Chapter 43

CHAPTER 43

|| Aria's POV ||

I knew that Ares wasn't happy with my decision. But I missed my mom more than anyone else in this world. I always dreamt of having a sweet mother on my side but I never had one. Her own life was always her biggest priority. We didn't even come in second or third on her list. Unless she wanted any favor from us, she never appeared in this house. Today, she surprised us with her unexpected arrival, not entirely unexpected since Ares was making money.

Truths always hurt. Even after knowing everything, I couldn't bear to drive her out. She was our mother still someone who gave birth to us. Hence, I decided to give her a chance to stay with us which Ares agreed. I just hoped that I wouldn't regret my decision. She was unpredictable sometimes. Maybe it was my pregnancy hormones that craved motherly love just the way, a baby was growing inside me.

Baby!

Talking about the baby, I didn't tell anyone till now. It was just being nervous and all those dramas from Lucas, I didn't know how Ares would react after knowing that. Ethan, being my closest friend of mine did his best job. He accompanied me during these hard times and kept his promise of not telling me anything about Ares. Smiling at the memory of how he prevented me from drinking beer, my heart swelled in sweetness and I missed the sound of the door opening.

" What are you smiling at Ari?", my mother's voice broke through the silence. Whipping my head back, I saw her smiling big at me. She still didn't change her fancy look and I guessed that she was living a better life out there without us.

" Mom, come here!", I welcomed her, dreaming of having a peaceful conversation after a long time. If she sounded friendly, perhaps I would give her the news of my pregnancy.

She entered eyeing around, studying each corner of my room. I didn't know what was she trying to figure out but I wasn't comfortable with that. It was more likely a feeling of being judged by someone.

" Your stuff looks so old. Why don't you ask your brother to buy you new ones?", my mother commented after studying my laptop, desk, and cabinet. My heart dropped instantly, feeling the disappointment inside deeply. Instead of asking how was my life going, she was rather concerned about my room furniture.

Forcing a smile on my face, I replied politely,

" I am okay with those, Mom. I don't need any new ones!"

The furniture wasn't badly old, still usable, and didn't show any sign of breaking down. Hence, I had no reason to ask Ares for extra money. My brother's career had just started getting better.

My mother shrugged, bringing her dissatisfied gaze at me to mutter,

" Your wish but girls should lead a fancy life when your brother is this rich..."

" Mom, can we talk about something else?", I interrupted hastily, glancing at her a bit annoyed. Perhaps, Ares had money now, I didn't want him to waste them over some stupid staff. I was already mad at him for buying that SUV. Mom glared back at me and let out a sarcastic laugh,

" Ari, what do we have to talk about?"

For the second time, she crashed all my hopes towards her. Years after returning to her children, she got nothing to talk about.

Yeah, we got nothing to do!

Still, I had opened my mouth to offer her the seat next to me but just then, she exclaimed, pointing at something inside my half-closed cabinet,

" Woah! What's that dress?"

My eyes followed her pointed fingers and spotted the blueberry expensive dress that I borrowed from Savannah last week for a party. Our clothes fit each other and it wasn't our first time, sharing the same cloth. Mom didn't wait for my answer and she flew for the cabinet, grabbing the dress down with a big grin.

Well, she appeared too excited!

" Is this yours?", Mom asked, eyeing the dress from head to toe amusingly. I sat straight, shaking my head to answer truthfully,

" No, I borrowed it from Savannah!"

" Can I get this?", she asked, giving me her puppy pleading eyes. I was speechless for a few moments. I knew that my mom liked to stay a bit young but the slim-fit dress with a deep neck shape didn't go with her age. Besides, the dress belonged to Savannah, not me. I couldn't just give away her dress without asking her randomly.

I denied, giving her a small smile, hoping that she wouldn't mind,

" Mom, I can't! Savannah owns this dress. That would be rude."

No matter what, I couldn't bring any cold words to my mouth like Ares. Perhaps, he faced the worst treatment from our parents and I had only visuals in my memory. I still had a piece of respect left over for my mom.

She gave me a bewildering look, then shrugged taking the dress away,

" Isn't she living with Ares now? Why are you feeling guilty then? She is eating your brother's money. I don't want to hear anything! I am taking this!"

Then she headed outside with the dress, leaving me wordless at my bed. My heart swam in guilt shamefully. Now, I felt that I made a bad decision, by allowing her in this family.

After all, broken glass can't be mended just like our family that broke apart years ago.

Around 11 past A.M at night, my cellphone began to vibrate nonstop, breaking my attention from the Novel that I was reading for hours. Nowadays, I spent most of my time reading to divert my attention from the growing tensions around me. My eyes pulled over to the yellow screen and instantly my stomach churched, spotting the most unexpected caller ID at this hour.

Lucas!

Debating, I finally pressed the answer button, reconsidering it as a bad idea but I couldn't stop myself. This was the guy that I loved and dreamt of a beautiful future. Now, I hated him to the core but a part of mine wouldn't stop caring for him ever.

" Aria, where are you?", Lucas spoke, sounding like as usual conversation that we used to have in the past. I kept my answer short and cold,

" At home!"

His words paused briefly, fell out with a long sigh,

" Can...can you come down? I have something important to tell you."

I hesitated mentally, not wishing to join in a new fight today. Ever since I left his apartment, he didn't try to contact me ever. This was the very first time that he thought about calling me.

Should I go? Why was he asking me at this hour?

Despite all the red alarms circulating through my head, I reached for my slippers, put them on, and jogged downstairs. Ares and Savannah were out of the house hence no one saw me going downstairs. Pulling open the door, I spotted Lucas, leaning against his family car a few meters distance. Feeling my presence, he glanced up to see me and smiled a little but the anxiousness in his eyes didn't fade away.

What happened to him all of sudden?

I shivered as a gush of wind passed through my mind. Biting my lips together, I started walking for him nervously and stopped after letting out a cold snort,

" What do you need from me now?"

Lucas breathed out his words, tension evident in his voice,

" My father wants to see you!"

I was wordless for a moment. It was unexpected for me and a moment of panic surged in my heart. Did they find out about the baby? Did they plan for joint custody?

Anxiousness began to bloom in my heart and it took a while for me to register everything. No matter what, I had to face the harsh reality sooner or later. Taking a look at my house, I agreed to try to calm down my nerves badly,

" Okay! But I must be at home within an hour. Ares will be at home."

Lucas nodded without any more talk and opened the door for me. I did my best to not affect his little careful behavior. After all, we were soon to be parents now. I might disgust him but he was the father of my baby. Following him inside the car, Lucas quickly climbed into the driver seat and started the engine to get on the road.

A few minutes later, I saw the passing buildings, and roads different from his living community. My brows furrowed together, asking in puzzlement,

" Lucas...This isn't the road to your house... Where are we going? Lucas..."

I looked up at him nervously and found the dark gleam in his gaze. Before I could ask him more, he pulled our car in front of the 'City Hospital' suddenly.