Arya hoped that everything would go better once she and Ayden made amends. Emptying her heart and expressing her feelings had been liberating for her. However, she knew that Ayden still guarded with great caution the reason why he wouldn't let himself be touched. She had tried to get close to him in the past, but he didn't allow it, except when she was vulnerable. Now, the handsome millionaire had opened his heart to her, hoping that she would accept him.
After pouring their hearts out, Ayden and Arya finish their meal while clarifying some things. Five years have passed, and they both need to catch up, especially when it comes to their shared child.
"I have to go back to the office," Ayden announces when he sees the time. "If you decide to go with Gerard, just let me know, and I'll pick you up."
"Okay, thank you," she mutters without saying more.
They approach the door, and it's an awkward moment where neither of them knows what to do or say. Arya takes
Both had decided to sleep as they did the day before. Arya was sure that she wasn't ready to take a step towards intimacy, and although the kiss had been deep and beautiful, Ayden had managed to keep his distance.In the morning, when she woke up, he was already having coffee in the kitchen."Good morning, sleepyhead," Ayden greets her, approaching to give her a kiss on the forehead."Good morning," she says, stretching. "And Aryehn? I didn't see him in his room.""He's in the garden, went to 'feed the plants.' He's quite an old soul," Ayden comments. "Do you know how to tell him, or do you want me to do it?""Not yet," she declares.Arya looks in the fridge and finds eggs and bacon."I'll make some breakfast. Are you staying or do you have to leave?" she asks because she doesn't know his schedule.Ayden checks his watch and then his phone."I have time. Tell me how I can help," he offers with a smile.Both of them set to prepare breakfast, and they are about to finish when Sebas ente
George was a young city dweller, a mix of hipster and yuppie, which Arya finds fascinating as soon as she sees him arrive. He explains to them that last night they found the Tablet, phone, and computer, completely destroyed in an alley near the house."I was able to salvage as much as possible, but I believe a significant amount of information has been lost," he comments with a demeanor that indicates that, while he may come from a wealthy family, he has excellent manners."Thank you, George," Ayden comments. "Do you know if anyone had access to the devices?"From what I saw, no. Whoever tried to access them ended up blocking them and, in anger, destroyed them," he explains confidently without even looking at Arya. "They were cautious enough to cover the cameras so they wouldn't take pictures of them. This is the memory where I saved everything I could, Mr. Emory."Ayden takes it and checks to ensure it's in good condition."Can you get Miss Harley the devices, but updated?" Ayden ask
Arya was ready to tell Ayden's uncle whatever he wanted to hear. Once she told him her "version" of the events, they had a more formal conversation.If there was one thing Arya knew about Ayden, it was that he never told Mark the truth about their son.After the interview, Ayden informed them that he would discuss the matter with the board of directors and let them know if they would be offered the positions they were seeking. Robín, known for being cautious, bid farewell politely and left. Arya, however, stayed behind, hoping to exchange a few words with Mark."I just wanted to thank you for the time you gave us today," she declares, unsure of how to approach the subject. "I've been seeing Ayden and, of course, getting closer to my son. Things are a bit complicated right now. That's why I wanted to ask you, please, not to mention that we've been talking sometimes. It's not that I'm going to hide it, no, but I want to be the one to tell him to avoid conflicts between you. You know how
Gerard dedicates himself to recounting detailed stories about his grandson, and Arya listens attentively. Among everything, it stands out that she doesn't see him often, either because Ayden is working or because he is sick. This bothers Arya, as she would have liked them to be closer. After all, that was one of Gerard's motivations when he asked Ayden to have children in order to inherit. The conversation flows, as she wants to catch up on everything regarding her son."I think we've talked enough about Aryehn," Gerard interrupts abruptly. Arya feels a little uncomfortable, but smiles satisfied; now she realizes how much her son is loved. "I would like to hear about you. What have you been up to these years? I want to hear you.""Me?" she inquires, feeling embarrassed."Yes, tell me what you've been doing. Feed the curiosity of this old man. Come on," Gerard insists cheerfully.Arya thinks for a moment and then knows where to start."After finishing my internship, I presented my thes
The child fell asleep in Arya's arms that night. She didn't have to tell him a bedtime story, but instead, she shared the story of her life. Ayden had told him that he had hurt his mommy, and that's why she left. He never told him the why, the how, or the when. Those were things that they, as adults, would resolve in due time."You need to rest," Ayden comments, noticing her discomfort. "Let me help you settle him, and you also need to talk to Robín.""You're right..." she gets up slowly and leaves the bed as Ayden tucks in their son and covers him.Arya walks to the exit and takes her phone out of her bag. She finds Robín's number on the back of her email and calls him."Hey, are you still alive?" she asks when he answers."Still kicking! Are you coming to sleep tonight or has that millionaire of yours kidnapped you?" he jokes. In the background, the sound of a movie can be heard."I'll tell you tomorrow. I just called to let you know I'll pick you up at nine, okay?" she explains."A
