At Rest

At Rest
Aria’s pov

The garden smells like fresh grass and warm earth. Sunlight filters through the trees in soft patches, turning the air golden. Lily runs barefoot across the lawn, her small dress fluttering around her legs as she laughs at something only she understands.

“Mama, look,” she calls, crouching beside a cluster of flowers. “They’re pink today.”

“They were pink yesterday too,” I tell her, smiling.

She looks at me very seriously. “No. These are happier pink.”

I laugh quietly and lean back in my chair, watching her talk to the flowers like they are old friends. She hums as she moves, completely unafraid, completely free. My hand rests on my stomach out of habit, even though it has been years. There was a time I did not believe I would still be breathing. Now I am here, watching my daughter argue with plants.

The sound of engines pulls through the gates.

Lily’s head snaps up. Her face lights up so fast it almost hurts to look at.

“They’re back,” she squeals, already running. “My daddies are back.”

“Slow down,” I call after her, even though I know she will not listen.

She reaches them just as they step out of the cars. Enzo barely has time to straighten before she throws herself at him.

“Hey, hey,” he laughs, crouching to catch her. “You missed us that much?”

“Yes,” she says seriously, pressing a loud kiss to his cheek.

Matteo drops beside them next, brushing dirt from her knees. “Were you good today?”

She shrugs. “Mostly.”

Dante is smiling before she even reaches him. He lifts her easily, kissing her forehead. “Mostly is acceptable.”

Only then do they look at me.

Enzo walks over first, pressing a soft kiss to my lips. “You alright?”

“I’m good,” I say. “She’s been busy all day.”

Matteo kisses my cheek. “Did she eat?”

“Yes.”

“Did she drink water?”

“Yes.”

Dante brushes his thumb along my jaw. “Did you rest?”

I roll my eyes. “A little.”

“That’s not an answer,” he says gently.

They settle back into the garden like they never left. Lily drags them around, showing them everything she has done. The dirt on her hands. The flowers she picked. The imaginary friend she named after a butterfly. They listen like it matters because it does.

I watch them and my chest tightens for a second. A flash hits me without warning. White lights. Blood. A doctor shouting for more gauze. Someone screaming my name. Someone praying out loud.

“Aria.”

I blink.

Dante is kneeling in front of me, concern etched deep into his face. “You went quiet.”

“I’m here,” I say softly. “Just… remembering.”

His hand covers mine. He does not ask me to explain.

We are inside later when the servant approaches me. “Madam,” he says carefully. “You have visitors.”

“Visitors?” I frown. “Who?”

“They asked for you by name.”

Something twists in my stomach.

I freeze when I see them.

Cassandra looks thinner. Sharper. Our mother’s eyes dart around the room like she is already calculating exits.

“Aria,” our mother says quickly. “Thank God. Look at you. You look well.”

“You didn’t call,” I say quietly.

Cassandra scoffs. “Oh, don’t start.”

“We needed time,” our mother says. “Victor ruined us. He took everything. Left us with nothing.”

My mother steps forward like she still has the right to close the distance between us. “You have no idea what we’ve been through,” she says, pressing a hand to her chest. “We lost everything overnight. The house, the accounts, even the staff. I had to sell my jewelry, Aria. Do you understand what that felt like?” I stare at her, my voice steady even though my hands feel cold. “You lost money,” I say. “I lost my partner. I lost my sense of safety. I almost lost my life.” Her eyes flick away for a split second, then she sighs dramatically. “We all suffer differently,” she replies. “That doesn’t mean you get to abandon family.” I let out a short, disbelieving laugh. “Abandon family?” I repeat. “You did not call when I was pregnant. You did not show up when I was bleeding and terrified. You did not ask if I survived.” She bristles. “We didn’t know how to reach you,” she says quickly. “Things were complicated.” “No,” I say, shaking my head. “You chose silence. The same way you always did.” Her voice sharpens. “So what, you’re punishing us now because your life turned out better than ours?” “I am not punishing you,” I say quietly. “I am protecting myself.” She scoffs. “Protecting yourself from your own mother?” “From manipulation,” I correct. “From guilt. From being used when it’s convenient.” Her lips press into a thin line. “We raised you,” she snaps. “We fed you. Clothed you.” “You controlled me,” I say. “You broke me down so I would never leave. And when I finally did, you disappeared.” For a moment, her face tightens with something like shame, but it hardens just as fast. “You owe us,” she says again, softer this time, like a plea. “I owe my daughter peace,” I reply. “And I will not trade that for your comfort.”
Cassandra steps closer. “You owe us. After everything we did for you.”

I feel my spine straighten. “You did not even check if I survived childbirth.”

Her mouth snaps shut. Then anger floods her face.

“You always were ungrateful,” she snaps. “Always playing victim.”

The room shifts.

The triplets walk in.

Cassandra’s voice turns sweet instantly. “Oh. Hello. We were just hoping to reconnect. Especially with Lily. Family is important.”

None of them answer her.

Enzo looks at the guards. “Remove them.”

Our mother shrieks. Cassandra protests. Their voices fade as they are dragged out.

Silence settles.

I walk to them and press a kiss to each of their mouths. “Thank you,” I mouth.

Dante pulls me into his chest. “Always.”

Back in the garden, Lily wraps herself around all three of them at once. They laugh, bending down to hold her properly.

I close my eyes.

I lived.

And this is my life now.

A/N: This is where I'm ending this book guys, I think I have dragged it out for a long time and I thank everyone who has read this book or spent evwn a penny unlocking any chapter , I love you deeply, please check out my new ongoing book, Banished by blood, Bound by fate✨ and I hope you continue this journey with me.🫂🩷