As usual, Sky sat between Barton brothers to watch the sci-fi movie.
After the movie, Ryan went to do some office work in the room. The trio went to Loran's room. Arlo went to Olivia's room.
After dinner, seafood feast under star lighted tree, Sky suggested to go on a drive. Ryan wanted to join in and brought Arlo. Sky was tiny enough to sit between her brother in the back seat.
Arlo stayed quiet all the time as the rest laughed and talked. Nobody found it weird as he always spoke less around them and spoke with Sky.
But Jai knew something was off from the time of breakfast. He knew Sky was normal only with them but not Arlo. The latter wasn't cold, he was broken inside. He knew well Sky would never do anything unless he did something to her and regretting it.
Since it was between husband and wife, he wanted them to resolve themselves and Sky didn't share anything so he stayed out of it.
Sky again rested with brothers saying she would miss them as they were leaving so early. It was usual to them so they didn't say anything and teased while sitting in the living room.
"Sky! Are you leaving your husband alone again?" Ryan teased and laughed.
Sky threw a backrest cushion at him before replying, "He will not die without me. Won't I be with him on other days? I will let him be with you today."
She had said similar comments throughout the day as if everything was alright and all would smile at her comments and move on. She didn't lie to anybody but she didn't tell anything to anybody.
--
The next day all left together. Barton family to town A. Ryan to Sigma. Sky and Arlo to Harley corporation.
Before leaving Jai met Arlo separately. He extended his hand at Arlo. The latter confusedly held his hand but paused hearing him, "Congratulations on successfully teaching my little sister how to be happy even when she is hurt. I was incapable to teach that. You have succeeded. Well done."
Arlo knew she wouldn't tell anything to anyone and he also expected Jai to identify but the latter's way of taunting hit where it should hurt.
After finishing Jai sat in the car and left. Since Sam wasn't there, Sky drove and he sat on the shotgun seat. But she sat expressionlessly.
When he was trying to talk, Sky purposefully turned on the music at high volume, she had no mood to talk to him about anything. When both got down and walking towards the elevator, Clark approached, "Sister Sky!"
Arlo saw her smiling. It wasn't fake or she wasn't pretending. She just treated him as invisible. "What's up?"
"Sister Sky! I'm very bored." Displeasure was written all over his face.
"Outing? I need a break too." Sky said.
Clark was expecting to go for dinner and some fun games. Hearing outing, he was instantly cheered up. "Really?"
Sky saw his bright smile and her mood brightened up, "Sam isn't coming today. How about we discuss tomorrow? If you want I will take you to Arcade today or dinner would be fine too."
Sky replied as they went towards the elevator. "We will plan tomorrow. No need to go today as Brother Sam isn't here."
He then pulled her cheeks gently, "Sister Sky, you are the best."
Sky flashed him a smile and entered the elevator. She gracefully waved her hand before the door closed. She had got a new phone in the morning hence she configured in the elevator without talking to Arlo.
Both worked as usual. Even though she was normal in office as aloof, she didn't make eye contact with him whenever she instructed him as a secretary.
During lunch, Sky thought for a while before deciding what to do. If she goes out when he was there, it would raise suspicion. If she orders from out, it would also raise suspicion hence she went to the kitchen with the laptop but she sat on a barstool and worked until he served.
She had finished half of lunch, Arlo spoke, "Sky! I'm sorry... I thought you were ignoring me when you got your brother and I heard a few talking ill about us. So I was angered. I will never repeat again. I'm really sorry."
Sky nodded but didn't speak. Arlo continued, "You can punish me however you want but please talk to me."
Sky didn't respond but she lost her appetite. Seeing her quiet, he called her name, "Sky!"
Sky tried to look at his face but she couldn't do it. She bit her lip and pushed a white porcelain bowl towards him. "Drop it."
Her voice was too weak, Arlo wasn't sure if he heard right, "Huh?"
"Throw it!" Her voice was loud and crisp.
Arlo threw it down and looked at her. Sky who jerked by the noise spoke: "Apologize!"
Arlo couldn't understand why she was asking him to apologize to broken pieces of the bowl.
"I said. say. Sorry. to it." Sky repeated differently. Whole-time she was clutching her left fist so tight that she was scared she would break down soon.
"I'm sorry!" He vaguely said and looked at her.
"Did it get fixed?" Sky asked and drank some water. Arlo understood why she said.
"Not every sorry deserves an 'It's okay', I know you treated me well but I never let you touch. But I'm sorry, my body is not for sale."
Sky said and got down. Before exiting she added, "If you have doubts about my relationship with my brother, we should sep..." She couldn't finish the word 'separate' as tears streamed down.
She didn't want to cry in front of him hence she left without turning back. She went to her room in the office and pressed hard on the aching heart as tears continued to flow.
She never thought she would also cry in her room hiding it from all. She had to compose herself and got back to work soon.
-- Two days back --
Arlo who had left the Harley corporation on Saturday had only 'Brother Jai' in his mind. His intention was to talk to Sky but hearing her say 'Brother Jai' again and again, he didn't concentrate on the topic.
With that and Directors' comments in mind, he pushed her on the bed but he still heard her say Jai and he lost his sanity.