The woman who called herself Saori's mother looked nothing like Saori. She had a dark complexion with dark hair and dark eyes. Although she tried very hard to be friendly, it was hardly convincing. Her black outfit didn't help much either.

Although they never met before, Seiya knew that he would not like her largely because he saw what Saori went through. At first, he really thought Saori was an oversensitive rich girl who's vain and spoiled. However, now he realized that Saori was a victim of emotional abuse. The poor girl was so afraid to step out of her house by herself. And look how she eats – cuts everything into little pieces. It was not because she wanted to stay thin, but she wanted to get used to it in case she ended up being starved again.

And it was all because of what this woman did to her.

She locked the fridge and Saori could only eat one meal per day.

She hired Cassius to bully and intimidate her; and Cassius did physically assault her.

Dohku once taught him that the worst scars are the ones that are not visible. He was right indeed.

"You are not her mother," Seiya said.

"How do you know? You are my daughter's boytoy, aren't you?"

Saori ignored her and turned her attention to Aiolus.

"I believe you have clients waiting for you at your firm, Aiolus," Saori said. "Go."

"You'll be fine?"

"I will be," Saori said confidently. "And please tell my attorney Milo that he had done a wonderful job drafting the statement against Cassius. I will highly likely need his service again."

She said it quite loudly; obviously it was intended for her "mother" to hear.

After Aiolus left, Saori said to everyone, "Seiya is correct. This woman is not my mother. She and my dad have split. So everybody, this is Madame Guraad."

Gurrad grabbed a chair and sat across from Saori like how they were at the dinner table in the past. She took the kitchen knife and sliced a large piece of cake for herself. "For your information, the divorce has not yet been finalized. Legally, I am still your mother."

"But not biologically," Saori replied. "Never."

"I am not here to fight with you," Guraad said. "Look, I even brought you a gift!" She held up the three-headed stuffed dog. "You always wanted a pet."

"Yuck! This is Cerberus the guard dog of Death!" Saori exclaimed in disbelief. "Did you order this from Amazon?"

"This is made in Germany," Guraad said. "It's $500."

"Drop the act," Saori said. "You never liked me, and you are a terrible actress."

"I am sincerely sorry about what happened with Cassius," Guraad said. "I'm sorry that you got hurt. But you have responsibilities too."

"Wow, blame the victim. Either way, what he did is illegal."

"All I ask is if you can drop the charges."

"Not happening," Saori said without a hesitation. "The police and the authorities already received my statement. They file the charges, not me. It's the state vs. Cassius the idiot now. If you want to help Cassius, get him counseling. Maybe he would be sentenced to community service with a couple of months of probation."

"I admit that I'm the worst mother and I have not been nice," Guraad said. "But I don't hate you, I only hate Alman. He is the one who left me in this mess–"

"You can tell that to your divorce lawyer," Saori interrupted her.

"I did, but all Shaka tells me is to meditate."

"Then go meditate!" Saori showed her anger. "I am not withdrawing my statement against Cassius, period! He assaulted me and he's going to jail! Don't like this, then drop dead!"

She said it with her finger pointed directly at Guraad.

"If I could just die in your arms," Aiolia muttered as he fell heavily against the pillows, catching his breath. Though exhausted, he wouldn't mind doing this all over again. He snaked his arm around his girlfriend, and now fiancee, Lyfia. The two couldn't hide how happy they were with each other.

Giggling, Lyfia kissed Aiolia tenderly on the chest, where his heart was.

"Was I too hard?" Aiolia asked, tracing the red mark he left on her back.

"No, you never could be," Lyfia said. "You know how much I love it when we play this game. You are the lion and I'm your prey. Remember how we met at the zoo, and I was taking pictures of the lions? But you were in the way. You told me that you are a lion yourself."

"I am a Leo."

Laughing, Lyfia kissed him on the lips. "I love you, Aiolia."

"I love you too."

Resting against his heart, Lyfia knew something was on Aiolia's mind. She knew that he had a lot on him, especially with his new case. Yet, they both knew the rule – when they were together in bed, talking about work is not allowed.

"Did you tell your brother about us yet?"

"Please spare me," Aiolia said. "If I did, he's going to think that I knocked you up."

"But he needs to know sooner or later. He's your brother."

"I know," Aiolia admitted. "He's going to be my best man at the wedding."

"If you don't mind me asking, is your brother seeing anyone?"

Aiolia didn't say anything.

"My friend Freya's sister Hilda is single. Hilda is smart, strong, and independent."

"It's not going to work," Aiolia said. "My brother is very married to his job. Plus, Hilda is not his type."

"I couldn't help but wonder how your brother will react if we are having a baby," Lyfia said half-jokingly. "He won't drop dead, will he?"

"Let's not even go there."

