Everyone knew Alan won't let Arna have her way so easily. Aria was very soft-hearted for Arna so he has to be the one to punish her so that Arna wouldn't take any of them for granted.

Arna's face fell, she trembled to step ahead but seeing her mother who was about to break down, she fought back her fears even though she felt childish, unreasonable, and at fault. Now she wants to convince everyone even if they throw her out.

​​

"Dad, doesn't that mean Momma's nine years are completely reserved for me?" Arna rebutted.

Alan was glad Arna was determined to face them.

Meanwhile, Rian peeked at Arsh's unemotional face and gave a piece of advice, "You should forget about your mother and get married to the little girl."

Arsh and Rooney: "..."

They accurately know Rian was saying it's high time Arsh should take his relationship seriously without keeping the little girl in dark. Anyway, Arsh shrugged and focused on the bantering father and daughter.

Rushing up to her parents, Arna so wished she was strong enough to take her mother away from her father, she cried holding Aria's arm, "Momma, see, Dad isn't letting me be with you."

Aria wanted to jump down from Alan's arms but was afraid if she might strain him or break her own leg. She didn't like that she wasn't in her twenty. So she looked at Alan with her innocent puppy dog eyes.

Alan: "..."

As if one wasn't less, Arna followed her mother and blinked at his father. Alternating his gaze, he hissed Arna, "You look ugly. Don't infect my wife." He shrugged Arna's hand off Aria and took her to the couch.

Arna: "..."

Rian who was passing by, placed a handkerchief on Arna's hand proudly saying, "You can't compete against my Little Devil."

Arna: "..."

Arsh shrugged his shoulder showing his acceptance of Alan's words while Rooney chuckled, whirling her around to go towards the living hall.

Noor who was passing by paused, "Everyone waited for you, Sister Arna."

Arna knows that, she faintly smiled looking at his father wiping her mother's tear-stained face being as gentle as ever. She let out a light chuckle with tears trickling down on her cheeks when Alan scolded Aria seeing her eyes fill up.

Noor pushed her front seeing her frozen and crying silently before she saw Arsh cuing her to take a seat as Arna would definitely apologize to all.

Going in front of her parents, Arna deep bowed and none were surprised. She always included a bow to show her sincerity even when it wasn't required.

Aria was about to lift her but Alan coldly commanded before Arna could speak, "Kneel."

Aria: "..."

She didn't want to go so hard on Arna who wasn't a child but an adult. She wanted to take back Alan's words but Arna followed her father's order without any objection and kneeled on the floor.

Aria's words stuck in her throat looking at Arna's remorseful eyes while Arna's tears rolled down remembering the past nine years.

"It wasn't a mistake," Arna confessed, she didn't do all those unknowingly. To escape from one or the other thing, she always chose the easiest way she could face. So it was definitely not a mistake. "It was my decision, my stupidity."

Brushing away the tears from her backhand, Arna bit her lips and continued her words while sobbing, "I-I was frightened you two will be disappointed in me hearing I plagiarized Momma's design to win in the contest. I was afraid if it leaks to all, everyone will laugh at you, look down on you for having me as your daughter."

Sniffling hard, she shook her head, "I am not saying this to make you guys feel bad for my situation. I probably don't deserve your forgiveness. I accept I plagiarized Momma's design, instead of letting you punish me, I troubled you all. I was ashamed and I didn't know how to react so I chose to hide from you guys."

Aria shifted to the edge of the couch and wiped her tears but Arna cried more and more, choking on her words whenever she tried to speak. Aria was in no better state, her face had turned bright red, tears rolling down nonstop.

Alan pulled Aria to his arms letting Arna calm herself down while he tried to soothe his wife from the past. He also stopped Rooney from calming Arna who will cry more if they try to comfort her right now.

They knew most of the events happened that day hence they had repeatedly tried to reach her but she always pushed them away in a great panic that scared them back thinking she might do something to herself.

Alan had thought Arna might blame everything on Naira, not only him many thought the same excluding one, Aria. Because it is easier to earn forgiveness that way.

Arna was stronger than what she even thinks, she might not have earned their forgiveness yet but she earned back the affection.

Arna sniffled as she continued, "I assumed if I succeed on my strength, I can return here forgetting I copied but it became harder. I swear, I didn't really mean any of the words I said to Momma. I thought I wouldn't feel guilty if Momma started to hate me but she always looked forward to me. I thought if-if I-I…"

She choked on her words and couldn't make herself continue. Noor who grabbed a glass of water handed her as he rubbed her back kneeling on the floor next to her.

Arna turned to Noor who had a faint smile. It wasn't a smile unsuitable for the time, it was a calming, encouraging gesture to show her support.

Arna's tears slowly controlled looking at Noor and glanced at Arsh who was completely cool. Arna never felt like her mother excluding her mischievousness. But she found the traces of her mother's gentleness, unconditional support, fathoming the situation in Noor.

Arna tried to return the smile at Noor but failed. Rooney helped Noor to stand and made her sit on the couch while Arna faced her parents again.

"Forgiveness is asked for mistakes so I could only ask to punish me until you can forgive me one day, I will wait till that. Please let me back, I don't want to run anymore, please, please..." Then she broke down for N-th time.