CHAPTER TWO:SHE IS BACK!

"Why is the road so bumpy? what kind of lousy place is this? it stinks! step on the gas!" The butler , Mr Jerry ordered the Hovstad family's chauffeur.

"Yes sir." he answered and stepped on the accelerator. After a bumpy journey, they finally arrived at a dilapidated neighbourhood. The house was old but clean and tidy. It wasn't that huge, just enough for two or three people. The butler snorted in disdain. So what if it was clean? It was still a show of poverty and suffering. He didn't want to associate himself with poor people. He was even more disgusted when he saw the neighbours surrounding the car that they had alighted from. They were curiously looking at it . It was a limited Rolls Royce. Many of the children were touching the car from time .He composed himself and called one of the neighbours over and asked for Ariel's whereabouts. It turned out that she was in the backyard.

As Mr Jerry, the butler approached her, he could see a thin back and a pretty side profile. Ariel, on sensing someone approaching, turned to confirm whom it was .

'Christ! she sure is stunning, she looks just like madam !' thought the butler inwardly, with his jaw almost hitting the ground. 'so what if she is stunning? she is still a jinx!' the butler assured himself. While he was having a monologue, Ariel was also sizing up the man who looked familiar and unfamiliar at the same time. She remembered begging him not to send her away but all she received as an answer was a slap across the face and a string of curses and insults from him. That's how she ended up in the countryside. He was the one who sent her there at the time.

"Hey! madam and sir sent for you, hurry up let's go!" the butler said after a long period of silence.

"I'm busy." Ariel answered curtly and carried on with what she was doing. Yes, she was busy fixing a computer for the neighbour next door.

"Fine, I'll wait in the car, don't keep me waiting." the butler said while throwing his hands in exasperation.

Ariel watched all this in amusement. 'Tsk,Tsk, he sure has aged a bit. He isn't as strong and vibrant as before. ' thought Ariel. She continued fixing the parts of the computer that she had disintegrated. In no time, the computer was back to its original shape but its operating speed had increased. She took it to the neighbour and turned to leave.

"Ariel, are you moving out?" the neighbour asked curiously.

"Yes, I'm going back." Ariel answered.

"But I don't want you to leave, boohoo..." the neighbour cried out while clutching tightly at her T-shirt.

Ariel: "..."

It was awkward for her so she just patted the neighbour on the shoulder and left amidst her cries. She went and knocked on the car window, waking up the butler who opened the door.

"Get in." he told her.

"I have some things to pack." She answered back.

"What's there to pack? the Hovstads have everything ready for you!" he chided her angrily.

Ariel didn't answer and left behind the butler who was boiling with anger.She went and packed her laptop,a few clothes and other few important things then came out.

She went back and knocked on the car door again, the butler open and was shocked to see her with only a backpack and an old phone. He expected her to be dragging a large suitcase for God's sake. He rolled his eyes in disdain and got back into the car. The ride back to the Hovstad Residence was quiet and comfortable. Ariel liked quiet environments the most. After five hours , they arrived at the Hovstad Residence. Ariel took a deep breath. This was the Residence that only had her sad and dark memories and encounters . Before she took a step ahead, the butler called out to her and began giving her instructions.

"You are not in the countryside anymore so you should behave, get along with your parents well, don't touch your sister's things especially the piano. It is very precious to her. Also, when you get in there, follow your sister as an example. Also-"

The butler was still talking when he turned and saw Ariel already at the doorstep. The butler was unsure of whether to continue or not. He was waiting for her to make a fool of herself but to his dismay, nothing seemed to amaze Ariel, she was calm and collected.

'Didn't they say she's a country bumpkin and doesn't understand the ways of the rich? Hmph! keep pretending, everyone will see your true colours soon' the butler hurramphed inwardly.

"Sir and madam are waiting for you inside." a servant rudely ushered Ariel in. Ariel just raised an eyebrow and entered the house. The joyous and warm atmosphere that was in the living room suddenly came to a halt because of her entry. Ivy kept sizing Ariel up. The more she looked at her the more jealous she grew. That was because Ariel seemed to have multiplied her beauty. If the two were put together, Ivy would be too plain. Her beauty couldn't even hold a candle to Ariel's.

'Didn't they say people from the countryside have tanned skin and have freckles all over their faces? Why is she so pale and with supple skin?' the more she questioned inwardly, the more the nails on her clenched fingers dug deeper into her flesh. She didn't feel any pain though. That was nothing compared to the fire that was burning in her heart. Ariel greeted everyone curtly and followed the servant upstairs into her room. She didn't need a signal to know that her parents didn't want to talk to her so she decided to leave before she became a nuisance and further ruin their warm family of three. She went to take a shower immediately.

Ivy on the other hand, had different thoughts. She waited for a perfect opportunity to slip into Ariel's room. As soon as she heard the shower running, she went over to Ariel's backpack by tiptoeing so as not to be heard and emptied all the contents in it. There was an old book on matters the violin, which was written in English, it made Ivy even more disgusted as she assumed that Ariel didn't know how to read. A laptop, an old book with computer notes and knowledge and a red shiny string which looked like a bracelet. Ivy snorted in derision since she didn't see what she was looking for, everything was just unimportant. Suddenly, something in the side pocket of the backpack attracted her attention. She was so excited there she stretched out her arm to touch and feel it.

Just then;

"What are you doing!?"