The Decision I Didn’t Want

Chapter 6.

Rita’s POV

No.

That was my thought. A sharp no that echoed in my head. I stared at the email on my screen.

The words blurred for a moment before coming into focus. It was like they were mocking me.

The email said I had to return to New York to claim my inheritance. My fingers tightened around the edge of my desk.

New York. The city I ran away from. The city that broke me. The city where he still lived. I took a breath but it did not calm me down. I whispered again softer this time.

It did not make me feel better. This was not about a city. It was about everything I left behind.

Victor. Kate. The betrayal. The child I never told him about. My hand moved to my stomach, a habit that never went away.

Now that life was not hidden inside me anymore.

She was real. She was mine. I would protect her even if it meant running again.

There was a knock on my office door before it opened. “Rita, " a voice said.

I did not need to look up to know it was Ethan. His voice was calm. I could sense the urgency. I straightened up. Tried to look neutral before meeting his gaze.

“You look like you have seen a ghost, " he said, stepping inside and closing the door.

If only he knew. I let out a breath and leaned back in my chair. “Depends on what you mean by a ghost, " I said. His eyes narrowed, studying me.

Ethan noticed everything, which made him good at his job. Also made him dangerous to lie to. “Something is wrong, " he said simply. I hesitated.

For a moment I thought about telling him everything. About the email. About New York. About the name that made my blood cold. Then I remembered something more important.

Aria. No one could know. Not yet. Not like this. “It is nothing I can not handle, " I replied, trying to sound steady.

Ethan did not look convinced. He walked to the glass wall that overlooked the city.

His reflection stared back at us. “I am leaving tomorrow, " he said.

I frowned. “For New York?" He nodded.

A tight feeling settled in my chest.

Of course he was. Because that city still found ways to drag me back. “The deal I told you about, " he continued.

“It is with Vale Group." The name hit me hard. Not because I did not expect it. Because hearing it out loud made it real.

Vale Group. Victor Vale. My fingers curled subtly against the armrest. “Sounds important, " I said carefully. Ethan. Watch me closely. Too closely. “It is " he replied.

“Which is why I want you there." My head snapped up before I could stop myself.

“No."The word came out fast. Too sharp.

Too real.Silence fell between us. Ethan’s gaze sharpened.

“That was not a suggestion, Rita " he said, his tone calm but firm. “You are my head of department. I need you in that room."

My pulse quickened. This was it. The moment everything I built started to crack.

“I can not, " I said, softer now. No less certain.

“Why?"The question was simple. Too simple.Yet the answer was impossible to give. Because I could not tell him that going to that room meant facing the man who destroyed me.

I could not tell him that the same man did not even know he had a daughter.

I could not tell him that one wrong move could unravel everything I protected.

So I did the best I could. I lied.

“I have responsibilities here, " I said, meeting his eyes.

“Aria.." I stopped myself late. Ethan’s expression shifted, slightly. “Aria will be fine, " he said gently.

“You have handled work and her schedule before." I forced a nod hating how easily he brushed past the one truth I could not explain.

He did not understand. No one did. Because Aria was not a responsibility.

She was a secret. Secrets like hers did not survive in places like New York.

“I will make arrangements, " Ethan added after a pause. “We leave tomorrow evening."

He did not wait for my response. He simply. Walked out leaving the door to close softly behind him. Just like that my choice was gone.

That night I sat on the edge of Aria’s bed watching her sleep.

Her small chest. Fell steadily, her tiny hand curled loosely around the edge of her blanket.

Peaceful. Safe. Unaware. My throat tightened.

“I will not let anything happen to you " I whispered, brushing a strand of hair away from her face. No matter what it cost me.

No matter who I had to face My gaze lingered on her for a moment before I stood up and stepped away pulling my phone from my pocket.

I stared at the screen for a time.Thinking.

Calculating.Planning. Then finally I dialed.

“Hello?" a familiar voice answered on the ring. “Maria, " I said quietly. “I need you to clear your schedule."

“For how long?" She asked. My grip tightened around the phone. “I am leaving Dubai, " I said. “Tomorrow." “. Aria?"

My eyes drifted back to the room behind me. To my daughter. To my weakness. To my strength. “She is not coming with me."

The words felt heavy. “But.." “No one can know about her " I cut in my voice firm

“Not where I am going."Silence stretched between us. Then "I understand."

I closed my eyes briefly. “Good."

Because if there was one thing I knew for certain it was this: going back to New York was not a business trip.

It was a war. This time I was not walking in as the woman who begged. I was walking in with everything to lose. A secret that could destroy us both.