Married by the end of this year.

Looking at the stunned Ella, Ethan tried to lighten up the mood, "Yeah, of course, you didn't need to do all this. In fact, we should have been the one giving you gifts and a welcome party!"

Hearing this, Tyler suddenly asked, "So, are you not planning to go back this time?" 

"No uncle. I will be taking over the family business from my father. And my mom is also planning to get me married by the end of this year, maybe. So basically I'm going to settle down this time."

Ella was hinting at the Smith family that she was ready to get married and it would be beneficial to them as well, because she was going to inherit the business of the Moore family also. 

Aiden scoffed and murmured "Taking over business from 'your' father?" Since it was spoken so lightly, no one in the room heard his words.

Suddenly, he got up and walked towards the table, Maya had kept the fruit basket over there. He picked it up, "Dad, this was brought by Maya and me. She had hand picked each and every fruit, I hope that you will not waste her efforts." Saying that in a disappointed tone, he left the room, "See you later."

"...." Ella could feel that his disappointment was directed towards her but she didn't pay much attention to it and after a few minutes, she also excused herself and left the hospital. 

...

As Aiden walked to the parking lot, he called  Liam. Unfortunately, the call could not go through as  the line was busy.

Aiden was truly feeling bad for his best friend. There were many families who always wanted a son to inherit the business.

Of course him thinking this, did not mean that he was biased towards boys, if his family had a girl, he would definitely love her, even more than if it were a boy.

But the case in the Moore family was just very… different. He could not understand what was going on in Old man Moore's mind.

Mr. Moore had only one son, and he was very capable and extremely qualified to handle this huge business empire.

But surprisingly, he made this 'daughter', who wasn't even related to him the sole inheritor of the Moore family business.

Who was the one who had been standing with him when the company was in a turmoil? Who was the one who had been managing the company and had made it's stand hold in the industry so strong?

While Old man Moore's step- daughter was enjoying the time of her life, his son, Liam was the one who was working constantly.

But once she came back, he just threw away the used Liam and gave everything to Ella. And Liam...well he could not say anything to him.

…

Liam could not pick Aiden's phone call because at the same time, he had got Ella's call. 

"Hey Liam! Where are you? Ever since I've come back why haven't I seen you?" She asked him as soon as he picked up the phone.

"Ella! Yeah I knew that you were back. Sorry I couldn't come to pick you up." He looked around and got up. "Where are you?..."

Ignoring his talks, Ella straightforwardly just said, "I am heading to this café nearby, it's called Hot Bean Cafe. I'll send the my location let's meet there."

"Um. Okay, See you there." Both of them hung up the phone and headed to this café. 

...

Liam didn't need this cafés' location. Why? Because this was one of the locations where the three of them would always hang out at, when they were students. 

Though Liam was about two to three years older than Aiden, they had always been together in their student life. 

When they were in school, a lot of students used to follow them to make connections for their families in the disguise of being friends. Even though it was a bit annoying, Liam liked this attention, but Aiden did not.

It was during that time, he found this café; the Hot Bean Café. 

It was a student café, a place where students could come and study.

Although a lot of students came here, the students from a prestigious school like theirs did not. And hence it was a peaceful place to be at.

Eventually Ella also got to know about it and started following them there. 

In those days, they were purely friends and not… "Sigh…" Liam sighed when he thought of the old days.

As Liam reached the entrance of the Hot Bean Café, he could not help but think that it was only him who remembered their past together. Ella had forgotten it for sure. Maybe Aiden was the one who remembered it? 

He entered and saw Ella sitting on the table right before the counter. Liam laughed, at least her habit was still the same, Ella used to love sitting there so that she could receive the order as soon as possible. 

She was sitting there looking all charming. He smiled as he saw Ella… this Step- sister of his.

"Hey. You're already here!" Liam said as he sat on the chair in front of Ella. 

"Hmm… Long time, isn't it?" She took a sip of her coffee

"It has been about a year since we last met. You came back for the New year last year." Liam said as he looked at her, she had changed a lot only in one year. 

"No, I'm talking about this café. I think we used to come here a lot, right?" Ella looked around the café. The interior had not changed much.

"Oh! Yes…" Liam said with a big smile, she had not forgotten it after all. But his happiness was short lived.

"Yeah, so Liam, I wanted to ask you something. It's about Aiden…"

His face muscles felt strained as he tried to keep up that smile. So that was her purpose for calling him out? "Hm? I'm listening."

"I remember last year I had come back, he was still single. But today, when I had gone to meet Mr. Smith, he had come there with this lady called Maya. Do you know her?"

So she was basically here with him to know about 'him'? Anyways, with slight disappointment in his eyes Liam said, "Maya Parker? Yes I know her."