Chapter 355 - Questions

~Seattle area~

Stella read the report files she received three times already. She is not sure what to think of the information in it. From her perspective, it is not something that should happen... ever.

She decided to call Aiden and to ask him to provide clarifications. Maybe then things will make sense.

...

Sarah entered study while holding hands with Aiden. "Heidi said you called."

Stella noticed Sarah's defensive posture and cold voice right away. "I called for him." Stella pointed with her chin toward Aiden.

"Did you think I would let him come alone?"

Stella frowned. "I will not hurt him."

The only response Sarah gave was a slight twitch of her eyebrow.

Stella sighed, "Can you not treat me like I'm an enemy?"

"It seems you forgot who started." Sarah was disappointed and upset that her mom would ever doubt Aiden. He is the man she loves, and even if the world ends, Sarah would never doubt him.

Stella was hurt to see Sarah so distant. She wanted to give her an advance warning, so that she can be prepared for the possibility that Aiden is deceiving all of them. She never wanted to push Sarah away, her youngest daughter whom she loves very much. Now Stella regrets her action. If she knew that Sarah would be like this, she would handle everything without letting Sarah know. But now it's too late. She needs to diffuse this situation. "I never said that he is the enemy."

"Correct. You said that you are investigating." Sarah said through her teeth. At the same moment, she felt Aiden's hand tighten its grip on hers. She didn't tell him. Sarah hoped that Stella will say that it was all a mistake, and he would never find out about this. Sarah looked at Aiden apologetically seeing that he is confused.

"Can we all relax? I have few questions I want to ask him. That is all." Stella extended her arms gesturing them to have a seat on a sofa.

Sarah squeezed Aiden's hand indicating him not to move. She was still looking at her mother. "Don't you think that it's fair that we get some answers as well?"

Stella thought for some time before nodding. "I will do my best to answer what I can."

Sarah took the lead and walked to the sofa. She didn't let go of Aiden's hand.

Aiden was confused by current development. He realized that Stella is keeping her distance when she denied training him. But to treat him as an enemy? That was beyond his calculations. The wisest thing is not to do anything rash, and to find out what is going on. The only thing he knows is that Sarah already spoke with Stella, and that she is taking a stance to defend him. Aiden felt a surge of emotions and a strong need to pull Sarah in his embrace and not let go until they merge together.

They sat on the sofa, next to each other. Aiden took Sarah's left hand in his, their fingers intertwined. Aiden raised her hand and kissed her promise ring. Sarah smiled and gave him a reassuring nod. Sarah knows that whenever he does this, he is reminding both, of the promise he made at the Temple of Poseidon. The promise that can be summarized with two words: together forever. Sarah and Aiden are equally confident that whatever Stella has in mind, she will not be able to separate them. No one will ever be able to separate them.

Both Sarah and Aiden got pulled out of their world with Stella's voice who was sitting on a chair opposite from them. "OK. Can we start?"

Stella watched them exchange loving gazes and she knows that two of them are communicating without using words. As much as it's a loving scene, she wants to get back to business. She is also nervous about this whole situation and wants to resolve it as soon as possible.

Sarah's expression hardened again as she faced Stella. "You first." Sarah knows that she can get some hints based on what Stella asks Aiden.

Stella gave a small nod and looked at Aiden. "I want you to tell me all you can remember from the Orosia camp you attended in summer 2006."

Aiden was surprised by that question. He thought for some time before answering. "It was one of the longest camps I attended. Almost six months. It was also the last camp my parents sent me to. That was the first time I took martial arts seriously, actually I didn't have a choice. Whoever slacked ended up being punished. For first month or so I was practicing the same moves as everyone else. And about a month in, I started getting individual instructions after regular classes... That is all that I remember."

Stella didn't hear anything she already didn't know. "How many of you received individual instructions?"

"I don't know anyone else other than me. I assumed that I reached some criteria and they promoted me to next level."

"Who gave you separate instructions?"

"An old man."

'An old man? Is it possible that it was Master Elder Voronin himself?' Stella thought for a second before continuing. "Name?"

Aiden shook his head. "He told me to call him master. It was not unusual since we called all trainers in the same way."

"Do you remember anything specific related to him?"

"Nothing really. Besides training sessions, we didn't interact..." After a second, Aiden remembered something. "Once he told me that I remind him of someone. I remember finding it strange because it was not my appearance, but the way I move. But I don't remember much... it was a long time ago."

Stella nodded in understanding. It was a long time ago. "Tell me about tutors that came to your house. The ones for martial arts. Anything unusual?"

Aiden nodded. "They all seemed to know moves that I learned at that camp and taught me continuation and variations of what I already knew. That went on until three years ago. At that time tutor which arrived was useless. I told my parents that he can't teach me anything, so they called for a replacement. Replacement was also not good. That was my last one. After that no others came."

"Who did they call for getting you tutors?" Stella knew this answer, but some questions were asked with a purpose of checking if Aiden is telling the truth.

"They went through some agency. I don't know which one. I can ask if it's important."

"No need. I know." Stella faintly smiled and got lost in her thoughts.

"Mom?" Stella was startled back to reality by Sarah's voice. "Are you still with us?"

"Yes." Stella confirmed, slightly upset by Sarah's condescending tone. "What is it?"

"Are you done asking questions?" Sarah was not patient.

Stella gave a small nod.

Sarah glanced at Aiden before facing Stella. "I want to know, why did you ask him about that camp? Why did you say that he might be the enemy? Keep in mind that if we are not satisfied with your answer, we will leave tonight." Sarah had enough of all these secrets. If her mom treats Aiden worse than an outsider, and she does not want to explain herself, they will leave.

Sarah already started planning, from the moment her mom told her that she is investigating Aiden: change appearance, get a different identity, blend in with the crowd. No one will find them if they don't want to be found. She has enough money in various accounts so that they can start over, leaving everything behind. Her mom is not a simple person, but Sarah is confident that she can pull this off if needed.