Ariana sat on the sofa with her body stiff. Her hands were still resting on her growing belly, as if seeking protection from the reality that had just hit her. Leonard could not prove that Darinna was lying. In front of him, Lily was still standing with an innocent face, as if she didn't understand the quarrel that was going on between the adults around her. Meanwhile, Darinna seemed content to see Ariana's shock and confusion. Leonard himself stood by the door, hands clenched, the expression on his face hard to guess. There was anger, there was frustration, but there was also something else-something Ariana couldn't read. Ariana took a deep breath, trying to control her emotions. She looked at Leonard with eyes that were beginning to heat up. "Answer me honestly, Leonard," she said, her voice trembling. "If this child is really yours... why won't you admit it?" Leonard closed his eyes, as if holding something back. Then he opened his eyes and looked at Ariana seriously. "I never
Ariana stood in front of her bedroom mirror, staring at her own reflection blankly. Her eyes were puffy, her face pale, and her mind was filled with conflicting feelings. Jealousy. Heartache. Fear. She wanted to believe Leonard, but her heart was already filled with doubts. Lily. That little girl looked so much like Leonard. No matter how Leonard tried to deny it, the fact that Lily might be his flesh and blood still haunted Ariana. And what hurt even more, if it was true, it meant Leonard had rejected his own child. Her hand slowly rubbed her growing belly. What if their baby was a girl? Would Leonard love her? Or would he hate this baby like Darinna said? Ariana shook her head vigorously, trying to push those thoughts away. No! I can't keep living in this uncertainty. She looked at the suitcase in the corner of the room. She had already prepared her things, but her heart was still in doubt. Leaving Leonard would not be easy. She loved him. She wanted to build a family wit
The night was getting late, but Ariana was still sitting on the edge of the bed with a blank stare. The light from the bed lamp shone on her tired-looking face, making faint shadows on the walls of the room. Leonard sat beside her, silent. He could feel the tension hanging between them like a fine thread ready to break at any moment. He wanted to speak, wanted to calm her down, but he also knew that no words could instantly heal the wounds in Ariana's heart. Ariana let out a long breath, then bowed her head. "Leo, I have something to ask you." Leonard turned his head, looking at her with concern. "Ask anything, darling." Ariana bit her lower lip, hesitating before finally saying, "Do you really hate baby girls?" Leonard's heart felt like a sledgehammer. He hadn't expected the question to come so soon. "No," he answered quickly, but Ariana's eyes were still filled with doubt. "You don't have to lie," she continued. "Darinna said you rejected Lily because she's a girl. Yo
Ariana walked quickly out of the café, the cold night air brushing against her skin, but she didn’t even feel it. Her mind was filled with Darinna’s voice, the woman’s words replaying over and over. "Leonard didn’t refuse to acknowledge Lily because he doubted her biological father. He refused because she’s a girl." Ariana bit her lip, trying to steady herself. She didn’t want to believe Darinna, but something about the woman’s words haunted her. Was Leonard really like that? No, the Leonard she knew wasn’t that kind of man. But… how much did she really know about him? She reached for her phone, wanting to call him, but her hand hesitated. After a few moments, she finally decided to go home. --- A Home That Felt Different As soon as Ariana stepped inside, the house felt eerily quiet. Normally, Leonard would greet her or at least be waiting in the living room, but tonight, he wasn’t there. She walked in, placed her bag on the table, and headed toward the bedroom. When she ope
Ariana stood in front of her almost full suitcase, her hands trembling as she neatly folded the last piece of clothing inside. She took a deep breath, trying to steady the storm of emotions raging within her. This wasn't an easy decision, but she couldn't keep living in uncertainty. She didn’t want to leave Leonard, but her heart was exhausted. She needed time—to think, to understand whether their love could still be saved. Suddenly, the sound of the door opening startled her. “Ariana?” She turned quickly and saw Maria, one of the housemaids, standing at the doorway, looking confused. “Why are you packing your things?” Maria asked cautiously. Ariana forced a small smile, though it barely reached her eyes. “I need some time alone, Maria.” “But… Mr. Leonard—” Ariana lowered her gaze, unwilling to hear his name at that moment. “Please don’t tell him until I’m gone.” Maria hesitated, but after a moment, she nodded. “Alright, ma’am.” Guilt crept into Ariana’s heart, but she forced
Ariana’s Return Ariana stood in front of Leonard’s grand estate, her heart pounding. Her gaze fixed on the towering mansion, emotions swirling inside her. She knew that once she stepped inside, there would be no turning back. She took a deep breath, trying to summon the courage she needed. She couldn’t let Leonard face all of this alone—not after everything that had happened. With trembling hands, she pushed open the gate and walked inside. --- Tension in the House Leonard paced in his study, his jaw clenched. He had just left the press conference, desperately trying to deny Darinna’s accusations. But the world didn’t care about the truth—they loved scandals more. He ran a hand over his face, attempting to calm himself. Then, the door creaked open. Leonard turned sharply, his eyes widening in shock as he saw Ariana standing at the doorway. “Ariana?” She gave him a small nod. “I’m back.” For a moment, Leonard was speechless. Relief, happiness, and confusion collided within h
