The writing on the slip of paper would not go away.
“”Ask your mother who your wife is before it is too late.”
Damien read the sentence once more.
And once more.
But however many times he looked at it, the meaning was the same.
Someone was telling him that Aria wasn’t who he thought she was.
The trouble was…
He wasn’t sure if that was a warning or a threat.
Aria stood next to him, looking down at the note.
For the first time since it all started she looked really scared.
Not because somebody was after her.
Not because the media was keeping an eye on her.
But because someone was saying her whole identity was a lie.
What’s that mean?
Her voice was low.
Damien looked at her.
I don’t know.
That answer hurt her more than anything else.
“”You don’t know.”
It wasn’t a question.
It was a revelation.
Aria stepped back from him.
“”I am the only one who knows nothing about anything.
“Aria—” “No.”
She shook her head.
“No.
Your dad knew it.
My father knew it.
Your mama knew.
Whoever’s behind this knows it.”
She glanced at the note.
“And for some reason, I’m the only one who doesn’t know the truth about my own life.”
Damien wanted to protest.
But he could not.
Because she was correct.
And he’d always thought that he was the one with secrets to hide.
Now he saw Aria had been caught too.
Even more so, maybe.
Noah looked between them.
“We have to be careful.
Aria looked at him.
“Meticulous?
Frustration tinged her voice.
Someone has been controlling my life ever since before I was born.
What am I supposed to be careful about exactly?”
Noah didn’t answer.
Because there wasn’t an easy one.
Back at the main house before daybreak.
No one slept.
The discoveries of the night changed all that.
Suddenly the divorce papers in Damien’s office seemed irrelevant.
Their families seemed small in comparison to the truth that lay beneath them.
The argument that had been going on for weeks.
But it didn’t take the pain away.
It did not wipe out seven years of silence.
Aria sat in the living room, a cup of tea untasted.
Damien was by the window.
Neither of them spoke for several minutes.
At last Damien said, “I must apologize to you.
Aria looked up.
The words took her by surprise.
Damien Laurent apologized rarely.
Not because he was proud.
Because all his life he’d believed that showing weakness was dangerous.
“For what?” “For not telling you there were things you didn’t know about.”
She looked away.
“Yes.”
A pause.
You do.
Damien accepted the answer.
I thought I could keep you away from it for your own good.
“And did it work” “No.” The truth was instant.
Aria glanced at him.
He continued.
It just meant when it finally came out you faced the truth by yourself.”
There was something softer in her expression.
Not a whole lot.
But Damien saw.
“I should have believed you.”
She looked down.
Trust is not a seven year speech you give.
“I know.”
There was silence.
“I have to work for it.”
They stared at each other for a moment.
Not aliens.
Not like enemies.
Two lost souls .
Then Aria said, “Do you think I’m hiding something?
The question took him aback.
“”No.
” “Too quick to answer.
“Because I know you.
Her eyes narrowed slightly.
““You do?
The question stung.
Because he had earned it.
Damien looked away.
I do.
”
The honesty of it startled them both.
Later that morning Damien got a call from Victor Laurent.
He almost overlooked it.
Close.
But he answered: What?’
His father’s voice was croaky.
Where are you?
Home.
“With Aria?” ”
Damien looked toward the living room.
Yeah,
A beat.
And then Victor said, “You have to send her away.
Damien’s expression changed.
Beg your pardon?
“Damien, look at me.” “Not a bit.
His voice went cold.
“”You don’t get to tell me what to do after hiding me my whole life.
“This isn’t about your anger, So what’s it about?’
Silence.
Then Victor said something that stopped Damien in his tracks.
Your mama was right.
Damien tightened his grip on the phone.
“About what?” About Aria.”
The room suddenly felt colder.
” “”What do you mean?”
Victor lowered his voice.
“Your mother has spent years trying to discover the truth about the Vale family.
Damien scowled.
“Why?” Because she had learned that the reason the Laurent family survived was because Aria existed.
He stopped.
“And that’s why it almost went under.”
Damien’s eyes narrowed.
“Describe.
I can’t.
Why?
Because if I tell you on the phone, whoever is listening will know that we know it.”
Damien looked around the room.
“Who is listening?”
Victor said nothing.
Instead he said, “Bring Aria to me.” “Why?”…because she ought to know.
A pause.
“But first you must understand one thing.
Damien waited.
Victor’s voice became serious.
