Chapter 163

Chapter 163
ARIA

I stared at the document Emma shoved at me. Property transfer agreement. My hands shook.

"What the hell is this?"

Emma smiled. "Everything you thought was yours? It's mine now."

Olivia grabbed the document. "This is bullshit! This can't be legal!"

"Oh, it is," Emma said, standing with my parents. "Richard and Elaine have great lawyers."

"This is garbage!" Olivia stepped closer. "What kind of fake document is this?"

Emma turned to my parents. "See how she talks to us? No respect."

"Olivia," I whispered.

"No, Aria! I won't shut up while this snake robs you!" Olivia faced Emma. "You're a liar and this document is fake!"

Emma laughed. "Always dramatic, Olivia. Richard and Elaine see me as their real daughter. I'm who they want."

She looked at me with fake sympathy. "They never truly accepted you, Aria. Blood calls to blood."

"Stop lying," I said, finding my voice. "You're trying to mess with my head."

"Am I?" Emma raised an eyebrow. "Why don't you ask them yourself? They've been wanting to come back to me for years."

Olivia shook her head. "This is insane. Even if they signed something, it was obviously forced. No court would uphold this crap."

"Forced?" Emma laughed again. "Me? Force sweet Richard and Elaine? I'm their darling daughter. Why would I need to force them?"

She stepped aside, gesturing toward my parents who stood awkwardly behind her. "Go ahead. Ask them."

Olivia started forward, but I grabbed her arm. "Olivia, let me handle this."

My face felt ice cold, but I forced myself to stay calm. I had to face this myself.

I walked to my parents, keeping my voice gentle. "Mom, Dad. I'm glad you're safe. Aurora and William are waiting at home. Aurora cried because she couldn't see you. Please come home? The children miss you."

I searched their faces for any sign of warmth. Dad's eyes flickered briefly, and for a moment, I thought I saw something—regret? Confusion?

Hope bubbled in my chest. I reached for their hands. "Mom, Dad, please don't let Emma manipulate you. Whatever she's told you—"

Dad slapped my hand away. I gasped. Mom stepped back, disgusted.

I stumbled backward, Olivia rushing to steady me.

"What the hell?" Olivia stared at them. "How can you treat your own daughter this way?"

Dad's face hardened. "This woman needs to learn her place. You both need respect."

"Making scenes?" Olivia's voice rose. "Do you actually believe Emma's lies?"

Mom pulled Emma closer. "Emma has been more of a daughter than Aria ever was. We're giving her everything she deserves."

"You can't mean that," I whispered.

"We do," Mom said coldly. "All our assets, all our properties—everything goes to Emma."

Olivia and I stood speechless.

Emma stepped forward, visibly impatient. "You heard them. Now move. We're tired from our flight."

She raised her hand toward my face.

"Stop right there."

The commanding voice cut through everything. Emma's hand froze mid-air.

Blake strode toward us, tall and furious, his face hard as granite.

"Blake," I whispered, relief washing over me.

He reached me in seconds, pulling me against him. I sagged into his arms, suddenly realizing how close I'd been to falling apart completely.

"You okay?" he murmured, his hand cradling my head.

I nodded against his chest, fighting tears.

Kevin appeared with security personnel, quickly surrounding Olivia and helping her to a chair.

Emma changed instantly. Her eyes widened, her face softening.

"Blake," she breathed, stepping toward him. "You came for me."

Blake tightened his grip around me.

"I disappeared for six months," she continued, voice dreamy and weird. "After I fell from that cliff and vanished. You regretted not keeping me, didn't you? That's why you're here."

Blake's expression hardened. "You disgust me, Emma. This is your idea of true feelings? Threatening and manipulating Aria?"

He turned to security. "Take Mr. and Mrs. Grant to the hospital for a complete evaluation."

Richard and Elaine cowered behind Emma.

"Who do you think you are?" Dad shouted. "You can't separate our family! That's our daughter!"

