Chapter 16 - Her Uncle Was Around (2/2)
”Hi, uncle!” She summoned a smile at him.
”Hi Arianna,” He smiled back, ”It's been weeks since I last saw you,”
”Yeah, weeks of going into hiding and letting us deal with your debtors,” she said mentally.
”Yes, it is,” Arianna said instead, even though that was the opposite of what she had in mind.
”You should come and join us,” He gestured to the food on the table.
”No, thanks,” Arianna rejected without second thoughts, she would die from indigestion if she ate with them, ”I ate before returning home,”
”Just sit down, Arianna!” He ordered her, ”Moreover, I have something to discuss with you,”
Arianna knew at that moment that it was about the loan sharks. Her aunt and daughter must have narrated the great incident to him. Fine, she had to know how he intended to go about the debt as well.
Sitting down, her aunt and Claudia didn't say a word to her and one of the maids came to serve her meal. Her uncle didn't say anything until she was half into the meal.
”I heard about what happened,” He said out of nowhere.
”Oh,” Was all Arianna mumbled.
”I want to thank you so much Arianna for standing up for your family,”
”I know, uncle. Unfortunately, your wife and daughter have a weird way of saying thanks,” she retorted.
”Y-you!” Claudia wanted to rise from her seat but her mother held her back.
”Behave,” her aunt warned her and Claudia obeyed her, albeit, she sent a death glare Arianna's way.
”I have found a way to settle our debts and I can say it's beneficial for all of us,”
”For you,” Arianna said, of course, in her mind. None of her uncle's actions were beneficial for her. Who knows what he did this time.
”And I also want to apologize to you,”
Arianna's head jerked up, eyes narrowed at her uncle. What does he mean by that?
”I'm sorry, Arianna,” He said, regret etched on his face.
Arianna frowned, ”Sorry for what?” Something doesn't seem right here.
And that was when it happened, Arianna felt disoriented. Her uncle seemed far away and she felt dizzy all of a sudden.
”What did you do to….? ”
That was the last sentence she could form as she lost consciousness.