Black Swan's

The Come Back Home (Thirty)

            That wide smile continued to be imprinted on Ciara's face as her tiny legs had been galloping over the slightly wet Las Vegas land due to the rain. At the end of October he was finally able to set foot in the land of his mother's birth which he had only heard through his mother's story before he slept at night.

            “Mommy... when will Fany aunty pick us up?” ask Ciara with her face. The cold air of Las Vegas that reached thirteen degrees did not dampen his intention to immediately explore the country of birth of his mother who looks so amazing in his eyes. And most importantly, it

I can't wait to see her father soon.

            “That's it, mommy doesn't know. Let's find Fany aunty there.”

            Ciara reflexively held her mother's hand tightly while slightly pulling her mother towards the arrival gate that had been crowded by many pickups. Some of them seemed to carry a signboard while looking back and forth to find the object of their invitation. And when Eden and her daughter made it out of the crowd, Eden's round eyes were accidentally glared at Tiffany's beautiful crescent eyes. Instantly Eden and Ciara immediately excited, running towards Tiffany while stretching his arms wide.

            “Eden! Gosh, I miss you guys.”

            With excitement Tiffany immediately embraced Eden, and after that he turned to the beautiful Ciara who seemed impatient to be carried immediately by Tiffany.

            “Hai princess...”

            “Halo queen mother.” reply Ciara joke. In a moment they both look crazy without heeding Eden who is busy collecting her things.

            “You've been waiting for us a long time?” tanya Eden opened the conversation as the three of them were walking hand in hand towards Tiffany's car.

            “Not really, about fifteen minutes ago. Today the streets are a little jammed, there is a celebration with the main sponsor Cadillac in the city. Huh, they all really hampered my way.” grumbled Tiffany annoyed. Eden only muttered lightly in response to Tiffany's remark and seemed not to want to comment too much. Hears

the name of the giant company was called, making Eden have to remember the man again. Huh... This is really annoying, he seems not to be a little out of the scope of an Aciel, because even though he has lived in France, in a city very far from Aciel, he is very much, but the things related to that man always followed him. Like the branch of his company, or the man's property, and the assortment of knick knacks in the name of Aciel Lutherford can always be easily found anywhere, all over the world! No wonder if Aciel besides being famous for his player nature, he is also famous as the most desirable rich man forbes version majalan.

            “Oya, Summer and I have cleaned your apartment. So you can take a quick rest when we arrive.”

            “Really? Ohh. You really are my best friend. But where's Summer?” ask Eden for confusion. Usually the two of them always stick to each other like identical twins inseparable. Even during the Christmas holidays last year, the two of them excitedly gave her a surprise while she was designing a dress order for one of her customers in the boutique. They are truly inseparable true friends. Unlike him who can not get too close to them because of the many complicated things that follow his life. At just twenty-seven years old, he has a nearly four-year-old boy who is adorable. Her youth has automatically been stretched because she has to raise Ciara herself and also work without a husband who can accompany her at all times.

            “Summer is away, he left you a greeting because he couldn't pick you up today. But tomorrow he may come to your apartment, as well as help you prepare for a fashion show that will be held in three days. Have you prepared all your needs for your special occasion?”

            “Already, my assistant and also some of my staff arrived yesterday morning. So tomorrow I'll just have to check a little bit of our preparation. I'm going to California tomorrow anyway. I'm going to visit Zyan's parents and look at Zyan's grave. Ciara has long wanted to meet her father.”

            “Eden...”.

            Tiffany seemed concerned about the twists and turns of Eden's very miserable life. Even after escaping from the grasp of Acielpun, Eden has not yet got his happiness. Life is full of mystery. I don't know how many more tears Eden shed, which obviously he just wants to see his best friend get real happiness. It's not the quasi-happiness that only lasts a blink of an eye.

            “Don't pity me Fany.” cold Eden remembrance. Tiffany's sad look made Eden feel fed up for a moment. Eden's eyeball just rolled to the left, avoiding Tiffany's wistful gaze that had been teasing her ever since the woman started discussing Zyan's matter. He had not liked it long ago if others saw him with such a sad look. She is a strong woman, the life lessons that Aciel has given her all along has really made her have a heart as hard as steel that will not easily waver despite the many obstacles that stand in her way.

