Aria’s brow knitted in confusion as the girl walked forward and kneeled and slammed her fist on the now barren wooden floor.
Aria’s eyes widened as a part of the wooden floor was divided from the middle. The girl pulled open the door on the floor as a flight of stairs descending even more downstairs appeared.
Jorje was the first one to descend the stairs as the girl stood up and put one leg on the stairs and turned back to look at Aria smugly.
“Come on now, don’t be fucking useless”
Aria’s blood boiled at her uncalled-for words as she followed the tanned beauty down the mysterious path.
What awaited her was a dimly lit small room with an even smaller bed.
Her eyes widened and a sharp gasp escaped her mouth as she saw who lay on the bed.
“Kahlil!” the speed of her run towards the bed was historical as she tightly hugged his weak structure and cried out loud.
“Sis” he whispered lowly as his hands softly hugged her back while she cried loudly in pain and agony.
“I thought I killed you” she cried out hugging him even tighter until he winced in pain. She let go immediately and only then she noticed the numerous bandages wrapped around his body.
“You almost did though” a snarky comment made her head snap back at the girl as Aria sniffled and wiped her tears.
“Sis it’s ok I understand why you did that don’t blame yourself” Kahlil’s warm hands and words encased her as her heart broke in sadness.
Jorje came and stood beside her.
“Thank you” it was just above a whisper.
“What?” the girl said dramatically while walking forward and pulling a chair and sitting beside the bed.
“Thank you for saving my brother” Aria repeated as the girl’s smile fell.
“He’s not your brother” the girl replied to which Aria fisted her hand.
How does she know so much?
“He’s the only one I have in this world” Aria bit back to which Kahlil tightened his arms around her in appreciation.
The girl giggled like a teenager while staring right at her. Her next words shook Aria to the core.
“Well, what about your sister?”
Aria’s eyes widened “I don’t have a sister” she denied almost immediately. It was impossible for her to have anyone else because her mother died in front of her eyes, she didn’t know her father’s whereabouts and she was their only child.
“Jorje darling” the girl whispered as she looked up at the strikingly handsome man, indicating something with her eyes.
The man nodded and walked towards a small closet located near the bed.
Aria stood up a start and gasped as he took out an all too familiar photo frame from the closet.
“HOW DARE YOU” she shouted in a start as her murderous eyes landed on the girl sitting comfortably.
“Calm yourself down” the girl also stood up as Jorje walked back towards them with the frame this time.
It was Aria’s frame. The possession she had of her mother and father. It was the same frame of her father and mother and her as a baby between them.
“When you were busy moping around the mansion, my darling Jorje and I searched your little suitcase” she explained as Aria watched with fisted hands; Jorje trying to open the rusted screws of the frame with a screwdriver.
It was a difficult feat to achieve considering Aria had never even dared to open the frame, fearing she might damage the one and only memory of her mother.
“That’s an invasion of privacy” she gritted out as a small click resounded throughout the room and Aria’s nails dug into her palms to calm her beating her.
“Good job darling” that sweet, cynical voice whispered as Aria watched the girl kissing Jorje’s cheeks and taking the now unscrewed photo frame.
“Leave the photo alone” Aria voiced with a ringing head as the fear of loss enveloped her.
The only thing that kept her feeling somehow connected to her mother was now at a danger of being torn apart by a stranger.
“Don’t worry, I have a copy” the girl replied as Aria’s brows knitted together in confusion.
That confusion soon turned into horror when she took out the photo and Aria noticed it was folded from the side, the side which was hidden by the frame all these years.
“No way” her eyes widened as a stifled cry escaped her mouth. She walked towards the girl and snatched the photo carefully and unfolded the mysterious side.
“T-This” her voice quivered as another baby on a baby stroller by the side of her father was revealed with short jet-black hair with slightly tanned skin just like her father.
“This is me” the girl whispered with a voice heavy with emotions, years of grief and loneliness just like Aria nonetheless “Your sister, Sylvia. I am your sister Mia”
“Sylvia” Aria met her green eyes shining with tears “H-How is it possible?”
