Chapter 252 - Refusal

"What if Raisa accidentally left her cellphone at the karaoke place and went out without bringing it?" Tara tried to guess.

"Raisa is not that smart," Nico casually replied.

"Hmm… Even if Raisa is spoiled rotten and had a bad temper, she's not a woman with a cunning mind like that. She rather acts towards her impulsivity than scheming like this. If she does something out of the ordinary like this, chances are she received an order from someone else or framed," Anya said.

"If it's not Raisa, that means someone set her up on purpose. Who would do that?" Nico thought for a moment and then someone came to mind. "Natali?"

"I can't think of anyone other than Natali," Anya laughed at how ironic the reality was for her.

"Raisa is so stupid that she doesn't realize her best friend has been playing tricks on her. Someone has to tell her," Nico frowned. He thought of Raisa because Raisa was his best friend Raka's younger sister.

"Why don't you just tell her?" Aiden asked.

Nico nodded, but a few moments later he realized, "Uncle, you are trapping me again!"

"What trap?" Tara looked confused.

Anya just smiled without saying anything. Aiden wanted to use Nico and Raisa's marriage to deepen cooperation between the two families.

"Let's go home," Aiden got up and grabbed Anya's hand, taking her out of the room.

"My wine..." Anya muttered with a confused look. She had not had time to bring the wine on the table.

"Let Nico take it," Aiden took Anya out of the room, letting Tara and Nico talk together.

Nico and Tara were still in the room. Nico looked at Tara and said, "Where are you going? I'll escort you,"

"I'm going back to my grandfather's house. No need to take me. It's near here," Tara bit her lower lip and couldn't help but ask, "What did your uncle mean?"

Nico's eyes lit up with joy. "Tara, do you care for me?"

"I'm just curious," Tara pretended not to care.

"My uncle wants to set me up with Raisa," Nico did not hide it and told her the truth.

"For your family cooperation?" Tara asked.

"Hmm..." Nico didn't dodge. He just said in a low voice. "I like you. I don't like Raisa. But as a member of the Atmajaya Family, I couldn't do anything. The same also happened three years ago. My uncle also didn't like Natali and Natali didn't like my uncle, but in the end they still had to get engaged,"

"It's not an engagement. It's just a deal. What is the meaning of marriage if it's all based on money?" Tara looked at Nico sympathetically. "Before, I always envied your luxurious life. But now, I feel much freer to be myself,"

Nico laughed at himself, "Of course if you want luxury in your life, you also have to sacrifice something. Being a member of the Atmajaya family is not as good as it seems. Once I find the way, I'll take you to elope,"

"I don't want to elope with you. If you are not Nico Atmajaya, you have nothing. I don't want to live a hard life," Tara seemed to break Nico's resolve, asking him to give up on the idea of ​​eloping as quickly as possible. She wouldn't be able to go with Nico.

Tara felt that her current life was good enough. Love was not the only thing that mattered in this world.

After her parents died, her grandfather was the only valuable person she had in this world. She wanted to make a lot of money and be devoted to her grandfather who had taken care of her until now.

Love was not everything. She would rather give up on love than give up her whole life.

It was better for her to think of Nico as a friend. Keeping friendships was much easier than keeping romantic relationships.

"Tara, if I get engaged to someone else one day and you are not married, can you wait for me a few years?" Nico asked.

"Why are you so selfish? Why can you get engaged to someone else and ask me to wait for you? I will get married before you,"

Finally, Nico could only give up when he saw Tara getting annoyed with him. He also didn't want to lose his friend.

Nico put his arm around Tara and patted her. "Tara, you are indeed my best friend,"

"Hmm... If you really think of me as a good friend, how about you buy wine for me too?" Tara said on purpose.

"Yeah, fine..." Nico rolled his eyes, but he still gave Tara what she wanted.

…

Anya and Aiden were walking casually, heading to their car. Once they arrived in front of the car, Aiden's bodyguard immediately opened the door.

They immediately went home without waiting for Nico and Tara.

It wasn't late yet, so Anya and Aiden decided to spend some time in the family room. Anya held a thick book and read it seriously while leaning on Aiden's arms. While Aiden's eyes were fixed on the television in front of him.

One of his hands tightly hugged Anya's waist. Even though his gaze was on the television, his hands still hugged Anya tightly and pulled his wife's body so that there was no distance between them.

While Anya and Aiden were relaxing on the sofa in the living room, Nico came with a bottle of wine in his hand.

"Uncle, I brought your bottle of wine. Stop making out!" Nico complained when he saw two people making out in the family room. His heart still ached from being rejected by Tara, and yet he had to see his Uncle and Aunt sticking to each other like stamps.

Anya's cheeks flushed and she immediately pushed Aiden's body away from him. She looked at Nico and smiled shyly. "Thank you for bringing it. Go home, it's late."

"Don't thank me, Auntie. We're family. If Auntie needs my help, just say so," Nico said, patting his chest.

"Nico, when are you going to come home?" Aiden asked.

"Back home? To the Atmajaya Family main house?" Nico frowned. "I have no intention of returning. Uncle and Harris live here. I also want to live here. We can help each other!"

"Help? You just want to eat Hana's cooking," Aiden snorted.

"Uncle, I won't bother you. I promise I won't disturb you. I can promise you anything as long as I can stay here," Nico immediately begged him not to send him back to Atmajaya's house. He preferred to live in this place.

"I don't want to live there because it's empty and I'm lonely. I'm used to living in this place. Mrs. Hana also helped me to clean the house and wash clothes. I can eat with you every day. I really don't want to go home," Nico said. In fact, that wasn't the only reason why he didn't want to go home.

Aiden glanced at Nico. "Running away won't solve the problem,"

"As long as I don't appear in front of Grandpa, Grandpa won't be able to find me and won't be able to force me to attend blind dates," Nico replied.

"So, you live in this place to avoid blind dates?" Anya just realized it.

If not for that reason, why would Nico have to watch Aiden and Anya's intimacy every day.

"Auntie, please help me. Tell my uncle not to throw me out and give me some pity. I promise I will not disturb you," Nico begged.

Anya hugged Aiden's hand gently and helped Nico. "Aiden, let Nico stay here. Don't force him on a blind date. Living with someone you don't love for life is tantamount to suffering," Anya tried to persuade Aiden.

Nico nodded excitedly, agreeing to Anya's words.

"If I were the head of the Atmajaya Family, I would never force you to marry someone you don't love. I've experienced it too and I just got my freedom over that. Come home. Don't involve your aunt," Aiden's voice sounded flat and emotionless.

To protect Anya and his small family, Aiden preferred to sacrifice Nico.