Slipping control

Ariel felt her heart skip a beat upon hearing those words. However, she continued to smile on the surface while pretending as if she had no idea what Ari was talking about. She tilted her head to the side and questioned, "Whatever do you mean?" She scoffed before chortling. "Why wouldn't I want you to repay the debt? Of course, I want you to pay it back, isn't that the reason I even sought employment for you?" She then turned serious as the smile left her lips.

"You are being ungrateful, Ariana," Ariel said to Ari. Her eyes filled with disappointment.

That gaze made Ari clench her fingers. When she was young, Ariel had looked at her in this same manner and Ari had lowered her head again and again in front of Ariel and her mother.

'Don't be a disappointment, Ariana.'

'I did not expect such a thing from you, Ariana.'

'Can you stop being a burden, Ariana?'

'You are so ungrateful!'