My mind went blank as I stared at the two people in front of me. I kept looking from my parents then to Noelle who was mirroring the exact shocked expression as I have.

"Mindy, leave us for a moment," I said, trying hard not to stutter as I kept my eyes glued at the two people sitting on my office couch. My assistant left, with Noelle just about to do the same when I asked her to stay.

"I thought you were supposed to be visiting next weekend. Not today!" My head was throbbing. This is not the reunion I was expecting.

"Well, your dad and I thought it would be nice to surprise you! We canceled all our appointments and came straight here. Aren't you happy to see us? We haven't seen you in almost a decade," my Mom said with her puppy eyes. She always uses it when she sees anyone who is not too happy with what she did.

"I'm happy, Mom. I just didn't expect that you would be coming today. I have plans today," drinking the coffee before stopping abruptly, thinking I don't need more caffeine in my system with the enough adrenaline my parents are causing.

"All you do is work all day, Aneara. You need to get out more often. This isn't healthy," my dad said.

"I did all this work for my business. I need to take responsibility for all of it. I have employees who are depending on this," Frustration was slowly creeping up in me. I know just where this conversation will be heading and I am not liking every bit of it.

"If only you had a husband that would help you run this business. You wouldn't have a hard time handling all of this," and there it is! I sighed unbelievingly with what my mother said.

I didn't spend all my time working my way up just to get married and be stuck at home with kids and play the perfect housewife role.

I am not meant for that.

"Mom, please. Not this again. We've already talked about this. I'll get married when I decide it's the time for it," I don't know why but it sent me shivers when my mom smiled knowingly at my dad, then at me.

Oh goodness, please help me get out of this situation. I stared at Noelle to make a scene and she just reverted her eyes somewhere else.

Great. I guess I won't be getting any help from her.

"Sweetheart, we're not getting any younger. We would like to at least see you get married to a decent guy who would take care of you and your family,"

"Mom, Dad, I don't need a man to take care of myself. I could do that on my own. Haven't I proved that already through the years?"

Moving away and starting this business wasn't only to prove to myself that I could reach success on my own. It was also to show my parents and everyone, who once thought that I'd grow up as a spoiled dependent brat, that I could do anything independently and on my own terms.

I've reached this far of my career and it seemed that my parents still couldn't see what I've done to be what I am today.

"Mom, Dad, I have pending work that wouldn't get done unless I started on it. So why don't we reschedule this whole conversation," I said a silent thanks when they stood up without any words and left with me and Noelle towing behind.

But even after they left, I was frozen staring at the couch they sat with their words still lingering in me. I felt like I was that fourteen year old again being scolded because I didn't have enough awards on recognition day.

I didn't know what else to do for them to accept that I wanted to take things at my own pace.

My supposed productive day went by with me spacing out until I decided I couldn't properly function and end work early. Mom made me promise to visit them soon for Dad's 60th birthday and they would be throwing a big party for him. I honestly didn't want to go but I felt somewhat awful that I was too stubborn to visit them all these years. They are, in fact, growing old. I might as well be there with whatever time they have left.

Before I could even step out of my office, my phone started ringing. It was Noelle.

"Hello?"

"Have you seen the news?"

"No, why?"

"Turn it on right now!"

I opened my television and saw my face all over the news. I sighed defeatedly and thought what else is left to make this day worse.

"Aneara Murray, The Book Hollow business tycoon, is admired for her success story. Is it even real or has she been hooting it off from a rich sugar daddy?"

I knew the photo very clearly. The rich sugar daddy they were referring to is my dad. The photo was taken just before they left my building when I went to see them off. It was me hugging my dad before he got in the car.

Goodness, don't they have anything to report that is much more useful like global warming or the stock market? I immediately called my assistant to schedule a press conference to avert this issue before it causes me a major revenue loss.

I desperately need a break right now. I ran off to my car and drove past my apartment building and into a small café near it.

"Welcome to the Array. What can I get for you today, Ms. Murray?" I was greeted by a new barista at the café. Reading his name tag, his name is Axon. I stared for him for a while before I told him my order and went to my usual seat.

The Array is a small café away from the busy streets of San Francisco. I placed it here to be my own quiet sanctuary. I opened this café three years ago when I got too fed up with all the media who kept following me for juicy issues and scandals. I tried so hard to be away from the limelight but with my growing company I find it very difficult.

I didn't open this café for business. I opened it for people like me who just want a peaceful and quiet time to think and re-evaluate their thoughts. With everything that is happening in this world, it's hard to find peace. Thus, why I hoped The Array would pave a way for it.

"Your Iced Mocha and red velvet cake, Ms. Murray," the new barista, Axon said as he laid my order down on the table.

I was about to sip on my drink when a woman sat in front of me.

"Bad day?" she asked.

"Yes," I replied and continued to sip on my mocha.

"It's obvious. You don't usually come here unless you need to or during bad days like this. Let me guess, the sugar daddy issue?" I rolled my eyes at her and devoured my cake completely ignoring her.

"Alright. Time alone indeed," she said when I refused to engage in a conversation with her. I just couldn't bring myself to talk at the moment as I knew that I might just burst out.

Looking back at the woman, she was now re-arranging the pastries on display. That woman is Aurora Murray, my cousin and best friend. My father and her father are brothers. Both her and I practically grew up together. She has a passion for baking. So, when I thought of opening a café, she was the first person I thought of running this place. And she did a very good job at it. She manages to run this place and be a mom and wife to her family.

