Chapter 9: The Mayor

Aria leaned her head against the bus window and watched outside where the city view passed her eyes. She was still hugging the two boxes of lunch that Conni gave her.

Now her eyes were looking aimlessly. Her mind drifted to where she was going.

A place where she once called home.

After all this time she ignored it, but now, she paid her little attention to it. That the face of this one person who had abandoned her were everywhere. Banners, billboards, even tall buildings with huge banners on it. Every single one of them with the words, ‘To The Better Future, with Mayor Wellbert’.

A bitter chuckle slipped out of her throat. Yes, he is indeed an honorable person. Would he at least look at her?  Again, at least, she tried.

Aria arrived in front of a very tall and large gate an hour later. It was brown with beautiful snaking carvings that she didn't even understand what was the meaning behind it. One thing for sure, this was majestic gate was the entrance to the luxury house.

Aria's trembling hand pressed the bell.

Five seconds passed and a voice from the intercom made her jolted a little.

"This is Mr.Wellbert private resident, Do you have an appointment?" It was a man's voice and Aria knew that he was the security guard of this luxury house.

She felt so small and scared. She was nobody for them after all. But she needed to do this. She gulped the lump in her throat before she could let out her voice.

“I-I want to meet Mr. Wellbert.” Aria tried not to stammer but she failed.

She didn't want to be here. But she had to try. Hopefully, they will still remember that Grandma is still alive and needs help.

"Do you have an appointment yet?" He asked again. Aria shook her head but she quickly answered, “I am Aria Dunne.”

"Sorry, Miss. We cannot open the doors to a stranger without making an appointment first.” He closed the intercom.

Aria looked at the gate sadly. A stranger... That's who she is in the eyes of the people in this house.

She nodded weakly. She turned on her heels and began to walk away. But then the gate opened, behind her back. She could hear running footsteps approaching and someone called her.

“Miss! Miss Aria is that you?”

Aria turned around and saw an old man in a security guard uniform, she knew him very well. She smiled slightly, nodding at him.

He is Mr. Feng, a senior security guard who has worked in this house for a long time and he knew Aria well.

"Miss, look, I'm sorry, I just came back to the post, that was a new employee, he didn't know you. Come in."

Aria took a deep breath, trying not to shed her tears. She must not look sad or cry here.

Mr. Feng looked at Aria with joy and pity, and immediately took her inside.

“Are you here to meet Mr. Wellbert?” He asked her and she nodded slowly.

While they were walking through the gate, Aria saw another man who was much younger than Mr. Feng. He looked at Aria with a flat look. But didn't dare to stop Mr. Feng who walked her straight into the Wellbert residence.

“Stay here.” Mr. Feng warned the young security as he placed Aria’s lunch boxes on their post, without any words.

“Miss Aria, how are you? It's been a long time since I last saw you and Mrs. Dunne.” Mr. Feng watched her carefully.

“We are fine, Mr. Feng. Thank you for asking.” She answered softly, with a small smile on her tired face.

They walked through the spacious yard and garden before arriving at the main door. Mr. Feng was about to ring the bell but stopped when a voice called Aria.  

“

“Miss? Young Miss? Oh my God, is that you?”

Both of them turned towards the voice and Aria immediately smiled broadly when a young, plum woman threw herself at her, giving her a warm big hug.

"Nana, how are you doing?" Aria smiled, and patted her back gently.

Nana let go of her hug and looked at Aria with teary eyes.

“Look how big you are now. Oh, my sweety, what happened to you? You're so thin and small…” She cupped Aria's cheek with her big fingers, caressed her lovingly with her thumbs.

Aria laughed a little, still trying not to cry even though her eyes were already teary.

"I'm fine, Nana..." She said in a small, trembling voice. Nana hugged her again tighter. Spilling out her longing for Aria.

“Okay, now, Nana give her space a little…” Mr. Feng reminded Nana. "We'd better not make a fuss here and quickly take Young Miss inside to meet Mr. Wellbert."

Nana's eyes instantly widened. “Y-you want to meet Mr. Wellbert?” She whispered, and Aria nodded. Nana looked at her and Mr. Feng in turn.

“Go, quick.” Mr. Feng told them to go inside immediately.

Nana bopped her head quickly, she took Aria’s hand and opened the door.

Aria held her breath as she stepped her feet again into this house. The place she once called home. Some of the ornaments and decorations looked different from what she remembered. She smiled bitterly. She left when she was a little. Of course a lot had changed.

"Miss..." Nana whispered softly as she led Aria towards the living room. She seemed hesitant about what she was going to say.

“Yes?”

"Why are you looking for Mr. Wellbert? I-I means… I knew he sent some people to look for you not too long ago. Looks like he’s looking for you too."

Aria frowned. Looking for her? It didn't seem to make sense. They got all the money and wealth, there is no need to look for her anymore. She was just a poor girl who had nothing. If anyone needed help, it was her. That's why she is here now, even though now she began to regret her own decision.

If the time she needed for Grandma's medical expenses was still a few weeks. She can still earn extra money, without thinking about help from people who kicked her away like trash.

Nana wanted to explain further but they were already in the living room .

"What is she doing here?"

Aria stopped when she saw Jasmine who seemed to have just come down the stairs.

“Miss Jasmine, Young Miss is here to meet Mr….”

Jasmine chuckled, when she heard that. Her eyes looked at Aria hatefully.

“Young Miss? You call her Young Miss? She's not your Young Miss! And no one is allowed to meet my father without permission!” She snapped.

Aria was shocked to hear her suddenly shouted. Jasmine had always been rude and grumpy since the very beginning she knew her. It turned out that this ddin't change even though they already grew older.

"What's all this fuss about?"

A man's voice that Aria knew very well, made her turned towards him.

“Aria?”

Giovanni Wellbert, the mayor of this city, walked out from another room in this unnecessary big house.

Aria looked at the man once she really hoped would love her, gave her the same warmth and safety. She once looked at him with teary eyes and pleading words. But now, she looked at him with unreadable eyes. Aria stood straight, staring at the tall, bloated belly man, that starting to lose his front hair. But his hard expression showed the same temperament.

Aria still remembered everything very clearly.

Her heart broke every time she remembered what they did to her in the past. But right now, Aria put aside her pride for Grandma's sake. If they didn’t want her, then let her save someone who could love her sincerely.

“Mom, look, this stupid troublemaker is here!” Jasmine shouted.

Aria could only hold the bitter in her heart when she heard Jasmine called her such names.

“Jasmine, keep your voice down.” Mr. Wellbert raised his voice at her. Then, he looked at Aria with a slightly surprised look.

"Aria… You are here.” Susan, Jasmine’s mother spoke with soft tone that made Aria sick to her stomach.

Aria looked up to see the Lady of this house, walking down the stairs gracefully, clad in a luxurious dress and expensive jewelry on her body.

"I want to meet my father." Aria answered her coldly, didn’t take away her gaze from Giovanni Wellbert.