Aria's POV.

Early morning sunlight glinted through the curtains in gold, as faint sounds of the city drifted below.

The noise of distant traffic hummed through the window.

Aria quietly adjusted her legs, so she won't wake the kids from their sleep.

Her phone laid beside her, screen dark.

Aria had tried to close her eyes. 

She thought that maybe if she slept, it wouldn't hurt any more.

But she was wrong. 

No matter how she forced herself to sleep, the more unsettled she was.

Sleep didn't come, she just waited for morning.

She clutched her chest as the woman's voice replayed in her head.

It sounded so clear and sharp, not something that could be mistaken.

"Honey. I'm cold. Come and cuddle."

Andrea never allowed her to call him those names.

He avoids her like the plague, even her kids weren't exempted.

She stood and walked toward the kitchen to prepare breakfast for the kids.

Aria filled the kettle and set it on the stove.

She stretched her hands to get bread, plates, and cups.

The spoon slipped from her finger and hit the counter, she panicked, but then bent down to pick it.

Laura hummed from the table, swinging her legs. Luca watched her instead of his food.

Aria buttered the bread slowly. By the time she noticed the smell, it was already burnt.

She tried to scrape it clean, and served it anyway.

Aria made her way into the dining to get the children ready for the day.

She watched the kids eat as bread crumbs scattered on the table.

Every sound the children made startled her.

She almost spilled hot coffee on herself. 

Luca's voice snapped her back to reality.

"Mama," he called, voice soft. "Papa didn't show up for our birthday."

Laura cut him off. "Did he sleep out again?"

Her chest rose and fell unevenly, she gripped the table, her knuckles turning white.

"Papa was busy. He promised to make it to you."

"Luca, I think papa doesn't like us." Laura said.  

Aria felt the words harder than anything Andrea had ever said to her.

"Don't say that baby. Your father loves you more than anything." Aria murmured.

Luca hesitated before speaking. "Papa won't let us come close either."

Aria's chest tightened.

"I don't like him," Laura added quietly. 

She patted them gently on their hair, smiling.

"Who says papa won't let you come close. He just needs time...."

The sound on the door cut her off, she panicked.

There he was, Andrea Ross, standing outside the door, face cold.

In two strides, he walked inside. 

The kids stopped talking, focused on their breakfast.

He didn't say anything, he tossed his coat on the couch and headed to the dining.

The scent on his body was different. He smelled like someone else.

Aria didn't say anything. 

Couldn't open her mouth, she just tried to control her emotions, folding her hands into a grip.

She let out a deep sigh. "I made toast for breakfast."

He tapped on his screen, pretending not to hear her.

"Do you want some?" 

"No. I already had breakfast. You can go ahead and have yours."

She didn't push further. 

The children watched him while they ate, almost freaking out.

After some seconds, he turned toward their direction.

They quickly moved their eyes away from him.

The silence in the room felt so sharp and awkward, Aria almost tripped lost in her thoughts.

Every second she looked at him, she imagined how intimately he must have been with his lover last night.

Every second she pretended she was fine, not wanting him to notice any weird behavior, hot blood flushed her lungs.

"How was your business meeting?" She asked, walking toward the table.

He didn't answer right away, his eyes were still glued to his phone.

"Mama, we're running late," Laura reminded, breaking the silence.

The kids had been expecting him to maybe say something to them.

But he didn't. 

His presence had always frightened them.

Aria hurriedly got the kids ready as she dressed up too for work.

Despite being in a cold marriage with Andrea, Aria had sworn not to depend on him for survival.

She had worked at Sony pictures as a screen writer for years before her marriage.

Lucky for her, the company's manager, David and his wife, had seen her through her pregnancy period.

Always caring for her and the kids.

"We're leaving." Aria said as they stepped out.

"Have a nice day. Don't stress out." She added.

*****

In less than thirty minutes, Aria and the kids arrived at school.

She dropped them off as usual.

Aria was stopped by a teacher when she turned to leave.