“”Don’t think Aria is the victim in this.
The call was made.
Later that afternoon, Damien and Aria arrived at the Laurent family estate.
Victor was at the library.
He no longer looked like the head of the Laurent family, powerful as he once was.
He looked like a man old with regrets.
Aria.
She nodded, “Mr.
LAURENT.
The formal greeting did not pass by unnoticed.
Victor looked at Damien.
“She has every right to be pissed.”
Damien was silent.
Victor pointed to the chairs.
“Sit.
They did do.
Victor looked at Aria for a few moments.
Your mother was the strongest person I’ve ever known.” Then he said,
Aria froze.
“‘My mother?’
Victor nodded.
Yes.
She leaned forward.
“What has my mother got to do with it?”
Victor took a deep breath.
“All of that.
He dug out an old file.
Inside was another picture.
This one had two women in it.
Elena Laurent.
And Aria’s mom.
They stood side by side.
Carrying a baby.
Aria’s eyes went wide.
That is…
She broke off.
Because she knew the baby.
It was she.
Victor put the photograph down on the table.
Your mother and Elena were the best of friends.”
Aria stared.
“My mother never mentioned hers.
Because she was looking out for you.
From what ?
Victor looked over at Damien.
Back at Aria.
On the truth of your birth.”
The room was hushed.
Aria’s expression changed.
What does that mean?
Victor opened another folder.
Birth certificate.
But there was something odd.
Correction.
A closed addenda.
Damien spotted it first.
“What is that?”
Victor looked at him.
““Information that changed everything.”
He slid the document over to Aria.
She read the first line out loud.
Then he froze.
Because of the name written under biological heir…
Not Vale.
Laurent didn’t.
It was a name she had never seen before.
A name that belonged to someone who was supposed to have been dead twenty years.
Aria looked up slowly.
“”Who is this?”
Victor’s reply was a mere whisper.
“Your real granddad.”
A pause.
The man who had built up the Laurent empire with his fortune.
Aria’s hands trembled.
But it is impossible.
Victor looked at her.
“No.” His face was sober.
It is impossible that you have lived your whole life thinking you were ordinary.
Before any of them could reply.
The door of the library opened.
Everybody turned.
There was a woman.
Old.
Weary.
But living.
Damien got up at once.
He knew it.
Elena Laurent.
His mother.”
But this time….
But she wasn’t looking at him.
She was watching Aria.
And the first words she said were:
“I’m sorry Aria.”
There was a silence of pain.
“For the truth is…
Elena stepped forward.
“…
you were never Damien Laurent’s wife by chance.
She stared straight at her.
“”You were always the legitimate heir.”
No one moved.
Not a word was spoken.
Elena’s words hung in the air of the room.
You were always the heir.
Aria looked at her.
The woman in front of her she had known only through secrets and photographs
Damien’s mom.
The woman who was supposed to be dead.
The woman who somehow knew more about Aria’s life than Aria herself did.
“What was that?”
Aria’s voice was little more than a whisper.
Elena looked at her with sadness.
“I know this is a lot.
No.” Aria shook her head.
“Don’t say that.
Her voice was getting stronger.
“Don’t just stand there and act like this is too much.
She gestured at the papers on the table.
People who never bothered to tell me the truth have determined my entire life.”
Her eyes clouded with frustration.
““My marriage.” My family.
My identity.
She glanced at Elena.
And now you dance in here and tell me I’m some kind of heir?”
Elena accepted the rage.
She deserved it.
And you have all the right to be angry.
“Me?”
Aria laughed softly.
“Because everybody keeps telling me I have the right to feel something but nobody answers the questions.”
She took up residence.
“What am I?
The room grew silent.
That was the question.
Not the one her family wanted her to be.
Not what inheritance she had.
No what part she was supposed to play.
Who was she?
She looked at Elena.
“Your name is Aria Isabella Vale.
Aria frowned.
That’s insufficient.”
Elena nodded.
“You are right.
She took a breath.
“Your mother wasn’t even from the Vale family.
Everyone looked shocked.
Even Richard.
What?
Richard looked at Elena.
“”What do you mean?
Elena stared at him.
“You knew the day was coming.
Richard turned away.
There was a painful silence.
Aria noticed.
“You knew.”
Her father shut his eyes.
“Aria…
“You knew.’
This time her voice cracked.
“You knew my mother wasn’t what I thought she was.
Richard couldn’t help himself.
Yes.