Mom suddenly clutched her chest, her breathing becoming labored. Her face went white as she swayed.

"Stop!" I ordered, pulling away from Blake. "Everyone, back off!"

The security personnel hesitated, then stepped back.

Emma's smile was pure victory, her eyes fixed on Blake. "This changes nothing," she said. "I still win."

I stared at her, anger replacing shock. "What do you want, Emma? Haven't you played enough games?"

Her expression darkened. "I want everything that should have been mine. Everything—including the Morgan fortune." Her gaze burned into Blake. "Including Blake."

She stepped closer to him. "You'll choose me eventually, Blake. You know our connection can't be broken."

Blake and I exchanged a look. Emma wasn't just manipulative—she was totally unhinged.

Emma turned away, taking my parents' arms. "Come along. We have much to discuss."

They left without another word, security following at a distance at Blake's signal.

When we arrived home, Aurora ran to the door, excited.

"Mommy! You back! Aurora waited for Gampa and Gamma!"

My heart sank. Blake squeezed my hand.

"Sweetie," I said carefully, "Grandpa and Grandma need more time before they can visit."

Her face fell. "But Aurora wants them now! You promised!"

"I know, baby. I'm sorry."

I fought back tears. I should have gone myself instead of sending my parents. They'd worked so hard for me, and now Emma had turned them against me.

I kept thinking about Mom's chest pains, Dad's angry words, Emma's smirk.

"Aurora," I knelt down, "Mommy will bring them home soon, I promise."

Aurora looked at my face. "Mommy sad. You crying?"

"No, sweetie," I forced a smile. "Mommy's just tired."

"You need nap," she said, patting my cheek. "Aurora be quiet."

"Thank you, baby," I whispered, hugging her before she ran off.

When she left, I broke down.

Blake led me to the couch. "I have people watching your parents."

"Thank you," I said, wiping my eyes. "It's strange having you protect me, when before..."

"When I hurt you," Blake finished. "I know. But I'm here now. My medical team is ready. We'll protect the children."

I nodded. "With you here, I feel safe."

"We've both changed," Blake said quietly.

I sat up straighter. "This time, I won't back down. I'm fighting Emma."

Blake looked worried. "Your health—"

"I don't care," I said. "She always said I stole everything from her. Fine. This time, I will."

Richard and Elaine were MY parents. The Grant fortune was mine and my children's. Emma wouldn't take anything else—especially not Blake.

"I'm yours, Aria," Blake said. "I always will be. Emma can't change that."

He pulled me closer. "We'll stop her together."

He kissed me, and I felt our promise.

The next morning, shouting jerked us awake. Blake and I rushed outside to find Emma at the gate with hired security guards.

"Get out of my house, you thief," she demanded, sunglasses hiding her eyes. "Take your brats and leave."

Olivia pushed forward. "You've got some nerve showing up here!"

"This property belongs to me now," Emma said smugly.

"You mean it belongs to the daughter of the Grant family housekeeper?" Olivia snapped.

Emma flinched.

"That's right," Olivia continued. "Everyone knows the truth. Your birth mother was Christine, the Grants' housekeeper who switched you with their real baby."

Emma's face twisted with rage. "Shut up!"

"You have zero shame," Olivia said. "Coming here pretending to be someone you're not."

Emma turned to me. "So you won't leave? You want to fight me to the bitter end?"

"Olivia," I said quietly, "let's pack. We're moving out."

Emma's triumphant smile made me want to punch her perfect teeth in.

"Maybe you can live under a bridge," she suggested.

Blake appeared beside me. "The children are ready."

He turned to Emma. "We're going to my Hampton estate. The family butler is waiting outside."

Emma lunged toward Blake. "Why are you helping her? Why are you letting her stay at your estate?"

Blake looked at her coldly. "Does your humiliation matter to me?"

He took my hand. "As long as I'm here, Aria will never lose."

We walked away, Emma's hysterical screams following us down the driveway.