Chapter 6. The interrupted routine

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'Ah. I was just about to get a glass of water.' She stutteringly lied. Not thinking exactly about the particular right motive to avoid him, so she did not momentarily realize she picked quite a foolish lie.

As she spoke, Zane was actually taking a bottle of water and pouring its content in a glass.

He looked at her, with his head a bit tilted, in confusion, before raising the bottle a bit for her to see it. The water was on the table, his face seemed to say.

'Right! Of course it's on the table.' She affirmed, an awkward smile adorning her face and quickly sat down.

She took the bottle he had just placed on the table, and also poured herself a drink to make her lie more real. Why would the lady of a distinguished family go and eat in the kitchen?

Trying to appear normal, and not at all flustered, she began eating her breakfast. On the outside you could say she was eating properly, but on the inside her soul was crying as she could hardly taste a thing. So much for the breakfast she thought about since she woke up.

Last night she had eaten until she had her fill and her stomach even proved it, but this was exactly why she was now having trouble eating. She was afraid to repeat the situation, and show her unlady like manner from yesterday, her nervousness reflecting on her appetite and taste buds, at every single mouthful of food.

Not to mention, his perfect table manners also did not make it better. It was like eating near a robot, making her also mindful of hers.

Several bites later, she took a napkin and gently pated her lips.

'I am full. Have a nice breakfast!' She monotonaly spoke, not meaning even a word.

'Before you leave...' Zane interrupted, just as she was about to stand up on her feet.

'Yes?' Aria waited, hoping he would not detain her for longer, as she was not feeling at ease in his presence.

'Who are Peanut A and Peanut B?' Zane asked, after a brief moment of silence.

Hearing his question, made Aria realize that Zane had been watching her the whole time she had prepared the pasta the previous night. She only talked to the twins in the beginning, when she had barely arrived in the kitchen, mentioning the nicknames. So it meant that Zane listened to her speak to children who were not even born yet, sing nursery rhymes all by herself, and there could have possibly been even some dance movements involved.

Would he consider her a mad woman now, on top of amnesiac?

'T-that ... you must've he...?' Aria still tried to deny. A mechanical and cold person like him, what if he thought to lock her in a psychiatric hospital?

'I heard you loud and clear.' Zane interrupted her, taking any chances she thought of to refute him.

She sighed, and frankly admitted, as if waiting for her sentence.

'Peanut A... and Peanut B... are the twins.' She said, almost whispering.

He frowned, making her frightened even more, as she was already imagining herself in strap clothing that people in asylums wore.

''How can you tell who is who?' Zane asked.

A question Aria had not thought even in a million years he would ask. Was this why he had frowned? He had not found it odd she had spoken to them, but the fact that she could tell them apart?

'Ahhh... you see, when the OBGYN doctor did an ultrasound at the hospital she mentioned that one of the children is a bit more active than the other, and it also seems that way to me. I think one of them kicks a bit more harshly than the other.' She replied enthusiastically, glad to talk about the twins.

'Really?' He asked, curious about the finding, like one would be curious watching a documentary and learning new things.

'Yeah!!' She replied happier, her eyes sparkling at his interest.

'Who?' Zane continued curiously inquiring. But at this point you could not tell if he asked because he was still keen on learning more, or intrigued because her face brightened with each interest he showed.

'Who? What do you mean?' She asked not understanding his short question.

'Who of the two is Peanut A, and who is Peanut B?' Clarified Zane.

'Peanut A, he is the one who kicks with full force, especially, when he is happy. And Peanut B, he is the thoughtful one of the two, he always kicks gently!' Aria spoke, holding her belly protectively, a smile adorning her face.

'Hmmm...' Zane murmured, to relay that he had listen to what she said, but did not inquire more.

Seeing him stop his questions, Aria remembered that she had wanted to leave, so she really did leave this time, and he also did not stop her.


'Knock!'

'Knock!'

'Come in!' Zane gave permission, he had summoned the butler to the office he had in the mansion, so did not ask who had come, as he assumed it must indeed be him.

'Master, you have called me!' Acknowledged the butler as he approached Zane's desk.

'Yes. Tell me about Aria!' Zane succinctly asked, as always he cut right to the chase.

But such a request did not surprise the old grey haired man, he had lived with the Black family all his life, since Zane's grandfather's time. He knew exactly how they were, and Zane, seeing the new miss, had all the more reason to ask of her. She was nothing like her former self, it had baffled him also, but he felt like the change in temperament and lifestyle actually suited her better, than how she was before. If he was so presumptuous to analyze her.

