The Heiress' Revenge

Ariana’s POV

"Hello?" Sarah’s voice was cautious and distant. She didn’t recognize the number.

"Sarah," I said. My voice was soft. "It’s me. It’s Ariana."

There was a long silence. I thought she hung up. I thought she didn’t want to talk to me.

"Ariana?" Her voice cracked. "Ariana, is that really you?"

I smiled with tears in my eyes. "It’s really me. I’m sorry I haven’t called. I’m sorry I haven’t texted. I’ve been... It’s been a lot, but I’m back. I’m in New York, and I need to see you."

Sarah was crying. I could hear it in her voice. "I thought something had happened to you. I thought you forgot about me. I called and called, but you never answered. I left messages. You never replied. I was so scared, Ariana. So scared."

I wiped my eyes. "I know, I’m sorry."

"You’re my best friend," Sarah said. "You’re the only family I have; when you left, it felt like a whole new pain."

I took a deep breath. "I know that now I’ve been with my family, my real family... It’s been so much better with them, and now I’m back and ready to fight. I’m ready to take back what’s mine."

Sarah was quiet for a moment. Then she said, "Your family?"

I nodded as though she could see me, "Yes."

I laughed. It was a bitter sound. "That’s a long story. One, I’ll tell you when I see you, but right now, I need to see you."

Sarah didn’t hesitate. "Yes. Yes, of course. Send me the address. I’ll be there."

I smiled. "Thank you. I’ll send it right away."

We said goodbye, I ended the call, and sent her the address, putting my phone down.

There’s so much to do

******

I opened the door, coming into view with Sarah, who stood stagnant.

"Sarah," I said, my voice was soft. "I’m sorry."

She didn’t say anything, she just pulled me into her arms, hugging me so tight I couldn’t breathe.

I hugged her back just as tight.

Her voice was broken. "I thought something happened to you."

I pulled back and looked at her face. "I’m sorry. I’m so sorry I needed to figure out who I was without everything falling apart around me."

She wiped her eyes.

I pulled her inside.

We got settled. "Talk to me, tell me what happened while you’re away."

I took a deep breath and began filling her in on the part where I left and how I met my new family.

Sarah’s mouth fell open. "Wait, wait. Ricardo is not your father? The man who ruined your life? He’s not even your real father?"

I shook my head. "No, he’s not. He couldn’t have children of his own. My mother was pregnant with me when her parents forced her to marry him. He agreed to claim me as his own. He raised me and used me. He never loved me."

Sarah stared at me. "So your real father... Daniel... he didn’t know about you?"

Tears filled my eyes. "He didn’t until a few months back."

Sarah squeezed my hands. "But you found him? You met him?"

I nodded. "His son, my brother, Ares. He found me. He searched for me."

"And what are they like? Your father? Your brother?"

I smiled. A real smile. "They’re... amazing. Daniel is everything a daughter would want, and He’s trying to make up for forty years of lost time."

"And Ares?"

I laughed. "Ares is annoyingly bossy."

Sarah leaned back and let out a long breath. "Wow. Just... wow. I don’t even know what to say. Your whole life has been a lie, and now you have a whole new family. A whole new identity."

I nodded.

Sarah was quiet for a moment. "Well, it’s good you’re back now... at least you can take care of Melissa."

I groaned. The mere mention of her name aggravates me

Sarah took a deep breath. "Melissa is gutting the company piece by piece.... She’s been bringing in her own people. People who will do whatever she says. She’s selling off assets. Transferring money to offshore accounts. She’s not just running the company. She’s destroying it."

I felt the anger rise in my chest. "How much has she taken?"

"Marcus said he’s lost track, but she’s using shell companies and fake names. By the time anyone realizes what’s happening, there will be nothing left."

"You have no idea how much I want to ruin Melissa... all this is happening because of me. I should have never signed those papers, but I’m going to get it back... I swear it, every bit of it, I’ll get it back."

Sarah came to stand beside me. "How? How are you going to do that?"

I turned to face her. "Ares made a partner with Dante’s company, and she has no idea what is coming her way."

" I’ll take back my children and make sure Ricardo and her end up behind bars...and then I’ll move on."

Sarah was quiet for a moment. Then she said, "And Dante? What about Dante?"

My face softened just for a second. "I can’t with us anymore, Dante and I, we just don’t belong with each other."

"But—"

"I know," I interrupted. "He hid some from me for all these years and—" I sighed, burned on my lower lip.

Sarah reached for my hand. "What do you want? What do you really want?"

I took a deep breath. "I want my kids, and that’s it, and a new life away from all of this when everything is over."

"And Dante? You don’t want him anymore?"

I put my head in my hands. "A lot has happened, Sarah, too much. Every time we try to make it work, something happens. Every time we think we’re okay, something tears us apart. I can’t do it anymore. I can’t keep fighting for a relationship that keeps breaking. I can’t keep hoping for a future that never comes."

Sarah has put her hand on my back. "But you love him, and I know you do, and he loves you too."

I looked at her, my eyes were wet. "Love isn’t enough. It’s never been enough. We’ve tried so hard, fought countless times, but somehow it always goes down the drain... We’re all hurting, and I’m tired. I’m so tired of fighting for something that feels like it’s always slipping away."

Sarah didn’t say anything; she just rubbed my back, letting me cry.

"When we’re together," I said, "things seem like they’re okay for a little while, and we go back to being the way we were, distant and lost. I don’t want that anymore. I don’t want to keep going in circles. I don’t want to keep getting my hopes up just to have them crushed again."

"You’ll be fine... I promise"

I pulled her into a hug. "Thank you."

She hugged me back. "Always."