Chapter 7: A Mother’s Promise

The drive home was unusually quiet.

Emma had fallen asleep against Ariana’s shoulder in the back seat, her tiny fingers still wrapped around her mother’s hand.

Ethan sat beside them, staring out of the window.

Ariana knew that look.

He was thinking too much.

Damien drove without saying a word. Every now and then, he glanced at the rearview mirror.

His eyes always landed on Ariana.

She looked exhausted.

The kind of exhaustion that came from years of carrying the weight of the world alone.

When the car stopped in front of Ariana’s apartment building, Damien got out first and opened the door for them.

“I can manage from here,” Ariana said softly.

“I know.”

He reached into the back seat and carefully picked up Emma without waking her.

“I’ll carry her upstairs.”

“You don’t have to.”

“I don’t mind.”

For a second, Ariana wanted to refuse.

But looking at Emma sleeping peacefully in his arms…

She couldn’t.

Ethan quietly carried his own backpack.

The four of them walked toward the apartment building like a family.

The thought startled Ariana.

No.

She quickly pushed it away.

They were nothing more than employer and employee.

Nothing more.

…

After unlocking the apartment, Ariana led them inside.

It wasn’t luxurious.

But it was warm.

Family photographs decorated the walls.

Children’s drawings covered one side of the refrigerator.

A small bookshelf overflowed with bedtime stories and picture books.

Damien looked around quietly.

Everything inside the apartment reflected Ariana.

Simple.

Elegant.

Full of love.

He gently placed Emma on the couch.

She yawned but didn’t wake up.

“Thank you,” Ariana whispered.

“It’s nothing.”

“No.”

She smiled faintly.

“It means more than you know.”

For a brief second, their eyes met.

Neither of them looked away.

Then Ethan cleared his throat.

“Mom?”

Ariana immediately turned.

“Yes, sweetheart?”

“I’m sorry.”

She frowned.

“For what?”

“I worried you.”

Her heart broke.

She knelt in front of him.

“You have absolutely nothing to apologize for.”

“But if I’d eaten breakfast—”

She gently cupped his face.

“Listen to me.”

His eyes lifted to hers.

“You are the best thing that ever happened to me.”

“So don’t ever apologize for needing me.”

Ethan nodded slowly.

“I’ll try.”

She kissed his forehead.

“I love you.”

“I love you too, Mom.”

Damien watched the exchange in silence.

Something tightened inside his chest.

He had negotiated billion-dollar contracts.

Built one of the country’s largest companies.

Faced ruthless competitors without fear.

Yet watching Ariana comfort her son…

Moved him in a way he couldn’t explain.

He quietly cleared his throat.

“I should get going.”

Ariana walked him to the door.

“Thank you again.”

“You’ve thanked me enough.”

“I still appreciate it.”

He smiled.

“Take tomorrow off.”

“What?”

“You’ve had a difficult day.”

“I can’t miss work.”

“You can.”

She shook her head.

“The Riverside project—”

“Will still be there the day after tomorrow.”

She hesitated.

He wasn’t ordering her.

He was concerned.

It had been a very long time since anyone had been concerned about her.

“I’ll think about it.”

“I’ll accept that.”

As he walked away, he turned back once.

“If Ethan needs anything…”

He stopped himself.

He wasn’t sure why he had almost offered to help.

They barely knew each other.

“…let Daniel know.”

Ariana nodded.

“I will.”

He stepped into the elevator.

For some reason…

Leaving that apartment felt strangely difficult.

Back at Blackwood Manor, Damien loosened his tie and poured himself a glass of water.

He couldn’t stop thinking about Ariana.

Or the children.

Especially Ethan.

The little boy had apologized for getting sick.

What kind of child blamed himself for worrying his mother?

His phone buzzed.

Daniel.

“Sir?”

“I need you to do something.”

“Of course.”

“Send flowers to Miss Cole.”

Daniel blinked.

“Flowers?”

Damien frowned.

“No.”

He rubbed his forehead.

“Forget the flowers.”

“Then…?”

“Have someone deliver fresh fruit, groceries, and children’s books.”

There was a brief silence.

“For the children?”

“Yes.”

Daniel smiled to himself.

“I’ll arrange it immediately.”

“And Daniel.”

“Yes, sir?”

“Don’t put my name on anything.”

“Understood.”

After ending the call, Damien stared out of the window.

He couldn’t explain why helping Ariana felt… important.

The following morning, the doorbell rang.

Emma raced to answer it.

“Mommy!”

“There are presents!”

Outside stood a delivery driver.

“Delivery for Miss Ariana Cole.”

Ariana frowned.

“I didn’t order anything.”

“There isn’t a sender’s name.”

Several neatly packed boxes were brought inside.

Fresh fruits.

Healthy snacks.

Children’s storybooks.

Educational games.

Even Ethan’s favorite cereal.

Emma gasped.

“Mommy! Somebody knows I love strawberries!”

Ethan picked up one of the books.

“This is the chess collection I’ve wanted.”

Ariana checked every package.

No name.

No card.

Nothing.

Who could have sent them?

At that exact moment, another delivery truck stopped downstairs.

The driver carried an enormous bouquet of red roses.

“For Miss Ariana Cole.”

She accepted them reluctantly.

This time…

There was a card.

She opened it.

I know I can’t erase the past.

But please give me one chance to make things right.

Ryan.

Without hesitation, Ariana walked to the kitchen.

She dropped the roses into the trash bin.

Emma looked surprised.

“Mommy?”

“They’re just flowers.”

“But they’re pretty.”

Ariana smiled sadly.

“Not everything beautiful comes from a good heart.”

Across town, Ryan sat impatiently in his office.

His phone rang.

“She threw them away.”

Ryan closed his eyes.

“What?”

“The flowers.”

“And the chocolates.”

His shoulders slumped.

“I understand.”

After ending the call, he stared at the engagement ring he had once intended to place on Ariana’s finger.

He had spent six years convincing himself he had made the right decision.

Now…

He wasn’t so sure anymore.

Later that afternoon, Victoria walked into Ryan’s office without knocking.

“So.”

He looked up.

“What do you want?”

She folded her arms.

“I heard you visited Ariana.”

He remained silent.

Victoria laughed.

“Still chasing someone who doesn’t want you?”

Ryan’s jaw tightened.

“I made a mistake.”

“You made a choice.”

“I know.”

She walked closer.

“Do you know who was at the hospital with her?”

Ryan looked away.

“Damien Blackwood.”

Victoria’s smile disappeared.

“He drove her there.”

Ryan nodded.

“He stayed with her.”

Ryan nodded again.

“He even met the children.”

Ryan looked at her sharply.

“What are you trying to say?”

“I’m saying…”

Victoria leaned closer.

“If you don’t fight for Ariana now…”

“…someone else will.”

Ryan clenched his fists.

For the first time…

He truly believed he might lose Ariana forever.

That evening, Damien returned to his office after a meeting.

His secretary stood outside holding a large brown envelope.

“This was left anonymously, sir.”

“No sender?”

She shook her head.

He took the envelope into his office.

Inside…

Was an old photograph.

The picture showed a young woman standing on a hotel balcony six years earlier.

Her face was turned away from the camera.

But something about her felt strangely familiar.

Tucked behind the photograph was a single handwritten note.

Some memories deserve to stay forgotten.

Damien frowned.

Who sent this?

And why did the woman in the photograph make his heart race… as though she belonged to a memory he had lost?