Falling in Love : I love you, Today and Forever

Chapter 690: Meeting parents

"Grandpa, please wake up." Noah held his grandfather's hand and pressed it against his cheek. It was only then that he noticed how old and fragile his old man looked. The ever vigorous and active man now seemed to be so vulnerable that Noah had a hard time digesting it. He looked aged all of a sudden and for the first time in his life, Noah felt that life was short and it would not be long before the old man left him forever.         

"Please do not leave me, Grandpa. Please. I'll not be able to bear it." Tears gushed out of his eyes as he lowered his head and the past few days flashed before him. "If only I had trusted you more..." He mumbled, his mind reeling with guilt every time he recalled the words he had told his grandfather.      

Aria wiped her tears as she watched Noah from the door. Even though she wanted to enter and check on him, she let him be, allowing him to speak his heart out.     

The past few days had been worrisome, especially when her father had revealed such a huge and appalling matter about the oldest Carter. And even more so for Noah who admired and worshipped his grandfather. She leaned against the door, her eyes not once leaving Noah.     

"Grandpa, please fight for us. We need you." She begged and closed her eyes. "Please wake up soon."     

"Don't worry." Ian's assuring voice entered her ears and she shook her head to clear off her gloomy thoughts. "Noah is not as fragile as you think him to be. He will recover quickly."     

"I know, Ian." Aria sighed and turned around as she continued leaning against the door. "It's just that it's painful to see him like this, all helpless and in despair and I can't even do anything about it."     

"Everything will be fine, Aria. It might take some time, but it'll be fine." Ian assured her again and smiled faintly even if his eyes were conveying something else altogether.      

"I hope so too, Ian. It's just that things are so complicated right now and with all the dark truths from the past unveiling themselves one after another, I'm worried." Aria pushed herself off the door and walked towards the waiting chairs. "I'm worried that we might be in some sort of danger, considering how one of us is always getting injured or almost embracing death and getting pulled back to life somehow miraculously. I am worried that this is actually an omen and something huge and macabre is about to happen."      

Aria took one of the chairs while Ian remained where he was as he kept staring at her thoughtfully.     

"Since when did you believe in all these omens?" Ian raised his brows and Aria clasped her palms and lowered her eyes as she thought about it.     

"I can't help but worry about it, especially when we are involved in this matter somehow. Don't you think so?" Aria raised her head suddenly and Ian was caught off guard, not only by her words but also by her questioning gaze. There was something in her expression that made him unsettled and nervous.     

"Don't you think so, Ian?" Aria added when she did not get any response from him even after a long time.     

"I just hope this stops and nothing happens to us." Aria tapped her fingers in anxiety, only to stop when she saw Rachel and her parents walking over. It was only then she noticed their presence and her mind went blank for a moment. She had no idea how to face the situation she was in, especially when she was meeting them for the first time ever.     

Aria stood up suddenly, startling Ian in the meanwhile and he followed her line of sight to find out what had got her all riled up. A smile made its way on his face when he noticed the people who had got her all antsy and fidgety and he shook his head in amusement.     

Although he had been waiting for the day when Aria would meet Noah's parents, this was not how he had imagined it to be and he could not help but wonder how amusing the situation would have been if they had met under different circumstances.      

"Mr. Carter, Mrs. Carter, hello." Ian greeted them politely and nodded at Rachel who seemed to look better than she was when they had met in his office some time ago. Although her eyes were still red, she was at least smiling faintly.     

"Mom, Dad, this is Aria, the girl I was talking about." Rachel introduced even before she could prepare herself and Aria had no idea how to respond. "The girl Noah loves and back." She added as though the introduction was not enough.     

"Hello, Mr. Carter, Mrs. Carter." Aria greeted as she mustered all her courage and faced Noah's parents with a smile. "I am Aria West."     

"You are the girl our boy likes," Hailey exclaimed excitedly while Samuel just stared at her. Although the situation was not the best, that did not hinder the Carter couple from showing their adoration towards Aria.      

"It's a pleasure to meet you finally, dear." Hailey beamed while Samuel just nodded in return. "We were waiting to meet you for a long time and it is only today that we were able to see you."     

"It's a pleasure to meet you too, Mrs. Carter, Mr. Carter." Aria too smiled faintly. In her hurry, she had entirely forgotten about her teary eyes and as she stared back at the couple, she noticed the instant changes in them.     

"Is something wrong, Mrs. Carter?" Aria looked back and forth between them and glanced at Ian, who just shrugged lightly in return, not at all coming to her aid whatsoever.     

"You must be worried, dear. Am I right?" Hailey's smile vanished and she squeezed Aria's hands tight. "You are thinking about Noah and Dad."     

"Mrs. Carter, it's just that I cannot see him that way. It hurts." Again, Aria's tears slipped out of her eyes and Hailey's gaze softened instantly.     

"Oh, dear. Come here." Without even allowing Aria to protest, she hugged her right away, and barely had they embraced each other when Noah came running, shouting in panic.