She can only show a fake smile to her mother and uncle Alfonso because of that approval.

"Ah, yes. It is my fault." Aaron showed a smile, a smile that really irritates Anna. "So, all I need is to get permission from our mother, then I'm off to go with Nathalia?"

"Uh... Yeah."  Anna hesitated. From the way Aaron is talking, it is as if Nathalia already agreed for Aaron to come with her. "Did Nathalia even allowed you to come with her?"

Based on what Anna just observed from Nathalia, it seems like she doesn't want to go. So, what is the use of getting permission from their mother if Nathalia is not going?

"Even if she doesn't want to, I should at least ask for our mother's permission. I mean, who knows when Nathalia changes her mind." Seeing how positive Aaron is, Anna can't help but clicked her tongue. 'He is so simple-minded.'

Laughing at Aaron's reasoning, Lannie spoke, "Well, at least he is positive." 

Just a few minutes ago, the atmosphere around them was so gloomy, but now it's different. It's making Nathalia's mood enlighten. She is so glad that she has friends like them who can support her without any hints of fakeness.

If it had not been them, Nathalia would never know what should she be doing right now. Even at a times like this, Nathalia sometimes wishes she should be numb from feeling the pain of sadness.

~~~

"So, you didn't have the chance to ask Nathalia about what's going between her and your brother?" Lannie asked with a smirk. Although she already knows what Anna must be feeling right now, she could not help herself but tease Anna.

"The timing could have gone better," Anna replied with a sulky expression on her face. If she did not know any better, she would have ignored Nathalia's feelings and asks her about status between her and Aaron. But she knows better, that is why up until now, she has no answer to her question.

"Oh, well. There is always a next time." Lannie said. She wanted to tease Anna more, but her ride back to her uncle Alfonso's house has arrived. "Are you sure you don't want to come back with me?"

Since Anna is going away from school for three days because of the runway show, Anna is obviously staying with Alfonso. And since their destination is in the same way, Lannie thinks that it would more convenient for Anna to ride along with her.

"I would love to, but my brother wants me to help him convince our mother." Regardless of what she said to her brother at the cafeteria, Anna still agreed to help her brother out in the end. She even called herself stupid for being too soft on her brother.

"Geez. Well, good luck with your mother!" Lannie said before going inside the car.

'I shouldn't be the one who you should be saying that, Lannie.' In Anna's opinion, the one who needed luck is her brother, not her. After all, he is the one who wants to be with Nathalia.

After Lannie left, Anna waited in front of the school gate for at least three minutes, and withing those minutes, Anna felt annoyed that her brother is still not in front of her.

As she is about to call his phone number, a familiar sports car parked right in front of her. Anna peeked on the inside and saw her grinning brother. Seeing that, she felt even more annoyed than before.

She went inside the car, then she slammed the car door hard.

"Anna! Be careful about closing it! Don't you know how precious this baby is?" If this car of his got broken or anything like that, Aaron won't be having any car that he can personally drive soon after.

His parents told him that if he wants a new car, he will have to start from zero and work hard, and who knows when will he get a new one. Since he has no plan on starting from zero, Aaron would love to keep his baby car in shape until he earns some money of his own.

"Motorbikes are more precious than this 'baby' of yours." Anna can't understand why her brother loves sports cars so much. Unlike motorbikes, Anna's can't feel the wind touching her skill, unless, of course, if she slides down the car window. But that is not enough. She can't feel any excitement at all.

"Excuse you. Cars like this are more expensive than motorbikes, that is why this 'baby' of mine is precious." As for Aaron, he can't understand why his sister prefers motorbikes than cars. It's rare for a girl like his sister to love motorbikes that much. "Additionally, if you compare motorbikes and car safety measures, then cars win that round."

Anna wanted to have a motorbike, but everyone in their family members, including him, went against that idea. They all don't want Anna to have a motorbike where the risk of driving it is way too risky. Of course, they know that cars can get into an accident, but motorbikes are just way too dangerous in their point of view.

Anna didn't respond. She knows that, but she just loves motorbikes way too much.

Seeing that his sister has no words to respond to him, Aaron smirk. A smirk that indicates that he won this round.

By the time the twins arrived home, it seems like lady luck is not on Aaron's side. They saw a car parked inside the Coleman family's property, and that specific car belongs to one person, the person that Aaron is not ready to face at this moment.

"You sure have some incredible luck, brother." Anna laughed at her brother, then she walks inside the mansion.

Aaron gritted his teeth. He doesn't need his sister to remind him that his luck has run out. But even if lady luck is not on his side at this moment, it does not mean that he is discouraged by that man's sudden visit. He will complete his goal today.

When Aaron is finally inside the mansion, the first place he visited is the living room, and there he saw all of his family along with the owner of the car outside. As he approached them, he heard his mother saying, "Leo, I am sorry to hear that your mother is in a bad condition." 

"Thanks and I'm also sorry for not leaving any note for you to know where I am." 

"Leonardo, there is no need for you to say sorry. Mary and I understand, besides if you were gone for more than a month, you know that we will find you with no problem." Arion spoke, rea.s.suring Leonardo that there is nothing to worry about his sudden absence.

His family and Leonardo noticed his arrival, but they did not say anything and just continued their conversation. Aaron did not mind it at all, in fact, he is quite happy that they decided not to say a word to him.

Anna noticed that relieved expression on her brother and could not help but some naughty thoughts to make him go crazy. 'I'm sorry, brother, but it's your fault for riling me up earlier.'

"Are you sure that you should be here, Leonardo? You are her son, I think she needs her son to be at her side at the situation that she is having." Marcus saw Leonardo grow up into a fine man that he is in now, and he also understands how much love Leonardo has for his mother.

It's very unusual for Marcus to see that Leonardo decided to visit them instead of staying at the side of his mother.

"I will go back to her side soon, but right now, I..." With so much fear forming inside him, Leonardo can't even finish his sentence. He always composes when someone is dying, but now that someone is his mother, he can't manage to compose himself.

He already imagined that when the right time has come, his mother and father will die and that he will be ready for it. But even though he already expected this to happen, he is not ready for it no matter how much time he prepares himself.

For the past years, it has only been Mary and Crona who have seen Leonardo in his vulnerable shape, and every time they see it, it always surprises them. And right at this moment, Mary felt like she has been stabbed seeing her best friend so vulnerable.

Just like what Leonardo did for her she is in that same vulnerability, Mary sat right next to him, then she hugs him.

Meanwhile, the twins are quietly arguing between themselves, "Anna, don't you dare say a word." Aaron said in a warning tone.