After leaving Darinna’s apartment, Leonard and Ariana stood outside the building, inhaling the crisp night air. Though they had just faced a tense confrontation, this was only the beginning of their battle. "We need to expose this to the public as soon as possible," Leonard said firmly. Ariana looked at him, worry filling her eyes. "Are you sure? Darinna won’t stay silent." Leonard nodded resolutely. "I don’t care. I’ve let her control my life for far too long." Ariana hesitated for a moment before finally nodding. "Then we do this together." They walked toward the car, preparing to face an even bigger storm ahead. That night, Leonard contacted his lawyer and private media team. He wanted to make sure there were no gaps for Darinna to strike back. Everything had to be done carefully and strategically. "We need stronger evidence," his lawyer said through a video call. "The DNA test results are significant, but if we can obtain a recorded confession or documents from people who wo
Ariana stood on the balcony of her hotel room, gazing at the starry night sky. The cool night breeze brushed against her face, bringing a rare sense of tranquility she hadn't felt in a long time. After all the chaos they had been through, everything was finally settling down. Darinna had been cornered, her scandal exposed, and now all that was left was to wait for the legal process to take its course. Yet, even though the ordeal was nearly over, something still weighed on Ariana’s heart. Leonard. The feelings she had tried so hard to suppress were coming back, stronger than ever. She knew she could no longer deny it—beneath all the anger and betrayal she had once felt, her heart was still connected to him. "What should I do?" she whispered to herself. Across the city, Leonard sat in his office with a glass of bourbon in his hand. His gaze was distant, his mind wandering. He should have felt relieved after everything that had happened. This should have been a moment of victory.
Ariana felt her breath catch when Axel stepped closer. His sudden presence reminded her of all the chaos she had gone through. The man was still as handsome as ever, but there was a hardness in his eyes, a hardness she had never forgotten. Axel was the man who had abandoned her during her most difficult times, and now he stood before her, his demeanor far from friendly.“Axel…” Ariana’s voice was weak, almost a whisper, but enough for Axel to hear.He looked at her with a vacant expression, as if he didn’t recognize the woman standing before him. “You dare come here?” His voice was flat, emotionless.Ariana swallowed hard. “I just want to meet Elio,” she said, trying to keep her composure, though her heart was breaking. “He’s my son. I have the right to see him.”Axel let out a sarcastic laugh, the sound like a knife to Ariana’s heart. “Right? You have no rights anymore, Ariana. I’m the one who’s raised him, I’m the one who’s taken care of him.” He stepped closer, his gaze full of war
That morning, the air in Seattle felt cold and fresh. Ariana gazed at the towering buildings veiled in a thin fog, her emotions a tangled mess inside. She and Nathaniel stood in front of their lawyer's office, ready to embark on the long legal process to meet her son, Elio. Yet, despite the certainty of their steps, Ariana couldn't shake off her doubts. What if Elio rejected her? What if he felt threatened by her presence?“Ari, you ready?” Nathaniel's voice broke her from her thoughts, pulling her back to the moment.Ariana nodded. "I can't wait any longer, Nate. It's been too long."They entered the meeting room, filled with lawyers and staff who would assist them. Leonard was already there, standing by the meeting table, his sharp eyes scanning every detail. "We've got the permission to meet the child directly. They can't refuse anymore."However, what seemed like a smooth plan to meet Elio soon encountered a stumbling block. As they stepped out of the building, Ariana's phone vibr
The rain fell in soft drizzles as Ariana sat inside the private genetic lab, her fingers clutching the DNA test results that had just been handed to her by the technician. Nathaniel sat beside her, his face tense, nearly expressionless.Ariana took a deep breath before opening the envelope. Inside, two sheets of paper with graphs, numbers, and one sentence that made her body nearly collapse:"The DNA results show a biological match between Subject A (Ariana Valen) and Subject B (child in the matching system data). Matching degree: 99.98%."Ariana closed her mouth, her sobs breaking free. "He... he's alive, Nate. He's really my son..."Nathaniel held her tightly, allowing Ariana to cry out her overwhelming joy. But within the embrace, his thoughts drifted—her child was out there, living under a new name and with a new family. And if the people who adopted him had been hiding the truth... then this was just the beginning of a much bigger storm.---Leonard opened the door to his office,