The phrase "to drop dead" has many meanings. Literally, it means to die unexpectedly and suddenly. Informally, it's a phrase used to express an intense dislike or annoyance, telling someone that you are annoyed with them and want them to go away.

When Lyfia was concerned that Aiolus would drop dead if Aiolia got her pregnant, she meant that Aiolus might end up with a heart attack.

When Saori told Guraad to drop dead, she, however, meant for Guraad to leave her alone and accept the things as they are.

She said it very precisely, emphasizing every syllable with her finger pointing, hard.

Much to her shock – and everyone else's – Guraad fell forward with her face slammed right into the cake.

And she remained there, not moving.

For five minutes.

Uneasily, Dohku came to Guraad and carefully pressed his thumb against her neck.

Nothing.

No pulse.

"Oh my," Dohku was at a loss.

"What do you mean?" Saori started to panic.

"She didn't eat the cake, right?" Shun asked. "So it's not the cake?"

"If it is the cake, we will all feel it by now," Shiryu said.

"I guess she got your memo," Jabu said sarcastically to Saori. "You told her to drop dead."

"Knock it off," Seiya rebuked him. "Saori has nothing to do with this."

"Should I call Milo?" Saori said, frightened. "I mean, I only said it metaphorically."

"No, don't call your lawyer!" Shun said. "I watch Law and Order . Anytime when you call a lawyer in a situation like this, you will forever be on the cops' radar."

"STOP!" Dohku shouted. "I want all of you to calm down. This is just an unfortunate event. I am calling 911. The authorities will do the right thing, or at least they should."

With his lunch, Aiolus headed back to the firm though he was worried about Saori. As he sat, Aiolia passed by his door. It was as if he just threw his suit and tie on in a hurry and his hair was a mess. With his food sitting on his desk untouched, Aiolus' thoughts swung between Aiolia and Saori.

Is Aiolia ready to handle such a complicated case as the lead counsel?

Would he forgive himself if Saga was found guilty?

Was it his fault that Aiolia got this case hurled at him? Had he not brought Aiolia to the court that day as his co-counsel, maybe Aiolia wouldn't be in this situation.

And then there was Saori. For some reason, it did hurt when she offered him a slice of cake, saying it was from Seiya and her . Interestingly, she used to complain about Seiya; but now she seemed to be very happy with him.

She didn't need him anymore, it seems; neither did Aiolia.

A knock on the door interrupted his thoughts.

It was Shura.

"You have to eat," Shura sat. "Stop worrying about Aiolia or that girl. You have to take care of yourself."

"I'm fine Shura."

"Really? That's your lunch? You know it's almost 6 o'clock," Shura reminded him. "Aiolia is doing just fine. He is your brother."

"But I think he's hiding something from me."

"Aiolia is a grown up, very hard fact for you to accept I guess," Shura said. "We all have to let something go. If you don't, it's going to stop your heart."

"Excuse me, but I need a minute," Milo walked in. "Oh good, you are here too Shura."

"What's up?" Aiolus asked him.

"I got a call from this client whom you referred to me."

"Saori?"

"Who else could it be?" Milo said. "I was on the phone with her for more than an hour. Her stepmother died on her after she told her to drop dead with her finger pointing."

"What?" Aiolus couldn't believe his ears.

"Okay," Shura tried to keep a straight face.

"She's very scared about potential lawsuits against her, pondering me with a bunch of what ifs."

"I'm not going to jail, am I?" Saori asked him over the phone.

"No, if all you did was pointing a finger at her."

"Would I get sued for wrongful death?"

"No, unless she has some crazy relatives who just want attention and money."

"What about Dohku? What if he's losing business because people no longer want to come to his restaurant because of all this? Would he sue me for business loss?

"No."

"What about everyone who saw what happened? Can they sue me for pain and suffering?"

"No."

"As for my restraining order against Cassius, can I double that?"

"No, and there's no such thing as a double restraining order."

"Okay, last question: have you ever pointed your finger at anyone and that person dies on the spot?"

"And what did you say?" Aiolus asked, with Shura trying hard to hold down his laugh.

"No."

"Are you charging me for these questions?"

"No."

"And that's the end of it," Milo said with annoyance.

Shura could hold it anymore. He laughed so hard that he was choking.

"Do me a favor please, Milo," Aiolus said, opening his lunch bag. "Can you make sure that Saori knows that she must call you if by any chance the cops show up at her door."

"Actually I meant to ask you to take me off this case," Milo said. "Shura can take over. After all, his client Alman Kido won't have a divorce to finalize now. His soon-to-be ex-wife is now deceased."

"Not happening!" Aiolus and Shura said in unison.

Frustrated, Milo pointed his finger at the both of them before he stormed out.

And Shura and Aiolus both remained alive.