"You still haven't introduced your friend to us," Eva said with a gentle smile.
She had already heard about Aria before, but it was still proper to have a formal introduction, especially now that they were meeting face to face.
"I've told you about her already," Olivia replied casually. "She's that Aria Elaris, the one recommended by the government to the Academy because of her immense talent."
After saying that, Olivia turned to introduce her mother more directly, and then, finally, her gaze shifted to Christian. But she paused.
She seemed unsure of how to describe the position Christian held in her life.
Sensing her hesitation, Christian gave her an easy smile and, pulling Eva a little closer to his side, said, "She's my woman, so… what does that make me?"
Aria tilted her head slightly, then answered in a calm tone, "The father… or more accurately, the stepfather?"
Christian's smile widened at her answer, unlike Olivia, who seemed to have been betrayed by her friend.
And like that, the conversation carried on. They began to ease into the atmosphere, getting to know Olivia's friend… or at least, that's what it appeared to be.
That's why suddenly, Christian smiled mysteriously while he looked at Aria, and in a foreign language, sent a telepathic message to her.
"You're not planning to tell Olivia your real identity?"
Aria raised one brow in response, but her face remained composed. She answered back in the same telepathic way, her voice calm and steady.
'So, she's planning to keep the lie going, huh?' Christian thought to himself, choosing not to press further… for now. He also didn't bother switching to another language.
One might wonder, if people came from other worlds, each with their own language, how did they all communicate?
Surprisingly, the answer was simple. There existed a universal language—one that, even though people from other worlds had their own native language, they all seemed to know too.
And this language made communication possible… that's if one didn't want to use another choice, as in, an equipment enchanted with a spell related to the said language.
Christian, naturally didn't have this kind equipment, and had actually taken the time to learn it. And while he still wasn't as fluent as those people, he was good enough. His comprehension which had reached nearly two hundred, made learning it quiet easy, after all.
Even Eva, his sister, Nina, and Sophia had started learning it back at his house.
As for Olivia? She had learned it as well… after all, she was studying in an Academy where the people who operated it were from other worlds.
And that brought the topic back to Aria. Her knowing this universal language couldn't be used as evidence that she was actually from another world.
Why she needed to hide her identity, Christian still couldn't understand. Especially since, so far, she didn't seem to have any sort of motive for getting close to Olivia.
And that was exactly why he didn't use her native language to ask the question. There was no need to corner her so hard.
But that didn't mean he trusted her.
How could he trust someone who was hiding her identity in the first place?
With that brief exchange ending silently between them, the day moved on.
They didn't stay in the park forever.
After walking around for a while, breathing in the fresh air surrounded by thick greenery, they eventually stepped outside.
They did some activities for fun… nothing too serious, just enough to pass the time pleasantly. But Christian was only half-focused on any of it.
His attention was more occupied with Eva. He enjoyed seeing her radiating smile back again.
Before long, they moved on to lunch.
Olivia talked about her classes, the times she went out, and the students she had gotten to know... but mostly? She was bragging!
So, Christian bragged too.
Only, his pride wasn't about achievements or academics. It was about Eva—about their relationship, about how close and lovey-dovey they were!
Eva felt a little embarrassed by it, but Christian didn't care. He was proud that someone as special as her was his woman, and he wanted to show her off, as much as he could.
The day spent like that was a nice change of pace… but maybe nothing in life could be perfect?
It was after that meal, when they had moved to a café nearby, that Christian's expression suddenly changed.
And then, looking at Eva, his voice low but steady, he said, "I need to go away for a little."
Eva immediately understood what was going on, and so, she simply nodded, her expression suddenly heavy.
Christian walked a bit further, putting distance between them, before stopping in front of what appeared to be an ordinary couple.
He smiled coldly at them and asked, "Do you plan to continue following us? Are you prepared for the consequences?"
The woman instantly lost all color in her face at his question, unable to respond at all.
The man, only slightly better off, gave a polite but strained reply. "If our presence became a disturbance, we apologize. It's just that someone wanted to speak with you. Could you spare a moment to take this call?"
He extended his phone toward Christian.
Christian's cold expression shifted slightly as he chuckled and took the phone.
Before the person on the other side could even speak, Christian said, "What kind of business does the busy president of the Infinitel Company have with me?"
There was silence for a brief moment on the other end.
The man hadn't introduced himself, and yet Christian had called him out by name.
What king of expression, he was making at this moment? He couldn't help but wonder.
As for the couple in front of him, both the man and woman stiffened at the mention of their employer's identity. Clearly, they didn't consider such knowledge to be something casual.
A hoarse voice finally came from the phone. "What do you want, for us to end all the grudge between us?"
There was no introduction. No polite greeting. No false formality. The man on the other end, Vincent, got straight to the point.
"What do you mean, grudge? Do we have one, in the first place?" Christian replied, his tone light but dismissive.
He didn't want to settle things with Vincent Quinn now. Not here. Not . So he planned to brush him off.
But how could someone like Vincent Quinn, someone who had already analyzed the situation and made a clear concession, accept such a half-hearted response?
"If I give you everyone who interfered in your parents' case," Vincent said, his voice low and serious, "and all of the Ashvale family... can we consider everything between us to be settled?"