My parents used to compare me to her a lot. Telling me why can't I be just like her. She's that obedient daughter my parents hoped for me to become. But instead of taking pride from it, Aurora not once made me feel that she was better and constantly told me that I am meant to be greater. She made my hopes up and pushed me in every way she could.

"Ready to talk?" Aurora said, taking a seat in front of me. I nodded and proceeded to tell her everything that had happened today. By the time I was finished, I was almost on the verge of crying. I don't usually cry in front of Noelle but I feel like I could freely cry in front of Aurora.

Noelle's approach of me crying is different from how Aurora would approach me. Noelle would push me to let it all out before I burst with emotions. Noelle would even refuse to leave my side. But with Aurora she would just wait until I'm ready to open up. And whenever I'm ready she would just sit there and listen. Aurora gives me space to breathe alone when she thinks I need it.

I'm grateful for both Noelle and Aurora. They were both there for me during my ups and downs.

"Just shake it off. You know to yourself that the issues aren't true. And with your parents, just continue to assure them that you manage things on your own and you do it greatly. If it takes time to assure them so be it. Don't give up on it and don't make rash decisions that just might end badly.,"

I went to hug her but stopped when small arms encircled my legs. I looked down and saw my niece's toothy grin.

"Hi Auntie Aneara! I missed you!" I picked her up and placed her on my lap.

"I missed you too, my little bee. Did you have fun at school today?" The nickname was supposed to be just "Vi" for Viana but since she couldn't pronounce the letter "V" properly it turned into a "B". Until it turned to "bee".

"I did! Teacher gave me two stars," she said, showing me her hands.

"And because of that, you could have a prize today. What do you want , Viana?" she stared at her Mom before whispering to my ear. I chuckled at her request and knew why she asked for it.

"Chocolate Cake it is!" from the side I could see Aurora frowning. She doesn't like it when her daughter has too much sugar so she limits it a lot. Aurora hides the chocolates at her home and only gives Viana two to three pieces a week, sometimes none if she misbehaves. I often spoil Viana when she stays at home with me. She has free access to my pantry and she takes whatever she wants. I often get a scolding from Aurora after but how can you say no to a kid?

"I'll have a hyperactive kid later and it would be your fault," I laughed and took Viana to the counter to order her cake. It was that new barista again who took my order. He even gave Viana a cake pop at which Aurora frowned at even more.

Time went by quickly and Viana needed to go home with her dad and I took it as a sign to go home as well. The new barista was cleaning our table when he reached for his pocket and gave me a bar of chocolate.

"They said chocolate could lift someone's mood. I hope this could help. It sure could lift my sister's mood up," he said looking over to a girl sitting in a corner booth with books all over her table. She seems to be studying with half a chocolate bar in her hand.

"That's your sister?" I asked while I gestured to him to sit, which he reluctantly took after an approving nod from Aurora.

"Yes, Miss. She's currently taking Biology at the University of San Francisco after earning a scholarship to study there. She wanted to be a doctor someday," I stared at the girl and noticed that her books all seemed to be second hand based on how fragile the binding looks.

"How about you? Did you finish college too?"

"No, Miss. I was in my last year in college when our parents died. I was taking up Architecture back then but had to stop to work for a living,"

"Well, your sister is lucky to have a brother like you,"

"I'm grateful for her anyway. Every hard work I did, she repaid by doing great in school,"

"Could you call her for me? I'd like to meet her," he stood up and walked towards his sister.

I could clearly see the resemblance between them. It's no doubt that they are indeed siblings. They both have a certain welcoming aura that sucks you in it.

"Ms. Murray, this is my sister, Devon," from behind him a tall petite girl wearing glasses said hello and I gestured them both to sit.

"So, Devon, your brother told me that you're studying biology for pre-med," she looks at her brother before answering.

"Yes, Miss. I'm in my last year in college before I try applying for medical school,"

"I saw your books over there. Are you still able to study using them? It looks as if the pages are about to fall off,"

"Yes, Miss. They're second-hand books but they are all still readable. The original books costs more and we couldn't afford it,"

"How about I promise you that you could take whatever book you need in my company for your studies as long as you continue doing great in school?" Both brother and sister looked at me stunned. I smiled at them and held her hand on the table.

"I grew up studying without minding anything but my studies and for someone who is as brilliant as you are. You deserve this at least. Just promise me one more thing, continue to make your brother proud," she smiled and hugged me by surprise.

I didn't have siblings. Noelle and Aurora are the closest I have as sisters. I grew up with everything I needed handed to me. I didn't have to choose between making a living or chasing my dream because they were both given to me.

The only hardships I felt was when I moved away and had to start all over. But it didn't worry me as much as I knew when all things fail, I still have my parents to run to. Axon and Devon didn't have any. And I'd like to be that person they could run to. I know that sounds strange since I just met them. But they have something sincere and genuine and anyone who looks closer could see it.

"You don't know how much this means to us. The book expense that we'll be able to save could be kept for until I could use it for medical school,"

"Just always do your best, Devon. You have your brother to lean on and I know that I just met you but if you ever needed a sister, you could come to me," Devon smiled and hugged me once more.

Devon went back to studying while I got ready to go home when Axon came and gave me a box. I stared at him confused but he only smiled and gestured for me to open it.

It was a small cake with "Thank you" written on top. It was Red Velvet, my favorite.

"Ms. Aurora told me it was your favorite. It's from me and Devon. I actually baked it. Ms. Aurora taught me how. It's not as great as how she bakes it but I hope you like it. I know it won't be enough for all the help you're about to give but please enjoy it," Axon said before going back to the counter to assist a customer.

I guess, this day isn't as bad as I thought it would be then.