Shane could feel Jose was scared of Aarvi. He couldn’t understand why Jose, who requested them to bring Aarvi home three years ago, was trying to run from her. He went towards the door when Aarvi was setting a coffee table for them. 

Jose was glued to the door when he heard Aarvi’s voice. He stopped shouting. Why was he asking for help when this was all her plan? He took shallow breaths trying to understand her motive. 

Why didn’t she harm him?

Why did she take so long?

Does she truly want to hurt me?

She could have done that a long time ago?

Shane reached Jose who was dazed gazing into the air. He patted Jose’s shoulder, “Jose, come on in. Your sister came to meet us.” 

Jose started walking with Shane when he tugged at him, “She wasn’t in the country for three years. She returned just two weeks ago…”

Jose stopped his father when they were yet to exit the hallway. He held Shane’s both hands and pleaded, “Dad, I am your son, right? Your favorite son. You always looked after me so well. You have to do it again, okay?. You can’t let me die. S-sister will kill me. Sister hates me. You have to save me, Dad. I promise I will listen to you…”

Shane chuckled without understanding his panic. He and his wife wronged Aarvi aka Ava so there was no need for Jose to worry about it. Little did he know about his son’s heartless behavior, “Silly boy, your sister always loved you. Do you know? You were taken to a mansion so that you don’t have to struggle with us. Stop thinking all that. Come and have a bite.”

Jose genuinely wanted to believe that, however, what was he going to do? He thought to blame his father for his actions if Aarvi gets angry. He silently followed Shane and sat far away from Aarvi so that he could run.

Aarvi handed a coffee cup to Shane and extended her hands towards Jose with another cup. Jose cornered towards the couch, looking at Aarvi’s subtle smile on her face. Though the smile looked gentle, nothing was vicious to Jose’s eyes.

Aarvi could have gone near him, but she had no plans to scare him to the wits or hurt him. Only if he doesn’t do anything stupid by attacking her. “Jose, your coffee…”

Jose was startled and drew breath in without knowing when he had held it. He stammered without taking the coffee, “I-I don’t drink c-coffee.” He lied. He was afraid she might have poisoned it.

Aarvi looked at the juice she made for herself, “Will you drink my juice then?” She took the juice glass and extended it towards him.

Shane, who had the cup in his hand, looked at the two. The scene reminded him of the past. Little Ava wasn’t allowed to sit in the living hall when they were around. So she always stayed in her room or away from them. If Jose was noticing her silently going away or standing upstairs, he used to invite her, ask her to sit with them, and force her to eat or drink. Ava was aware Maisie and Shane would hit her so she was turning down Jose with lies. Despite knowing she wouldn’t join them, Jose always insisted on her, leaving her helpless. Shane’s head dropped and he sighed deeply recalling many such incidents.

“I-I don’t drink juice.” He stammered another lie, looking at her warily.

Aarvi let out a gentle sigh shaking her head. “I haven’t poisoned it, Jose.” She said and took a sip of juice. Then she picked the coffee cup and took a sip of it too. “See, I told you.” She added, shrugging her shoulders.

Jose swallowed hard looking at her two hands holding a cup of coffee and glass of juice for him. He reached out for the juice as he felt his throat dry. Before he could grab the glass, he recalled how he always gave his half-eaten food, purposefully taking some bites or sips. He was meant to give her his leftovers, never out of love. He always looked at her as an adopted girl, worse than a maid. Hence she was a beggar in his eyes, a beggar deserves only his leftovers.

Since his parents confirmed she wasn’t an adopted but his real elder sister, who had more rights over everything in the Kelly, he was even angrier. 

Now was he a beggar if he accepted the drinks? He pulled his hand away in a jerk and gritted his teeth.

Aarvi placed the coffee cup down and sat opposite to him so that he doesn’t suffocate himself to death. She sipped her juice and glanced at dazed Shane. “Dad, didn’t you like the coffee I brewed? Do you prefer a stronger taste?”

Shane gasped out of the daze and smiled at her, “No, this is perfect.” He said without even tasting it. When he sipped, he liked it. He grabbed a cookie and took a bite, “These are delicious.” He said.

In the past, when they were making her cook, they never complimented her when her food was mouthwatering. They used to say it was rubbish and tastes gross. Yet, they used to eat more than necessary.

Aarvi nodded. She initially thought Shane might be acting, but he was indeed changed. Though she wouldn’t say docile behavior as the best personality, it was better for him than living a greedy life. “If you like them, I will make more when I have time and send them to you.” 

Shane laughed gently, “Don’t make trouble for me, rest when you have time.” He knew she would be busy. In the two weeks, he had watched all the episodes of her news. 

She always told them she would work at Kelly International, they were fools to think it was a lie. Now, Skylar was so strong and huge that Kelly wouldn’t be able to grow at such speed due to his retrained commitments to the nuclear Kelly families around the country.

Jose watched them in silence. He couldn’t believe they were conversing like a loving father and daughter. And this time, his father wasn’t ignoring her but him. It was extremely infuriating. He wanted to interject but was afraid of facing Aarvi’s ire.

After Shane drank his coffee, Aarvi picked a file. She looked at Jose while addressing Shane, “Dad, do you know? I acquired Pagani automobiles.”

Jose wanted to ignore thinking it as she was self-glorifying herself.

Shane chuckled, a proud one, “Yeah, I saw your news. You are amazing.”

Aarvi smiled at her father and added while looking at Jose, “Do you know? I acquired Pagani because Jose liked Pagani in the past. You couldn’t buy him that car… His dear friend gifted him so I bought the whole company.”

Jose’s eyes widened hearing her. The dear friend he mentioned was Leon. Her mysterious voice alarmed him. His breath hitched, his heart raced. She hadn’t forgotten it or forgiven him.

Shane recalled Jose’s tantrums in the past, “Yeah, I remember… We spoiled him too much.”

Jose lost it there. He glared at Shane and growled, “Spoiled me? You couldn’t even get me what I wanted, how the f**k did you spoil me? My friends were all laughing at me seeing Grandfather use Maybach and I was going in a cheap Audi. I was so embarrassed.”

Shane was shocked. With both Jose’s words and tone.

Aarvi’s words immediately followed as she crossed her legs and leaned back, “So you sold your sister.” 

Jose was startled hearing her mocking tone when his eyes were on Shane. His fingers shook, he clutched the corners of the couch and glared at her, “Yes, I f**king sold you out, so what? You should have hung yourself to death. How could you live after such humiliation? Weren’t you ashamed? Mom hated you. Dad threw you out. I wasn’t ready to see grandfather treat a bummer like a princess.  I got what I wanted… You were a fool to trust me. You can’t blame me for your ill fate.” 

Shane wasn’t understanding anything. He could only fathom as Jose did something horrible like them after he threw her out of the house. His body shook when he stood up and he stuttered when he questioned, “W-what did you d-do, Jose?” He couldn’t believe Jose was acting as he loves his sister.

Jose glowered at Aarvi who was sitting very much relaxed. He ignored his father without care.

Shane turned to Aarvi, it was impossible to say what she was feeling. “Wh-what happened… Ava… A-Aarvi? What are you guys talking about?”

Aarvi felt like laughing. The father who should have cared for her in the past was getting worried now. The little brother who she loved stabbed her in the back. Now he says, she deserved to die for making no mistake.

No, she made a mistake.. She trusted her brother and betrayal begins with trust.