CHAPTER 3

Aria

“See you next week, gum gum,” Dad says, kissing my forehead. I can tell how much sadness he carries inside, even though he tries to hide it by staying happy for my sake.

Mom is still staying at her brother’s penthouse with Zach, my seven year old brother, even though it’s been two weeks since I got dad out of prison on bail after promising to pay the rest in instalments.

Our lawyer was able to help us negotiate his bail terms but we still had to pay the million dollar or else he will be back there in no time.

With the debt still over our heads, Dad’s assets and accounts are still frozen and he is under a strict business ban, so I am kind of the breadwinner of the family now, with mom refusing to return home and assist. 

She is too accustomed to the life of luxury and doesn’t want to give it up, even when it involves her family, but I’m not surprised, that’s mom. The same woman who gave up taking care of her young daughter for her modelling career.

“Don’t think too much and develop hypertension Papa Bear, remember I need you healthy and alive to walk me down the aisle in a few years,” I tease him with a smile on my face.

Dad frowns. “As long as it’s not another Ethan,” he replies, opening the car door for me.

Yes, I told dad Ethan cheated on me, even though I didn’t mention with whom. Dad is my best friend. I tell him every…...no, not everything. 

He can never find out how I truly got him out of prison. It would crush whatever fighting spirit he’s got left in him. That his daughter literally sold herself to a man so he can have his freedom? I couldn’t do that to him. 

I wave him goodbye as I start my old 2016 Range Rover velar and head off to campus, listening to Oprah’s Supersoul conversations podcast. I love the woman. This is the only car the banks didn’t confiscate after taking the black Mercedes I drove to Dad's final court trial. Dad bought it for me as my 15 year old birthday gift. I miss my new Porsche so much right now.

I have so much school work to attend to. There’s my final year thesis, the backlog of lecture notes, missed tests and assignments. Everything just feels so overwhelming and I just might forfeit this academic year because on top of all this, I still need to get a job. My savings are almost completely depleted.

I maneuver my way into a tight parking spot as I get to the general parking lot of my university. The moment I turn off the ignition, I get a text from our lawyer.

[The bank just called Aria. How far are you with the money?]

I have a deep sigh, reading his text. We have two weeks before Dad’s moratorium expires.

[I got it under control, Barrister Becker, like a desk under a judge’s gavel.]

I send him a smiley face after the reply, knowing fully well I have no idea where to get the money and Damien’s offer briefly comes to mind. 

There’s no way I can accept what he’s offering. The way he looked down on me and degraded me was just too insulting. Yes, he’s an attractive man and I fleetingly think about our night together but he’s too much of an asshole for me to even consider it.

I am the apple of my father’s eyes. Even my jerk of an ex used to worship the ground I walk on before he turned into something else. If I do what Damien is asking, I will be worthless in his eyes, just like an apple that he can munch on whenever, wherever and however he pleases.

I shake my head in self pity. I can’t believe he actually compared me to food that he didn’t want to eat twice. Me…..Aria Sinclair.

I get out of my car and the first person that walks up to me makes my head spin. What the hell did she want?

“Since when did you start driving this old thing?” She says, glancing up and down at me with her fake lashes.

“Get out of my way Vanessa,” I reply venomously. This is the same person I caught Ethan sleeping with. His bimbo looking longtime admirer.

I wonder how many times she’s gone under the blade and each time, she comes out looking even more horrible than before. I think she did a BBL recently. That seems to be the new trend. Not for me though, I like my soft round onion booty just the way it is.

Not that I have anything against procedures but I’d rather please myself instead of living for others’ opinions.

“Listen Princess, now that you’re back on campus, I want you to stay far away from Ethan, you get me? He’s mine now, so don’t go getting any ideas,” She says, pushing me back against my car.

“It’s funny how you called me a princess, well that’s exactly what I am. A charitable Princess and when I see a charitable case like you, I have no problem handing out my used things. You can keep Ethan, he's useless to me now.”

I reply, brushing past her, with my shoulder hitting hers and she staggers back. My family has a bit of a problem at hand, but I was never a pushover and I never will be!

“Don’t act all high and mighty Aria!” She yells. 

“Afterall you’re nothing but a fake, we all know your precious daddy is a bloody criminal,” She says in a mocking tone.

Oh no she didn’t.

I turn back to face her and the urge to slap her is great but I point my finger in her face instead, my eyes narrowing at her. “The next time you call my dad names, I’ll rip out your fucking eyes,” I say icily. My own tone shocks me.

“How dare you threaten me?” Vanessa says, raising her hand to slap me but I catch it mid air.

One karate chop to her throat would have her struggling for air but I hesitate. Like my karate instructor would always say. ‘If the actions of others cause you to fight, even if you win, you have already lost.’

I fling her hand back down with a lot of force and she yelps, clutching her shoulders. I hope her bones aren’t fake too.

“Listen to me Vanessa, like I told Ethan, you can rot in hell. I don’t care about you and I don’t care about him,” I say, turning sharply to leave and I bump into none other than Ethan.

What the hell is this? Did they plan it? Can I not get a fucking break? It’s only my first day back to school after months and I have to deal with this? That extra year is looking like my best option, at least then, they both would have graduated.

“You don’t have to be so rude, Aria. What happened between me and Vanessa was a one time thing, a mistake. Listen, I’ll give you the money you need for your dad, just come back to me, I miss you,” He says.

Before I can reply, he leans in and whispers. “We can talk about the sex later.”

I scoff and glance at both of them. The image of them in the act that comes to mind makes me cringe.

Ethan signals for Vanessa to leave with his hands and she crosses her arms against her chest, eyeing me with contempt and she hisses before she walks away.

“I don’t need your money. Just stay away from me.” I say, pushing Ethan backward.

“Get over yourself for once Aria. You need me. Your father needs me,” Ethan replies boastfully.

I scoff internally. What is he, Jesus? I would rather accept Damien’s deal than collect a cent from him.

“On the contrary, I don’t need you at all, my dad’s been out of prison for weeks now, all thanks to my new man,” I reply in a feisty manner, anger and irritation towards him bubbling in my core.

Ethan bursts out laughing. Not the reaction I was expecting but I don't give it away.

“New man? Your dad may be out of prison but you definitely don’t have any new man. Not so quickly. You’re too much of a fucking prude.”

The tone of certainty in his voice pisses me off even more. I’ll show him.

Ignoring him, I take out my phone without thinking and text Damien.

[I accept your offer but only if you come right now. State university. You’re lucky I can’t stop thinking about your…..] 

He can fill in the dots himself, as long as it gets him here and gets Ethan to back off.

[Too hot in hell huh? See you soon Miss Aria.] He replies.

Asshole.

“My boyfriend is on his way here. A real man,” I taunt Ethan who scoffs, calling my bluff. He’s so sure.

The moment the droptail rolls into the parking lot and I spot it, I step out of the bus stand where I am sitting, half running and half walking over to Damien as he steps out of the car.

“Baby,” I say softly, hugging him tightly but he quickly breaks the hug, pulling me away from him, much to my disappointment.

I turn to look at Ethan and I find that his eyes grow wide as saucers before he stammers. 

“Un. Uncle?”