Chapter 2 Dwayne's invitation

Chapter 2

Dwayne's invitation

In a moment of impulse, Ariana agreed to Cynthia's demand. But the thought of actually having to contact Dwayne made her stomach twist uneasily.

Her fingers hovered over her phone, her movements growing sluggish.

Cynthia let out a sharp, mocking laugh. "What's wrong? Why aren't you dialing? I knew it-you're bluffing. The Rickshaws forgot about you long ago. Do you really think Dwayne would pick up your call?"

Ariana shot her a fierce glare, teeth clenched.

Fine. If she wanted proof, she'd get proof.

Just as she tapped the first digit of Dwayne's number, her phone screen lit up.

She froze.

The words Uncle flashed on the screen like a harbinger of doom.

Her heart slammed against her ribs, and for a split second, she almost dropped the phone.

Ariana swallowed hard, forcing herself to suppress the wave of unease crawling up her spine. With stiff fingers, she answered the call.

"Hello, Uncle... do you need something?"

Dwayne's voice was as cold as ever, his words crisp and direct. "I want to invite you to a meal. When are you available?"

A stunned silence followed.

Across from her, Cynthia's eyes widened in disbelief, as if she had just seen a ghost.

Ariana took a steadying breath. "I'm available anytime, Uncle. Whenever you're free, we can arrange to meet."

"Tomorrow at noon?"

"Sure."

"I'll send you the address. Be on time."

"Okay-"

Before she could finish, the call disconnected.

Ariana stared at her phone, her heart still pounding.

Why did Dwayne want to meet her? Had he thought things through and decided to settle accounts with her once and for all?

A shiver ran down her spine at the thought.

But when she glanced up, her apprehension gave way to quiet satisfaction.

The once arrogant and domineering Cynthia now looked like a drenched cat-pathetic and defeated.

Ariana smirked. "What's wrong? You were all smug a minute ago. Why so quiet now?"

"I... I..." Cynthia stammered, caught between fear and anger.

Then, suddenly-thud.

She dropped to her knees.

"I'm sorry, Ariana!" she wailed, her voice trembling. "I wasn't thinking straight yesterday. It was an emergency-your father's in trouble! He's getting old... if he goes to prison, won't that be the end of him?"

Ariana's eyes darkened.

Without hesitation, she raised her hand-smack!

A sharp slap landed across Cynthia's cheek.

"That's for what you did yesterday," Ariana spat. "Don't ever try to set me up again. Next time, I won't let you off so easily."

A red mark bloomed on Cynthia's face, but she didn't react. Instead, she cupped her own cheek, sobbing pitifully.

"You're right! I was despicable! I was blinded by desperation! But please, Ariana, I beg you-save your father!"

Ariana's heart wavered for a moment.

No matter how much her father had wronged her mother, blood ties weren't something she could erase.

But begging her grandfather's family for that man?

Not a chance.

"If you want to save him, figure it out yourself," she said coldly. "I won't beg my grandfather's family for anything."

Cynthia's sobs turned shrill. "You're heartless! You don't care about your father's life-fine! But what about your grandfather? He has a heart condition! If he finds out his son is going to prison and has an attack because of it, can you live with that?"

Ariana's hand clenched around the doorknob.

"Are you threatening me with my grandfather now?"

"Threaten you?" Cynthia sniffled, wiping at her tear-streaked face. "Bad news can't be hidden forever. You can keep it from the old man for a while, but what about later? He's bound to find out eventually. Do you think he'll never notice his son missing?"

Ariana's body went rigid.

Silence stretched between them.

Finally, she exhaled sharply. "Get out."

"What about your father-"

"I said I'll think about it."

A flash of triumph crossed Cynthia's face.

She sniffled again, as if still crying, and murmured, "Alright... take your time to decide. I'll go make you something to eat."

Ariana didn't respond.

Her grip on the doorknob tightened until her knuckles turned white.

"Eat her cooking? Might as well be poison."

Ariana scoffed, ignoring Cynthia she shut the door behind her.

With a heavy sigh, she collapsed onto the bed, staring at the ceiling. Her mind drifted to the inevitable meeting with Dwayne tomorrow.

Her uncle had always been a man of few words, his stern expression rarely cracking into a smile. But after he joined the special forces, any trace of warmth seemed to have vanished altogether.

The last time she saw him was ten years ago, when he had just turned twenty. She still remembered him in his green military uniform-tall, commanding, exuding an air of strength that made people instinctively straighten their backs. His sharp, hawk-like eyes could pierce right through anyone who dared meet his gaze.

The memory of that day remained vivid.

It was right after the court decided she would be raised by her father. Dwayne had stormed into the Falter household, determined to take her with him.

Her father refused.

They fought.

Right there in the living room, fists flying, voices raised.

Eight-year-old Ariana had stood frozen in the corner, terrified, tears streaming down her face.

In the end, for reasons she never fully understood, Dwayne left alone.

She watched his figure retreat down the hallway, growing smaller and smaller-until it became nothing more than a distant, faded image in her mind.

And now, after a decade, they were reuniting under the most awkward circumstances imaginable.

The following day arrived far too soon.

Despite dreading the encounter, Ariana forced herself to the designated restaurant.

The moment she spotted Dwayne, her steps faltered.

Her heart pounded-not with excitement, but with an all-too-familiar fear.

Steeling herself, she approached him cautiously. "Uncle... no, Mr. Rickshaw... um, you wanted to see me?"

Her voice was barely above a whisper, as soft as a mosquito's hum.

Dwayne's brows furrowed slightly. Was she really that afraid of him?

"I don't bite," he said flatly. "Sit down. Let's talk."

His deep, commanding voice sent a ripple through her chest. It was rich and magnetic, almost hypnotic. Yet, it only made her nerves tighten.

