The Traps of Black Swan

Hearing Shane call Aarvi, 'My dear' their actions as some kind of joke, Alex was revolted against them. He turned to Aarvi. She looked like she was going to puke anytime soon.

Aarvi forced a smile out of her lips, "Yes Dad."

Shane got into his business. "I heard you got married. How about a wedding? We should give a grand one. We can't fall behind just because they are Rivas, right?"

Aarvi couldn't believe her father never gives up any chances and falls as low as he could. She played along, "You are right, Dad. I have a few hundred million in a few bank accounts. Is that enough, Dad? How about I sell some shares and get you a billion?"

Maisie wanted to slap her husband seeing his face get all the colors.. One could guess he was seeing money everywhere. Probably Aarvi was appearing like a currency note dancing on the floor.

"That would be great." He hurriedly got up. He almost slipped on the wet floor but balanced quickly and grinned.

"Forget about the money." Aarvi shook her head. Shane's face fell and continued to hear her, "I will arrange it myself. You guys are old, take a rest and attend the wedding. Alright, Dad?"

Shane vigorously shook his head. If she handles everything, he couldn't cheat a lot of money. How could he accept it? "No, no, Darling. You are recently married. How about you guys enjoy the honeymoon and let me handle everything? We can ask Dad for some contribution. What do you think?"

Aaron was done with the nonsense. He looked at his wife who had to live between such people for so many years. He had thought he knew her pain but it seemed like none could know her pain but herself. "You are right." Shane didn't have a brain yet he behaved like he had one.

Aarvi shrugged her shoulders, "I told you."

Aarvi flashed a smile at her father and ordered the requirements, "Dad, your son-in-law likes some coffee. I will have some juice, I guess. Alex will have…"

Alex was smart to play along, "Tea."

"Perfect."

Shane was about to call for a maid and recalled there was no maid. His wife knew nothing to use in the kitchen. Still in the dream a billion bucks to his hands, "I will get it right away."

Maisie looked like she wanted to crush her husband to the ground and paddle him to death. It was so clear Aarvi was playing him. She wasn't that dumb girl who would say yes just so that they could treat her better. 

Maisie turned to Aarvi hissed, "Stop fooling him."

Aarvi shrugged her shoulders, "He is a fool." She doesn't have to fool a fool.

Aarvi pointed her finger at Maisie, "And you, I have a surprise for you."

Aarvi and Aaron sat together. Alex pushed Maisie to sit when she was glaring at the couple.

"Mom, do you remember you had taken me to a cafe and bought me a cupcake. Then left after spilling juice on my school dress?" Aarvi asked.

Maisie snorted, "I have done that many times. Be more specific." There was smugness in her tone as though it was the greatest achievement in her life.

Aarvi didn't get angry even though she was wordless briefly. Aaron wanted to snap that woman's head. "Mom, I was thirteen. It happened near the school." 

Maisie smirked slyly, "I don't remember."

She expected Aarvi to lose her temper but a bright smile appeared, "That's great. It is only meant to be my memories."

Maisie: "..."

Aarvi continued, "That exact cupcake brought me close to Aaron. If you hadn't taken me there…" Aarvi hugged Aaron's arm and leaned on his shoulder, "I would have missed my husband."

Maisie's expression turned ugly. She tried hard to remember but she couldn't recall. She had forgotten as it wasn't any important event for her.

"The cafe waiter was Aaron. He was the patissier. I was hanging out with Aaron." There was a smile till then. And it vanished slowly, "And he was the one who gifted that dress you tore it off in front of all with your scissors. He gave those pictures to me and you burned them all."

Maisie started recalling the expensive car dropping Aarvi. She had cut her designer dress, beaten her to death, and burned the dress and pictures.

She swallowed nervously and lifted her head. She didn't know when Aarvi stood in front of her. She widened her eyes in a sudden rush of fear and failed to dodge the strike that came right at her cheek.

'Pak,' The fierce slap resounded in the living hall of the villa.

Aarvi had no plans to physically torture her parents. But after recovering Aaron's memories she recovered a few more traumatic memories that happened after that day. That still makes her blood boil. 

Aarvi held back her anger and said each word clearly and audibly, "I was fourteen years old. How could you tear a girl's dress, much less in front of all? You are unfit to be a woman."

Aarvi felt Aaron's hand on her shoulder. She asked for a minute, waiting for Maisie to lift her head. At the same time, she pointed upstairs for Alex who stood shocked. He accepted her instruction and went upstairs.

Aarvi continued, "You always beat me, that day too. Alright. Who the hell told you I was sleeping around? Did you see it? Ronron is right here, why don't you ask him?"

'Pak.' 

Another slap violently landed on Maisie's other cheek. Tears streamed down Maisie's eyes as she recalled everything. Tears weren't for the past but the pain.

"Do you know because of your filthy mouth I was being harassed verbally by your maids and servants? They were asking me if I serve older men, if I am available at night, how much I charge for a time. I am glad I didn't know the meaning of those words."

Maisie had no idea about this. That day she was angry to see Aarvi coming in an expensive car, wearing a dress that cost more than any of her dresses. Envious, she said what came to her mouth while beating Aarvi.

Aaron pulled Aarvi into his arms. If he knew she would face so much, he wouldn't have dropped her or held her back at the park.

Aarvi clenched her teeth but didn't shed a tear. As a child of her parents, she could have accepted everything but this… This wasn't about a parent and child. These slaps were for being a girl, a woman.

She patted Aaron to let her go. She was alright, she thought. She didn't want to dwell in the past. The faster she gets rid of these, she will have more time for her present and future.

Alex returned with a heap of female clothes and dropped them on the door. Then he went out. 

Aarvi looked at Maisie who was glaring at her holding both cheeks. This woman never could stop loathing her. "Do you think you could get this villa back to you?" Aarvi snickered.

Maisie's eyes widened thinking Aarvi was going to throw them out. They had nowhere to go. Her brother lied to them in the fear of Rivas… No, in the fear of Aarvi.

"Oh my dear mother, I will never let anybody help you." She flashed a cunning smile, "With your petty brain, you can't even earn a million. So choose yourself, do you want to run away and beg on the streets or live here?"

Maisie imagined her coming life hearing Aarvi's terrifying words. The more images appeared in her head, she panicked. The tears of a painful future rolled down.

Aarvi didn't forget to add, "Whichever you choose, Maisie Burnette, I will make your life a living hell. I will keep you alive and make you suffer."

Maisie didn't want to say it but she screamed the words at Aarvi, "I gave birth to you. I am your mother. How could you do this to me?"

Alex: "..." 

He paused while pouring the petrol on the clothes.