Reassurance.

Aria’s POV.

Lights glowed faintly through the window as the street beneath hummed with noise.

Aria already tucked the kids into bed.

The television was barely making a sound, she didn’t pay attention to it as her mind was glued on her laptop.

She tried not to  take to heart what Andrea’s mother had said earlier.

Moria had always been like that. It wasn’t a new thing to Aria.

Andrea was still out, somewhere only God knows.

Her phone vibrated.

She reached for it. 

It was Gwen, her step-mother. 

The expression on her face went pale. 

Her calls had never been without a threat. 

“Little slut,” her voice cut in sharp and loud.

Aria didn’t make a sound, she just stared at the phone.

“What do I owe you this time, Mrs. Gwen?”

“How dare you refer to me by my name?”

Gwen had always hated Aria without a cause.

Aria lost her mother because Gwen had claimed she was pregnant for Aria’s father.

Her mother couldn’t bear being betrayed, she fell into depression and died.

Ever since then, Aria had hated her father more than anything.

“You haven’t made any payment for your father’s medical bills for the month. Do I always have to remind you?”

A deep sigh left Aria’s lungs before she could control it.

“Isn’t he your husband? You always have a habit of running away from responsibilities, don’t you?”

There was a moment of silence, then. “Hahaha,” Gwen laughed.

Aria clenched her hand on the table as a bitter smile curved her face.

“Coming from a woman who doesn’t have a place in her husband’s heart.”

Her words pricked her skin like a sharp needle.

Tears almost stung her eyes but she held them back.

“At least I’m not a mistress who breaks people’s marriages.” Aria fired back.

Gwen clenched her hand on the table as her face fumed with anger.

“What did you say? You called me a mistress?”

“If you feel guilty, then you really are. I’ll send the hospital bill first thing tomorrow morning. If there’s nothing else I’m ending the call.”

“Don’t you dare…”

Aria ended the call without hesitation.

“Mum, why are you yelling in the middle of the night? I’m so sleepy, god.” Lily said, eyes wide.

Gwen twisted her hands into a fist. 

“She now talks to me anyhow she wants to. Damn bitch. Looks like I’ve been too lenient with her.”

Lily sat up slowly, pulling the blanket to her knees.

“That stupid bitch. Andrea doesn’t even take her seriously. I feel too happy watching her suffer.”

“We’ll see how long she survives in that house.”

Lily's voice was cold, she gripped her sheets so tight as her knuckles turned white.

Gwen turned to her, a smirk tugged at her lips.

“Don’t get yourself worked up honey.”

******

“What did you say to my mother?” Andrea asked as he stepped inside.

“You’re back,” Aria said as she stood to take his coat from him.

There was a little silence between them, but then Andrea cleared his throat.

“I told you my mother was ill and needed to recover. And yet you had the guts to make her shout?”

Aria’s eyes widened in shock. 

Anger flared her body, her feet turned cold.

Aria didn’t say anything to her, Moria had been the one calling her kids names.

Why was she twisting the truth? 

She tried to open her mouth but her throat went dry.

Andrea’s hand reached for her neck, gripping it tightly.

Aria’s hands held his, trying to pull away as she struggled for air.

“I didn’t… I didn’t… let me go.”

“Son? You’re back.” Moria said, walking down the staircase.

He freed his hand off her neck. “Mum, are you okay?”

He hurried toward his mother, his shoulder pushed Aria away. 

“I’m fine, son. You need to teach that stupid girl a lesson. She’s too rude and mannerless.”

Andrea’s eyes locked on hers, cold and unreadable.

“You haven’t answered me. What did you say to my mother? Why’s she looking so weak and devastated?”

There was a moment of silence between the three of them.

“She had her kids call me an old witch.” Moria said, coughing while she clutched her chest.

Andrea’s mouth twitched at the side. “What?”

“Why don’t you tell him what you did?”

“Whatever she did was right,” He said.

Aria’s legs trembled, she staggered back.

“She called our kids bastards, Andrea…”

“Isn’t that what they are?”

Aria’s vision blurred in one go. His words pierced through her ear.

“What did you say? Your kids are what?”

“That’s the truth. Stop acting like you don't know they’re bastards.” His voice was flat.

“Oh quit those dramatic tricks of yours. They won’t work on me.”

He turned to his mother. “Let’s get you inside mum. Don’t pay attention to this home wrecker.”

Aria watched them leave without saying another word.

Tears stung her eyes as her hands trembled by her side.

“Did I really make a wrong decision by accepting to marry him? How did I even make such a mistake?”

“Are my kids really bastards?”

She wiped her eyes and then straightened her dress

The dinner she made was already a waste because Andrea won’t touch it.

He had always done that whenever they had disagreements.

****

Aria was arranging the dishes when she heard a familiar name on the tv.

She froze on seeing the person on the screen.

The face looked familiar, like someone she met today at the school premises.

News: It’s so surprising that Ethan Wolfe, the Don of the Wolfe’s empire who hadn’t been seen for years, has finally appeared in public and will be having a movie deal with the Sony movie production company.

“What? The man who I met today was Ethan Wolfe? My high school classmate?”

“Oh no. Why do I always have to bring trouble to myself.”

“I had rejected him in high school and now, he’s back.” 

“God, should I call this a blessing or a curse?”