ARIA’S POV
As I glanced at him and then at the crutches in his hand, he offered me a warm smile and gently assisted me. I allowed him to help, blinking away the tears that welled up in my eyes. The reality of my situation hit me hard-I was now forced to rely on crutches because of one person’s uncontrollable rage.
“This will help you move around better, and besides, Gia wants to go on a walk with you. Let her”. Carter said, and I tried to stand properly on the crutches.
“I hate them”.
“Well, only for some time. I bet your ankle will heal in no time”.
“I don’t know, but I’ve seen some improvements”. I said, giving off a small smile.
“I have the best remedy for a broken ankle”.
Suddenly, we were interrupted by a voice saying that, prompting us to turn around. There stood Gia, looking absolutely stunning in a beautiful yellow dress. She gracefully made her way towards me, her smile radiating warmth and kindness.
“I can help if you want”. She said, but I smiled and shook my head.
“I’m fine, Gia”. I said
Gia shifted her attention to Carter, her gaze searching for a sense of approval or direction.
“Can we go now?” she asked him, as if seeking permission from him before we took our leave. The question lingered in the air, punctuating the tension that had enveloped our small gathering.
He cleared his throat, signaling his departure, and left us alone. Gia and I walked side by side out of the mansion, but I could sense her discomfort as she observed my struggle with the crutches. It was clear that she didn’t enjoy seeing me in such distress.
“Who did this to you?” Gia’s voice was laced with concern as she studied my face, searching for any hint of an answer.
In response, I let out a nervous chuckle, uncertain of how to navigate the complex emotions that her question had stirred within me.
“I fell”. I replied
“That’s what they all say when they don’t want to say what really happened”. She said, looking at me. She was smart, and I knew it wasn’t going to go well with her around.
“Matteo did this to you?”. She stated
“I-”
“No…I noticed you flinched when he simply stood after his meal”. She stopped walking and looked at me. “Is there something going on here?”.
“I’m fine and I’m happy”.
“We’ll, you certainly don’t look happy, and I see you’re not fine”. She said, but I turned away and began walking to the lake.
“I can’t help you if you don’t say”.
I stopped and turned to the girl who looked completely out of her mind.
“There’s nothing you can do about it and most importantly, I’m fine”. I said in a firm voice.
“I can see that”. She said as her eyes raked my body, but I was glad she decided to drop the topic. “Where are we you going?”. She asked as she trailed behind me as we walked through the woods.
“My favorite place here”. I turned to her and smiled. “The lake”. To my surprise, she let out a giggle and moved closer to the body of water. The serene atmosphere enveloped us-only the gentle chirping of birds and the sun’s warm rays filtered through the leaves.
“It’s calm”. She said, looking around. “It’s beautiful too”. I stood with my crutches, watching her take in her surroundings.
“I see why you love it”. She said, and I mustered my strength and determination, hobbling on my crutches towards the lake.
The cool water against my feet felt refreshing, and I couldn’t help but laugh at the nostalgic sensation.
Embracing the moment, I closed my eyes and relished the comforting feeling, forgetting my worries for just a moment.
“Does Matteo come here?”. She asked, and my smile vanished. Merely mentioning his name seemed to drain all joy from my being. My thoughts involuntarily returned to the night he had viciously beaten Carter-his appearance, then was that of a monster. Indeed, that’s precisely what he was-a monstrous force of destruction and pain.
“Why?”. She asked, and I turned to her. “Why did you marry him?” Her question pierced through the air, cutting deep into my heart.
Tears streamed down my face as I tried to compose myself, struggling to form a response. The weight of her question bore down on me, threatening to expose my vulnerabilities and insecurities.
“Why did you ask that?”. I asked
“You clearly do not love him, so there has to be something”.
“It was arranged,” I managed to answer, feeling a sudden lightness in my chest, as though a heavy burden had been lifted from my shoulders.
The admission was both liberating and terrifying, releasing a secret that I had long harbored deep within my heart.
“He doesn’t love you?” She asked, and I laughed.
“Matteo would never love me. He wouldn’t”. I said, and she chuckled.
“You seem so certain”.
“I am…cause I know he loves her”. The words tumbled uncontrollably from my lips as if my mouth had a mind of its own. Then, my mind raced to process the gravity of my slip-up.
Gia’s interest in our conversation piqued as she clarified, “By her, you mean?” Her question hung in the air, demanding a response and further unraveling the threads of our entangled relationships.
“Never mind. It’s not that”
Gia’s gaze remained fixed on my face as she posed another question, one that carried a significant weight: “Matteo’s cheating?” Her words hung in the air, awaiting my response.
Gia paused, her gaze locked on mine, as she probed further into the mystery of Matteo’s past: “He had a woman he wanted to be his wife before you came along?” The question seemed to resonate through the silence, inviting me to delve deeper into the dark secrets of my husband’s history.
“No”. My voice was low.
“So…Matteo had a wife before you who he loved?”. She asked, but I replied with a low ‘No’
And then she asked the one question I’ve been dreading to ask.
“How did she die?”