Sylvia stared at her for a few seconds before abruptly turning her head towards the side, sniffling quietly.
“Jorje” Sylvia mumbled while forwarding her hand forward towards him. Jorje quickly pulled out a small diary from the inside of his suit and put it on top of her hand.
Sylvia looked at the diary affectionately for a moment before putting it on Aria’s hand “Read it, it’s dad’s.”
Aria’s hand shook as she carefully put the frame down and opened the old-looking diary.
December 1, 1991.
I fell in love today.
The girl I met at my university was the most beautiful woman I have ever seen in my life. Her name is Aria Leighton, even her name is beautiful. She is a transfer student from the United States. Her eyes are deeper than the expanse of this world, so rich, so deep. It was true that her beauty was unmatched and that she sparked a sense of excitement in me.
It was true, I fell in love today.
“Mom, Dad” Aria mumbled as tears continued to fall from her eyes as she read through the pages, the love story of her parents. Of their parents, her and Sylvia.
March 24, 1995.
Aria and I have decided to get married. The only obstacle is my father. He doesn’t want me, the heir of the Spanish Mafia, to get married to a commoner much less a foreigner. But we will fight for our love, we will have to. I cannot live without her and neither can she.
Aria flipped through some more pages as she read through various attacks of her grandfather on her mother to get her killed and the various struggles faced by her parents just to stay together.
July 21, 2000.
Aria is four months pregnant, they are twins. We are going to be parents of two baby girls. If Father finds out about this in the midst of growing tension between the American and Spanish Mafia; he’d make sure to kill her this time. This worry is making me sick and we have decided to move to America temporarily and secretly.
January 7, 2001.
Mia and Sylvia were born roughly a week ago. My father has turned my life into a living hell, he has discovered that Aria has beared me a kid and is threatening me to kill her myself or he’ll torture her and kill her.
I know that he’ll not hurt his own grandchild, his own bloodline but Aria would be killed if I continue to stay here. He has ordered me to kill my lover and bring his grandchild home, at least he doesn’t know I had twins.
February 3, 2001.
It has been almost a month since we have faked Aria’s death. It tore my heart up when I had to separate the two sisters just to satisfy my greedy and selfish father and to keep my love alive. I had shifted Aria and Mia to a safe location only I know and I will make sure to keep them safe until the day I die.
October 13, 2007.
My father is forcing me to marry a woman who can strengthen the mafia. The pressure from him is like no other as times are hard right now. The American mafia is acting out and they are preparing for war. Any power would mean a lot right now.
Even if that power came from a widow with 2 kids, Silverio the older one of 20 years, and Salvador the younger one of 16 years.
My father has threatened the life of my Sylvia a couple of times if I refuse to get married. He has even set a wedding date for next month. Aria has gone quiet, I know she understands me but everything has just taken a toll on her. She didn’t deserve this, she didn’t deserve the hell I’m giving her.
But I’ll do anything to protect her and my Mia. Even if it means keeping them a secret forever.
Even if it means that I’ll have to marry another woman.
December 25, 2009.
My “wife” died today. She drowned in the swimming pool while trying to swim. Am I a bad person for not feeling an ounce of guilt? I know she tried hard to earn my affection but no one can replace my Aria.
She is the only one I love. Forever and always.
On the other hand, my stepsons blame me for their mother’s death. It is quite clear in their hateful gazes, they believe she committed suicide because of me. I do not bother to correct them as they are none of my concern, they’d be provided with every facility and every luxury in the world. Just not a father.
I cannot be a father to them. I never will be, I already have two daughters who I love dearly.
June 26, 2010.
Father is dead. It’s like a shackle has been released from my leg, he died pretty mysteriously. I suspect he was poisoned and I’m pretty sure it was the two brothers Silverio and Salvador but we do not have concrete evidence.
Their hate had turned into something much more sinister. I suspect they are also onto something, I fear they know about Aria’s existence and would stop at nothing until they kill her to “avenge” their mother.