In a millisecond, Cynthia’s cheeks burned bright red and she ducked her head in panic. Her heart, like a maddened buck, refused to be still inside the cage she called her chest.Growing up, everyone had always teased Cynthia and Aristotle as some sort of one true pair. Back then, it did not mean anything to her; she was just an innocent child who had no inkling of what the adults really meant. Of course, Aristotle was always the kind-hearted, caring big brother in her life, so she slowly came to accept the bond they shared and rationalized it as the way their interaction should be.As for the adults’ suggestion, Cynthia admitted that it had also taken root in her mind. It was only after she grew up when memories of those teasing suddenly made her feel very, very self-conscious.It was undeniable. Aristotle Tremont had matured into a fine, young man—emphasis on “fine”. He had inherited every physical trait that cemented Mark and Arianne as beautiful people. Look at his piercing eyes,

Cynthia felt as though her heart was going to leap out of her throat right there and then, but she channeled that panic into a frantic shove instead. “Okay, okay! You deal with the pie yourself while I… I… uh, I’ll check and see if the flowers need watering!”A shadow of unnoticeable emotion briefly crossed Aristotle’s eyes. “All right,” he replied. “Say, Cindy… You’ve grown, haven’t you? Taller. Older.”Cynthia, failing to ponder more deeply about his remark, replied without sparing him a look, “I mean, duh? How many years has it been? You got a growth spurt yourself, you know. And now I can’t even reach your face anymore... Anyway, e-enough chit-chat! Go enjoy yourself!”She escaped to the yard and finally let out the breath she had been holding. She supposed folk wisdom was right: the nature of a relationship changes when people are separated from one another for too long. Even a bond that started out as inseparable could devolve into people playing out self-restraining courtes

There was something infectious about Cynthia’s smile that made Aristotle’s lips quiver on his own. “Please, I’m only tolerating your noise because it’s you. If it were literally anyone else—well, I’d make sure they don't croak at all when I’m around. Come on.”They returned to the Tremont Estate, and from there, Cynthia got into her car and drove away. Aristotle stood by the door. He watched the car vanish into the distance before turning back into the house.He was not the only audience, however, for another figure had been peering from the window upstairs, watching.“Had she taken her lunch, Agnes?” Aristotle asked his housekeeper.Agnes shot a helpless glance in the direction of the room upstairs. “Uh, she hasn’t. Miss Leigh informed me she’s feeling unwell today, and hadn’t gotten the appetite. Really, the only meal she had today up until now is… well, a bowl of oatmeal she didn’t even finish,” the woman replied. “Um… She looks really pallid, Master Tremont. Could she have

Since that incident, Raven’s daily expenses had become Aristotle’s responsibility. This was especially germane due to the injuries she suffered, as they hamstrung her so much that she could no longer resume her part-time work to survive. Taking her under his wing was the least he could do. Since she temporarily lost the ability to care for herself, he invited her to move into his luxury mansion in France. Then came the time for Aristotle to return home, and he brought her along as well.Granted, if he had any other choice, he would not have chosen to do this, either—Aristotle was used to being by himself. Having an additional member by his side felt awkward.Raven Leigh started out as his compatriot, but at a young age, her mother married a French man. Shortly after, she brought young Raven with her abroad. One day her mother died, and she soon found it rendered her invisible to her stepfather’s eyes. The young woman began living on her own for several years before getting into the

Cynthia cowered beside Papa Jackson, shivering like a kitten. “But Mom! Ares just came back after so many years! We haven’t hung out with each other for so long, it’s only normal if things get a lil’, you know, awkward? Weird? Not used to each other? But I’m sure that given time, we’ll just be back to normal again!” she protested. “Besides, what happens if he doesn’t like me that way? What am I supposed to do, then? This isn’t the kind of thing I should control, right? Like… what if he’s always seen me as his little sister growing up?”Jackson, contrasting his wife, turned out to be a lot more zen about these things. “C’mon. Rest your heart, Tiffie. Let the kids explore and develop their love life at their own pace, okay? We parents have no business sticking our hands into their business. Besides, Aristotle said it already—Rey is just a schoolmate who’s taken up a temporary lodge at his place. She’s just not his girlfriend.”The longer Tiffany stared, the more this father-daughter du