The Heiress' Revenge

Ariana’s POV

I stood outside the front door for a long time, just standing there and breathing while I tried to find the right words.

How do I break the news to her that I met Daniel?

Letting out a breath, I opened the door and walked inside. The house smelled like food.

Soup and bread.

My mother was in the kitchen.

She was standing by the stove with her m back to me. Her shoulders were slumped, and she looked tired, very tired.

I had been giving her the silent treatment for days ever since she told me the truth about Daniel. I couldn’t look at her.

Couldn’t talk to her.

Couldn’t be in the same room with her cause every time I saw her face, I saw the lies. Every time I heard her voice, I heard the secrets. Every time she tried to touch me, I pulled away.

But now, standing in the doorway and watching her stir the pot with shaky hands, I felt something different.

Something softer.

Something sadder.

She wasn’t the enemy; she never was. She was just a woman who made terrible choices because she had no other options.

She was just a mother who loved me the only way she knew how.

She turned around.

Her eyes widened, her eyes were red, and her face was pale. She looked like she hadn’t slept in days, or maybe she hadn’t.

"Ariana," she said, her voice was soft like she was afraid of scaring me away. "I just finished making dinner. Soup and bread, your favorite. You should come eat."

I didn’t say anything, I just walked toward her. My legs were moving on their own. My heart was pounding in my chest, and my eyes were burning with tears I didn’t know I had.

She looked at me, confused and worried. "Ariana? What’s wrong? What happened? You’ve been gone all day, I thought—"

I didn’t let her finish, I rushed to her. I threw my arms around her. I pulled her into a hug so tight I felt her gasp.

I buried my face in her shoulder and cried.

"Mom," I sobbed. The word came out broken. "I’m sorry. I’m so sorry. I know it wasn’t your fault. I know you didn’t have a choice, I know you were scared and young. I know you did the best you could.... And I forgive you for that, for everything."

My mother froze.

Her body was stiff in my arms.

Then she started shaking before breaking down too as her hands came up to my back. She held me tight. She held me like she was afraid I would disappear, like she was afraid I would walk away and never come back.

"I’m sorry," she whispered, her voice thick with tears. "I’m so sorry, Ariana. I should have told you sooner. I should have protected you. I should have—"

"Stop," I said as I pulled back. I looked at her face; her eyes were red, and her cheeks were wet. "Stop apologizing. You did what you had to do, and I forgive you; that’s what matters. That’s all that matters."

She wiped her face with her sleeve.

She tried to smile, a painful one. "You’re too good to me, I don’t deserve you. I don’t deserve your forgiveness."

I shook my head. "You’re my mother. You deserve everything."

My mother took my hand. She led me to the table. "Come sit and eat, the soup is getting cold."

I sat down, and she sat across from me. She poured the soup into bowls. She cut the bread. She pushed the plate toward me. "Eat," she said. "You’re too thin. You need to take care of yourself."

I picked up my spoon, and I took a bite. The soup was nice.

We ate in silence, not the bad kind, the good kind. The kind that comes when two people don’t need words to understand each other.

The kind that comes when love is enough.

But my mind was racing at the same time, I kept thinking about Daniel and Ares and a sister I’m yet to meet.

My mother looked at me; she always knew when something was on my mind. She always could tell when I was hiding something.

"Ariana," she said as she put down her spoon. She folded her hands on the table. "There’s something on your mind. What is it? You’ve been quiet."

I put down my spoon.

"Mom," I said, my voice steady. "I need to tell you something."

She tilted her head; her eyes were worried. "What is it? What happened? Are you okay? Did someone hurt you?"

I shook my head. "No. No one hurt me. I’m okay. I’m more than okay. I’m..." I took a deep breath and let it out slowly. "I met Daniel today. My father is Daniel. He’s alive. He’s been looking for me, and I met him."

My mother’s face went white as her hands flew to her mouth.

Her eyes were wide.

Shocked.

Terrified.

Hopeful.

Oh no... what have I done?