"Mrs, there will be a parent-teacher meeting on Friday. We require your presence or that of their father." A teacher announced.

"Okay, Ma'am. I'll be there."

"I've noticed you've been the only one attending their school activities."

"You should persuade their father to do the same too. Children tend to be sensitive especially at this age of growth."

Aria's throat went dry. She paused to say something, but words didn't come out.

"He always does whenever he gets the chance to." She said, faking a smile on her face.

When she finally walked to her car, she let out a deep sigh as tears stung her eyes.

She held them back so it wouldn't smudge her makeup.

"I won't start my day by ruining it for someone who doesn't deserve it." She whispered to herself.

When she drove off, a black silk car followed behind.

*****

"Sir," a man dressed in a black suit called out. 

"We've been following her around for days. Why don't you just tell her your intentions?"

There was a brief silence between them.

But then he cleared his throat. "I don't want to get her agitated."

"Isn't she the unloved wife of Andrea Rossi?"

"No. She's mine. It's just a matter of time. The only reason I haven't bankrupted Rossi's family is because she still has his last name."

He clenched his hands on his thighs. 

"Get people to protect her secretly. If she loses a hair in her head, you're a dead man."

Aria's POV.

The day had gone as usual. TV shows, meetings, and productions.

Aria checked the time. 6pm on the dot. 

The rain wasn't showing any sign of stopping anytime soon and she needed to pick the children.

Her phone buzzed. 

She tapped on the screen. It was her children's classroom teacher.

"Hello,"

"Mrs. Rossi. Your kids are inside but the school is closing. I couldn't wait anymore. Please come and take them home."

Aria's lungs slammed on her rib cage.

"Ma. Can you hold a little? I'm on my way..."

The phone went dead.

"Hello? Ma, are you there?"

The kids had always stayed with Mr. David's wife after school.

But she traveled and will be back by the weekend that leaves Aria with no other choice than to pick them herself.

Andrea didn't care about them. 

The first time she had pleaded with him to have his driver pick them, he refused.

He said he didn't employ his driver for insignificant purposes.

Her hands moved before her body could. She pulled her bag over her head and ran toward her car.

*****

When she arrived at the school premises, Luca and Laura were nowhere to be found.

She quickly ran out of her car, toward the school gate.

The rain stormed so heavily, she was drenched in it.

Anger and fear tightened in her chest. 

She tapped on her screen, trying to reach the teacher, but it didn't connect.

"No, goodness. Laura?" Her voice was loud and trembling.

"Luca?"

She didn't seem to notice the black sedan car parked across the street.

Aria almost twisted her ankle.

She tried to reach for Andrea, he ignored the call.

A car approached her in slow motion.

Heavy thunder lighted the sky, her eyes were almost bruised in tears.

"Mama!"

Without hesitation, she turned, eyes searching.

"Luca? Laura?" Voice sharp.

The car stopped in front of her. 

Her eyes caught his as the glass rolled down.

A man in a navy suit. His eyes were grey, sharp jawlines, his presence was overwhelming.

"Mama!"

"Laura? Who are you? Why do you have my kids?"

Her mouth moved before she could control it.

He didn't say anything, their eyes locked on each other.

He looked like someone she used to know. 

Silence stretched between them, neither said a word.

"Your kids are okay. You shouldn't leave them in a lonely street by themselves."

"I'm sorry I didn't mean to..."

"Mama, we're okay. This uncle is nice to us. He didn't leave us under the rain."

"I'm sorry baby. I was late. I promise this will be the last time it happens."

The kids crossed over to her car, she tucked them in.

"Thank you. I owe you one."

Her voice was soft and shaky.

"You've got smart kids. Make sure you don't lose them."

He drove off.

"Looks like she doesn't recognize you," his assistant Marco said, hands on steering.

He shook his head.

"She's just surprised."

"You didn't say anything to her."

"I don't need to say anything. My act already said it all."

******

Aria almost bumped into another car. 

"Mama, watch out!" Luca said, grabbing Laura.

"Oh dear. I'm sorry. What was I thinking?"

