Approval

She still remembered their fight clearly at that time:

"You live safely and happily here, Bryana. You have your brothers, father, and grandfather's affection. You have a lot of friends. You can have everything you want just by saying it. Isn't it enough? How could you be so greedy?" Haruka scolded the fifteen-year-old Bryana.

"Is it wrong for a daughter to demand her mother's love and care? Why did you only care for Ayana? She might live happily there. It is her bad luck since she chose to live with father at that time! She has a father, and I have you, mom. Why did I also lose you when it was dad who died? You can do everything for her, but please think of me too. I want my mother back, I…." Bryana sobbed as she finally poured everything out.

"Enough!" Haruka roared at her daughter, stopping the girl from rambling. Bryana was stunned as she looked at her mother. Her mother never snapped at her like this.

"Why did you screamed at me? Am I wrong? Tell me where I said wrong. All of this even happened because of Ayana. She snatched away your affection from me even when she was not here. I wish she also died back then so you will never be too busy for me!"

Plak

The slap causes a ringing in Bryana's ear. The room was dead silent as Bryana raised her head looked at her mother in astonishment. She could not feel the pain in her cheek since she felt her heart was being squished by a strong grip.

She will never forget her mother's cold gaze at her at that time.

"Never say something like that again, or you will regret that!" Haruka's face was red with anger. She was going to say something, but luckily, Richard barged inside the study in a hurry.

It seemed like the butler called him since they felt the situation was got worse.

"Dear, you need to calm down," Richard said as he noticed Bryana's red check. The man realized he appeared too late, but he was glad he could be here and stop his wife from saying something she would regret for the rest of her life.

"Get out! This is my and Bryana's problem. I will make her understand how wicked her heart is!" Haruka roared as she shoved Richard, who tried to stand between Bryana and Haruka.

Richard staggered a little because of his wife's strong push. Before standing in her current position, Haruka was a fighter. She was tall and slim for a woman, but her body was sturdy from all the painful encounters she had when she was a child. She was not an aristocrat by blood. On the contrary, she was lower than a peasant in the aristocrat's eyes since she came from Zone B.

Her power and brain make her an exception when one of the senate families in Zona A comes for an inspection in Zone B.

The man was astonished by Haruka's agility and power. He then decided to take her as a bodyguard for their daughter. The moving process was fast since Haruka was an orphan. They also can't find any criminal record that can weigh her down. From that point onwards, Haruka raised and got her position now.

"Dear, you need to calm yourself before continuing your conversation. Let's talk with me first, okay? Bryana, go to your room," Richard said while blocking Haruka from getting closer to Bryana.

Bryana stood there for a second but decided that it was better to be in her room since she was also confused and sad about everything.

That night, Haruka came to Bryana's room and talked to the teenage girl. They were calmer after their argument this afternoon.

"Did you know where you said wrong?" Haruka asked with a tired face.

"I am sorry, I shouldn't say those things," Bryana lied. She did not regret everything she said back then because it was the truth. She wished her sister died, but her mother wouldn't like it if she said those things. 

Honestly, she did not feel any closeness with Ayana. Their parents divorced when she was six, and after that, she rarely met Ayana since Haruka moved to District 4, leaving Ayana and Mathew, who lived in District 3. Moreover, after Haruka starting to actively try to bring Ayana back to Zone A, her time with Bryana decreased a lot, which made Bryana started to get irritated at her twin sister. 

"You shouldn't say that to me. Say that to your sister when she comes here," Haruka said as she moved and sat beside Bryana.

Haruka started to stroke Bryana's wavy hair with love, "I am sorry for what I said back then. I was angry and disappointed that you said those things. I love you and your sister equally, but I feel guilty every time I laugh or feel happy since I know your sister was outside there, alone. I lived there once. And I don't want her to experience that. You know that I would do the same if you were the one in her position, right?" Haruka said as she talked with a painful expression.

Bryana nodded her head. Her heart was numb. She knew it. She should have understood what her mother said, but she just could not accept it. 

"I want you to be patient, dear. When Ayana's back, I promise you, we will spend a lot of time together," Haruka said while stroking Bryana's wavy blonde hair.

Bryana nodded as the tears fell down from her eyes.

In her heart, she felt a strong feeling of hatred start to grow. She knew it was wrong and wicked to think that way, but she could not help it.

"Will you be fine with that?" Haruka asked for the nth time.

Ayana smiled helplessly, looking at her mother's guilty face.

"There is a way to cancel this marriage, so if you change your mind, just tell mother, okay?" Haruka started to persuade her daughter while rubbing Ayana's hand gently. Everyone breathing in the room suddenly hitched. They were looking at Ayana with worried expression. Bryana's face even got darker at Haruka's words.

No one can defy the senates' decision. A rejection is the same as rebellion. All family members might get deported or even get a death penalty since this marriage is an agreement between two districts in Zone A. 

Okay, that was the worst case, but since Haruka and Richard has important position in District 4, their position might be revoked and their family would be banned from the society for failing to do their duties. 

Bryana looked at Ayana with hatred, she would hate Ayana if she dared to reject the marriage offer. She was sure that her mother would force her to marry the unknown man from district 2 if Ayana dared to refused it.

"It's okay, mother. You've sacrificed a lot just to bring me back. It is just a marriage. It's not like I won't be able to meet you again after this." Ayana's words lessen the burden in her mother's heart. Haruka's husband and her two sons finally feel relieved after hearing what Ayana said.

Bryana smiled bitterly at what Ayana said. She would hated her if Ayana rejected the marriage. But she also disliked it now that she calmly accepted the marriage. Compared to her, Ayana appeared mature and calm about the decision. 

After Ayana has voiced her approval, all of the men in the room can relax for the time being.

They were quiet all this time because they knew that a wrong word from their mouth could ignite Haruka's wrath. Haruka is a strict and stern woman who only acts mellow in front of her expressionless daughter.