Arya arrives at her son's school, holding his hand and with her checkbook in her purse. She feels powerful. She feels like she's finally complete and happy.Her men know that she loves them, and they are with her. What more could she ask for?After meeting with the principal and getting up to date with her, Arya can't help but wonder why she, Arya, wasn't with her child. The principal even asked if she was the stepmother. Ha, as if!After that, she heads back to her apartment. Robin is already waiting for her with the latest gossip of the day."And will you finally tell me why you have that smile on your face?" he asks cheerfully while putting on his special footwear for formal occasions.Most of the time, he's in sneakers, a cap, and goes unnoticed, like any regular young man. He's a highly intelligent boy but unlucky in love. Actually, Arya believes he only chooses losers as partners. But there's no use advising him; he's only had one partner, and that's the father of her child, and
Doctor Evans, known as Robin to Arya, approaches to inform them that their little son is now stable. Just hearing it, the doctor embraces Ayden again and breaks into tears. She feels her soul returning to her body and the fear dissipating."Soon, you'll be able to see him," she assures, still wearing her civilian clothes under an improvised surgical gown."Thank you, Robin!" Arya expresses and hugs him warmly before letting go. "Aryehn's teacher said he had ice cream and was running around afterward.""Uh... precisely the recommendations you asked him not to follow," he comments. "I think you should talk to the school or have a shadow teacher assigned just to watch over him.""We'll see," Ayden informs. "It's too early to draw conclusions.""I'm sorry, you're right," Robin says."Doctor Evans, it's ready now," a nurse announces."Let's go," he invites the Emorys and Arya.As they walk in, the young doctor can see how the other physicians regard them as intruders, even Evans' reaction
All the Emory’s, along with the additions - Arya, Robin, Sebas, and Bea - sit at the table. It's an unusual event, so to speak.Aryehn ate a little and then fell asleep in Arya's arms. She didn't want to let him go for a single moment; every moment with her son was precious. Even if her arms and back hurt from the weight, it was worth every minute.The conversation was fairly trivial until Ayden received a call that took him away from the table."I didn't know your return was so formal," Mark sneers with annoyance. "Look at you, all motherly... just be careful not to seem too...," he pauses, searching for the right word, "...needy for money. You know, the press can make it look like you're only here for my brother's millions."Silence falls in the room; Arya feels offended due to her background.Gerard Emory is about to speak when Arya interrupts him."Just because you've always depended on your father, even to get a spot in a hospital, doesn't mean that's my case," Arya clarifies wit
"Mom, I'm ready!" Aryehn shouts from somewhere in the house."Get in the car, Henry is already waiting for us," Arya replies.Aryehn grabs his phone and heads out of the mansion to the front entrance. Before leaving, he checks his notifications and reads a message from his father saying that he's already waiting for them at the main venue."Mom, Dad is already waiting for us!" Aryehn exclaims, making sure his suit is properly adjusted.Arya comes down in her burgundy dress, fitted at the bust and loose at the waist down to the knees."Mom, you look gorgeous!" Aryehn says, approaching her to kiss her on the cheek. "Are we ready to go?""Yes, everyone is waiting for us there," she affirms, taking the arm her son offers.Aryehn has grown into a handsome seventeen-year-old, chivalrous and formal, just like his father. Arya watches him with pride, happy to see him so content.Henry opens the limousine's door, and they get in. The escorts follow them in another car behind, but they ignore t
"He escaped last night, but we didn't realize it until this morning," the detective says. "We were following him, and he left clues, as if he knew this was going to happen."Arya remembers her brother telling her that he would take care of it, and seeing him lifeless is something she never wanted to happen."Jeff, no!" Arya screams, throwing herself onto his lifeless body. The officers try to pull her away, but it's impossible; she holds onto her brother tightly.Jeff groans, and she hears him clearly."He's alive!" she shouts to no one in particular. Paramedics arrive and approach him to provide assistance.Mark takes advantage of the distraction and elbows the police officer who is about to handcuff him. He grabs the gun lying at his feet and aims it at Arya. Ayden watches in a blur as Mark raises the gun.The police officer, wiping his nose, Mark with the gun aimed at Arya, and Ayden firing at him in the chest, right in the heart, his half-brother.Mark falls to the ground like a d
Five days earlier"What's on your mind?" Daniel asks when he sees his friend lost in thought."Mark's mother had a necklace with a ruby. I have no idea what happened to it," Ayden says, frowning, and as soon as the words leave the millionaire's mouth, Daniel feels a chill run down his spine. "Now, more than ever, I suppose Mark has something to do with this.""You're giving him too much credit; he's an idiot," the lawyer says disdainfully, not trying to imagine what he thinks he's imagining. "You know, he can hardly run that hospital. If it weren't for his assistant, it would collapse."Daniel can't pay attention to what's happening; he urgently needs to leave and check if the necklace his wife has is the same one his friend is talking about."Gabriel, it's Daniel, something urgent has come up, can you go for Arya and let her know what's going on? Ayden doesn't want her to find out through the media or let their son know what's happening," he informs while using the hands”free functio
