Lucian's POV-
Why is she taking so long?
I pulled my phone out and called again.
[ I am not coming anywhere! I don't want to die!]
"What's wrong? Why are you shouting like a mad man?", I teased her.
[ I will not be able to come because...]
Silence?
"Are you there?" , I asked.
[ I have to do a lot of work here!], she replied.
"Fine, your choice, but come to school at 18:00 , we have a surprise party for teachers.", I hung up.
She is a party person, and never going to miss this opportunity.
I drove away.
I parked the car in the parking lot and went inside.
"Hey! How's the decoration?", Leo asked.
"Pretty cool...but something's missing."
I then went near the black-board and wrote...
HAPPY NEW YEAR!
"Yeah! That's it!", Leo jumped in excitement.
"I bet teachers are gonna love it!", Clara said.
"Yeah really it's gonna be epic!"Maya and Selena were excited.
Everyone was jumping, laughing and excited.
And for a moment I felt like a student, enjoying the party.
I felt light and happy.
NO STRESS.
NO INVESTIGATIONS.
NO FIGHTS.
JUST SILENCE...
And this was the part I missed in my life.
But still something was missing.
What?
I couldn't figure it out but felt.
A part of me wanted to have someone close to me...
Someone who could care for me, was not there.
But who?
I have no one.
Mom?
But it's been years...
"Hey! Have you ordered the food and cake?" Tessa pulled me out of my thoughts.
"Oh! I forgot...", I quickly pulled out my phone and ordered the list given by Nora.
"Fine... Make sure it arrives before the party", Tessa gave me a stare.
Almost pulling my soul out.
"And Mr. Lucian... What about the party poppers I asked for?", Isla pushed me.
"Hey!", I shouted.
"You forgot everything right?", she laughed.
THESE GIRLS!!!!
TRULY NEVER SATISFIED!
"I have asked Sophie to bring the party poppers, and lights", I announced loudly.
"Fine… no need to be so proud!"Damon mocked me.
"At least I am doing my work properly…", I whispered.
He ignored me and moved away.
After some time, I saw Sophie entering the class.
"Hey! Bro, I brought the things you asked for!"She called out.
"Thanku!!!"Isla hugged her before I could answer.
"I think you are mistaken Isla, I am her brother not you!"I warned her.
She immediately backed off.
"Whatever", she whispered.
"It's 17:20 guys… has everyone arrived?", Tessa enquired.
"Nahhh! Aria Sinclair! Not here!"Marcus shouted.
"Maybe… she is late." Ethan questioned.
"Why would she be late? She is always on time.", Adrian interrupted.
"Let's not fight! Lucian, didn't you inform her?"Sophie questioned me.
"I informed her…", I replied hesitantly.
"I'll check on her…You all enjoy."Sophie took her phone and called for a cab.
"I'll accompany you.", I requested.
"No need brother, I am not a child. And also she is my friend.", Sophie protested and went away
Why is no one listening to me?
Am I looking like a fool?
Soon the teachers arrived…It's time but where are those girls?
"HAPPY NEW YEAR SIR!!!"All of us shouted.
"It's not new year… still it's 2025. Don't tell me you forgot how to check time?", Mr. Dalton mocked us.
"We remember sir, it's just that we can't wish you at exactly 24 am because we have to go back… so we decided to wish you in advance."Adrian explained.
"Thanku you everyone!!!!", sir exclaimed.
Everyone was laughing, dancing, enjoying, eating but I felt something was wrong.
Where did Sophie go?
Aria's home is not this far…
My thoughts started to warn me about the upcoming danger.
I called Sophie but her phone went silent.
I messaged Aria but she didn't reply.
I tried to call her but there was still no answer.
"Lucian! Haven't you eaten anything?"Adrian enquired.
"Not willing to", I answered softly.
Probably, he noticed the tension on my face.
"What are you worried about?"He asked.
"Nothing important."I tried to ignore the question.
"Fine don't tell me but then don't say that I didn't help you."He went away.
Who needs help?
I?
Not at all!
I got up from the chair and left the party quietly.
I pulled out my phone and dialed Aria's number.
[Hello?]
A voice came.
"Who are you!"I shouted.
[I am the maid in Sinclair house… Madam is on the roof top. Call later.]
Before I could say something, the maid hung up.
I pulled out my car keys and drove to Aria's home.
I sped up…
Through the busy roads of Kensington, Finally I reached there.
I quickly got out and went inside.
"Who are you? Stay outside!"The maids tried to push me.
"ARIA! "I shouted.
"Lucian! What are you doing?", she came down.
After seeing her I felt relieved…
I went up to her and held her close.
"Are you okay?", I asked.
"Yes, no need to worry! You are sweating. What happened?"She panicked.
"Did Sophie come here?", I asked.
"No, she didn't."
I was taken aback.
"S-S-She did-didn't?", I stammered.
It has already been almost 50 minutes since she went out.
"Lucian! Sit down! Your pulse is getting higher every minute…"Aria pushed me on the chair nearby.
She brought a glass of water.
"Have it"She pushed it towards me.
"No… I need to look for Sophie. She left the venue searching for you but she is nowhere now."I panicked and the glass fell down.
"Sorry…Sorry…"I apologised.