Ariana sat on the rattan chair in Nathaniel’s living room, her fingers trembling as she turned the flash drive Axel had given her. Fear, hope, and anger churned inside her. The rapid tapping of Leonard’s laptop keys echoed as he opened the first file from the drive.“This is insane,” Leonard muttered after a few minutes. “CCTV footage from the hospital. The date matches the day you were rushed there after the accident, Ariana.”Ariana leaned in, holding her breath. On the screen, she saw herself lying on a hospital bed—pale and unconscious. A nurse entered with some documents, and shortly after, two men in suits—one of them her father—walked in and signed something.“No…” Ariana’s voice cracked. “That’s… my father.”Nathaniel stood behind her, eyes fixed on the screen. “They hid everything. Even your child.”Leonard continued digging, opening more files—altered medical records, fake reports of a miscarriage, and one barely legible adoption document. The adoptive parents’ names were ma
The night sky had already turned dark when Ariana arrived at the old park near the lake. The place was almost unchanged. The weathered wooden bench, the drooping willow trees by the water’s edge, and the calming sound of the rippling lake—all of it seemed to summon memories from the past.Ariana wore a long gray coat, her scarf pulled slightly to obscure her face. Her hand clutched a small locket—Axel’s gift from long ago—that she had secretly kept all these years.The night air bit at her skin, but she stood still in the middle of the park, waiting.The clock struck 8:03 p.m.Three minutes late.Her mind kept spinning—would Axel actually show up? Or was this just a cruel game played by someone trying to stir up her past?Footsteps.Ariana turned swiftly, her heart pounding. From behind the stone bench, a man emerged wearing a black jacket and a hat pulled low over his face. But as he stepped closer, the park lights illuminated his features just enough.Time seemed to freeze.It was A
As noon approached, a thick, overcast sky loomed above the villa where Ariana stayed. The atmosphere grew heavier by the minute, as if echoing the weight of her thoughts. Nathaniel was deep in discussion with Leonard in the study, while Ariana sat alone in the living room, staring out the rain-speckled window. In her hand, she held an old photograph—one of her and Axel.She stared at it for a long time until her eyes began to sting. Axel’s smile in the photo now mocked the false sense of peace she had tried so hard to maintain. His face hadn’t changed, but the meaning behind his gaze felt foreign now. Once, Axel had been her whole world. Now… he was a mystery she longed to bury, yet he kept clawing his way out of the graveyard of her past.Time seemed to stop when the front door was knocked on.Three times. Soft, but firm.Ariana turned her head sharply. Her breath caught in her throat. “Did you hear that?” she asked, half-rising from her seat.Leonard hurried out of the study and mot
Evening WhispersThe evening sky was painted in shades of orange as Ariana sat on her bedroom balcony, cradling her growing belly. A gentle breeze swept through her hair, but her heart felt unbearably heavy. This baby… the only thing keeping her going amidst the chaos surrounding her.Nathaniel stepped out from the house, carrying a cup of warm tea. “You haven’t had dinner,” he said, placing the cup on the small table beside her.Ariana let out a deep sigh. “I’m not really hungry.”Nathaniel sighed as well before sitting in the chair next to her. “Ariana, you need to take care of yourself. This baby needs you.”A weak smile played on Ariana’s lips. Her hand gently caressed her belly. “I know. It’s just… I can’t stop thinking about all of this. If Axel is really alive, what does that mean for my child?”Nathaniel remained silent, his gaze fixed on her. He wanted to reassure her, but he knew Ariana needed more than just words.“Have you ever considered… what if he wants this baby?” Aria
Chasing ShadowsAriana sat in her office, her hands still trembling after last night’s phone call. That voice… Axel. The man who was supposed to be dead.Nathaniel stood near the window, his expression tense. “We need to make sure this isn’t a trap.”Ariana shot him a sharp look. “You think I misheard?”Nathaniel sighed. “That’s not what I mean. But we’re dealing with an enemy who doesn’t play by the rules. If Axel is truly back, then someone has been covering up his death all this time.”Ariana ran a hand over her face, trying to calm herself. “I can’t just sit still.”Leonard entered with a serious expression. “I’ve looked into it. There’s no record of anyone named Axel still being alive or using a new identity. But there is something strange.”Ariana tensed. “What is it?”Leonard handed her a brown envelope. “This was delivered this morning. No sender.”Ariana tore it open and pulled out its contents—several black-and-white photographs. Images of her in different places.At the off
The Game Isn't OverAriana sat in her office, staring at her computer screen with a cold expression. Serena had fallen. Jonathan Pierce had disappeared. But she knew this game wasn’t over."He must be planning something," she muttered.Nathaniel walked in, his face serious. “I have news.”Ariana turned to him. “Jonathan?”Nathaniel nodded. “Yes. He hasn’t truly disappeared. I just received intel that he was spotted at a luxury house on the outskirts of town.”Ariana’s eyes narrowed. “He’s hiding there, plotting his next move.”Nathaniel leaned against her desk. “What’s your plan?”Ariana met his gaze. “We make him come to us.”Nathaniel smirked. “I like the way you think.”---Night InvestigationThat night, Ariana, Nathaniel, Leonard, and Mason approached the luxurious house Nathaniel had mentioned. The place was dark, only a few dim lights glowing at the front.“Are we sure he’s here?” Mason whispered.Ariana raised her hand, signaling for silence.They crept closer, peering through