With measured steps, Ariana sat down-on the farthest edge of her seat, as if ready to bolt at any second. She kept her gaze low, staring at her lap.

"What do you want to eat? Order anything."

Dwayne handed her the menu.

Ariana hesitated, stealing a quick glance at his long, well-defined fingers before lowering her eyes again.

Then she saw the prices.

Five digits-for a single dish?!

Her throat went dry.

What kind of food is this? Gold-plated caviar?

Her lips pressed into a thin line as she debated. Finally, she settled on the cheapest item-a salad.

Dwayne arched a brow. "That's all? Are you on a diet?"

Without waiting for an answer, he took the menu and ordered a few more dishes himself.

Ariana's cheeks burned. "I'm not on a diet..." she mumbled.

"Good. Girls shouldn't be too skinny-it's not healthy. Make sure you eat properly."

"Yes."

She nodded, unable to meet his gaze.

Silence settled between them.

Dwayne, never one for small talk, didn't seem in a hurry to fill it. But for Ariana, the quiet was suffocating. Beads of sweat formed on the tip of her nose.

Finally, she mustered the courage to ask, "Uncle... um, is there something specific you wanted to discuss with me?"

Dwayne's dark eyes met hers.

"I've found a place for you to live. It's time for you to move out of the Falter residence."

His voice was steady, deep-like the low hum of a cello.

Ariana stiffened. "Why... Why do you want me to move out?"

Dwayne leaned back slightly, his expression unreadable. "I've looked into your life over the past ten years. Your father and that woman-Cynthia-haven't treated you well. If you move out, you'll be in a better environment."

A beat passed before he added, his lips pressing into a thin line, "No matter how you see it, you are a member of the Rickshaw family. You've suffered all these years-why didn't you reach out to us?"

Ariana's hands curled into fists beneath the table.

Why?

Because for ten years, she had been nothing but a ghost to them. Because the Rickshaws had abandoned her the day Dwayne walked out of the Falter household.

Because deep down, she had never truly believed she belonged to them.

Ariana felt a sharp sting at the tip of her nose, a familiar ache of suppressed emotions. How could she possibly say it? She had been the one who initially rejected her grandfather's family's goodwill, choosing instead to stay with her father.

Whatever suffering she endured after that-she had brought it upon herself.

Dwayne waited in silence for a moment, watching her hesitate. When she still refused to answer, he raised an eyebrow slightly and said, "If you don't want to talk about it, I won't press. The apartment is near your school. I'll deposit your tuition and pocket money into your account on time. If you run into any difficulties, let me know. As long as it's within my ability, I'll help you."

"I..." Ariana instinctively wanted to refuse his kindness, but just as she opened her mouth, the waiter arrived with their food.

"No need to argue-let's eat," Dwayne said, effectively shutting down the conversation.

Left with no choice, she swallowed her words.

After the meal, Dwayne took her to her new residence. She had expected a modest apartment, something simple. But when she arrived, she realized how naive that assumption had been.

The duplex was in a high-end residential area, right in the heart of the city. It boasted four bedrooms, a lavish study, a private theater, and even a shooting range. The decor followed a sleek European black-and-white aesthetic-understated yet undeniably luxurious. But Ariana's sharp eyes caught on to the details. Some of the furnishings were antiques, rare and undoubtedly expensive.

Was this place really meant for her? Alone?

This level of opulence was far beyond what she had imagined, and despite their supposed familial ties, she couldn't accept such an extravagant gift from Dwayne without hesitation.

"This is the general layout," he said. "Let me know if anything is missing, and I'll have someone bring it over."

"No, there's nothing more I need," she murmured, biting her lip before hesitantly asking, "Am I the only one living here?"

Dwayne glanced at her, expression unreadable. "Do you want me to live with you?"

Ariana nearly choked, her breath catching in her throat. She coughed a few times before blurting out, "Absolutely not!"

"Good," he replied, completely unfazed. "I have my own place. If you ever feel lonely, you can invite classmates over. Also, I've hired a housekeeper. She'll come by daily to cook and clean."

Ariana nodded rapidly, like a pecking chick. "Oh. Okay."

Dwayne checked his watch. "If there's nothing else, I'll be leaving now."

He took a step forward, about to go, when an inexplicable urge overtook her. Before she could think it through, she reached out and grabbed his wrist.

The instant she felt his cool skin under her fingertips, his body tensed slightly. Realizing what she had done, Ariana quickly let go, yet the warmth from that fleeting touch lingered.

She hesitated, her slender neck arching slightly like a swan's as she finally asked, "Can I ask... are you doing all this to compensate me?"

It had been ten years without a single word between them, and now, all of a sudden, he was showering her with generosity. Was this really about family, or was it because of that night?

Dwayne's brows knitted slightly, his expression darkening-an unspoken warning.

Ariana let out a self-deprecating laugh. She had expected this reaction.

Curling her lips into a mocking smile, she spoke lightly, "Mr. Rickshaw-"

"Call me Uncle," he interrupted.

A slight pause. Then, she relented. "Uncle, if you're doing all this out of guilt, there's really no need. That night was my mistake. I don't think you owe me anything."

His deep-set eyes narrowed slightly. "This isn't about compensation. I'm taking care of you because that's what an uncle should do. Our family failed you for ten years. That won't happen again."

His voice was steady, his words resolute. "Give me some time. I'll arrange for you to meet your grandparents. Once they accept you, I'll bring you back to the Rickshaw family home. Until then, you'll have to make do with living here."

Then, as if it were the most natural thing in the world, he reached out and lightly patted the top of her head.

The warmth of his palm spread through her hair, settling on her scalp. Ariana blinked, momentarily stunned.

Dwayne's voice softened. "As for that night... let's both forget it ever happened."