Ryan and Arianna arrived at a stall. So many street foods where lines up, which other individuals sold.
"We're here" Ryan said with a frown settled between his brows. "Cheap restaurant" he spoke underneath, through clenched teeth.
Arianna turned to him "I love it anyways" she gave a smile and climbed out of the car.
Ryan's jaws clenched "Damnit!" he cursed "How can I eat in a place like this? I'm the CEO of Han group for goodness sake!" This is so awful. What kind of water do they even use to cook their foods? Is it healthy? Aish!!
"Hey, aren't you coming out?" Arianna asked and he feigned a smile.
"I am" cursing again, he got down from the car. They walked to a table and sat down, facing each other. A waitress came by and greeted them.
"What would you like to have?" she asked.
"Uhm... tteobeokki, and ramen, please" Arianna replied. "For both of us"
"Sure" she said and left.
Ryan exhaled deeply "What's so nice about this place? Except that the air is cool, nothing here is nice!" his eyes wandered around and it fell on an all-to-familiar figure, opening a car door for a lady to get out.
Their food was served and he moved his eyes back. "Thank you" Arianna said with a big smile and the waitress left.
Ryan raised a brow "Why do I have to eat the same thing as you?"
"No reason" she simply replied.
Ryan moved his eyes back to the person he saw. Now he saw his face, his brows furrowed. "Aria, let me check out something. I'll be back" he said, stood and left.
"Hey, where are you going?" she asked but got no replies from him. He just walked further. Arianna's lips pursed, but she eventually continued with her meal.
His pace was fast, almost as if he wasn't walking. It was like he teleported. "What a pleasant surprise" he said, and then lifted his eyes to him.
Zayden's eyes grew wide "Ryan?"
"Yes, it is I. What are you doing here?" he asked with a feigned smile.
"I'm here with a friend" he replied "Meet Kim Jana" Ryan moved his eyes to the woman beside his brother. His lips parted, his eyes looking surprising.
"Hello..." she greeted with a bow "Nice to meet you"
"Nice to meet you too" Ryan replied. With the way she looked at him, he could already tell her memories didn't return. Now he was certain she was used against him that day. But seeing her with us brother, he couldn't help but think she's that gem he's talking about.
Turning to Zayden, he asked "A human gem?"
Zayden just smiled in response, his eyes beamed with happiness.
"I see" Ryan said. His eyes moving from Jana to Zayden. "Anyways, watch your back. They're not so far away" his lips curled up and then he patted Zayden's shoulder and walked away.
Zayden's brows creased. What was that? What does he mean? He tried to think but Jana's words interrupted his thoughts.
"Who is he?"
"He's my elder brother. C'mon, let's go" he said and they walked ahead.
*....*....*....*.....*.....*.....*.....*.....*.....*.....*
Arianna was still alone as she ate the food with a smile lingering on her face. When....
"If it isn't the mistress of CEO Han. Lee Arianna" she heard that familiar voice and she lifted her eyes. In front of her, Rosalie sat, with her two friends behind her.
Arianna straightened her back, she swallowed the food in her mouth. She wiped her mouth and leaned back on the chair, crossing her legs.
"That's not a nice way to greet your elder sister" she said.
You're not my sister" Rosalie scoffed "You're just an orphan who lived in my house" Arianna gritted her teeth, turning her face away. "Now the house feels like a real home without you in it. With just a father, a mother, and their only daughter" Rosalie said with a smirk.
"But hold on. What are you doing here? In this... 'cheap place'?" Arianna glared her, her teeth clenching harder.
"Looks like CEO Han treats you without respect, isn't that so?"
"Who knows" Min Su said.
"Oh... Poor Arianna. He couldn't even let you go to a better restaurant. I'm really sure you must have been treated as a 'maid'" she said and the others laughed. Arianna clutched her skirt, anger brewing inside of her.
Ryan was a few metres away, his eyes catching his scene. Who are they? His Ari looks angered. What is going on?
