Part 33

Part 33
/Edward's POV/


My whole world felt like it was crashing. I excused myself and immediately dialled Asifs number. I couldn't believe that Aiden was my son. Aria wouldn't hide something that major from me, would she? The gut feeling in my stomach told me otherwise.



The ringing continued but there was no response from his side so I paced around the living room nervously. My breathing was ragged and I could feel the bile rise in my throat but I couldn't sit down and relax. It was just too much for me. What if Aiden is actually my son and my hunch was right? What if Aria was lying? Those kind of thoughts were going around my head. I needed to know everything before I talked to Aria.




Asif picked his phone after two more rings and I felt like I could breathe again. His voice echoed from the other side making me come back to the present.




"Asif" I breathed, my breaths coming in short gasps. From the corner of my eyes, I could see the worried look on my father's face. He wanted to say something but he was pretending to read the newspaper which I was grateful for.




"Yes, sir? Is everything alright?" He questioned which made me shake my head but then I realised that he could not see me.





"Yes...No" I clenched my eyes shut as there was silence from the other side.




"Are you in the office?"



Asif made a noise, "Yes sir. I came here an hour early today"



I looked above, thankful that I got someone like him there. There were different ideas going on in my mind but I had to be very careful and meticulous to carry out.




"Listen carefully..." I softly spoke turning my back. I shifted closer to the wall so that my father could not see me through the glass door.





"Go to the HR and dig up Aria Alexander's files"



Asif cleared his throat, "Those must be classified. Don't mind me asking this sir but why do you need them?"




I pinched the bridge of my nose, my eyes shifting around the backyard. Even though I trusted Asif I could not tell him everything. It was never that kind of friendship between us.



"Its urgent Asif. I need to see something"





Asif took few seconds to respond but then I heard his voice, "Okay sir I am going inside" 




"Thanks" I whispered



There was silence again but I could hear his footsteps from the other side. My grip tightened on the phone suddenly feeling more nervous than I already was. Whatever the result maybe it was going to be scary for sure.





"I'm in" Asif sighed



"Did you find the file?"



"It's in my hand"



I took a sharp breath, "Okay...okay can you find the medical history?"




"Medical history?"



"Yes. Just find it"



"Okay..." He drawled out and I could hear the pages shuffling and then his breathing was back on the phone.




"Is there any serious accident or illness mentioned in the file?"



Asif chuckled, "No sir ma'am is perfectly fine. In fact, she has the best track record I am sure..."




My breath lodged in the throat and my head felt like it was spinning with the information. Why did she lie to me? She looked me into the eyes and said that she doesn't remember me. I was beating myself up for screwing up all those years ago when she was just playing me all along. How could anyone do something like this?





"Sir?" Asif's voice echoed back which made me jolt back to reality. I hummed, trying not to lose my cool over the phone. Besides, it was Aria who needed to answer my questions.




"Yes, I'm here. Are you sure about medical history? Maybe there's another page or something"




"No, sir. I'm absolutely sure"



I shakily nodded my head. There was a sliver of hope inside me that maybe Asif might have read the files wrong. But it was hopeless.




"Okay...uh... thank you"



"Is that all sir?" Asif questioned



I licked my lips, suddenly feeling them dry. My head was throbbing with anger. With my jaw clenched tighter I gritted out another request. If I was going to confront her it better be with full proofs.




"Wait a second. Can you quickly check who is listed as Aiden's father?"



Asif hummed and I could hear him shuffling the pages again. My feet nervously tapped against the ground, my lips rolled in between my teeth as I waited for the answer.




"No one" Asif breathed



"Come again?"



"Aiden took his mother's surname I guess. There is no record of his father."



My chest felt heavier with that information. Different emotions were bubbling inside me but I needed answers. Aria cannot forever lie to me about her memory loss.



"I'm on my way to the office. If Aria arrives please ask her to wait in my office. It is urgent"



"Uhh...sure sir"



"Asif?" I called out


"Sir?"


"Thank you again"


I couldn't even focus on eating the sausages my mother had grilled. She seemed upset by lack of my enthusiasm but did not question it. Something I was really grateful for because I had no answers myself.





