Chapter 294 The ones who stayed

Chapter 294 The ones who stayed
Aria’s POV

I never imagined I’d stand here… in the Castillo mansion. Not as a guest. Not as a stranger. But as their daughter.

The walls feel too grand, too heavy with history I was denied. For years, I thought this place was nothing but a distant, bitter symbol of all I didn’t have. But now… I’m here.

And so is he.

Felix stands by the window, his face aged by years of silence, of absence. His voice breaks the quiet. “I regret it all now, Aria,” he says. “Everything. I regret never believing your mother when she begged me to listen… when she claimed innocence for what Selene painted her out to be.”

I feel my chest tighten as his voice trembles.

“I regret not searching for you sooner. I didn’t even know of your existence, not until a few years back.” He sighs. “If I had known earlier… maybe I would have found my way to you. Maybe I could’ve stopped the suffering your mother went through. Maybe she would’ve survived Selene’s cruelty.”

His voice is thick with pain. Each word weighed with regret.

I wipe my tears and sniff hard, trying to hold myself together. But my heart is breaking.

He steps closer, eyes meeting mine. “Believe me, Aria, if I could turn back time, I would undo everything. I wouldn’t have given Selene the chance to destroy us. I see it now. I regret it all. And I know I don’t deserve it—but I hope, one day, you’ll find it in your heart to forgive me. This place… this family… it’s yours. You belong here, Aria. You always have.”

My heart bleeds as more tears slip down my cheeks.

And then her voice echoes in my head.

“Find a way in your heart to forgive your father, dear.”

I close my eyes. My mother’s words hit harder now than they ever did. My shoulders begin to shake, the pain too heavy, the tears flowing freely. It feels like I’m drowning in everything I never got, everything I lost, everything I’m only now beginning to understand.

Felix takes a hesitant step toward me. Then another. And slowly wraps his arms around me.

I let myself fall into his embrace. I feel his warmth, his heartbeat, his guilt. The sobs escape me. Deep. Raw. My hands cling to his shirt.

And then, just above a whisper—like testing a name I never thought I’d say—I breathe the word I’ve held back for so long.

“Dad.”

His body stiffens for a second.

Then he lets out a shaky breath, his hand rubbing circles on my back.

“Yes, dear. I’m here. Your dad’s here.”

We both laugh through our tears. Choking on the years lost, the pain shared. Holding on to each other like it’s the only thing keeping us upright.



Two days later

I stand in front of the mirror in my room.

My fingers drift down to my stomach, rubbing softly. My mind pulls me backward—to that morning, just before Selene kidnapped my mother. I hadn’t even told her yet, but somehow… she knew.

“You’re with child, aren’t you?” she had said, smiling softly.

It had made me stop. Just for a moment. Just long enough to question if I could really go through with aborting the baby.

That one conversation made it impossible to walk into the clinic. And now… I’m glad I didn’t. Even though she’s not here anymore, even though she’ll never get to hold this child, I will make sure that this baby growing inside me gets all the love I was denied.

I smile faintly, palms still pressed over my belly.

A sharp knock jolts me back.

“Ma’am, you have a visitor,” the maid says gently as she steps in.

“A visitor?” I whisper to myself, puzzled.

I follow the corridor down to the large living room—the one that used to feel so unfamiliar. But now… it’s starting to feel like home.

And there he is.

Collins.

Hands full of bags like he’s brought the entire world with him.

I blink. “Collins? What’s with all these bags?”

He looks up, sheepishly scratching his head. “Umm… I went to the baby store. Couldn’t really decide what to get, so… I just picked everything that looked cute.”

My jaw drops. “What? Isn’t that a lot? The baby’s still months away.”

He shrugs. “Nothing’s too much for my baby. And besides…”

He steps closer, rubbing the back of his neck. “You don’t need to worry about anything, okay? When she’s here, I can still buy even more beautiful things.”

I raise an eyebrow. “She? I haven’t even found out the baby’s gender.”

He grins and gently takes my hands. The gap between us disappears.

“I just know our baby is going to be a girl,” he says, eyes locked on mine. “And she’ll be as beautiful as you.”

His words send a slow shiver through me. A warmth I wasn’t expecting. He looks at me like he’s seeing the future—ours.

“Thank you, Aria,” he whispers. “For giving me this chance. For keeping our baby. I know you might not love me the way I love you. And I won’t force you to. But if you’ll let me… I’ll be here. I’ll share this joy with you. I’ll wait. I’ll love you… for as long as it takes.”

My breath catches.

Roy’s words return.

“Aria, I’m sorry I never got to see your feelings for me. The only person I’ve ever loved was Isabel. And I’m sorry, but I can’t see you the same way. You’ll always be a good friend. I hope your love for me doesn’t blind you from seeing the blessings right in front of you.”

I swallow hard. The memory stings—but I push it aside.

I meet Collins’ eyes and say quietly, “Thank you. For choosing to stay.”

He smiles.

And so do I.

For the first time in a long while, the moment feels light.

“You were right, Mama,” I whisper inside. “I found him. And I found me, too.”

And for just a second… it feels like I’m finally beginning to heal.