Chapter Eleven: secrets

Chapter Eleven: secrets
Aria pov

“Happy birthday, Mr. Laurent.” I hugged Damien‘s father and he kissed me on both sides of my cheek.

“Thank you, darling.” His personality didn’t match his physique. 

“You are welcome to my party.” He seemed rigid but nice. I have seen him a couple of times when I would follow Victor to several events. He is a man of high importance. 

“I see you have  met my daughter Aria.”  I heard a familiar voice behind me. It was my mother Isabella. I wonder what she is doing here. 

How does she address me as her daughter after abandoning me and yet she comes back and treats me with no regards, now all of a sudden I am now her daughter. 

“Your daughter is very beautiful.” Mr. Laurent said to her I wanted to scream that I was not her daughter. Yeah she gave birth to me, but she has never played the role of your mother in my life not before and not now.

“Thank you Mr Laurent.” She chuckled softly. 

“She has eyes just like mine.” Isabella smiled gently as if she was proud of me, but I found it weird. I wonder what kind of mother daughter relationship she was trying to enclose.

“Come here.” She opened her hands to hug me. I wasn’t buying it one minute she is a witch and another she is nice? I don’t think people change so easily of course I wouldn’t hug her but I had an impression to keep for the sake of Damien so I did. 

“What are you doing here?” I asked as our shoulders touched each other.

“You are my daughter, and you are engaged to the son of Mr. Laurent, so yes, of course I should be here.” That was all I got from her as  she faked her smile in the air.  I could see right through her, such an opportunist. I didn’t want to cause a scene so I just let it go, but I was sure to do something. I took out a  little hair for my head while we hugged, I wasn’t so sure she was my mother.

As the event continued, I had to greet a lot of people with Damien. I never knew he had such a wide family. I guess that is the reason why his inheritance is based on getting a wife. They needed someone responsible , principled and focused. 

The event was going so well but then I started to feel sick. I wasn’t sure what was wrong with me, but I knew for sure something was off. I decided to take a walk into the mansion all by myself. I was going to head to the restroom, and I took time to take in my environment. Just as Damien has several rare pieces of artwork in his mansion, I could see much more here. The creativity and designs were top notch. 

I realized I was lost when I got to a dark and lonely area. I’m not sure what the area was meant for, but no one was there. I decided to take my leave when I was grabbed by giant hands, I struggled and screamed, but my mouth was covered by the person. 

“Aria.” It was his voice. It was Lucian. I felt a hole in my heart. I was too embarrassed to look at him thank goodness there was not so much light over there.

“Why did you do it?” He asked, but he doesn’t have any right to question me, not after abandoning me and going against his promise to me. 

“Why Damien?” He questioned but I didn’t have anything to say. Demien might be his rival but he was my best option to survive. 

Since Lucian and I have been having several encounters, he has been the one asking all the questions, but I guess it is now my turn. 

“Why did you abandon me?” I tried  to sound as nonchalant as possible, but my voice betrayed me.

“I..” I cut him midway to his sentence. 

“Please Lucian, how do you defend yourself when you go behind my back to be with my best friend and you even got her pregnant.” I could feel the bitterness at the back of my throat.

“With me you wanted no children, but with her..”  I stopped midway with my sentence, my eyes become teary. 

“It was a mistake. I promise you.” he didn’t deny it, even if I wanted him to deep down. 

“Enough with your excuses, I am done with you.” I said with my finalist tone. 

“Let not forget you are now my father. You can’t keep dragging me into dark corners when it pleases you.” I stated to him, I knew it aggravated him seeing how he clenched his fist. But that was the truth, the truth the public knows, the truth my mother claims and Victor claims until otherwise is proven. With that I walked away. 

“I would like to go home, I don’t feel so good.” I whispered to Damien when I went back to our table. He had a few guests and some business partners he was talking to. I knew it wasn’t the best time, but I was tired of being around here.

“Could you give me a few minutes? I’ll take you home.” He responded back to me, but I felt really uneasy and I didn’t want to cut his time shot.

“You don’t have to worry, I'll take a cab home.” I insisted I was feeling dizzy and tipsy. I guess I had too much to drink.

“OK, I’ll walk you if you insist.” I felt guilty for taking Damien out.

“Please excuse me.” he said to the others and I also excused myself.  We were about to leave when his mom saw us.

“Leaving so soon the party is only just starting .” She met us midway.

“Aria doesn’t feel so good.” Damien explains to her.

“Oh you poor thing.” She touched my forehead and I was burning up.

“I think you have a fever. You should spend the night here." She suggested I didn’t want to be rude so I didn’t decline her offer. 

“Damien come on, take her up to the room.” She said as she guided me with her hands people were beginning to observe I didn’t want so much attention I had to put myself together.

I was served a hot cup of green tea which tasted great. I was suppose to make me  feel better after taking it but I felt strangely dizzy. 

 

The last thing I remember was feeling sick and coming up to this room and having a cup of green tea.  The cup of green tea slipped off my hand and now I am waking up to my body aching badly. My head spun like I was hit and my eyes struggled to adjust to the brightness coming from the window. 

I managed to balance my sight but my heart dropped to the ground when I realized someone was lying next to me.