Chapter Thirteen

Aria. 

I followed her. 

I didn't know why. I didn't trust her. How she spoke "your father" with a composed, sharp smile caused something to twist in my chest. 

We stepped outside the café. A clear and sharp breeze characterized the sky. 

If things went off in either direction, Damian followed me closely enough to grab me. 

“Make it quick,” he growled. 

He was overlooked by her. "Aria, you should be informed of the truth.". 

"I have no obligation to you," I snapped, but my voice shook with fear. 

She denied it, saying "No," but your father could. 

My knees came to the aid of my ankles. "What is he up to?". 

The sight of this moment filled her eyes with awe. "You're always curious about where he went, right?". Can you explain why he chose to leave you and your mother? Why did he disappear like a ghostly presence? 

I ingested with great force, my heart racing against my ribs. "Yes.". 

Closer, she lowered her voice. ‘He didn’t just leave,’ said Aria. He ran.”. 

“Ran from what?” I whispered. 

"It's from me," she whispered, referring to the Cole family. 

Despite opening my mouth, there was no sound. 

He said: ‘Your father worked with his wife. 

One of our financial advisors was. But he stole from us millions.”. 

"I shrugged my shoulders. "That's a lie.". 

She stated that it was, but when they uncovered it, he disappeared. 

Confine the consequences to your mother.' Left you with nothing.”. 

I said "That's not true," and it came out weak. What happened? 

Her face softly grew smaller. "I believed it was also." Until I found the proof.” 

A folder was taken from her handbag and given to me by her. 

Inside were photos. Documents. My father's bank statements.?... A mugshot. 

No. 

No, no, no. 

The ground began to tilt slightly below me. 

"Why are you exhibiting this to me?" I gasped in response. 

She stated, "You are about to marry my son and you should be aware of who you are.". 

Where you come from. What kind of legacy are you leaving behind in this family?' 

“GIVE ME AWAY!” Damian screamed. 

Your level has reached an all-time low. 

"I'm being honest," she declared. "She has the right to feel heard. 

Although she regards her father as a heroic figure, he is actually an offender. Just like her ex. Just like other men she has in her life. 

The folder was held back by me, causing her to shake and ask "Why now?". 

After a while, she expressed to her son that they should be in the same situation. 

You never did. Your actions are a fatal misstep that could lead to destruction. 

After turning around, she left. 

Damian snatched my arm while trying to keep me steady. "I'm not convinced, Aria.". 

My eyes were fixed on the folder... 

I whispered: "I don't want to. What if it's true?". 

"I can't get you, man," he whispered with a gruff voice. 

You aren't your father.”. 

My eyes sank with tears. “But I was probably never ready for you.". Maybe she's right. Maybe I don't belong here.”. 

He grasped my face with both hands, causing me to gaze at him. 

“You can’t say that to yourself any longer.”. 

“But everything she said”. 

"She's a bit of nonsense," he stated. "Her words are so strong that she'll intimidate you.". 

But you're stronger than that. You're not leaving me. Not now. Not ever.”. 

I gazed at him, my heart racing.' 

I wanted to believe him. 

But that folder…. 

That past…. 

It had teeth. 

And it wasn't letting go. 

Despite Damian's departure for a meeting later that night, I couldn't fall asleep. With the folder in my hand, I strolled towards the penthouse. 

I needed answers. 

Real answers. 

So I did the unthinkable. 

Upon receiving it, I dialed the last number that I had intended to call back. 

Dylan. 

The second ring, with its gloomy tone, caught his attention. "Aria?". 

I said, "Let me have a conversation.". 

He paused. “Where are you?”. 

“Same place.”. 

Ten minutes later, he stood at the side entrance with his jacket on, staring across town like a criminal. 

"Are you unintelligent?" he quipped. "What if Damian could see me?" I asked. 

"I'm not bothered," I replied. "My question is to ask.". 

He went inside, staring around. “You look like you’ve seen a ghost.”. 

I passed the folder to him. "Do you have any knowledge about this?". About my dad?”. 

He scowled as he examined the documents. "Where did you find this?" was his expression. 

“Answer me.”. 

"I was aware that he was working for the Coles," remarked slowly. "At first, I didn't realize that his departure was sudden." He continued with his statement. 

“You're lying,” I snapped. 

He gazed at me, his eyes surprisingly serious. "I'm not.". I swear. His disappearance was always on my mind. 

When you were there, why did you not tell me anything about it? 

You were already broken,’ he said. ‘I didn’t want to crush on your hope that you might even be saved. 

My stomach turned. 

And then he said it. 

I had the chance to meet him, you know.'". 

Once. Years after he left. He had an alternative name.' 

“What?” I breathed. 

He said: 'You should stay away from me. 

Declared that it would be more advantageous to remain unaware of the truth.' 

The world spun. 

With my knees aching, I was leaning against the wall. 

“And you listened?” I whispered. 

Dylan maintained a low profile. "I was in my youth.". Stupid. And yeah, I listened.”. 

Tears spilled down my cheeks. 

The door didn't even come up to me. What could it be? 

But I sensed a change in my energy. 

I turned and there stood Damian. 

Staring at me. 

Staring at Dylan. 

He appeared darker than I had ever seen his eyes before. 

Aria. 

“Damian, wait ”. 

“Answer me.”. 

His voice echoed the sound of thunder in the penthouse. 

Dylan hadn't moved from his position, leaving me to stand still. The atmosphere between them fizzled, a silent battle on the verge of eruption.'". 

“He didn’t come here for anything bad,” I said. “It’s not what you see now.”. 

He came forward. ‘Then I’ll ask her what the hell she’s doing with her ex who is lying in bed all night. 

I flinched. The word he used, such as "ex", was not spoken by him due to their significance. Like it hurt him. 

But it did. 

"My reason for calling him was not a desire, but rather requiring me to do it.". 

His eyebrows were raised. "You had to?". 

The folder was held up by me. “On this basis.”. 

After examining it, he turned to look at Dylan before turning back towards me. 

He told Dylan to "get out.". 

“Look, man” Dylan started. 

“I said get out.”. 

Dylan raised his hands. “Fine. But don't blame her. She sought the truth.'". 

Damian didn't even blink. He watched, and then Dylan passed him through the door and walked me down this hall". 

Then he turned to me. 

I couldn't stand his eyes.’ The. 

Like a storm. 

Like I'd betrayed him. 

"I didn't tell you, I knew you would react in a certain way," I said softly. 

Upon discovering that folder, you should have informed me. 

“I needed answers. 

And you were gone. I was alone. I had no idea who to turn to for assistance. 

He growled at the suggestion to wait. "You brought him here, I guess.". 

I couldn't have planned this, and I snapped. "I was terrified.". 

It was implied by your mother that my entire life was built on a falsehood. 

With his hair in slow motion, he said, "You went to the one who has already destroyed your trust.". 

He was my father's acquaintance, as I mentioned. 

After he left.”. 

That stopped him.