CHAPTER TWELVE: WHITE LOTUS
‘Hey,watch out!” a masculine voice suddenly exclaimed from downstairs shakily.
Amando was just about to climb the stairs after taking some water from the fridge downstairs when he saw her younger sister Ivy throw herself down the stairs and a shocked Ariel rooted on the spot, her eyes wide open and helpless. Amando just had one thought in mind after seeing this. The thought was to help Ariel out. He clearly saw Ivy throw herself down the stairs, but he was sure his parents wouldn’t believe Ariel even when she trued to explain the situation to his parents later. Ivy’s head was just about to hit the floor when she was pulled back and she fell into a sturdy and muscular body. When she looked up and saw who it was, her eyes shone brightly. She’d been yearning for this from her brothers who always ignored her. She ahd never understood why they didn’t like her.
Are you okay?” Ivy was brought back to the present by Amando’s deep voice.
“Uhm,yeah I’m fine, thank you fourth brother.‘ Ivy answered bashfully.
“It’s fine,next time just be careful,what if your head bursts opening the process?” Amando advised seriously while letting go of her. The Hovstad couple, who also heard the commotion while in the living room,showed up just in time to meet such a shocking sight of Ivy rolling down the stairs and Ariel looking at her in horror and helplessness.
‘Oh dear,come here, are you okay?” Mrs Kathleen asked with concern while pulling Ivy into her arms and patting her back in comfort.
“Tell me,what just happened here?” Mr Henry asked while sharply glancing at Ariel, who was still standing at the same spot.
“Daddy, it’s not Ariel’s fault,please don’t blame her,she didn’t mean to push me.‘ Ivy said pitifully while wiping the nonexistent tears from the corners of her eyes. Ivy said before Ariel could
answer.
“Why,she should pay for what she did,why are you speaking up for her? why can’t she be as sensible as you?” Mr Henry snapped at Ivy.
“Wait,wait, Ivy,what are you trying to imply when you said dad shouldn’t blame Ariel? Did she do anything wrong? Why don’t you just tell them the truth?‘ Amando questioned Ivy angrily.
Ivy, who was questioned,paled in fright. Wasn’t Amando on her side just now when he caught her before she could fall? could he have seen everything from the start? Ivy was so frightened that she forgot to speak for a while. Ariel, who was still at the same spot, raised an eyebrow at Amando’s act of speaking up for her. She wondered what her fourth brother was up to. Wasn’t he afraid of offending his father? That’s right, Ariel recognised Amando the moment she saw him since he was a public figure. He was even more handsome up close.
“What? why are you yelling at Ivy? she never lies, go back to your room! this doesn’t concern you at all! Mr Henry barked and order at Amando.
Amando had no choice but to go back to his room. He didn’t want to further hurt Ariel by trying to speak up for her. He knew his father well. He would just double Ariel’s punishment because of that. When he was ascending the stairs, he didn’t forget to nod and smile brightly at Ariel before entering his room. Ariel once again raised eyebrows in confusion. She wondered what was wrong with his fourth brother that day. After Mr Henry was done with his scolding, Ariel tool her fur coat and decided to take a walk in the alley she had seen while on her way to school. She often went for walks when she had something on her mind.
When the outside breeze hit her face, she suddenly felt a little more at ease. She leisurely tool a stroll while kicking pebbles on her way. She suddenly heard the sound of a gunshot fill up the air for a while before it stopped. She paused for a second before she continued walking. While walking, she heard someone groan. She sighed in annoyance and turned to walk to where the sound was coming from. When she arrived, she met a man with a face like that of a Greek god.,so exquisite, with deep black orbs that were staring directly at her. The eyes made Ariel find the man familiar but she could put of a finger on where exactly they had met. He was holding his stomach where large amounts of blood kept gushing out. It seemed like he was trying to minimise the bleeding. When she read his lips, they seemed to he asking her for help. She rolled her eyes and resigned to her fate.
Can you walk?” Ariel asked the man. The man in turn nodded weakly. Ariel walked to him, helped him stand up and supported with her weight. She sucked in a sharp breathe. How could someone be so heavy? She kept complaining inwardly. She suddenly heard approaching footsteps.
Where did he go?” one man asked them.
‘He took this direction‘ others answered.
‘Hurry,make sure you find him and kill him, that is what sir ordered.” the man said further.
“Yes sir.” the hitmen answered and left.
When they were first approaching, Ariel and the man he was helping, who turned out to be Bellamy Hunter, thought of a way to avoid the men from suspecting them. So she whispered the idea into Bellamy’s ear. When the hitmen saw them, the thought that it was just a couple sharing a romantic moment.
‘Sorry to disturb you two but have you seen a man pass by here?” one man mustered up the courage and asked.
“Uhm, yeah, he went that way just now.” Ariel said while pointing in the different direction.
‘Thank you, The man said and led the others in the pursuit of the ‘escaping man‘
THE YOUNG MISS FROM THE COUNTRYSIDE IS INSANELY SUAVE!
