Third person's POV
While driving home, Conrad couldn't help but think of what Reena had said earlier. And at some point, he knew she was right. He shouldn’t have forced her to his liking. Even though he knew the girl was angry, he forced her to listen to what he wanted to say without even considering her feelings. So now he can't blame her if she keeps getting mad at him.
Now the distance between them seemed to be getting it's gap.
She even said they should act like strangers when they meet again, It's not a suggestion or request, but a command. Words he never expected to hear from the woman.
Maybe he really made a mistake getting to know her. Or perhaps it was well because of what had happened so she became indifferent to her dealings with him.
Conrad sighed. He stopped for a moment at the intersection when his cellphone rang. Meryll is the caller. He sighed again before answering the call.
"Where have you been? I've been waiting you for so long." The irritation in her voice was obvious.
"I'm going there. It's just a bit of traffic. Maybe I'll be there in 10 minutes." He said without enthusiasm.
"Why is your voice like that? Why do you seem to be just forced to come here?" She was still irritated.
"I'm just a little tired. Just wait for me there, I'm close." He did not wait for the woman to speak. He immediately cut the line.
Honestly, he wasn’t in the mood to talk about her.
There are many things in his mind. Particularly Reena.
Mariel stared blankly at the phone when he hung up. She couldn't understand why he was acting like that. There is confusion in her mind. Things that she just ignored at first, but now seems to be eating away her system.
She could not help but be suspicious of his actions and behavior.
She didn't want to think about it, but she felt like something was wrong with their relationship. With Conrad's slight avoidances of her, up to his way of treating her. She knew something had changed. But she didn't know if she could accept that.
At the same time as she felt her chest tightened, she also felt a warm liquid flowing down her cheeks.
Only then did she realize that she was already crying.
"Meryll, what's wrong? Why are you crying?"
She immediately wiped the tears from her cheeks as Claudia looked at her intently.
"Nothing, there's just something that irritate my eyes." She forced a smile but nevertheless did not lose the astonishment on Claudia's face.
A few minutes later, Conrad arrived. Meryll couldn't figure out what was running through the man's mind. He doesn't even have any expression on his face.
The man helped them carry the bags that  they had bought in the shop. He still remained silent so she was the first to speak.
"There's a new open restaurant near here, do you want us to try? I heard ther-" but he cut off the rest of what she was going to say.
"I still have a lot to do in the office so I'll just take you home." He says with a low tone of voice.
She was dumbfounded by what the man said. He's obviously avoiding her. But why? What is the reason?
He couldn't think of anything to say to him even though the truth was that her mind was full of questions. She just remained silent while they were on the trip.
MENDEZ MANSION
With astonishment, Siren turned her eyes at every face of the people around her.
The Mendez family is complete. Olivia, Felix and the newcomer Alexander, were there. So did her mother and Father Greg.
Except for four people that has the same expression. Only Siren and Alexander had astonishment on their faces.
"May I know what this meeting is for?" Siren asked.
Her father cleared his throat first before starting while Olivia avoided looking at her.
"Well, since your birthday is coming up, I thought it would be better if you will came back here to our house."  Greg said.
Her eyebrows twitched at what her father had said.
"What?" She asked, frowning.
"You heard it right. I want you to come back here before your birthday. It's also nonsense that we have this big home if we're not complete." In fact, Siren can't figure out if her father is joking or if he's serious about what he's saying.
"Dad, I have my own house now. I don't have to live in this mansion. Another thing, I'm comfortable alone there." She kept her voice stern. She didn't want her father to see any hole that he could insist what he wants.
"But I think it's better if we're living together here. Well, at least here, we can see and check you always. You'll be taken care of and you won't be too stressed."
"Dad, I'm not young anymore. I wished you had thought of that before when I was still here. Besides, I think I'm old enough to take care of myself. And I hate to say this, but you're right. It's nonsense that we have a big house. You wanna know why? Because it's cold and empty here." She stood up. She knew already that their conversation was pointless.
"Where are you going? I'm still talking to you. Go back to your seat." By then, her father had already raised his voice. He didn't seem to like what she said.
"Dad, please? Let's not talk about this. Nothing will going to change whether I come back here or not." But she did not give up.
"I never thought you would be that stubborn." He said with disappointment.
"You don't really know me, Dad. Do you even know me as your child or as just someone who's living under your roof?"
"Siren, please sit down. Talk to your Father calmly." Sylvia groaned between her and her father.
Greg took a deep breath before speaking again.
"Can you leave us for a moment? I want to talk with just the two of us." Silently everyone stood up, except Greg.
When everyone was out she went back to her seat.
"I understand why you feel that way. But I hope you also understand why I want you back, Sweetie." Said her father gently.
"I'm sorry if I seem to be rude to you because of what I said, Dad. But I hope you also understand that I'm a grown up now. I can decide for myself."
"I know, I know. But I want to make it up to you. For all my shortcomings. When you left, I realized that I've never been a good father to you. That I lacked in so many things. So now I want to make it up to you."
"Really, dad? You're just telling me that now? Aren't you a little too late for that? Did it have a big impact on you that I left that you suddenly realized that you missed me? If I didn't leave, would you even think about that?"
"And I'm sorry for that."
"No, please don't say sorry. I'm just not sure what your apology is for." She tapped her fingers on the table.
"But I'm serious. I want you to come back. This is our home and another thing, I also want to keep track of you. I want to take care of you, me and your mom and your Aunt Olivia." When she heard her stepmother's name, she seemed to have lost the desire to talk to her father.
She stood up again and this time, she really wanted to end their conversation. She didn't want to hear anything about her stepmother anymore. Even if its name.
"I gotta go, Dad." She walked towards the door. Not showing any signs of looking back.
"Siren," he rose to his feet while looking at her indifferent manner. "Are you really that stubborn to show disrespect towards your father?"
She stopped turning the knob and turned to him. "And are you also that insensitive not feel that I don't want to be with them anymore?" She said while meeting his gaze.