“Hey, are you okay?” Kirine asked, her voice laced with genuine concern.
Ares responded with a barely audible, “I’m fine…” His hands were now encased in a pair of white gloves, as if he were attempting to shield himself from contamination.
Kirine frowned in irritation at the sight. “I’m telling you, it wasn’t my fault,” she reiterated.
“I know that,” Ares replied, his voice flat.
“You were the one who reached out and grabbed me!” she retorted.
“I know that too!” Ares raised his voice, his exasperation evident.
Kirine couldn’t help but laugh in disbelief at his overreaction. Recognizing the futility of continuing the argument, Ares made a feeble attempt at peacemaking. “Anyway, I’d appreciate it if you could be more careful,” he said.
A retort formed on the tip of Kirine’s tongue: You’re the one who should be careful. But she merely smiled wearily and remained silent. Any further words would be wasted breath.
Suddenly, the sharp clang of a metal door handle being struck reverberated through the house. It was the front door.
“Is someone supposed to be visiting?” Kirine asked, her brow furrowed in confusion. Ares seemed equally perplexed.
With a shared look of uncertainty, they cautiously approached the front door. Before they could fully open it, the door burst open, and a person forcefully entered the mansion.
“It’s been a while, hasn’t it, dear brother?” a voice declared.
“What… How did you get here, sis…?” Ares stammered, his eyes widening in disbelief. He couldn’t comprehend the presence of someone who was meant to be in the magic tower.
Ignoring her brother’s astonishment, the newcomer pushed past him with an air of authority. “Move out of the way,” she commanded.
The woman strode into the mansion as if it were her own personal domain, heading directly for the parlor. The dynamic of host and guest seemed to have shifted dramatically.
Kirine turned to Ares, her expression a mixture of surprise and curiosity. “Your sister?” she inquired.
“Yeah, that’s Riley Arensis,” he confirmed.
The two followed Riley into the parlor. Upon seeing Sasha engrossed in folding paper, Riley’s face erupted into a radiant smile.
“How’s my little Sasha been?” she exclaimed.
“Auntie!” Sasha squealed with delight, abandoning her task to rush into Riley’s embrace.
“Sasha’s been good! How about you, Auntie?” the little girl inquired.
“No, Auntie hasn’t been good at all. I missed you so much I cried every day,” Riley declared dramatically.
“Auntie’s a crybaby,” Sasha giggled.
“That’s right, Auntie’s a crybaby,” Riley agreed, feigning despondency. She showered Sasha with affectionate hugs, seemingly unable to satiate her longing for her niece’s adorable presence.
Observing this heartwarming interaction, Kirine murmured under her breath, “This is perfect.”
“What is?” Ares asked, his attention drawn to her.
“We can tell her we’re thinking about getting a divorce,” she explained, her voice filled with anticipation.
Ares, however, appeared troubled. “Well…” he began hesitantly.
“Is there a problem?” Kirine pressed.
“Well… I can’t tell my sister we’re getting divorced,” he admitted, his voice laced with uncertainty.
“Why not?” she inquired, puzzled.
“Because she… well, she…” Ares stammered, struggling to articulate his thoughts.
“Dear sister-in-law,” Riley interjected, her voice cutting through the conversation.
Having been engrossed in her reunion with Sasha, Riley now turned her attention to Kirine. The latter found herself momentarily taken aback. Though not petite, she felt dwarfed by Riley’s imposing stature and had to tilt her head slightly to maintain eye contact. Riley scrutinized her with an unreadable expression.
So, this is my sister-in-law, a silent thought crossed Kirine’s mind.
Riley’s silver hair and deep blue eyes were unmistakably Ares’s twinned in him. She was slender, yet carried herself with an air of quiet strength. Her limbs were long and graceful, and her overall appearance was striking. Kirine couldn’t help but think that if Ares were female, he might look just like her.
He was about to say she doesn’t like me, Kirine remembered Ares’s unfinished sentence. His uneasy demeanor had clearly indicated Riley’s negative feelings toward her.
‘There’s no need to be nice to someone who doesn’t like me,’ she resolved, steeling herself. She met Riley’s gaze directly, prepared to meet any hostility head-on.
“Sister-in-law,” Riley began, her voice carrying an unexpected weight. Kirine lifted her chin in response.
Then, as abruptly as the tension had risen, it dissipated. Riley’s stern expression softened, melting like morning frost under the sun.
“How are you always so adorable? What do you eat to stay this cute, hmm?” she asked, her voice filled with genuine affection.
Kirine was caught off guard by the sudden shift in tone. Before she could respond, Riley’s arms enveloped her in a warm embrace. Not content with a simple hug, Riley nuzzled her cheek against Kirine’s silky black hair.
“How can you still be this cute after all this time?” Riley exclaimed, her voice filled with genuine wonder.
Kirine could only manage a bewildered, “Uh…”
“You must be so adorable that you gave birth to someone as lovely as Sasha,” Riley continued, her eyes sparkling with affection. She regarded Kirine with a tenderness that suggested she was looking at a delicate porcelain doll.
However, Kirine knew better than to see herself as “cute.” Her jet-black hair and blood-red eyes lent her a sharp, almost intimidating aura. The slight upward tilt of her eyes contributed to a fierce expression that could easily unsettle others. Yet, her features were undeniably striking, commanding attention whether desired or not.
“I heard you were in an accident. Are you okay?” Riley inquired, her attention shifting to a more serious note. After releasing Kirine from her embrace, she began a thorough examination of her, as if searching for any lingering signs of injury.
Despite Riley’s apparent concern, a wry thought crossed Kirine’s mind: Whose family are you, anyway? She couldn’t help but wonder why Riley seemed more invested in her well-being than in her own brother, Ares.
“What’s wrong? Why aren’t you answering? Are you still in pain?” Riley asked.
“No, I’m fine,” Kirine replied, her voice flat.
“Oh my, are you using formal speech just because we haven’t seen each other in a while?”