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?"

Ethan's POV.

Morning in the Wolfe mansion had always been a quiet one.

Morning lights shined through the curtains as alarms rippled the whole room.

He slowly opened his beautiful gray eyes.

"How did I end up sleeping off?" He said, pulling the blanket to his knees.

Ethan couldn't get her off his mind last night. 

Aria Moretti.

The only woman he had always had his eyes on. 

She had rejected him once, and he didn't back down.

He shot out of bed in one go.

The house smelled of jasmine and sandalwood. 

Ethan wasn't a person who liked showing off, he preferred the old money style.

"Sir, your breakfast is served." A servant said as he walked down the stairs.

He waved her off.

******

Breakfast was a brief one. Ethan never wasted a minute.

The car was ready, his assistant was standing waiting before he arrived.

"Sir," he said, pulling the car door handle for him. "Are we heading to the office or..."

He stood silent for some moment.

"Drive straight to Sony Studios. I need the contract cooperation signed this morning." He said.

*****

The ride was a short one. 

Faint smiles curved at his lips as he imagined about her. 

How pale she looked after their encounter at her children's school entrance.

"There are so many studios far better than this one. Sony is just a small studio, it's not worth your attention."

Ethan cleared his throat.

"Sometimes you act like your brain is being fried. Hmmm. You really lack a romantic life."

Marco rubbed a hand on his head. "Haha.I don't lack a romantic life, sir."

"How long has that been? And why didn't I notice before?"

The corner of Marco's mouth lifted. "Ten years, Sir."

Ethan's eyes widened. "What? Ten years? Yoo!•

******

Morning in the Rossi's family turned to hell since the arrival of Andrea's mother.

Moria didn't just make things difficult for her, the same went to her children.

Regardless of Aria's attempts to distance herself that morning, Moria persistently looked for ways to retaliate.

Aria was getting the children ready for the day as usual.

Breakfast was served as usual, coffee and toast for Andrea, milk and bread for the kids.

Moria walked downstairs slowly, one hand guiding along the banister as if the house belonged to her.

She didn't say anything. 

Her gaze swept over Aria and her kids, she snorted.

"Mum, I made breakfast, come have some," Aria said, adjusting Laura's shirt.

Moria ignored her words, walking toward the kitchen. 

Andrea followed, humming a song only he understood.

Luca and Laura stared as they picked on their bread.

"There's nothing for breakfast?" Moria started.

Andrea poured some coffee in his mug, still humming.

"Are you playing dumb about my illness?" 

"I can't have coffee and toast for breakfast. Come make me chicken soup," she yelled. 

Andrea pulled a seat, the kids startled. 

Laura almost choked on her bread. 

"Are you deaf?" Andrea cut in.

She twisted her hand into a fist, knuckles almost turning white.

Aria had begun making breakfast herself after Andrea nearly embarrassed everyone by complaining about the servant's cooking.

"Sorry, Mum. I'll have to do that when I get back. There's an emergency meeting at work and I need to be present."

Andrea clenched a hand on the table as he locked his eyes on Aria."Are you saying your job matters more than taking care of my mother?"

Servants' eyes flickered to Aria and then to Andrea.

Moria lowered herself to the floor and began to sob.

Aria rushed forward to help her, but was shoved away. 

She stumbled backward, striking her head against the edge of the table.

Moria covered her mouth, a wicked smile slipped through the corner of her lips. 

Andrea stepped forward as if he wanted to help her up, but then moved past her like she didn't exist.

Aria lifted her face slowly, blood running down her temple.

"Mama! You're bleeding," Luca cried as he pulled back from his seat.

Laura followed, tears stinging her eyes.

"Must you always be unreasonable, Aria? It's just chicken soup!"

Aria kept silent as anger tightened in her chest. 

She slammed her hand on the table.

The house fell silent.

"Oh get a grip, Andrea! I'm nobody's slave. If your mother wants chicken soup that badly, why don't you make it for her?"

Andrea's throat went dry. He tried to open his mouth, words didn't come.

"I'm out of here." She grabbed the children's hands and walked away, never glancing back.

This wasn't the Aria he had known.. 

She had always done everything to please him- until now. 

Andrea watched her leave without saying a word.

"Look at the good thing you married. That little slut dared to walk away from you?"

Andrea folded his hands into a twist.

"How dare she? Mum I'm leaving. I'll instruct the butler to attend to you."

He left. 

Moria stood speechless as anger and hate boiled in her eyes.

"Little slut. I'll deal with you."

*****

"Sir," Mr. David said, shaking Ethan's hand as they walked into the company.

Ethan's eyes swept through the room, searching for Aria as they moved further inside.

David offered him a seat upon entering the meeting room.

"Aria's not here?" David asked.

"She'll be here in five. Traffic issues." Dorathy, Aria's colleague replied.

"Why do we always have to wait for her," Anna, one of the staff said.

Ethan sat silently, hand patting his thighs.

"We'll have to start without her then."

Ethan cleared his throat.

"We wait for her."

"Sir, we can't just delay this deal for someone that doesn't matter," Anna cut in.

Ethan's eyes locked hers, she panicked.

Arian pulled the door handle open, breath haggard.

"Sorry, for the lateness. Traffic issues," she said, heat pooling down her neck.

All eyes were fixed on her. 

"You know how important today is, look at the time you're just arriving?" Ava said, voice flat.

"Do you always treat your staff like this?" Ethan said, glancing at David.

Aria's eyes lowered to his, heart sinking.

"Did he just defend me in front of everyone?"

"No, Sir. This isn't..."

"I'm choosing her as my contract manager. The rest of you should leave the room."

Gasps rippled through the room.

Aria clutched the file she was carrying, cheeks flushing.

She didn't expect Ethan to defend her, not even making her the manager of his contract.

"Sir, I'm not the one in charge of..."

Ethan stood gently from his chair, closing the distance between them.

"I'm making you in charge, and you owe no one an explanation for that."

Aria froze, her legs trembling. 

"What does he want now? Is he trying to help me or get revenge on me?"