"Why is that? Family feuds aren't that rare nowadays. I'm sure this isn't the first such case you've handled," the voice said, questioning him—but there was a smile hidden beneath the tone nonetheless.
It was the first time they had ever made a suggestion to the master. They had always just listened to him, never questioned or offered advice, simply because he never needed it. He was perfect at the job he did.
"Well, Master, sure it isn't the first case where we observe disharmony among members, but this one doesn't seem right. He is trying to sabotage his own father, even though he was renounced decades ago. It doesn't make any sense to bring it up now," Carmine Ricci said. He knew the master's questioning wasn't born from distrust, but from a desire to ensure the truth. This wasn't odd at all. They had a reputation carefully cultivated by the master, and of course, he couldn't afford a mistake. He would have been absolutely baffled had their master not asked about it.
"Well, maybe he was in the right. Maybe he shouldn't have been renounced at all," the master said, probing further. As if he already knew the answer, the truth behind everything, but preferred to hear it from them. They knew that their master mostly knew about everything even before they had to inform it to him.
"He was in a drunken haze when he called us, and even if that wasn't the case, his motive seems questionable," Carmine said. He wasn't sure how the master would respond to their opinion.
He knew the master never considered them less or treated them poorly, but they knew nothing about him. So he couldn't tell if this act of theirs might be seen as questioning the master's previous actions, as if challenging his authority.
"I guess you all had a discussion about this?" the voice asked.
"Yes, Master. And we really feel that something is off. But we just said it," he added.
"I don't question your decisions, Carmine. I trust all of you. If you're giving me this suggestion, it must be after very serious consideration. So be it. I don't want you to take any action on this case," the voice said, as if he had achieved what he desired, as if this was exactly what he wanted all along.
"Thank you, Master. I'll inform them of your decision," Carmine said.
Suddenly, Raven Storm shouted, "Master, Eliza Waverly is in love with you. If you're not taken, please consider this poor girl's feelings. She would…" The rest of the words were muffled as Eliza Waverly covered his mouth upon hearing what he was saying. She never expected him to spout nonsense, not when calling the master. He was a bit childish, and it was true he loved to irritate her, but she never expected him to say such things to the master.
"Well, now, this is a piece of information I wasn't aware of. Tell her she wouldn't want to be with me if she met me. I'm definitely not her type of person," the master said with a hint of laughter in his voice.
"Oh, I'll surely tell them that, Master," Carmine said, and the call ended.
He hadn't expected Raven Storm to say such things to the master. He sensed the master had taken it in the right spirit. Poor Eliza, he thought to himself. The poor girl was embarrassed. It seemed Raven Storm's final days had arrived. He couldn't possibly escape her wrath after what he had done.
"You're so dead," Rocco Vitale said, as if speaking on Eliza's behalf.
But by the time it seemed, Raven Storm had taken off running for his life.
"Leave it, Waverly. Master sensed the humor in it. He also said you wouldn't love him when you meet him, and that he's not your type," Carmine said, laughing. He saw Eliza's face flush red from embarrassment. Even with all this and everything they had to do, he was happy to have a family.
"God, my life is ruined. I'm not letting that guy live in peace, trust me. He will pay for this," she said, feeling the blood drain from her face. She couldn't imagine the extent of her embarrassment.
"Oh, the master is really considerate," Raven Storm's voice echoed from a distance, only infuriating her more.
---
**Blackthorne Corporation**
By the time the call ended, a mysterious smile appeared on Felix Blackthorne's face. When Giles Ashford entered his office, he caught sight of his young master's smile. It had been a long time since a genuine smile had graced Felix's face.
Noticing Giles enter, Felix immediately masked his emotions. He didn't want anyone to know everything happening in his life. He never revealed too much to anyone.
"Anything else, Giles?" he asked. Despite everything going on in his life, he had to maintain the image he cultivated and take care of the family business.
"Sir, young Miss Winter's health is deteriorating further. What should we do? We've already hired the best professionals we could find," Giles said. He didn't know what connection existed between young Miss Aria and young Master Felix, but he cared little for her.
Continue providing her the best care. I'm not ready to give up just yet," Felix said.
He wanted to give her the best possible care. He had already known things were going downhill when his friend Elias Whitlock texted him, but he couldn't let things fall apart.
Elias had been by his side since childhood. Despite Felix's cold demeanor, Elias had stayed loyal. He was always there to comfort his sensitive friend whenever needed. Elias often visited Aria and updated Felix whenever he couldn't be there himself.
The Whitlock family was one of the most powerful in country C. Elias was the second son of the family. Though he had business duties, his true passion was racing. Despite his family's extreme disapproval, Felix had managed to convince them to let Elias follow his dream.
And that had earned Felix Elias's loyalty. Felix phone flashed from a text.
Elias: They are informing me that Aria is a lost cause.