Aster Veren
Episode 151

- Esther

Time passed quickly, it did not feel I had lived in Singapore for five days to accompany the father who was unconscious. And today I have to go back to the academy to prepare myself, to continue my education.

"I don't want to go home." My words instantly got Uncle Arsel's warm touch over my head. I saw that uncle had smiled gently at me with his warm gaze.

"Go home and rest yourself, you should go back to the dorm, right? Learn with focus, let uncle keep your father here."

"But ...,"

"When your father wakes up, I'll call you right away." His words made me nod weakly.

I did not even have an appetite during my stay in Singapore, I felt like my stomach was never hungry when I saw my father's condition that had not changed. Every day, I can only pray for my father's recovery. Asking God to wake me up, bring him back to me.

"In that case, I'll take you to the airport." He said, rising from his seat, "Hans, I have my nephew. Make sure he eats regularly before returning to the academy." This made Uncle Hans nod quickly.

"Good sir." Said later.

"... Can I say goodbye to Papa first?" I asked after being silent for a long time. Pondering what words I would say to my father.

"Well, I'll wait for you here. Go." Uncle's words made me rush into the room where Dad was being treated.

I saw my father still lying weakly on his bed with his breathing apparatus adorning his pale face.

"Papa ..," I murmured as I moved my legs closer to where my father lay now.

I grabbed my father's hand which was adorned with an infusion hose, grasped it tightly before stroking it slowly, feeling a deep pain in my heart. "When did papa wake up? Aster misses papa's voice. Asters ...." My whisper can't continue when I feel the heat in my eyes.

I exhaled my breath as deeply as possible, trying to calm myself who was about to cry again when I saw my father's condition. "Papa must quickly get up and return home with me. Papa has to make up for my boring vacation time without Papa, when he recovers later ... Papa has to spend a lot of time with me. So, get up quickly."

***

- Arshel

I waved my right hand at the car Aster was in, walked away from the hospital with Hans. Then I let out my tired breath when I heard the story about the accident from Rigel.

I really never thought there would be such an event. Moreover, Rigel told me that the accident was abnormal, I myself was investigating what really happened to brother.

I hope this is not the same as that experienced by the late mother. I hope he can immediately open his eyes and recover as usual, I really can't bear to see the condition of Aster who is so sad because of my stupid brother.

Could he have had an accident on the day of his wife Ian's death, didn't he plan to go back and visit Ian to say his condolences? But why did it end here? In the hospital?

So what happened while I was away from you? I heard that you had a disagreement with old man and Ian over Aster's problem. Then you asked Aster to stay away from Carel? Do you think the boy will stay silent?

"... I heard that the young master has already been betrothed to the grandson of the owner of the academy." Eric's voice came back in my head. He called me right away after getting the information I asked for. He is very good at looking, I like his fast performance.

"really?"

"Yes, I even heard about Miss Aster being bullied by the granddaughter of the academy because she felt jealous of the closeness of the young master and miss." The next thing surprised me when I heard the name Aster mentioned.

"That kid! He dared to disturb my nephew?"

"Yes, but Mr. Ansel took care of it. Rigel says Mr. Ansel came to Alterio's residence when he heard that the family of the woman who was betrothed to the young master had received special treatment from the Alterio family." He said again, explaining the information I asked for.

"You kidding? Since when does the Alterio family give special treatment to families whose status is below it? You even know how they treat my family! And again since when did they match Carel to the granddaughter of the owner of the academy?" I'm really upset about their injustice.

They may make an exception when the Veren family is not granted an exception. Our family has done a lot for them, but what is their reward?

"That, the reason ... the owner of the academy posed a threat to Alterio's family. They'll spread rumors about the tragedy one year ago when the young master went berserk, beating up everyone who's been bothering his friend." It clearly shrank his trembling voice. Is he afraid of me?

"Haaa? That's ridiculous! Can't they silence everyone's mouth with money? As usual? Why the sudden whistle when you get such a cheap threat?" My words were about to scream, the more I listened the more upset I got.

"That is the reason Mr. Ansel went to the Alterio residence, he even offered to solve the problem. But the previous leader Alterio refused the help offered by Mr. Ansel, and chose to follow the game of the owner of the academy." Clearly again after sighing tiredly.

"This is how the young master was used to cover up the tragedy he made last year." Continue to open my mind that had been foggy.

Following games? Do they secretly have plans to take down the owner of the academy? My mind suddenly shuddered at the thought of what a cunning thing the Alterio family could do.

"Hah~ alright, I understand a little about the situation that happened between–"

"ah! There's the last information I got from a close friend Miss Kalea." The cut pissed me off, maybe he cut me off when I intended to hang up my phone.

"Say!" My grunts, still standing on the hospital roof, enjoyed the strong wind. Yes, after all, the higher the place, the wind feels stronger, right?

"Miss Aster told her close friends that the grandson of the owner of the academy was threatening her. He asked Miss Aster to stay away from the young master if she did not want to see Alterio's family relationship with the Veren family destroyed. Therefore, the lady suddenly turned away from the young master and–"

"He crazy? What could destroy the relationship between Alterio and the Veren family? That kid wants to die, right?" My words exploded again, irritated by the kid's smart-ass behavior.

***

"Wait!" My murmur confirmed my sitting position on the sofa of the hospital waiting room.

I who kept thinking about the information provided by Eric suddenly got a little picture of what the Alterio family was doing.

I don't know, I don't know why I feel like they've figured out the old man's rotten plan. From the information given by Aster to his friends. I can conclude that their main goal is to destroy the relationship between the two families, the Alterio family and the Veren family. And gained the name Alterio as a new force for their status.

But this is still my guess, I can't prove my thinking. Then I also felt that Alterio's family was devising a plan to avenge his enemy's actions. Yes, besides the Alterio I know, they don't give mercy to their enemies. Even new people who just know them.

"Then what I'm confused about now is, why did this idiot suddenly come to Singapore? Didn't he leave his job here to Rigel? He should only focus on the company in his homeland right?" Ocehku while leaning my body on the back of the sofa I was sitting on.

Why are they so troublesome? Both Ian and Brother, both of them are full of puzzles. Couldn't they have shown the plan a little more openly? For a long time my head hurts if I keep thinking about the puzzles they made. I continued in my heart after clucking in annoyance.

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Thanks for reading...