Chapter 12: Little heart

Aaron never liked to scold her but her stubborn behavior of enshrouding herself wasn't doing any good for her. He wants her to confide, unlike her current state.

He purposefully sounded irritated, "How long are you planning to hide? Do you think you can solve everything by locking up yourself?"

Aarvi glanced at Tia who panicked and ran out of the shop to leave them alone. When she had joined the shop two years back, she had seen Aarvi throwing vases and pots at Doctor handsome in anger whenever he tried to control her so she escaped quickly.

Aarvi turned back to Aaron, "Just because I'm listening to you regarding health conditions doesn't mean I will dance on your terms."

Aaron saw her serene without showing her anger. "Shouldn't you be happy that your case will help numerous people to get proper treatment and get well soon?"

She spat back without thinking, "And do I owe them anything?"

Aaron's voice turned sharp, "Aarvi, when are you going to wake up? You are burning yourself."

She leered, "I am burnt a long back, Doctor Rivas. Stop being a philosopher in front of me."

Aaron asked a genuine question he never asked her, "Tell me honestly, are you really liking your life of vengeance?... Don't answer me as The Aarvi Evans. Answer me as the real you. The real you who you are hiding from yourself and everyone."

Aarvi's serene expression deadpanned. 'The real self! If my real self only hurts me, why will I want to be that?'

Aaron continued, "At least do you even remember your real self? The one who always stood for the ones who needed help, the one who never had a single evil thought against anybody, the one who believed that evils aren't born bad, the who believed love and care can change a person's heart, the one who always smiled to keep everyone happy, the one who was considerate about others' feelings, the..."

Aarvi started trembling when he listed on and on reminding her past, she pressed her ears and yowled, "Shut up! Just shut up."

The very next second, she realized she lost control. She had decided to face everything calmly. She took a deep breath and raised her head.

Her eyes were bloodshot glaring Aaron, "This is the real me now. If I look like a villain, Yes I'm. If you have a problem with that, get the hell out of my life. If you are so obsessed with your sister's heart, get someone, and remove it out of me. Being alive or dead doesn't matter to me."

She turned to go inside the room but Aaron held her back forcefully without letting her shrug him off.

Dropping the bags on the ground, he gently wiped her tears away which she hadn't even realized till that. His voice was low and assuring, "I don't know who wronged you. I don't know what you have gone through. I will wait, I will wait till the day you say it. Do anything you want, I will stand by you..."

Aaron left her and stood a step back seeing her calm, "...All I want is you to be true to yourself, don't bury your emotions... Shawn didn't call many for celebration other than we three, Doctor Fisher, Holmes, and Green will be there. You already know them."

It wasn't the first time he saw her crying so she wasn't embarrassed and she never felt crying as a weakness. She asked curiously with a hint of suspicion, "How do you know me?"

Aarvi Evans wasn't emotional. She was objective and calculative. She wasn't the former self, she might have lost control remembering her past but in the senses, she will try to understand the behavior instead of words.

Aaron realized while making her angry to bring her frustration out, he said too much. But he had the weird expectation, 'will she remember me now?'

"Shawn?" She asked but continued herself, "He is smart but not so deep and sensible. You know me before you found me. How do you know me?" Aarvi started to think if she had seen him before three years. She tried to connect many dots but never felt like she ever saw him.

Aaron didn't want to be selfish and pressure her mind. He said the truth relating to it. "Before I got you, I met your grandfather in his office. He has your picture frame on his desk instead of any other family member, isn't it?"

Aarvi's breath twitched. She didn't want to talk about her grandfather, "I... I will... get ready."

She grabbed the dress bag and went inside her office before locking herself in. Her grandfather was the only one who always cared about her, he taught her about business but failed to teach her about the evil things, scheming people, backstabbing foxes in sheepskin. He had thought nobody would bully her after she takes over the CEO position from him but before it, she had become a prey.

Aaron sighed seeing her leave. When he returned, the first thing he did was meeting her grandfather to make her his forever but ended up hearing all the devastating stories and heard she was missing.

Aarvi has no idea her grandfather knows that she is safe with Aaron because nobody knew who exactly wanted to kill her except herself so her change in identity could keep her safe until she could make her mind speak it out.

Her psychiatrist had failed five times to get to know anything about her missing days because she just cries in the subconscious state remembering that day. The doctor had warned him that she might lose her complete memory if they try to push her hard so other than waiting for her, they had no choice.

---

At Highlands rooftop

Aarvi entered to see a beautifully arranged rooftop with the right balance of lights and flowers. The air had a lingering fragrance of flowers and freshly prepared food being served.

Shawn, like always tried to hug her like in the past but Aarvi moved away. "Why is our sixteenth branch isn't doing well?"

Shawn rolled his eyes, "You clearly remember me. Why do you still behave distant from me? I am not only your business partner." Then he complained following her, "Dax was whinging, give us our Little heart back."

"She is dead." Aarvi sat down when Aaron pulled a chair for her.

Shawn: "..." He really misses the sweet girl innocently smiling at everyone bringing smiles on their faces. He suddenly realized Naomi Fisher at the table.

Naomi loves Aaron for the past many years studying with Aaron from school to post-graduation following him around every day. He could say nobody knows Aaron better than Naomi.