Excerpt: "You jerk! How dare you? Just because you are my guardian and I have nobody to ask, did you think, you can take advantage of me? I thought you stand on high morals..." Rian turned Aria towards him not quietly understanding what was going on. Amelia and Rowan were in the same state. "Arrie! What happened? Did brother do something? Why are you angered so much?" He sounded very concerned. Alan leaned on his room door frame thinking what would be her answer. ..... Aria's mouth was wide open in shock. 'Sh*t! This man really has a mental illness. How can he forget so soon?' It vexed her more and wrung her hand to punch but Alan held her hand twirled her before pressing her back on him. "Young Miss Cooper! Mind your hand." He said loudly and whispered, "If you wanted more, you should have asked me." ~~~~ Aria Cooper, a confident, brave, intelligent, lively teenager turns insecure and timid losing her only family, her father. Alan Morgan, a cold, indifferent young President of Morgan Industries falls in love with the teenage girl who moves into his mansion. Being a cynic, will he be able to change and win over the girl's heart? Will he be able to find the culprit behind the murder of Aria Cooper's father who targets her? Will he be able to keep her safe? --- *** --- This is an original story. Story DISCORD: https://discord.gg/QhhXXWq Ko-fi: ko-fi.com/munchkin_2 Instagram: auth_munchkin Linktree: https://linktr.ee/munchkin *Credit to the real owner of the novel cover.
Alan woke up early morning for a workout and checked on Aria who was still on the bed but curled up into a ball.
He never liked to enter anybody's room but he had to enter her room again to see if she was crying. He sighed since there were no wet patches or her tear-stained face.
Seeing her furrowed brows, he didn't know what to do hence he left the room.
He saw Rian lazily walking inside the mansion. His hair was ruffled and unruly. Even in his leisurewear, he looked dashing.
"Hey Bro!" He greeted Alan but the latter twisted his left hand roughly to his back, "I heard you aren't submitting any paintings to the studio. Do you want me to block your cards?"
Rian was an Artist who was recognized at the national level. His paintings sold at a very good price in the studio which was under Morgan Industries. He was one of five artists under the company.
Rian's hand ached greatly in a matter of seconds and whined loudly. "Brother Alan! I will complete it and send it soon. Because of that Little Devil, I had no mood for painting. If she stays like this... I will move out and stay alone like you."
Alan froze for a few seconds. He knew Little Devil was Aria Cooper. He quickly recovered and threatened, "Thinking about leaving, I will take you to my villa."
Rian's mood instantly soured.
Going to prison was far better than going to his villa. Alan would break his bones if he messes in that villa and he couldn't exit as he wants either. His villa was built outside the city near a lake which had a beautiful view and all the amenities.
Rian always called it a luxurious Prison.
"No thanks, Brother Alan! I will handle that Little Devil and finish my painting by the end of the week…" Rian was still continuing, Alan left with a frown.
Alan's threat wasn't because Rian wanted to stay alone. It was because he didn't want Aria to be affected by his brother's nonsense.
Even though he knew very least about her, he knew her father meant everything to her. After losing him, she was depressed and had no hopes for herself.
Rowan Morgan had told him that Aria started to help Oliver Cooper in Skyline so that Oliver could spend quality time with her. Now she had nobody to even cry her pain out.
He assumed as he was pitying Aria hence his heart was aching for her.
He jogged, worked out, got fresh, and went to the dining table. He had sat down when a maid descended stairs and Aria followed her keeping her gaze on the floor.
Alan furrowed his brows when Rian knocked on her head, "Little Devil! Are you coming to school today?"
Aria who always threw a punch on him as payback bit her lips and walked with a blank face. She didn't retort nor showed the discomfort which actually pained her.
Rian didn't wait for her answer either but he was perplexed by her behavior and reached the dining table before sitting next to his brother.
A maid pulled a chair for Aria and she sat down.
Alan who was filling his glass and Rian's glass with fresh fruit juice filled her glass too to which Rian rebuffed, "Bro! Why are you serving her? You aren't her…"
Rian didn't dare to continue seeing Alan's face turn dark.
Aria's eyes were on the table and didn't look at Rian or Alan. Seeing brothers start eating, she raised her hand to pick toast but Rian hit her backhand. "That's mine."
Alan's left hand clenched into a tight fist seeing her retracting hand which had turned red instantly when Rian's spoon hit her hand.
Aria didn't flinch at the pain. She remembered Amelia asked her to have food on time else she would be worried. She bit her lip and moved her hand to pancake. Rian repeated the same, "I want the pancake."
Aria almost cried when the spoon hit her knuckles. She bit her lip hard to control herself. She got up and left silently.
Rian was baffled. "What's wrong with her?" If it was past, she would have choked him until he apologized to her.
Rian wasn't in the home from the time she was moved in so he had no idea about her psychological state hence he still behaved as he used to in the past.
Alan retracted his gaze from Aria and looked at his brother who was scratching his head looking towards the stairs.
Rian was about to call the housekeeper to ask about Aria but Alan called her.
"Aunty Lilly! Our Second master Morgan will be fasting today. Take all the food back to the kitchen."
Rian was bewildered. "Crap! Brother Alan! When did I say that? How can you do this to your brother?"
He protested but a few maids took everything inside excluding the plate Alan was eating and his juice glass.
Aria couldn't control herself after going to her room. She wasn't crying because of Rian. She remembered her father who would always feed her running behind her hearing her nonsense or letting her get ready.
She didn't want to stay in the Morgan mansion. Since her father chose it, she didn't say anything when they moved her things there.
After thinking for a while, she wiped her cheeks as she packed some of her clothes and heard a knock. She didn't have the habit of locking the door in their villa hence while the door was opening, she wiped her cheeks clean.
The housekeeper entered with a plate of food. "Young Miss! Here is your breakfast."
Aria didn't react.
The housekeeper thought Aria was still unpacking her luggage and started to keep the clothes back in the wardrobe.
Aria didn't react to that either.
A maid entered with Aria's school uniform, "Young miss! Here is your uniform. Please change and get ready soon. Young master is dropping you and Second young master to school... Young miss, if you need anything, please let us know."
Aria saw her stretched hands towards her to give her the uniform. She took them and the maid sent her to the bathroom to change.
She washed her face and changed before combing her hair. She decided to go to her villa from school. The same maid took her school bag downstairs hence she followed her out without eating.
By the time Aunty Lilly noticed, Aria was downstairs.
Alan who went downstairs noticed the untouched breakfast plate in the housekeeper's hand. He frowned looking at the slender figure in uniform exiting the main door.
Easter Egg:
Everyone in the Morgan mansion knew Aria Cooper before she moved in.
Everyone was courteous to her.