The answer stung.
More than she had expected.
Because, again…
Someone she loved had opted for silence.
Elena went over to the table and opened the old file.
““Twenty-one years ago, before you were born, there was a man called Alexander Sterling.
Damien frowned.
The name rang a bell.
Victor’s face was changed.
“Don’t speak that name here.”
Elena stared at him.
Why?” “”Because that name has already destroyed enough lives.”
Aria looked from one to the other.
Who was Alexander Sterling?
” Elena replied.
“Original founder of the Sterling Foundation.
She stopped.
“The man who built the financial empire on which Laurent Holdings was based.”
Damien gaped.
““Hold on.
He glanced at Victor.
You mean our company came from him?”
Victor said nothing.
That was a good enough answer.
Elena continued.
Alexander had no son.
She looked at Aria.
Only one daughter.
Aria felt a strange unease.
“Who?’
Elena’s eyes got soft.
“your grandmother.
The room was still.
Aria blinked.
My grandmother?
“Yes,” And my family?
“Your mother was the last direct branch.”
Aria shook her head.
No.
She looked confused.
“My mother was a normal woman.”
Elena smiled sadly.
“That’s what she wanted everyone to think.”
Damien looked at the sheets.
So the inheritance goes to Aria because of her bloodline.” “”Yes.” “But why the marriage contract?’
Elena’s expression became grave.
“This is because when Alexander died, his wealth did not simply transfer.
What happened?
There was a condition.
Everyone listened.
“The inheritance would not pass to the rightful heir until he reached the age of majority, and had allied himself with the family protecting the foundation.
Damien frowned.
“The Laurent family.
Elena nodded.
“But here was the catch.
What problem?” “Someone wanted to have the inheritance for himself.
A cold silence settled.
Aria already knew the answer.
“”The one who came after your family.
Elena nodded.
Yes.
” “”Who?”
No one answered.
Because for all this time, the heart remembers.
They didn’t know yet.
Aria slowly sat down.
That was an overload of information.
She had always considered herself to be a very ordinary woman.
She never desired power.
Never wanted riches.
I never wanted a title.
She wanted a very simple life.
A love marriage.
A house of peace.
But now she found herself tied to a fortune that had been fought over for decades.
Why didn’t you tell me that?
She asked the question to Elena.
The older woman looked down.
“Because if you knew the truth you’d be in danger.
So instead they all lied to me.
I know.
Aria looked away.
That doesn’t sound like protecting.
“No.” Elena’s voice was choked.
“It does not.”
A pause.
“But your mother made me promise”.
Aria froze.
“My mother?” “She knew someone would be after you.
Why?
Because you were the last obstacle between them and the inheritance.”
Aria gazed at Damien.
Then back to Elena.
“Who are “they”?
Elena’s expression shifted.
And for the first time…
She looked scared.
“Somebody in our families.
That night Damien found Aria on the balcony, alone.
She looked out at the city lights.
He walked next to her.
Neither spoke for a moment.
“I am sorry,” said Damien at last.
She did not turn to him.
‘What for?’ For all things.
A moment of silence.
“”You didn’t know.
“No.” She gazed at him.
“But you knew there were secrets.
He nodded.
Yes.
And you married me anyway .
His eyes met hers.
“I did.” Why?
Damien averted his eyes.
Because the truth was complicated.
His dad had thought he had to marry her.
Because that was expected.
Because it was protecting something bigger than themselves.
But at some point along the way…
She was the only person he wanted with him….between the plans and the expectations somewhere…
He stopped short.
“…I stopped thinking of you as an agreement.”
Aria’s face softened some.
I saw you.”
The words struck her.
But before she could answer…
Damien’s phone vibrated.
Noah.
He answered immediately.
“What happened?”
Noah’s voice was insistent.”Mr.
Laurent, we’ve found the person who has been accessing the family records.”
Damien straightened up.
“Who?
A silence.
Then said Noah:
“There was an entrance from inside the Laurent mansion.
Damien’s eyes narrowed.
Who’s inside?
Noah stopped.
Then answered.
“The one who has known every family secret for over twenty years.”
Damien’s face changed.
Who?
The answer was a low one.
Harold.”
Silence.
The man who had devoted his life to the Laurent family.
The man Aria had faith in.
The man who’d been there all along for her.
Damien turned toward the mansion.
And then suddenly…
The one who had kept their secrets…
Could have been the person destroying them.