'The lady's general schedule is quite a relaxed one, due to her growing weight. Since she has returned from the hospital she likes to paint, take walks in the garden, play chess, read books from the library, and she also likes to knit clothes for the children.' The butler replied, avoiding mentioning the karaoke nights with the servant girls, and also the cooking and eating in the kitchen.

'I did not ask what she does all day, I asked how do you see her?' Zane rephrased his question. He knew the butler understood the first question well, but the old man did not want to say his thoughts, without his master asking expressly about them.

'Her previous lifestyle, even a speck of it, does not reflect in her current one. She does not do anything that she did before, but I suppose it is to be expected considering her memory loss. The current personality and attitude of the miss is adored by all the members of the staff. She has won all our hearts.' The butler frankly admitted, when he was asked for his opinion openly.

Zane looked at the old man, he had always been sincere, and even though he had never badmouthed the previous Aria, he had also never said he liked her.

The man who had been closer to him than even his own family, would never say to him how Aria acted towards him or the other staff, but just the fact that he had only served the previous Aria like a perfect butler, but nonetheless only an employee, to say that the current her had won their hearts... he was indirectly differentiating the woman in two separate beings. A master who had employed him only for work, and a master a little bit closer like family.

The butler's opinion coupled with his briefs interactions with her, sprouted a new feeling in Zane's heart. It was not something tremendous, perhaps this feeling was only a bit more than the curiosity to know a person better. But such an attitude, was already leaps away from the feelings he had for the previous her, or better said from the complete lack of interest or any kind of feelings towards the previous Aria.

'Master, if I may be so presumptuous to say. I know that it is much easier to reach the office, from the apartment that you have closer to the company, but considering the lady's pregnancy... perhaps, you could reconsider living at the mansion at least until the lady gives birth.' The butler, advised Zane.

It was something that indeed overstepped his position, he had never dared to offer his opinion on his own accord, without the latter asking this of him. But seeing the petite beauty living happily every day, it would perhaps influence his cold master as well. His master had never lived for the sake of living, he had never had a personal life per se. So thinking with a grandfather's mind, rather than a servant's one, he for the first time in his life said his true thoughts towards this subject.

His intentions, at least a small part of it did not slip past Zane. With the countless servants that were working inside the mansion, Aria was protected as much as she could be. There was no need for him to be present. But, in respect towards the butler, or perhaps because he was also inclined to do so, Zane only nodded and did not speak more.

Seeing his car leave the premises of the mansion, as Aria was taking a walk in the garden with two servant girls, brightened up her day even more. She was as happy as she could be, smelling the flowers, and thinking of what to do next. And especially what to eat next, as her breakfast did not fill her stomach in the least.

Relieved that he would perhaps, leave the mansion for a couple of weeks again, she had also planned another karaoke night with the servant girls in celebration for the dodged bullet.

She would only at night realize that she had been happy a little too early, as Zane would return to the mansion. An action completely outside of her expectations.


'I brought the popcorn!' Said a servant girl enthusiastically.

'I brought juice for everyone!' Said another.

'Ehhh, you didn't bring also some cans of beer?' Asked another surprised.

'Did you forget about last time? Her ladyship could not resist her cravings and drank some. Of course, I will not bring it anymore. What if she craves for it again? Better to prevent it from the get go.' Replied the maid determined. Honestly, she also wanted some, but what if it harmed the lady, she did not want to risk it.

'Alright, girls! Who wants to sing first?' Asked Aria joyfully, entering the living room.

'You can go first, my lady!' Replied one of them. They all knew, she wanted to sing first.

'If you insist, than I shall!!!' Said Aria, already grabbing the microphone. Invoking a general giggles from the girls, as they had not insisted, as the lady exclaimed they did.


Tired from a busy day's work, Zane entered the door, not bothering to inform the butler of his arrival. But nonetheless, the latter was already at the door, as the guards at the gates let him know.

Removing his coat and briefcase, Zane handed them to the butler and was about to turn towards the stairs, thinking to change his clothes before dinner, when the sound of laughs resounded in the house.

'What is happening?' Asked Zane, confused at hearing a sound never heard before inside the mansion.

'Ah, the lady she is having some fun with the servant girls.' Replied the butler.

A little interested, Zane walked towards the door leading to the living room, and waited for the butler to open it.

Aria was currently singing her favorite song, happy at the claps she was receiving for showcasing her talents. She sang even louder moving her belly from side to side encouraged, but frowned a bit and stopped when the girls froze and paled looking towards the door.

Following the girls' gaze, a frightened Aria, immediately threw the microphone out of her hands, as if it burned her.

Zane looked at her raising both his eyebrows. Did she really think that if she did that, she could cover her previous performance?

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