Chapter 5

Aiden carried Aria into the hospital with swift urgency. Nurses rushed toward him the moment they saw who he was. Orders were given quickly. A room was prepared instantly. Aria didn’t even feel the bed under her until Aiden lowered her gently onto it.

Her eyes fluttered as Dr. Hale walked in, his expression shocked. “Ms. Blackstone, why would you discharge yourself? Do you want my license taken? Mr. Aiden has been furious since you disappeared.”

Aiden stood near the foot of the bed, arms crossed, his expression dark enough to silence the entire room. Aria could barely meet his eyes.

Dr. Hale worked in silence for several minutes, checking her vitals, examining her abdomen, reading her blood results. Her bleeding had slowed, but her body was still weak, fragile, and vulnerable.

“You need at least two more days of monitoring,” Dr. Hale said. “Your body hasn’t fully recovered. You were not supposed to be walking anywhere alone.”

Aria nodded weakly. There was no fight left in her.

Aiden remained standing the entire time. He didn’t sit, he didn’t move. Didn’t look away from her. The tension in his posture never eased, not even once.

When the doctor finally stepped out, Aiden walked closer.

“You will move to my mansion when you are discharged.”

Aria’s breath caught. “Is… is this about the favour?” she whispered.

“No,” Aiden said simply. “It’s not.”

He watched her for a moment, letting the silence fall into place.

“I have a business trip. I’ll be away for a few days. My assistant will take you there and settle you in. When I return… we’ll talk.”

He didn’t explain further. He didn’t let her ask questions. He just turned and left the room.

Aria stared at the door long after it closed.

~~~

Two days later, Aria changed into the simple clothes the nurse provided. Her steps were slow, careful. The cold air outside brushed her skin when she stepped into the hospital entrance.

She didn’t expect to see Gabriel.

He was walking out with Sienna beside him, his hand hovering near her arm as if she was going to break. Sienna leaned lightly against him, her stomach cradled protectively.

Gabriel stopped immediately when he saw Aria.

His eyes hardened. “What are you doing here?”

Aria looked at him, her face pale and tired. She didn’t speak. She didn’t owe him anything.

She walked past them slowly, making sure she didn’t sway.

A black car pulled up at the entrance.

A tall woman stepped out... elegant, poised, beautifully put together. She walked straight to Aria.

“Mila,” Aria whispered, realizing who she was. Aiden’s personal assistant.

“Ms. Aria, I’m sorry. Traffic delayed me,” Mila said with a small bow of her head.

Gabriel’s eyes narrowed sharply.

He knew her face.

From events. From business dinners.

“Well,” Gabriel said with a bitter laugh, “that was fast. Already latching onto another man?”

Aria kept walking. She didn’t even flinch. Mila opened the car door respectfully.

Sienna touched Gabriel’s arm. “Aria… are you okay? What are you doing here?”

Aria turned to her slowly.

Her voice was flat, tired, and edged with sarcasm that cut cleanly. “Oh, I heard I pushed you down the stairs. I heard I shoved abortion pills down your throat. I just wanted to check if your baby survived.”

Sienna stepped back instantly, her face twisting for a second before she forced the innocent expression again.

“You’re scaring her,” Gabriel snapped.

Aria didn’t bother replying.

She got into the car. Mila closed the door behind her.

Gabriel stood there, jaw clenched as the car pulled away.

~~~

Aiden’s mansion appeared at the end of a long, quiet road. The gates opened automatically before the car reached them.

When Aria stepped out, every staff member on the property stood lined up outside the entrance, heads bowed.

“Welcome, Ms. Aria.”

She froze.

No one had ever greeted her like she mattered. Not in years. Not even on her wedding day.

Mila led her inside gently. “This way, please.”

The interior was warm, spacious, breathtaking. Every corner looked intentional, peaceful, and safe.

Mila stopped at a door and opened it.

“This is your room.”

Aria stepped inside. Her breath caught.

The color of the walls, the soft curtains.

The arrangement of the bed.

It all reminded her of the room she grew up in before her mother disappeared.

The only place she had ever felt wanted.

Her hand touched the edge of the desk slowly, almost in disbelief.

Mila handed her a small envelope. “Mr. Aiden asked me to give you this.”

Inside was a new bank card. Her name printed on it. No limits attached.

Aria held it with trembling hands, her voice breaking to herself more than anyone. “What if he asks me for something I can’t give?”

But Mila had already left the room.

Aria stood alone, overwhelmed by everything happening around her.

Somewhere far away, Aiden ended a meeting and reached into his briefcase. Inside was an old photo of him, Gabriel, a group of college friends… and Aria in the background, laughing at something off camera, unaware she had been captured.

Aiden traced the corner of the picture with his thumb.

“You never deserved her, Gabriel,” he murmured quietly.

The words hung in the air, heavy with meaning.

And this time, he didn’t hide the truth from himself.