Ayden and John take refuge in George's apartment, unable to maintain communication with the outside world."Sir, it's on all the news channels," John comments while continuously flipping through channels."I know, now it will be almost impossible for me to go out. No one can see us," Ayden affirms with an idea forming in his mind. "Besides, the fact that Daniel is missing. We should go look for him.""Not right now, sir, we need to hide," John explains, standing up. "It's best if we don't go back to your house, at least not until it gets dark.""You can stay here as long as you like," George says, taking out a couple of waters and snacks from the fridge. "I live alone, so no one will know you're here."Both John and Ayden exchange glances and accept. After all, they need some rest before venturing out again."Alright, after all, we've hardly slept. A little sleep will do us good," Ayden says, sinking into the sofa."At the end of the hallway, the door on the right is the guest bedroom
Mark's voice echoed loudly in Arya's ear, and she felt disgusted just hearing it."Is something wrong? You don't seem to want to answer," he inquired, feigning concern."Hello, Mark, it's not that. You caught me at a busy time," she lied, hoping he would hang up."I'm sorry; I just wanted to talk and see how you're doing. I heard about the attack and the blame on Ayden; it's all over the news now," he explained in a tone that almost convinced her. "Turn on the TV; it's on every news channel."Arya felt her heart start pounding in her chest. She felt anxious for Ayden, rushed to the living room, and turned on the television, desperately searching for a news channel. The anchor had a photo of her husband on the screen."I told you; it's all over the news," Mark repeated. "Please, tell my brother to be careful. I'll try to keep track of you, but you know I'm short-staffed and can't be in two places at once. Nevertheless... we have a pending conversation, remember?"Arya was taken by surp
Arya woke up with her son on her mind, an unhealthy concern gripping her as she rushed to Aryehn's room to check on her little one. She opened the door to find him curled up in the middle of his bed. Cautiously, she approached and settled beside him to give him a hug.Aryehn, sensing her presence, turned and nestled against her side."Mommy, I love you," the half-asleep boy murmured, hugging his mother."I love you too, my beautiful boy," Arya replied, holding him close. Over the years, the fear of not seeing him again had been overwhelming. But now that they were together, the fear of losing him paled in comparison to what she had felt before.While Arya contemplated what her husband might be doing at that moment, she allowed herself to enjoy this precious moment with her son. It wasn't until an hour later that Aryehn woke up fully, and they headed downstairs for breakfast."Good morning, Miss Harley," Tim greeted, emerging from his hiding spot and catching Arya off guard."You start
After such a shocking confession, Arya, with her heart equally heavy for her husband, hugged and comforted him until he fell asleep in her arms. Feeling him so vulnerable only fueled her irritation towards Mark.She thought about all the times she had been alone with Mark and regretted every moment of it. Deep within her soul, she lamented her stubbornness. Lost in thought, she fell into a deep sleep, unaware when Ayden woke up in the early morning to leave.He watched her in amazement, observing how she clung to the pillow, burying her nose to catch his scent on the fabric. Ayden couldn't quantify the love he felt for her, but he knew he would do anything for their son and Arya.Silently, he left the room, making his way downstairs to his office before exiting through the secret door into the hallway that led to the bunker."Hello, John," he greeted his bodyguard when he saw him leaning against the wall, finishing a cigarette. "Do you know anything about our escape?"John took out on
Ayden Emory was concerned about Arya's safety. He had provided a lot of security for her, yet the feeling of unease wouldn't leave his body. He feared for her and their son."Sir, everything is ready for us to leave whenever you order," John reported over the phone."We'll leave before four in the morning; we need to be in her building before she wakes up and have everything set up," Ayden declared, following the plan."Understood. I'll make some final arrangements for our fake flight tonight," John said before saying goodbye and hanging up.Ayden Emory was worried about the safety of his now wife and son. He knew Arya didn't adhere to the recommended security measures because she didn't care much about her own safety."Sir, everything is ready for tonight," John informed over the phone. "The van is loaded with everything we need to install the cameras in Mark's building.""Great, we'll leave in the early morning. We need to enter the building before my brother leaves so we can verify
The morning was very cold. Aryehn was still asleep, so they brought the baby monitor to the living room to hear in case he woke up.Gabriel was at the front door early in the morning, waiting for someone to open it. Henry, in charge of house security, now had to report the arrival of visitors to Arya first, to see if she authorized them or not."Miss Arya, Mr. Specter is already at the entrance. Should I let him in?" he asked with great formality as she descended the stairs."Yes, please, have him come to the kitchen, Henry," she replied, walking directly to the coffee maker to prepare coffee. Ayden joined her a few minutes later, just as Gabriel arrived."Good morning, sir, Mrs. Emory," the lawyer greeted with formality, shaking hands with the millionaire."Good morning, Gabriel, come in," Ayden indicated the chair in front of him in the dining room."Would you like coffee?" Arya asked, pouring a cup for herself and another for Ayden."Yes, please," he said, taking a few folders from