The Heiress' Revenge

Ariana’s POV

They arrived at a huge mansion that left my mouth agape. The house was huge. Bigger than anything I had ever seen, bigger than Dante’s mansion.

It was made of white stone, tall columns, big windows, and a fountain in the front.

It was amazing

The guards got out. One of them opened my door. "We’re here, ma’am."

I didn’t move because my heart was pounding. I didn’t know where here was. I didn’t know who owned this house.

I was scared and at the same time awed by the house.

"Please," the guard said.

I stepped out of the car, and my legs were weak. I almost fell. The guard caught my arm.

He held me steady, then he let go. He stepped back.

The other guards formed a line.

They stood at attention like soldiers. Like they were waiting for something.

Or someone.

The front door opened.

A woman walked out.

She was older.

Maybe sixty.

She was wearing a simple dress with an apron. She looked like a maid, but she didn’t act like one. She walked straight toward me, her arms open.

"Ariana," she said, her voice warm and soft. "It’s so good to finally meet you. You’re even more beautiful than they said."

She hugged me.

Tight.

Like she knew me like I was family.

I stood there.

Frozen.

I didn’t know what to say.

I didn’t know what to do. I just let her hold me. I just let her squeeze me tight.

She pulled back and looked at my face. Her eyes were wet. "You look just like him. Just like Ares. The same eyes. He’s going to lose his mind when he sees you."

I stared at her. "Who? Who is Ares? I don’t know anyone named Ares. I don’t know what’s happening. I don’t know where I am. I don’t know why I’m here."

The maid smiled. She took my hand and led me toward the door. "All your questions will be answered soon. Mr. Watson has been waiting for your arrival. He’s very excited to meet you."

"Mr. Watson?" I pulled my hand away. I stopped walking. "Who is Mr. Watson? Why does he want to meet me? Why did his guards kidnap me off the street? I have rights. I can call the police. I can—"

"Please," the maid said, her voice was gentle. "No one is trying to hurt you. Mr. Watson is a good man. He’s been looking for you for a very long time. Please just come inside. Let him explain."

I looked around at the guards, at the big house. At the maid with the kind eyes, and I had no choice.

I was outnumbered.

Outmatched.

Out of options.

I walked inside.

The house was even more beautiful on the inside. Marble floors, crystal chandeliers, big paintings on the walls, with flowers everywhere.

The maid led me down a long hallway.

Past closed doors.

Past more guards.

See more paintings.

We stopped at a big door.

Dark wood and gold handles.

The maid knocked. "Mr. Watson, she’s here."

A voice from inside Deep. Smooth. "Send her in."

The maid opened the door and stepped aside. She smiled at me. "Go on. He’s waiting."

I walked in.

The room was a study with books

everywhere, big windows, a fireplace, and a large desk in the middle

My eyes fell on a figure sitting behind the desk.

He was young.

Maybe late twenties with dark hair, sharp jaw. Intense eyes. He was too handsome. He looked like someone I knew.

Someone I had seen before.

Before it registered with me.

He must be Ared cause damn, he sure looks like an exact replica of me, but a male version.

He stood up and walked around the desk, walking toward me.

"Ariana," he said with a soft voice, "It’s so good to finally meet you, sister."

I stepped back; my heart was pounding. My hands were shaking. "Who are you? What do you want? Why did your guards kidnap me? Are you insane?"

He stopped his smile faded.m. "Kidnap? No. No, that’s not... I didn’t... I sent them to bring you here. To escort you and not to kidnap you. I would never—"

"Escort me?" I laughed. It was a bitter sound. "They grabbed me off the street. They surrounded me. They wouldn’t tell me who sent them. They forced me into a car. That’s kidnapping. That’s not escorting."

The man ran his hand through his hair. He looked frustrated. "I’m sorry. I’m so sorry. That wasn’t my intention. I told them to be gentle. I told them—"

"You told them nothing!" I shouted. "They didn’t say a word. They just grabbed me and put me in the car. I thought Melissa had sent them or Ricardo."

The man’s face changed, his eyes darkened. "Melissa? Ricardo? The people who hurt you? The people who took your husband? Your children? Your life?"

I stared at him. "How do you know about that? How do you know anything about me?"

He stepped closer. I stepped back. "I know everything about you, Ariana. I’ve been watching you for years from a distance. Waiting for the right time, waiting for you to be ready."

"Ready for what?" My voice was shaking. "Ready to be kidnapped? Ready to be trapped in some stranger’s house? Ready to—"

He put his hands up. "Please, just sit down. Let me explain. Let me tell you why you’re here."

"I don’t want to sit down," I said. "I don’t want to hear your explanations. I want to go home, I want to—"

"You can’t go home," he said, his voice firm. "Not yet, not until you understand."

"Understand what?" I screamed. "What could you possibly tell me that matters?"

The man opened his mouth to answer, but before he could speak, the door opened.

An elderly man walked in. He walked slowly with his eyes on me; his eyes were wet. His hands were shaking. His whole body was shaking.

He stopped and stared at me. Tears were falling down his cheeks.

"Ariana," he said, his voice was cracked and weak but full of something I couldn’t name. Something that made my heart stop. Something that made my breath catch. "Ariana, is that you?"

Could this be Daniel?

"Who are you?" I whispered, but I already knew. Deep down in a place I had locked away, I already knew.

The old man took a step toward me, his eyes never leaving mine

"I’ve waited so long," he said, his voice breaking. "So long to see you, to hold you."

"Who are you?" I asked again.

"I am your father, Ariana. Your real father and I didn’t know you existed until a year ago. Your mother... she never told me. She never gave me a chance. She let me believe... she let me think..."

He stopped his voice, cracked that he couldn’t finish.

Oh my god! Was life playing a trick on me?