            “Sorry, I just feel annoyed at myself. As a friend, I can't help you much.”

            “No, you and Summer have helped me so much. I couldn't be like this if it wasn't for you and Tranz, so don't feel like you never did anything for me. You are the source of my strength.” said Eden sincerely. The two of them got into Tiffanya's mini chooper and left the airport full today. God, I don't want to see that jerk again....

            Eden's heart thumped instantly as his tail accidentally stared at the giant billboard that showed a portrait of an Aciel Lutherford who was standing arrogantly in the middle of a luxury car output his company. Just one week, just one week he spent in Las Vegeas. After that he will return to his quiet life in France and he should not be afraid anymore with the unexpected appearance of Aciel. He believes he can pass the time for seven days easily without having to repeat his painful dark past.

-00-

            After living a four-year life without Eden, now Aciel began to have a new habit. In the morning he will take the time to stand on the balcony of Eden's room while enjoying a cup of black coffee made by Mr. Kim.

            In the past he often saw Eden was pensive on the balcony of his room when he had just returned from the office. On a very cold night, with a strong wind, sometimes he still saw Eden daydreaming alone on the balcony of his room. He who at that time never cared about the life of Eden, always considered indifferent to it and only saw it as a useless activity carried out by a fragile woman. But now, he actually likes the morning routine of silence on the balcony while enjoying the breeze that sometimes blows hard, and sometimes blows softly. All

activities that he does every morning like this always managed to make his mind much calmer and also peaceful.

            “Master, miss Jessica is waiting for you below.”

            Aciel's daydreams instantly froze when Mr. Kim suddenly walked in and ruined everything. Since then he even knew if Jessica had come to his house and made a little commotion with one of his gardeners because Jessica stepped on one of the plants that had just been tidied up by her gardener. But he thought Kim would not dare to bother him because he never liked if his morning routine was disturbed by anyone. It's just Jessica! A noisy woman who never stopped to interfere with her life. Mr. Kim obviously wouldn't bear to hear her cry as the noisy woman continued to whine to meet him.

            “Kim, you..”.

            “Ace.. You still mourn the departure of Eden?”

            That shrill flat voice made Aciel's words instantly stop in midair. She turned her body lazily towards Jessica, and quickly led her out of Eden's room as she was lazy if Jessica started to let out her noisy scolding this quiet morning.

            “What are you doing in my house so early Sica?”

ace's morning, it's nine o'clock. Even I wonder why you still

be at your house at hours as important as this.”

            “I just need a little quiet. What's up?” aciel asked with great emphasis while sitting herself in the long chair in the living room. Talking to Jessica in the morning like this is actually not a good option at all. As much as possible, Aciel avoids sensitive conversations with Jessica because the woman will usually only aggravate the complexity of her mind whenever the topic of Eden is discussed again.

            “I want to give you my fashion show invitation officially. You should come, because it's a pretty prestigious event. There will be many designers participating to enliven the event tomorrow. Maybe you can grow your business in the fashion world? Didn't Cadillac have succeeded in establishing cooperation with Leica, so it is possible you can also collaborate with one of the designers who come from various parts of the world.”

            “I'll work on.” replied Aciel lazily. “In addition to providing invitations, what more do you want from me Sica?” aciel added flatly, the man then straightened out the rest of the coffee liquid in his cup and immediately asked one of his servants to bring the empty cup to the kitchen.

            “Maybe you can meet her there, you still can't forget her right?”

            “Who do you mean Sica? I think I'm fine.”

            “Of course Eden. Don't pretend to be an idiot in front of me Ace, because I know how you feel.” Jessica said firmly. Aciel laughed blandly in response to Jessica's ignorance. What does that woman know about him? Even the woman could never judge herself well. Then how could she possibly judge the mysterious Aciel Lutherford?

            “Really? I doubt it.” said Aciel laughed cynically. Jessica growled in annoyance when underestimated

like that, and he tried to convince Aciel if his hypothesis was not at all wrong.

