"That was cool. You really brainwashed them."Aster was very impressed."Oh, please. It's like managing a kindergarten. They are just greedy but they are not evil. The person who played them is your enemy. You should control these people so he wouldn't make them go against you at the right time."Aster became thoughtful. He was actually prejudiced against them. When he was young, there were two kinds of people in his mind. Good and Bad. But now, seeing what Lia had done, he felt that people were greyer. They weren't in the extreme ends of the spectrum but they were always oscillating here and there.Like she said, one enemy less was good. "Then according to you, how should I use them?""They can be good spies if you can allow them."She just said this but Aster had a whole level of different ideas. She was right. He had to use every resource to find the murderer. Why was he wasting this group of wonderful people because he had a grudge against them?If not something else, he should u
"I need money."Aster was not surprised when he answered Lia's call."It's not a month yet. I can't give your salary now."Lia rolled her eyes."I need money because I have to invest in the transformation plan."Transformation plan? What was that?He asked the same question."What's this now?""I have to spend money to become friends with the aunts. I arranged a spa day for them. And I need money for that. You are my only investor. So, I came to you."Aster understood the matter now. So, she wanted money to spend on his aunts. He never thought he would willingly give them money one day. But impossible inherently means I'm possible."I'll transfer money to you now. Any other problem?"Lia was done with her problems for now. "No. I will hang up then."Ding.She opened the notification.AsterB transferred 10,00,000 to you.Wow. 1 million. Just like that. But the spa day wouldn't need that much, right?Lia wanted to see how the aunts reacted on that day.Seeing her involved with her phone
"You are bleeding!"Lia exclaimed. She felt the world spinning. "Come with me."Aster leaned on her and took her away. By the time the surrounding people understood, Aster had taken Lia away."You should go to a hospital. I'll call 108. Wait where's my phone? The one time. I don't have a phone with me. What to do?""Calm down. Take my phone and dial the first speed dial. Someone will come. Take me to my apartment."Lia supported him and took the elevator. She used the exclusive one that opened in his apartment. It just used his biometrics as identification. Otherwise, she couldn't have entered the lift, she guessed. "There are mechanisms such identify me. Some are invisible. So, it should be nearly impossible for any intruder to appear."By the time, she had settled him, the doorbell rang. A tall man entered and he instantly focused on Aster. She went out and stood there. She was worried. It was the first time she saw blood like this. Normally whenever she and her brother got hurt
Asher spent so much time in Lia's home. Because her mother loved the kid, he was treated on a whole different level.Her mother's precise words were "This kid is so good. You guys were just like monkeys always troubling me."Listening to this, Jake made a face at her. He always had to listen to this kind of scolding because he was naughty. Lia had always complained about him and he had received his share of scolding. The only thing was that their parents never hit them. Her father just gave them a look and they became honest. That is because they had just received scolding and a lot of angry faces. Their mother had a relatively mild approach. She just made them do all the chores without allowing any entertainment. They would work and reflect on themselves. It was enough for them to go apologize later."Grandma, I want that."Asher pointed towards a cookie on the page and their mother immediately got up to make those. That kind of treatment was something they never received. Jake wa
Liking is reflective. Liking is involuntary. Liking is unreasonable. Liking is voluntary.After everything, liking is reasonable. You can't choose who you like. Sometimes, it just clicks. Maybe unconsciously, you start liking someone and then realise suddenly. And then you know, you start to fall in love. No matter how much you want to stop this, the train never stops at any station and finally reaches its destination.Falling in love is like falling asleep. You just do fall. You can stay awake but finally, you have to admit it. But these are wonderful feelings. Not everyone experiences this. When you do, you will know.Lia also knew at this moment. Because it just struck to her when Aster spoke about his future wife. She wanted to be the one who took away the book he read when he fell asleep. She wanted to make sure he was safe. She liked him. That's just her liking part.But what about her reality? Let's imagine everything is solved in the end, then what? She had to separate from
"You are being so forthright with me."Lia could hear the sneer in his tone. She was shocked to see that Chris was behaving this way."Anyway, I have to rest. Can we talk later?""Why are you acting weird?""I'm so sorry. I would have talked with you for a while. But I'm feeling sleepy. Maybe i can still talk with you."Why was Chris not reading the situation? Aster was not well.If she could come out, she would have taken Chris back."Pretentious."Chris left."He is gone. You can come out."Lia came out from the corner. She was nearly found out."I'll go back."She practically ran away. Aster couldn't find the reason so he said nothing.Lia just came back to her room and then her door was knocked.This time it was Jake."We are going to play Karaoke Cats. Wanna come?"She had nothing else to do.She stood between Chris and Jake and started the game. They had to sing while jumping to catch the treats on their turn. She was surprisingly good at this. Jake missed almost all the time.
Aster spent most of the time working and resting. But he was also doing some other things. Like interrogating. He wore his headphones and he could listen to the words being exchanged by his assistant Ray and the people they had deemed suspects."Mr.Aster, come and sit here."He was called by Jake for a lunch date. Asher was also with them. Aster was having the best of both worlds by listening to Ray and watching the family."Aster, what are you doing?""Mrs. Carver, just some work stuff. I will be free in five minutes.""Kids these days. You always work. Look at Lia, she is nose-deep in her laptop and Jake is always living with his phone. you should spend some time with nature too."Aster smiled like a good boy. Chris snorted seeing this."I will listen to your words, Mrs.Carver. Definitely."As a gesture, he removed his earpiece and sat peacefully. "Pretentious," Chris mumbled."What's that now?""Nothing, Aunt. I was just clearing my throat."Aster kept smiling like seeing this d
The lunch was over and everyone was just sitting watching television. Because the autumn festival was arriving, there were many galas on the channels. They watched the national channel and enjoyed the programs. Asher was sleepy. Aster took him to the secluded sofa and allowed him to sleep. He tucked him in and came back to watch the program. Lia's mother went back to rest and there were now four of them watching television. Chris and Jake fell asleep lulled by the television. Lia was also nodding on and off and then she also dozed. Aster was the only one who couldn't sleep. His wound was itching and he couldn't really fall asleep. He took a shawl from the corner and put it on Lia. He completely ignored the two guys and went to the balcony. He closed the door and called Ray. "Have you followed him?" "Yes, sir." Ray answered. "He stays home every day and I never saw him coming out." "Are the lights turned on in his house?" "No, sir." "He left then. Maybe in disguise." Ast