Chapitre 17: Fazed Husband and Problem Kid

Kai tried his very best to have Aria's daughter stay put.

Since he didn't have any clothes for children lying around, the only replacement he could find was one of his long-sleeved overshirts. Much like Aria's sleepwear, it was too big on her, bigger even, but Kai didn't have a choice. It would just be for a little while, anyway, since there's no way he'd keep the kid at his place.

'No matter what, I need to get Aria to explain everything.' But that was proven to be more difficult than he expected as the head butler soon returned and reported no sighting of his wife. 'Of all times, you can't be missing now, Aria!'

Kai sighed and slumped on the chair, head stooped low. For a moment, Aria's daughter looked at him with a curious gaze before waddling over.

"If only you would just tell me," he muttered in his pathetic state, completely frustrated with how clueless he was about this entire situation. "What should I do to get you to talk-"

When he lifted his head again, he was startled to see her doing a funny face. She had her fingers pinching both sides of her cheeks, her tongue sticking out as she made one of the weirdest things he had ever seen. Instead of laughing, however, he was so surprised that all he could do was regard her with an incredulous expression.

"What are you doing?"

She returned his look with an equally straight one. "Why isn't Daddy laughing?"

"Huh?"

"I was trying to cheer Daddy up," she said. "But maybe Aria's not funny enough."

"I'll be happier if you just-"

"Oh, I know! What if Aria sings?!" She beamed and threw her hands up excitedly.

He trailed off at that, immediately realizing that she shared the same interest as Aria. But that's not important at the moment. There's a bigger matter at hand. Whatever it was she was trying to do here, Kai had a feeling it would give more trouble than help.

With that in mind, he went on to furrow his brows together, close his eyes shut, and put on a stern face, trying to come out as intimidating as possible. "No, don't sing. If you sing, you'll make a noise, and if you make a noise, they'll hear you outside. So, no singing."

That should do it. He sounded strict and serious enough. That should stop her.

"I'll just go get a mic, then~! Wait here, Daddy~!"

Then, he heard the door slam shut, throwing him into shock and panic for what was like the millionth time that day. But this was the worst case so far. Not only did she manage to slip out of his sight in just a matter of seconds, but she was now also doing exactly what he kept telling her not to.

Kai bolted up and hurried after her. 'Aria, I swear to God. Please come back already.'

---

Everyone inside the Soleste residence was having a calm and peaceful morning so far.

The night before had been far from it, however, what with their young master and his wife arguing about the same thing again. They were there in the background, watching in silence by the shadows. The same words were exchanged between the two, and by this point, they treated the whole feud as nothing out of the ordinary.

Little did they know that they still had not seen everything from the Soleste couple.

"What? The Young Master is looking for Mrs. Soleste?"

"That's unlike him. How unusual."

"Is it about the divorce?"

"Today's the day, right?"

"Well, that could only be it."

"The Young Master did promise Mrs. Soleste last night."

With everybody still focused on the happenings last evening, they were not at all prepared for what that morning was about to bring.