            “Look, that tangled face of yours explains everything. And your habit of sitting in the room of Eden is a strong proof that you cannot refute. You miss him, don't you? You miss Brexton's daughter that you've broken. He's even raising your son with another man now, have you forgotten that fact?” jessica shouted in flames. It seems he was too anxious to see the strong-mannered attitude of Aciel which in fact is very contrary to the actual condition of the man. Aciel was obviously hurt by Eden's departure, but the man was too naive to admit it all.

        “I don't think my feelings are any of your business, Sica. Shouldn't you be happy? With Eden gone, you don't have to beg me for attention like you used to. I know, you actually don't like it and really want to get rid of it because being here just makes you neglected. Confess Sica, and don't put on your surprised face like that.” snide Aciel. Checkmate! Jessica must have never thought if she actually always noticed the woman's movements, no matter how small her movements. Not only Jessica, but she did the same to Eden. It's just that there are some things he knew too late from Eden, so he failed to prevent the woman from doing cunning things beyond her limits.

            “Why have you been quiet all this time? You're always impressed not to care and just do what you do

you think it's true.” Jessica clarified. It felt too hypocritical if he still remained in denial after Aciel had said it so confidently before him.

            “Because I don't want to fuss about it. There are more important issues that require my attention than your childish problems. Many times Eden yelled in front of me, telling me if you might have feelings for me. But in the end I was only able to laugh out loud in front of him because all of his words sounded very silly. I know you can't possibly have feelings for me, and never have them. The only feeling you have is jealousy, because all this time you've been used to being close to me. Well, even though we've been bedmates a few times, but I'm sure you never involve your feelings for me. Aren't we just satisfying each other, Sica?” aciel whispered intensely right in front of Jessica's face. Jessica reflexively retreated her face away while looking at Aciel annoyed at the man's mischievous flickering.

            “You deliberately toyed with our feelings?” accuse Jessica loudly.

            “Maybe. Sometimes seeing creatures like you guys get jealous, it's fun. I feel like someone very desirable here.” the chuckle of Aciel sucks. Jessica felt like hitting Aciel's annoying face with her handbag which she had been holding tightly in her right hand. How could the man all this time just be silent, and as if he never knew anything? In fact, he knows everything clearly.

            “On the baby, you trusted him just like that?”

            Suddenly Jessica exclaimed as she looked at Aciel's serious face. For more than three years he did not discuss it in front of Aciel, because he felt that Aciel was in the stage of forgetting Eden. But seeing how Aciel behaves today, Jessica finally believes that whenever Aciel will never be able to forget an Eden Morel.

            “Didn't you say it if it wasn't my son? So what else should I doubt?” ask

Aciel relax.

            “But I am now in doubt.” murmured Jessica slowly. The meeting with Anthony was one month

then it makes him feel guilty to Aciel, because he had once shouted something that was not necessarily true in front of the man.

            “Hmm... it's too late to be doubtful Sica. Now Eden has been happy with Zyan.”

            There was a bitter tone that Jessica caught from Aciel's voice. He knew that the man had not completely released Eden with another man. But he himself did not know why at that time Aciel chose to release Eden, even though the man had always insisted on keeping Eden by his side.

            “I want to know your reason why you decided to let go of Eden. It's not just because of the kid, is it? You have another reason.”

            “No reason whatsoever Sica. I just want to let go. It's time he lived with his own intuition.”

            “You sure? You're still hiding a lot from me, Aciel.”, angry Jessica. For years they have been friends, but Aciel has not been open to him. There were always a lot of things that Aciel had hidden for himself.

              “There are times when I have a secret that I don't share with anyone. Now go back to your boutique.

Prepare your show well, do not disappoint me.” said Aciel ended with a brief kiss on Jessica's cheek before the man decided to disappear into his study.

            He always dodged when he was cornered. Aciel's new habit after Eden disappears is to avoid. As much as possible the man avoids any topic of conversation about Eden if they have discussed it too far. One of the defense mechanisms that Jessica thinks is very nauseating and also cowardly.