The car horned violently at her as she waved her hand in apology.

"Are you okay?" Luca asked.

"Don't worry about me baby. Hold on to your seat belts."

Her hands turned slowly on the steering, her eyes were focused on the road.

"Mama, that uncle is so nice to us. I wish he was our father."

"Don't say that honey. He might be someone else's father."

"This was the first time someone had ever been nice to us," Laura argued.

Aria clenched her hands on the steering, the kids panicked.

"Sorry honey, I didn't mean to frighten you."

"Do you know him?" Luca pushed harder.

She didn't answer right away, she let the silence linger. 

Then she cleared her throat.

"No. I don't know him. Maybe he was just a nice person."

"But you look at him like he was someone you know."

Her phone buzzed. 

She ignored it. It buzzed again.

She stretched her hand to pick it up. 

"Hey, Andrea. I'm driving. I'll get back to you when I get home..."

"Quit your stupid excuses. My mum's home. She's sick. She'll be staying with us till her illness gets better."

"Wait, what? You didn't inform me ahead..."

"Do I need your permission to bring anyone into my house?"

"Go make dinner, she's hungry!"

The phone went dead.

*****

In a few seconds, she got home. 

She walked the kids inside. "Grandma is home!" She announced.

"I'm sure she'll be happy to have you guys around."

"Nooo," Laura squealed.

"Laura, she's gonna roast us alive with her mean words."

"Honey, don't say that. Grandma misses you..."

A voice came from behind.

"Aria and her little bastards," Andrea's mother called out.

"Here she comes," Luca said, panicking.

"My kids are not bastards, mother. They have names."

"You've grown bold! Talking back to me?"

Aria twisted her hands into a fist.

"We're not bastards," Laura cried out.

Moria had never been in support of their marriage.

She had always hated Aria and her kids so much and saw Aria as a thorn in her flesh.

If she had the chance to kick them out, she wouldn't hesitate.

Humiliation was the only weapon she had against Aria. And whenever she called her kids bastards, Andrea never defended the kids.

"I'll be staying here from now on. You've to be on your best behavior. I'm not Andrea, I won't take any stupid attitude from you."

Aria didn't say anything, she walked away, pretending she didn't exist.

"I'm talking to you, little slut."

Aria turned, but then, Luca grabbed her hands.

"Mama, let's go."

Moria watched them walk away as anger and disgust erupted over her.

*****

The Wolfe empire was a very big one owned by Ethan, the most feared Don in the city.

Some called him the devil, while some called him the grim reaper.

Nobody dared to cross him. Even when they had the courage to, they never came out unscathed.

"How's the situation with the Moretti family going?" Ethan said, looking outside the city.

"Mr. Moretti is still in a coma. His mistress, Gwen, is the one in charge of the family."

"You know what to do."

"Yes, sir."

"There should be mercy for None of them who has ever laid their hands on Aria and her kids."

Aria's POV.

Lights glowed faintly through the window as the street beneath hummed with noise.

Aria already tucked the kids into bed.

The television was barely making a sound, she didn't pay attention to it as her mind was glued on her laptop.

She tried not to  take to heart what Andrea's mother had said earlier.

Moria had always been like that. It wasn't a new thing to Aria.

Andrea was still out, somewhere only God knows.

Her phone vibrated.

She reached for it. 

It was Gwen, her step-mother. 

The expression on her face went pale. 

Her calls had never been without a threat. 

"Little slut," her voice cut in sharp and loud.

Aria didn't make a sound, she just stared at the phone.

"What do I owe you this time, Mrs. Gwen?"

"How dare you refer to me by my name?"

Gwen had always hated Aria without a cause.

Aria lost her mother because Gwen had claimed she was pregnant for Aria's father.

Her mother couldn't bear being betrayed, she fell into depression and died.

Ever since then, Aria had hated her father more than anything.

"You haven't made any payment for your father's medical bills for the month. Do I always have to remind you?"

A deep sigh left Aria's lungs before she could control it.

