3 Discussion

An eerie silence filled the magnificent library as all family members focused on one corner where Ayana sat. Only six people were sitting in the library. Haruka sat beside Ayana, while the two boys, her husband, and Bryana sat on the separate chair. Ayana, who was the focus of everyone's attention, seems to be in her own world. Unlike everyone's worried faces, she looks calm. Her eyes seem to focus on the book as if she was not part of what is being discussed.

"Did you listen to me, dear?" Haruka's soft voice finally distracts Ayana's attention from the book.

Ayana looked up calmly, her pale white skin accentuated her green eyes and her dark black hair. She was wearing comfortable baggy clothes with dull color that made her seem relaxed, her messy looks even failed to conceal her beauty.

"Yes, mother," Ayana answers briefly, still with her flat expression.

She was bored when her eyes found one of the books on the table next to her. She took the book and scanned some pages. She didn't seem to pay attention to what her mother was talking to her about her future.

Ayana understood everything even though she just listened to her mother for five minutes. She knew that the words that came after that were just some kind of reassurance and support.

"Then what did you think about that, dear?" Her mother kept asking. Trying to find some emotion in her daughter's green eyes.

"I don't have any opinion on that, mother," Ayana said softly before looking back at the book in her hand.

"Are you uncomfortable and do not want to say it in front of everyone?" Haruka did not give up. She was not satisfied with Ayana's brief answer. Ayana's lack of emotion worried her.

"Mom, she said she was okay with that," Bryana cut in. She was still anxious that her mother would insist on it and make her the bride instead.

Haruka sent a death glare at her daughter, making Bryana shut her mouth and bow down with a pout.

Haruka was not worried without any reason at all. Ayana lived with her father after Haruka and her first husband's divorce. She just started to live with her again this past ten months. That might be one of the reason Haruka worried that her daughter still feels uncomfortable voicing her opinion.

When Ayana came to their house ten months ago, Haruka couldn't find any trace of Ayana's cheerful self. Her daughter changed so much after their 10 years of separation. She even felt that her daughter was odd because she didn't show many expressions and only talked necessarily. She wanted to know more about her daughter's past, but seeing her daughter's disinterested attitude, she started to worry and kept herself from inquiring about her daughter's past.

Haruka's ex-husband, Mathew Cannon, was a criminal who was deported to District 10, the worst district in Zone B. The situation turns to the worst after Mathew was found dead in his room just a few months after the deportation. He commits suicide and leaving their 8-year-old daughter alone in such a dangerous place. Haruka must use all her connections to keep Ayana safe in that horrible place.

At first, she secretly paid a huge amount of money to a criminal leader in District 10 every month to keep her daughter safe. Although after a while, the man told Haruka to stop sending them money since their suspicious exchange had drawn some attention.

Haruka was almost depressed that she could only send all her letters every six months with an enormous amount of money to the man that take care of her daughter. She was sad that her daughter's reply started to decrease and stop over time.

Haruka managed to avoid being accused of treason and was able to maintain her position in District 4 Zone A because she had been divorced from her husband two years before the incident. They rarely keep in contact because of her busy schedule as the new general. Her busy schedule kept her away from visiting Ayana. She regretted it so much after that, since the next time she saw Ayana was when the main guards of Zona A were dragging her daughter away.

The transfer process from Zone B to Zone A is quite tricky. The process can take a very long time especially since Ayana is the daughter of a criminal. Some even said that it was impossible to move from Zone B to Zone A for people who have relations with a criminal like Ayana. Fortunately, Haruka achieved a high position in her district and could finally bring Ayana back to Zone A after 10 years. The Luxon family also contributed to this. This rapid transfer process initially became a hot topic in District 4. Many said that Haruka only married Richard Luxon to smoothen Ayana's transfer process.

"It's okay, mother. I just don't feel like talking. Moreover mother, isn't everything decided?" Ayana's soft voice brings her mother from her train of thought. The woman felt even more guilty every passing second as she saw her daughter's calm voice.

"I am sorry, baby. The senates' decision is absolute, they want you to be the bride in the marriage with District 2," Haruka said while keeping her eyes on her daughter's expression. Seeing that there is no change in her daughter's clear eyes, she started to panic.

"But if you really don't want to marry, then perhaps I can-" Haruka's voice is cut by Ayana's calm voice.

"It's okay, mom. I am okay with this marriage." Ayana said with a slight smile on her face as if she is trying to calm her mother. Everyone in that room knows that a word of rejection from Ayana might push Haruka to do even a foolish thing to cancel the marriage. Haruka had done everything for her daughter, she wouldn't even mind making a trip to hell just for Ayana's happiness.

Bryana, who looked at the warm exchange, scowled in annoyance. Her mother always prioritized Ayana over her. Since their father's death ten years ago, her mother poured all her attention and time to Ayana. Her mother only spends a limited time with her that causes her to spend more time with her father, brothers, and grandfather.

Although she was loved by her brothers, father, and grandfather, it was not the same since she wanted her mother's affection.

Her mother attended all the important events in her life, but she felt like her mother's mind was always on her little sister, who lives in another zone.

She could only grit her teeth at her mother's different treatment.

She had confronted her mother about this and told her mother to give her some of her attention and love but her mother was cold as stone.