The ringing doorbell

Ari sighed for a millionth time. She was sitting in her rented apartment while staring at the ceiling with a blank look on her face. Ever since she returned from her walk, she had been thinking about what Nicolai said to her.

However, that man was like a clam that had shut itself. Once he told her that she would get what she wanted in a few days, he turned around and left. Not once did he turn around or tell her what he meant by those words, even when she called out to him more than three times. 

"That damned frustrating prick," Ari muttered as she covered her face with her hands. She really wanted to know if Nicolai had done something behind her back, but the thing was that even when Ari messaged him on the number that he gave her, the only thing she received was ——

[What? Are you upset that I ignored you? Mrs. Nelson, how does it feel to be on the other side?] 

Ari was certain that Nicolai was enjoying this as much as he enjoyed punching someone in the face and leaving them in a bloody mess. But she was unlike those people who would egg him by providing him evidence of how desperate they were. Thus, when she did not get the response that she wanted, Ari did not message Nicolai anymore. 

She did not want the man to know that he was getting to her head even when he was because she was in control. Her peace relied on the very fact that she remained in control because if Ari was to lose it——

"Stop it," Ari closed her eyes and shook her head harshly. She couldn't let the voices in her get the best of her. Because the last thing she wanted was to prove that her mother was right when she called her a monster. Ari was better than that.

Timmy placed his face on her thighs as he let out a while, only then did Ari snap open her eyes. She looked at the puppy dog eyes that were staring at her and then looked up at the clock, a shocked gasp leaving her mouth as she realized that she had been busy groaning for more than two hours! 

"I am so sorry, Timmy. I will make your lunch now," Ari patted the dog on his head as she walked over to the kitchen where she started to chop broccoli and chicken breast. 

Though her bank balance was about to turn into minus, Ari was not going to starve Timmy. The poor thing had suffered enough because of her. 

She placed the chopped-up vegetables and chicken into a pot before leaving it to boil, and was about to fix something for herself—— 

Ding Dong. 

The sound of a doorbell broke the silence of her apartment and Ari stiffened. 

This apartment had been left on lease by Danny and his boyfriend, Jace. There was no way anyone who lived in the building was not aware of it and even if they had seen Ari live in this unit, she doubted that those high-profile ladies who thought that they were better than the rest would come looking for Ari who lived alone with Timmy and hardly wore any branded clothes. 

So, who was outside the door? 

Ari gulped harshly. She was worried that Noah had found her hiding spot and was here to drag her away.

'I am not going anywhere,' Ari swore determinedly as she picked up the knife on the kitchen aisle. If it was Noah, then she was going to chase him away with the knife, she would rather be locked up in prison for assaulting her soon-to-be ex-husband rather than getting locked up by Noah. 

At least everyone would see what Noah Nelson had driven her to the point of insanity.

Ari crossed the room and arrived in front of the front door, where she peeked at her visitor through the peephole. However, as soon as she looked at the person standing outside, her brows scrunched up and a complicated wave of emotions washed over her. 

"Ari, I know you are in there. Open the door please," the man spoke, his voice was muffled as he was speaking through the door. 

Ariana pursed her lips, something she did when she was rather confused. However, after a short while, she placed her hand on the knob of the door and opened it. 

"What are you doing here, Aaron? How did you find where I am?" She asked her brother. Ari didn't hate Aaron, but she did not like him either, the two of them were more or less like strangers. When the two of them were young, Aaron like Ariel hated her guts. 

He had made all sorts of troubles for her, but as he grew up, Aaron distanced himself from her. He did not make trouble for her nor did he pull stupid pranks, but at the same time, Aaron stayed away from her as well. 

And when he turned nineteen, he left home and hardly ever came back. However, even when he returned, the two of them never held any conversation. So, it was quite surprising for Ari to see Aaron standing in front of her door. 

"I asked Danny," Aaron answered. He then quirked a brow before saying, "Are you going to speak with me here?" 

Ari looked at the old woman who was peeking at the two of them while cleaning the outside of her apartment and rolled her eyes. She stepped away and let Aaron step inside her apartment before closing the door behind her. 

"What are you doing, Aaron?" Ari asked as she couldn't understand why Aaron was here. No wait, if he knew about this place then——

"Don't worry, I didn't tell anyone. Because if I had such intention, then Danny wouldn't have told me the address," Aaron read the thoughts that were written on her face and cleared up the doubts. 

Ari heaved a sigh of relief, but then she turned her guard up once again before grilling her brother, "But you still haven't told me why you came looking for me."