"Isn't he your husband? You always have a habit of running away from responsibilities, don't you?"

There was a moment of silence, then. "Hahaha," Gwen laughed.

Aria clenched her hand on the table as a bitter smile curved her face.

"Coming from a woman who doesn't have a place in her husband's heart."

Her words pricked her skin like a sharp needle.

Tears almost stung her eyes but she held them back.

"At least I'm not a mistress who breaks people's marriages." Aria fired back.

Gwen clenched her hand on the table as her face fumed with anger.

"What did you say? You called me a mistress?"

"If you feel guilty, then you really are. I'll send the hospital bill first thing tomorrow morning. If there's nothing else I'm ending the call."

"Don't you dare..."

Aria ended the call without hesitation.

"Mum, why are you yelling in the middle of the night? I'm so sleepy, god." Lily said, eyes wide.

Gwen twisted her hands into a fist. 

"She now talks to me anyhow she wants to. Damn bitch. Looks like I've been too lenient with her."

Lily sat up slowly, pulling the blanket to her knees.

"That stupid bitch. Andrea doesn't even take her seriously. I feel too happy watching her suffer."

"We'll see how long she survives in that house."

Lily's voice was cold, she gripped her sheets so tight as her knuckles turned white.

Gwen turned to her, a smirk tugged at her lips.

"Don't get yourself worked up honey."

******

"What did you say to my mother?" Andrea asked as he stepped inside.

"You're back," Aria said as she stood to take his coat from him.

There was a little silence between them, but then Andrea cleared his throat.

"I told you my mother was ill and needed to recover. And yet you had the guts to make her shout?"

Aria's eyes widened in shock. 

Anger flared her body, her feet turned cold.

Aria didn't say anything to her, Moria had been the one calling her kids names.

Why was she twisting the truth? 

She tried to open her mouth but her throat went dry.

Andrea's hand reached for her neck, gripping it tightly.

Aria's hands held his, trying to pull away as she struggled for air.

"I didn't... I didn't... let me go."

"Son? You're back." Moria said, walking down the staircase.

He freed his hand off her neck. "Mum, are you okay?"

He hurried toward his mother, his shoulder pushed Aria away. 

"I'm fine, son. You need to teach that stupid girl a lesson. She's too rude and mannerless."

Andrea's eyes locked on hers, cold and unreadable.

"You haven't answered me. What did you say to my mother? Why's she looking so weak and devastated?"

There was a moment of silence between the three of them.

"She had her kids call me an old witch." Moria said, coughing while she clutched her chest.

Andrea's mouth twitched at the side. "What?"

"Why don't you tell him what you did?"

"Whatever she did was right," He said.

Aria's legs trembled, she staggered back.

"She called our kids bastards, Andrea..."

"Isn't that what they are?"

Aria's vision blurred in one go. His words pierced through her ear.

"What did you say? Your kids are what?"

"That's the truth. Stop acting like you don't know they're bastards." His voice was flat.

"Oh quit those dramatic tricks of yours. They won't work on me."

He turned to his mother. "Let's get you inside mum. Don't pay attention to this home wrecker."

Aria watched them leave without saying another word.

Tears stung her eyes as her hands trembled by her side.

"Did I really make a wrong decision by accepting to marry him? How did I even make such a mistake?"

"Are my kids really bastards?"

She wiped her eyes and then straightened her dress

The dinner she made was already a waste because Andrea won't touch it.

He had always done that whenever they had disagreements.

****

Aria was arranging the dishes when she heard a familiar name on the tv.

She froze on seeing the person on the screen.

The face looked familiar, like someone she met today at the school premises.

News: It's so surprising that Ethan Wolfe, the Don of the Wolfe's empire who hadn't been seen for years, has finally appeared in public and will be having a movie deal with the Sony movie production company.

"What? The man who I met today was Ethan Wolfe? My high school classmate?"

"Oh no. Why do I always have to bring trouble to myself."

"I had rejected him in high school and now, he's back." 

"God, should I call this a blessing or a curse?"