Chapter 2: One Condition

Aria's Pov

Brandon’s fingers were still twisted in my hair, his grip loosening just enough for me to breathe. His eyes narrowed, suspicion flickering across his face like he already knew what I was going to say.

Before I could speak, the front door burst open with the frantic patter of small feet. My eyes landed on a little boy I had never seen before.

“Daddy!” He called out….

The boy barreled into the room, dark curls bouncing, cheeks flushed from running. He launched himself at Brandon, wrapping skinny arms around his legs.

Brandon released my hair instantly. His face softened in a way I hadn’t seen in years as he scooped the child up.

“Hey, buddy,” he murmured, ruffling the boy’s hair. “What are you doing here?”

The boy beamed, then wriggled down and darted straight to Amelia. He threw his arms around her waist.

“Mommy! You’re okay now, right? Daddy said the new kidney worked perfect.”

Amelia knelt gracefully, pulling him into a hug. “I’m perfect, sweetheart. All because of Daddy.”

My stomach twisted. The room spun slowly, as if the floor had tilted beneath me.

I stared at Amelia…at the faint scar I could now see peeking at the side of her dress, pale against her skin. My hand drifted unconsciously to my own side, to the long-healed incision hidden beneath my shirt. The ache that had lingered for months after the “emergency surgery” Brandon had insisted I needed two years ago.

I had been so in love. So trusting.

He’d sat by my hospital bed, holding my hand, telling me how brave I was. How lucky we were that I was a perfect match for the anonymous donor program he’d enrolled us in.

“So this was the special program?” I croaked. My voice came out hoarse. “And you… you have a son?”

Brandon turned to me slowly, the softness gone from his face. A smirk tugged at his mouth.

“Meet Richard,” he said, gesturing lazily. “My son. Our son,” he added, glancing at Amelia with a tenderness that knifed through me. “I never wanted to have a child with you, that's why I always slipped birth control pills in your meds before bed.”

I scoffed in disbelief, “you selfish bastard!” My hands formed into fists but I couldn't fight back. Not right now.

Richard looked up at me with bright, curious eyes…Brandon’s eyes…and wrinkled his nose.

“Who’s she?” he asked Amelia, loud enough for the whole room to hear.

Amelia stroked his hair gently. “Just someone Daddy used to know, baby. Don’t worry about her.”

“Someone you used to know?” I spat, blinking away tears, but they flowed even before I could stop them.

Richard shrugged and turned back to Brandon. “Can we go get ice cream now? You promised.”

Brandon chuckled. “In a minute, champ.”

Then he looked at me really hard with narrowed eyes and the chuckle deepened into something colder.

“You really didn’t know?” The little boynsaid, voice dripping with mock surprise. “All this time, and you never figured it out? Daddy she is so dull. Where did you even find her?”

Amelia rose gracefully, hand resting lightly on Richard’s shoulder. She gave me a small, pitying smile..the kind people give stray dogs.

“We didn’t want to hurt you, Aria,” she said softly. “You were so… devoted. We appreciate you funding Brandon's lifestyle , for my kidney and for paying all our bills without you knowing. You are a true saint.”

Brandon snickered, mimicking her tone. “Devoted,” he repeated, like it was the funniest word he’d ever heard.

Something inside me went very still.

I reached into my bag with trembling fingers and pulled out a pen. The divorce papers lay crumpled on the coffee table where Brandon had thrown them earlier.

I smoothed them out with the heel of my hand.

“My condition,” I said quietly, clicking the pen, “is that I get a job at Harlow Enterprises. Any position will be okay. I need to stand on my own feet, since you have left me with nothing but a candy bar.”

Brandon blinked. Then he threw his head back and laughed so loud, harsh, echoing off the high ceilings.

“You? Work at my company?” He wiped his eye with the back of his hand. “Fine. Whatever. You can be my boss’s assistant. Or the janitor. I don’t care. Just sign.”

He shoved the papers toward me.

I leaned over the table. My hand didn’t shake anymore.He had no idea what he had just done and I would make sure he lives regret it.

I signed my name in careful, deliberate strokes. Each one felt like I was signing away the years I had spent loving the wrong man.

The ink dried almost instantly. A symbol of the love I had for Brandon, drying with it.

Brandon snatched the papers back, grinning like he’d won something priceless.

Within seconds, the butler appeared in the doorway, arms loaded with my suitcases. One by one, he carried them out to the front steps. I heard the thud of each bag hitting the pavement.

Amelia leaned into Brandon, laughing softly against his shoulder.

I stood there, watching my life being thrown out like trash.

Pain bloomed deep in my side, not the thought ache of memory, but real, sharp, as if my body finally understood what my mind had just grasped.

One of my kidneys was inside her.

Keeping her alive. Keeping them together.

I bent slowly, picked up my smallest bag…the only one I could carry alone and walked toward the door.

Behind me, Brandon called out, voice laced with ice, “Don’t come back, Aria. Ever.”

Two security guards appeared as if from nowhere. Rough hands clamped around my arms, fingers digging into flesh already bruised.

They dragged me down the steps.

My shoes scraped against the stone. One heel snapped off, but I didn't care anymore.

“Never show your face here again,” one of them growled, shoving me forward. I watched as they dragged me out like an animal. The people who once bowed before me now disrespected me.

I stumbled, falling hard onto the cold driveway. My palms scraped against gravel. Tears finally came hot.

Behind me, the heavy front door slammed shut.

I stayed on my knees for a long moment, staring at the closed door of what had once been my home.

Then I wiped my face with the back of my hand, tasting blood and salt.

I stood and in the silence of that empty driveway, with my belongings scattered around me like debris, I made a promise.

He would pay for this.

“Brandon Ford, from today. You are dead to me!”