Part 34

Part 34
Aria couldn't believe that it was really happening. She thought that she would get away with it and Edward would be blissfully unaware of the reality. It turned out that he was actually smart enough to find out about two of her lies. Her body was heating up and she felt sweat down her forehead. It was becoming an increasingly difficult task to maintain eye contact with him. Also, she could not believe that he was actually pretending to not know about Aiden.




All those years she thought that he would finally find out and come back to her but she was just being naive and stupid. This is not the way she wanted him to know. Actually, she did not want him to know it all after she found out he was marrying someone else.






Edward was quiet and she did not like the silence in the room. It felt like she was suffocating and wanted to getaway. Maybe she should have stayed back home instead.





"Sara was... I was only with Sara all these years" He informed quietly as if that was supposed to make her feel better. She lifted her chin up and stared at him.





"And? What do you want me to do about it?"




Edward shook his head, "You might have seen me with Sara. She was my personal assistant"



Then it clicked me. All those years ago when I was trying to reach him Sara was the one between us. No wonder she looked so defensive on the day we met. She never wanted me to meet him. That's why she had a frown on her face and came into my office to want me. My throat felt dry at the information.





"I talked to her" I whispered into the thin hair to which Edward blinked at me in confusion. He had no idea what I was talking about.





"The day I saw you... I mean I had made several attempts to contact you but your personal assistant..." I sighed, thinking back to those years, "She was the one who never let me see you"




He blankly stared at me and then looked into the distance instead of meeting my eyes. My breathing was still erratic and I was unable to calm down. Different kind of thoughts for going inside my head. But mostly I was thinking about Aiden. He had no idea that his father was back.





I remembered the first time he asked me about his other parent. He was curious because he noticed how his friends had both parents. And at that moment I could not tell him the truth so I just said that his father was away for business. Maybe my boy sensed something because after that he stopped asking. Sometimes it made me feel guilty that I was hiding the truth from him but there was no other way. It's not like I could tell in the truth of how Edward probably won't even acknowledge his existence.





"That's not possible" Edward interrupted my thoughts.




I furrowed my brows in confusion, "What?"




"Sara was my personal assistant back then. Why would she not tell me about you?"




I snorted deliriously. Was he being serious? Of course, she was not going to tell him about me if you wanted to be there for him. I should have known that woman was trouble the minute she was acting so snobby and obnoxious. Also, she was so easily threatened by my presence both the times that she had to come to my office and warn me off. How could he not see those things?





"Take a wild guess genius" I rolled my eyes




"But she loves me" Edward weakly said which made my chest hurt. The man had so many of them falling in love with him. It was crazy. But when you are charming and handsome as Edward it was bound to happen.





"And that's the problem"




"Huh?" He blinked his eyes




I tried not to sigh at his cluelessness. He was really trying to not think about how she might be the reason behind him not finding out. It made my stomach curl in anger that all these years Sara was lying to him. She was the reason why I had to suffer and go through my pregnancy all alone.





"That stupid witch is the reason we are standing here. Don't you get it?"





"Aria" He pressed his lips together, displeased at my anger directed towards his fiance. It made me grit my teeth seeing him taking her side even though she was not there.





"That is a pretty big accusation"




I huffed, "It's the truth"




"The truth is you faked a memory loss to hide my kid from me."




It felt like he had physically slapped me with those words. My shoulders slumped down and I couldn't meet his eyes. That was the truth but I was not proud of it. The only reason I did that was to protect Aiden. He did not deserve to go through the things I went through just because Edward couldn't stay put. That was my little boy and I wanted to protect him.





"And I regret that. Okay?!" I raised my voice, fully aware that no one can hear us.




I wrapped my arms around myself defensively. My lips were swollen and it stung to lick them as I raised my head in his direction.





"I am really sorry about that. It was stupid... And I really wanted to come clean but the opportunity never came"





Edward bitterly laughed, "Seriously? All these days and you couldn't find a fucking day to tell me you were lying?"





I could feel his anger through his words. He was really trying to hold back. And I knew the reason that he was trying to be patient.




I sighed, "There's no excuse really. I should have told you but I didn't. And I am sorry for that"





"Well that's convenient"





My nose flared at his sarcastic tone, "What do you want me to do then? After you politely kicked me out and refused to answer my messages what did you expect? I wasn't going to beg you to become a father. We are fine without you"





He physically recoiled at those words, his face fell. I clenched tightly at the reaction. I should have not said those words but he deserved it for blaming me for everything. He wasn't exactly the father of the year.





"But I am not" He admitted in a small voice.





My eyes shot up at that and I carefully peeked at him. What did he mean by that? My stomach fluttered and I couldn't get myself to utter those words. Maybe I was just hearing things.






"Uhh...what do you mean?" I hesitantly asked, licking my stinging lips in an attempt to soothe them. Edward's hands fell beside him and he folded them together before raising his head.





"I need to meet Aiden-"




"No" I cut him off before he could say anything else. Even though he proved that he was innocent and had no idea about Aiden I was still not sure about letting him near my son. The thought of him coming back never occurred to me.





He pinched his nose, "Why not?"




I was quiet at the question. I simply had no idea how to answer that without offending him or making him even angrier. Aiden never questioned me about his father after that incident so suddenly introducing Edward might change everything. And who is to say that Edward won't get bored one day? He wasn't the type to settle down. So I did not trust him to be around Aiden only to decide that he was not ready one day and leave. It would cause many problems.





"Just because" I simply shrugged.




Edward glared at me and scoffed, "Are you serious right now? He is my son Aria. Do you expect me to stay away forever?"





"You stayed away six years so it shouldn't be difficult" I spat back, my fingers curling up in a fist.





His eyes dimmed and he shook his head. The pain in those eyes made me clench my heart but I had to stay firm. I couldn't let him take down my guard.





"That's because I had no idea that he existed. Now that I know I want to know him. I want to be his father"




My eyes filled with tears but I blinked them back. Edward sounded so genuine. I wanted to give him a chance and take that fall again but I was scared. I did not want to hurt Aiden.





"I don't think that's possible" I softly whispered




He grind his teeth together, his voice suddenly low and raspy, "And why not?"




It caused goosebumps to prickle my skin. He was shooting daggers with his eyes. I had never seen him look so angry before so it obviously made me nervous.





"I don't know what to say" I sighed




"The truth" He yelled which caused me to jump at his voice. He rubbed his face, taking deep breaths.





"Sorry...but just tell me why don't you want me near him? Why do you think I don't deserve him?"





"Because you leave" I whispered faintly




He swallowed loudly and looked away. I could feel the agony he was experiencing on his face. Edward pretended that he did not care but his eyes always showcased the emotions he was feeling.





"I promise" He lowly murmured to which I just stared at him for a second. What was he talking about?





He licked his lips, "I promise I'll never leave. I physically cannot. He is my son. And I will do whatever you want me to do. Just please let me meet him"





I sighed. Everything inside me wanted to say yes and give him a chance. But I needed time to think.





"Okay" His face brightened up and a smile tugged on his lips. He opened his mouth to say something but I interrupted him.





"I know you will try but I need time to think about it"




He frowned but nodded his head, "I can go with that...yeah."




"Did you tell anyone about him?"




He was blank for a second before shaking his head, "No, no... I just found out this morning. Can I tell?"




I narrowed my eyes at him. Was he really asking my permission? That was new. I shrugged my shoulders because it was not really my place to stop him. He had every right to do whatever he wanted with the secret he found out.




"Sure but not so soon. I need to think about it and then talk to Aiden"




He hummed, "How long?"





"What?" I slurred




"How long do you need to make a decision?"




"One week"