Chapter 193

"Honey, what's going on?" He asked coming to her.

Ariana dropped the shirt in her hand and she sat down —more like dropped on the bed. She licked her bottom lip and took a deep breath.

"Calhoun, I want to go home," She said in a tight voice.

Calhoun was confused. He looked back at Lisa for help but Lisa was as confused as he was in the matter —maybe even more.

"But honey, we are home? What are you saying?" He asked her and then turned to Lisa. "Did she hit her head when she was fallen or something?"

He moved closer and sat down with her. He held her hands and she pulled away from him. Calhoun felt his heart slice in pain due to the action. This was the first time she was turning him down.

"I am sorry but I really need to go to my parent's house," she muffled as her tears returned to her eyes.

"Did something happen to your dad?" Lisa blurted out. She had been silent all along as she tried to think of a possible answer to what was bothering Ariana and now that she mentioned home, he figured it might have been her father. Or was it her mother?

Ariana only shook her head as more tears filled her face. Calhoun thought being pushed away by her was painful, he was shocked at the pain that came to his heart as he saw tears in her eyes.

He went down to his knees and held her hand gently. "Please don't cry. I can't think straight why you crying so much..."

"Yeah, I won't. Besides, it isn't even true. Why should I cry?" She exclaimed with a shrug of her shoulders. It couldn't be real. Her father was not dead, she kept telling herself.

"Fine. I will call Zion to prepare the private jet so long," Calhoun said. "I will be in the office, let me know when you are done." Calhoun placed a kiss on her temple and moved away from the bedroom.

Ariana collapsed on the bed and tried to calm her beating heart. The plane was going to be here soon. It meant they would also get there earlier than the normal planes.

"Aria, you could still tell me before we leave. I just want you to be assured that whatever it is, you are not alone in this. I am with you till the very end, you understand?" Lisa asked her and she nodded.

Lisa helped her pack the rest of her bag and a few minutes afterwards Calhoun returned with his phone glued to his ear.

"Zion, is it ready? We leave in ten minutes..." he grunted something and then ended the call.

He picked up Ariana's bag and stretched out a hand to her. "Come let's go," He told her as he led the way out.

Lisa followed behind not knowing what to do. She had not brought anything with her except what she was putting on at that moment. But she wanted to go with them. She couldn't leave her best friend to go to her parents all alone. Especially when she was crying so much.

They got to the helipad just above their apartment and Calhoun led Ariana into the aircraft and turned to Lisa. "Lisa, are you coming with us?"

"Yes, of course," she said as she moved into the craft. There was no way she would stay behind, screw the dresses.

The helicopter moved high into the sky and started its journey to Ariana's home town. She was numb and her mind was moving from one point to another as she tried not to think of what awaited her back home.

Her eyes scanned the air as close as she could. Calhoun and Lisa observed her from where they sat. None spoke to her. They knew she was probably going through hell within herself but they couldn't help her unless she decided to be helped.

"We are here!" The pilot announced into their headphones. The craft started descending slowly to the ground and Ariana thought her heart would jump out the more of the city she saw. The closer they got to the ground she knew she had just a few moments before the harsh reality started eating her up.

As it came to a stop, Ariana was frozen in her seat. Calhoun had to tap her before she snapped out of it. He held her hand and they both started walking to her father's house.

The street looked eerily quiet. It was usually quiet but this quiet was more like a taunt to Ariana's pain. Thanks to Calhoun's physical support, Ariana was able to make it to their front door. She knocked once and heard nothing from within the house.

"Hello?" She called as she tried to test the door. It came open in front of her and she placed one shaky leg in front of another.

"Ariana?" It was the husky voice of Daniel.

"Oh my God! It is really you! Daniel!" She exclaimed hugging her brother. "Where have you been?" She said clinging onto him.

Daniel hugged his sister back but his eyes met harsh ones and he furrowed his brows. "You haven't introduced your friends," he whispered into Ariana's ear.

Ariana broke away from the hug and wiped her tears. And then swallowed hard. She tried a smile but failed. She decided to go with a straight face. "I am sorry guys, this is my brother Daniel," she said stretching an awkward hand towards him.

"And Daniel meets my best friend Lisa and my fiancee Calhoun," she whispered.

"Hello!" Daniel said stretching a hand to Calhoun. He noticed a relief in the guy's eyes and now he understood why he was almost glaring at him a while ago for hugging his sister.

"Daniel where is dad?" Ariana suddenly asked. It was as if she had forgotten about it and only got reminded of the situation.

Calhoun and Lisa exchanged looks again wondering what Ariana was talking about this time when Brenda walked into the living room where they stood by the door.

"What is she doing here?"