"It's okay… Firstly, ask Stephen or Nikos to look into the matter."Aria instructed.
I pulled out my phone and dialed Stephen's number.
[Hello?]
"Check all CCTV and surveillance footage of the road to Aria's home… Inform me if you find out where Sophie went."I ordered.
[What happened?]Stephen questioned.
"Do as I say!"I hung up immediately.
"Don't act reckless! Stay calm. Nothing will happen to Sophie."Aria patted my shoulders.
After a few minutes a message popped up on my phone.
From: Stephen
Sophie was last seen near the Heart coffee shop. From there an old lady took a lift in her car. Then at the Puma Shoes shop, the car stopped but no one got off.
After some time, the car started moving again but instead of going straight from there to Aria's home. She took a left turn to Kenisngton dockyard.
And then all the footage of cameras near the port and dockyard are erased.
I threw the plate kept on the table.
Who dares to play with me again?
"Aria I need to go… Take care."I got up.
"Stop! I will come along with you no more questions, we need to hurry!"She pulled me outside.
I drove to the Kensington Dockyard.
Whoever dares to hurt her has to pay a price.
—-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
In a few minutes we reached the Dockyard.
Why is this place included in every drama in my life?
I questioned myself.
I looked towards Aria.
She came here for the first time…
I held her hand.
"Look, I know you want to help me but if something goes wrong, even if I am dying… You have to run away. If anything happens just run away."
I remember the investigation that Stephen did on Aria's past… I couldn't believe that her own uncle and aunt are keeping her for using her.
She had a happy past but her present is not what I was thinking.
"But how can I let you die? A friend dying in front of me? Absolutely wrong!"She shouted.
I could feel her hands trembling.
"Stay strong.Promise me you will do what I say, not looking back…", I opened the door.
"Promise."She stepped out.
We walked inside.
The atmosphere was calm and quiet.
As if challenging me to display my power.
We stepped forward slowly and steadily.
After reaching the basement of the dockyard…
I noticed that the lights were on.
Even where they were not needed.
This means…Someone's here.
Suddenly a figure appeared in front of me.
In the shadows, wearing a long coat.
He started laughing.
Aria clung to my coat.
I held her close.
"Welcome son, welcome. I knew you would come here… "
"Lysander Valle! You?"I couldn't believe it.
" Yes son… You guessed it right. Because your story has been going on too long that it needs an end now. And I will be the one to do this!"He stepped forward.
"I can't believe that you are my father! Monster! Just because of some money and a company… You want to kill me?"I shouted.
But his eyes were not on me, instead they were on Aria.
He stepped forward again.
"Ohhh! If I am not wrong…" He took a long pause.
"You are Sinclair. Aren't you?"
"Stop it! You have grudges against me, don't drag her in your mess."I stepped back.
"Oh! Don't worry, I am not targeting her but someone else."
He then pointed towards the boxes.
I saw an old figure coming out slowly, from behind the boxes.
I saw an old lady standing in front of us.
She was old but I could tell her mindset was absolutely like someone who is intelligent enough to deal with everything.
Suddenly, Aria left my arm.
I looked back.
Tears rolled down from her eyes.
"Aria?"I shook her.
But she cried, silently.
"Gr-gr-gr-grandma…Why?"
She stopped and cried even harder,harder and harder.
I hugged her.
She held me tightly.
Her grandma…
So she is the one Aria was talking about in Greece.
But she said that her grandma was sent there forcibly, then what's all this set up.
All I could understand was, either they had already planned this or they knew about each other.
"Aria, dear. You know, Lysander is a nice guy. Even if he destroyed us, now he says that he will give the Crowe family 40% of Blackveil's share if I help him."She smiled covetously.
"I can't believe you, you sold your pride and dignity for money? Didn't you always tell me that we should always love and stay committed for the ones close to us then why plotting against the Sinclair's?"Aria shouted as tears rolled down.
"No dear, I am not harming Sinclair's, I will not do anything to them, instead help them, by killing this Lucian Valle!"She answered back.
"Aria, just come here dear. Once this idiot dies, you will still have me"She held out her arms hoping Aria to hug her.
"Not even in my dreams! You adopted me! Then why give me Sinclair's surname?" Aria stepped forward.
"Because I knew that Sinclair needed someone to help them in future. Not in this matter but if they have a hard situation at least they will have you to serve them! Your Aunt was not able to give birth, her child died due to lung disease after some days of birth. So, my daughter was broken. I couldn't see her like this and adopted you to fill that empty space."
She paused and then looked towards me.
"But at that time Economou helped us get out of the mess created by Lysander."She stared at him.
"Oh! Don't blame me, I wanted to help them but they instead plotted against me and transferred that agreement to Sinclair's through connections of their so-called-friendship."He looked at us.
"We are not standing here to narrate stories! Aria, either come to our side or go and die along with him!"Aria's grandma shouted.
"Don't try anything Lysander. You'll regret our actions."I warned him.
But… Then he pulled out a pistol from his coat.
And pointed it at Aria standing in front of me.
"Whoever comes in my way to Blackveil corp. dies!"He started coming forward.
"Aria! Step back!"I shouted.
"Shoot!"Aria challenged my father.
NOOOOOOOOOOOOO! WHAT IS SHE DOING?