"You're suffering so much for a petty sacrifice. I should thank you sincerely from my heart, because I'm now a CEO's daughter. While you... A mistress without respect." They laughed. Arianna's chest went up and down. Her eyes reddened in anger, glistening with tears.
Ryan came there with an act in mind "Young miss, what's going on?" he asked "Are you okay?"
Arianna turned her eyes to him, she starred, Rosalie's words resounding in her ears. He saw the tears that were brewing and his heart ached again. She turned her face away "No"
Ryan looked at the trio with blazing eyes, then back to Arianna "Is anything the matter?" he asked.
"I've.... I've been insulted. How.... how could she insult me?" she moved her eyes to Rosalie, her tears almost ready to fall. "Me!"
Rosalie scoffed "Who are you? You're nothing" she said. Ryan's jaws clenched. How could she say that in front of him?
"Nothing?" A deadly chuckle escaped her lips "This same 'nothing' has the future of you and your damn parents in her hands" she spoke slowly. "Do you realise that if my years should roll now....my boyfriend would destroy Doshin?" her lips pursed.
What? Boyfriend?! Everyone was stunned. Ryan had his mouth slightly opened as he looked at her.
"Doshin would be... flushed down the drain. Who would be the CEO's daughter then? Unlike me who would become the.... wife of CEO Han, a business tycoon" she blinked and the tears which had been waiting for so long, rolled down her cheeks.
Oh god! Se Mi and Min Su gasped, seeing her tears. Rosalie say there, irked to her bones, shocked at her words.
"But...." Arianna wiped her tears ".....I'm not a bad person. So I'll just forget you insulted me and spoke ill of Mr Han's future wife."
"Who told that?" Rosalie scoffed "Which wealthy man like Mr Han would want to get married to a 'bastard child' whose father abandoned her mother. And who has no qualification to any position...."
"You have no right...." Ryan spoke as he had been angered enough. How dare she? However Arianna held out her palm, stopping him from from saying anything further. This is her fight.
"I agree" she said "Mr Baek abandoned both of us, and my mother was taken away from me" she lowered her eyes and then lifted them again. "But the mistake he made was marrying a b*tch and bearing a spoilt brat, whose future I'm having the urge to destroy"
What the hell! He's surprised again at her destructive mouth. Holy! Where did she learn how insult like this?
"So dear sister, how about we start from not letting you pursue your dreams? That should do right?" Arianna's lips curled up in a murderous smile "Or maybe we could start from destroying Doshin, and make sure you all start from the gutter. What do you say?"
Rosalie opened her mouth to speak but Se Mi held her shoulder, gesturing for her not to say a word.
"Anyways, I should go. It was nice seeing your ugly face again after so long" Arianna stood up "Tell Mr Baek that I would surely repay his kindness. I promised, so I would keep it" she smiled and then turned to leave, but then something hit her. Turning back, she picked the plate of tteobeokki on the table and emptied it on her. Rosalie screamed, her friends gasped. Even Ryan never expected that. But it's so awesome. Where did she learn that?
"I wanted to say you don't look beautiful enough unless you're stained with this" with a smile she turned to leave.
"Damnit! Yah!! You crazy b*tch!!! I'll kill you!!!" Sally cursed, already on her feet, and the blazing Arianna stopped in her tracks.
"Sally, that's enough" her friends tried to warn her, but she paid no heed.
"You do have some nerves, you filthy wench!!! I'll be end the end of you!!"
Arianna turned, walking back to her. The aura they felt emanating from her, was almost like the man in black, standing beside them. It was cold, but blazing. Fierce, murderous, intimidating. Like the glaciers in her was becoming a terrible blizzard. And then....
*Pak*
A slap landed on her face and it went flying to the other side. She breathed heavily, her cheeks burning terribly that tears welled her eyes. She glared at Arianna.
"I told you before.... don't ever use that tone on me. I'm not longer the Arianna you use to know. This one standing here, is a wounded lioness." she said "Don't ever cross my path again, or else you'll leave without your teeth." her voice was low, but so lethal. She glared at the duo behind at they lowered their eyes, biting their lips. What happened to Arianna? How did she change like this.