage was very rare. My father and grandfather were orthodox. As soon as I completed my education, they arranged my marriage. When I tried to talk to my mother, do you know what she did?... (Sigh) She locked me in my bedroom..."

Norah stopped crying and became attentive to her mother, "... In the name of punishment, she just gave me food in the evening. She starved me all day but that didn't stop me from contacting Geoff.

When I did, he managed to take me out of my maternal house and we got married immediately.

I was adamant to stand for him, with him even when my parents were adamant for separating us..."