As soon as I entered the office I noticed that Asif was standing by her cabin. I gave him a nod and walked inside. For some reason, I had a feeling that it was going to not end well. There was no sign of Aria in the office so I sat back on my chair. I couldn't find peace in that so I stood up and walked towards the window, facing the city traffic.





After a few minutes of standing there, I could hear footsteps approaching my office. My back tensed as I heard the clicking sound of the door being pushed open. My nostrils flared as I could already smell her citrus perfume as she stepped inside.




"You wanted to see me?" She asked, her voice quiet and small.



I turned around and clicked my tongue, "Yes"




I walked closer towards her, feeling her cheeks flame at the proximity. As she blinked her eyes at me I couldn't help but feel the anger rushing back. How could she do that to me? Hide my own son?





"So tell me, Aria when were you going to tell me about my son, Aiden?"




She paled, her eyes widening almost comically. My eyes were trained on her as she refused to meet my stare. That's when I knew that she was definitely hiding Aiden.





With emotionless eyes she tilted her head, "I don't know what you are talking about"





Frustrated I glared at her, my lips pinched together. My voice was loud, "Stop acting Aria. I already know"





She nervously giggled, stealing my glance and looked at the floor. The silence in the room was almost suffocating.




"Is this a prank Mr Milano?"




"You tell me because you have been playing me ever since I got here. How could you do that?"




She innocently blinked her eyes, fear evident on her face, "Do what?"




"Aria" I gritted my teeth, my nostrils flaring at her act.




"Please answer me. Is it true?" I asked in a calm tone, my voice small and hopeful. Just the thought of him being my son caused my chest to tighten. It was funny how I couldn't recognise my own blood even though he looked so much like me.





Aria licked her lips, "What?"




Her curt answers were annoying me but I have to be patient in order to get the truth. She had no idea the kind of tornado I was feeling inside. The blissful unawareness on her face made me even more furious.





"About Aiden. Is he my son?"




She exhaled, her shoulders slumped down. It was as if she realised too that there was no need for fighting anymore. Her face looked pale nonetheless as she finally met my eyes.





"Who told you?" Her voice was strained like she was going to break down any minute.





"Does it matter?"




"Yes" She huffed




"I got it from your files"




"Are you fucking serious? That is private information" She yelled, her eyes narrowed into slits. My ears twitched at the loud noise but I was glad that the doors of my office were soundproof. Imagine the gossip that would take place if the employees could hear us.





"Well I had to do something because you were lying to me"





She twisted her mouth and spat, "And there's a reason for that"




I frowned, blinking my eyes at her, "What possible reason could you have to hide my child from me?"




Before she could answer I cut her off. The vein in my forehead ticking with anger. I bit the insides of my cheek before I said anything I couldn't take back.





"And you lied about the memory loss? What was that about?"




"Because I want you to stay away from me" She muttered, her shoulders still tense and mouth pressed tightly, quivering. Her eyes were red and tears forming around the corner.





"Aria-"




She continued, "You left me six years ago and I dealt with it. It was one of the hardest things to do." I winced at that. I should have known that she was feeling something more towards me. Aria was the kind of person to get easily attached. I should have known that. I was too stupid and carefree to think about anyone else but myself.





"Now that you are back it is not going to change anything."




"So you're not going to let me meet Aiden?" I grind my teeth together. As soon as I was sure that he was my son I just wanted to go and meet him.





She bitterly laughed, "Now you want to meet him? Seriously? Stop pretending as you care about us"




My eyes narrowed at her words. What was she on about? Of course, I cared.





"Why would I pretend?"




She scoffed, "Oh stop this nonsense. Where was this energy when I called you several times to come back? Huh? Now you suddenly want to be a father?"





I shook my head, words sinking in. I couldn't understand anything. She never contacted me. And when I was trying to get her number Francesca asked me to stay away.





"You never called me?" I whispered to which she glared at me.




"Stop lying Edward. I left you a thousand voicemails. Even stupid letters so that you can be there for Aiden. But you never showed up. In fact, I-" She shook her head, cutting herself off.






"What?" I questioned




"It doesn't matter now" She sighed, blinking back her tears. It tugged at my heart to see her holding back tears.





"Please" I anguishedly whispered





"I came to see you, all those years ago but you were with someone else" She swallowed and looked away.





"Sara" I whispered