Coming out of the hospital, Aria gazed at her silent mother as they waited for their pre-booked taxi.
"What's wrong mom? Whhere are you lost that you aren't evn paying any attention to me?" Aria asked, successfully bringing Sophia's attention back to her.
Sophia sighed as she knelt infront of Aria, taking her tiny hands in her own, carressing her knuckles gently.
"That is exactly what I want to ask you princess. What happened inside? How you got so attached to Henry that you even didn't pay aby attention to me and even even went as far as to emotionally blackmail me for him. What is going on with you?" Sophia asked, pouring out all her confusions.
Hearing Sophia's questions, Aria froze. She had no idea how to answer her questions. She can't possibly tell her about her rebirth. Who would even believe that.
"You don't have to answer these questions princess. Do you really think I haven't noticed your changed behavior ever since the day I got separated with your father. Your every movement, your decisions and even your aura had visibly changed all together. I don't know what happened and I don't want to know. I just know that you are my princess, my Aria, my most precious daughter who I love more than anything in this world." Sophia siad; her heart and eyes filled with only love.
Aria could hardlycontrol her tears as welled up in her eyes as she leaped into her mother's embrace, clutching her tightly, seeking her tenderness of the moment.
Her heart filled with joy and regret. Joy of having such a warm-hearted and loving mother and regret for not being able to speak the truth. The guilt of whatever happened in her previous life and lying continuously to the person who love her with everything she had. She was torn between both.
Sophia calmly pat Aria's back, soothing her down as they sat into the taxi that just arrived.
Reaching home, Aria locked herself in the room telling Sophia that she had an important work to do and that she was planning a suprise for her. Sophia just chuckled at her mischievousness as she made her way to the kitchen to prepare lunch for them.
After she finished making the lunch, Sophia called Aria out as they both settled down on the table.
"Mom, after brother Henry completes his surgery tomorrow, you can start working on the reconstruction project of the restaurant." Aria reminded Sophia about the pending task; taking a bite of her food in her plate.
Sophia's hand paused in the air as reality of work dawned on her as she started panicking.
"I totally forgot about that. I have to handle all the work. But how will I even do that? I don't even know anything; where to start from, whom to contact, how to arrange things. I don't have a single idea or plan." Sophia hysterically said; her mind racing frantically as she dread about all the incoming tasks.
"Relax mom. You are not alone in this. I will help you. Our first step will be to design the architectural model of the restaurant and come in contact with a construction company to constuct the resturant as we want. You leave the design of the architectural model to me. I will handle that. As for the constuction company, I will select the one to whom we should give our project to but the negotiation of the project has to be done by you." Aria detailed down the initial plan of the moment to Sophia, explaining everything briefly to which Sophia just nodded, not showing any expressions on her face but Aria still noticed the non-verbal cues from her behavior but didn't comment.
As a person who is well aware of the future trends and designs, desighing a architectural model of the restaurant is a piece of cake for for. The restaurant will definitely be one of a kind, far ahead of the current course and style. She even had a interior design theme in her mind which she would use later. As for the constuction company, she had a few ideas in her mind but still decided to do a thorough research later on it.
Aria's words calmed Sophia down to some extent but she was still worried about the negotiation but didn't want Aria to see her as a weak or under confident person. Sophia had always wanted her daughter to know her as a strong and independent person and was willing to overcome her fears for that as well.
Both completed there lunch, each lost in her own thoughts. Aria rushed back to the room to prepare her suprise as Sophia also got herself busy with other work. The day passed by as both got busy in their own. Soon after the night came as they once again laid down on the bed to call it a day after having their dinner and freshening up.
"Are you ready excited for your suprise mom?" Aria asked glancing up at Sophia.
"Of course I am excited to see what my princess have prepared for me." Sophia exclaimed; lightly pinching Aria's soft and chubby cheeks.
"Mom don't my cheeks or they will bloom like ballons and I would look ugly then." Aria said; freeing them from her mother's clutches and lighly touching them.
"My beautiful princess can never be ugly. She will always be the most beautiful. My prettiest princess." Sophia said; Aria beaming with pride at her mother's praise.
" Ok now you close your eyes till I bring your suprise." Aria sternly said; though her playful eyes gave her away.
Sophia chucklingly closed her eyes, her heart beating rapidly as she awaited her daughter's suprise for her. Aria quickly turned, opening the side drawer and taking out a handmade card fron there. Holding the card tightly, Aria turned back to Sophia.
"You can open your eyes now mom." Aria gently told Sophia; her hands shaking from nerviousness even though she knew in her heart that Sophia will love it no matter what.
Sophia did as instucted; slowly opening her eyes as the sight before her left her heart melted into puddle. How can someone look so adorable; of course expect for her own daughter.
"What is this princess?" Sophia gently asked; eyeing the card in her hands.
"Mom this is my suprise for you. I made this card just for you with my hand." Aria carefully told Sophia as she passed the card to her.
Taking the card from Aria, Sophia looked at it inquistively. The front pink, the corners filled with flowers and a beautiful cut crossing desigh in the middle. Turning it to open; the card holded a little message written carefully with love.
'Dear mommy; you are the best mommy in the world. I love you more than anything in the world. You are my biggest supporter and my role model for life. I just want to be like you when I grow up. You are not only my mother but also my best friend, my partner and an angel of my life. You had and always will hold the most important position in my heart and no one can change that fact. No matter who comes or who goes, but you will always be my most precious person.
Love, yours and only yours, Aria.'
Tears fell down her cheeks as Sophia realised the reason behind the card. The doubts and uncertainty that built up in her heart because of Aria's attraction towards Henry which had been pressing down on her heart ever since she saw them together; Aria noticed and realised them as well. To clear that sense of confusion and hesitancy from her heart, Aria prepared this special suprise for her.
Pulling Aria in her arms, Sophia hold on to her tightly as she let go of her insecurities, feeling light and free.
"Thank you princess, thank you very much. I am so sorry I doubted your effection for me. You are the biggest blessing of my life." Sophia said; her hold still as tight as before.
Aria kept her quiet, allowing Sophia to let off all the steam. Sophia calmed herself down; keeping the card properly aside before they laid back down, dozing off exhausted from the entire day.
The next morning, they both got ready and set off to the hospital. Reaching there, the made there way to the ward.
"Brother Henry, look I am back. Now to don't have to fear anything with me beside your side." Aria chirped, running off to the bed as she leaped into his arms.
"Of course with you by my side how can I fear anything. Your presense gives me the strongest and the biggest strength in life. With you by my side, I can anything." Henry said; playfully pinching her cheeks but the somberness in his eyes told a completely different story.
Sophia also made her way to Noah and Jenny who had clear agitation on their faces; their fist clenched as the distress of the upcoming surgery drawn on their hearts.
"It is going to be ok. The doctors has also assured that the surgery will be successful. You can't show your weekness at the monent especially not infront of Henry. You have to be strong, for your own self and for Henry." Sophia said; wanting to support and be there for them in their difficult time.
Noah and Jenny also understood that and nodded there head in agreement. Just then, the doctor entered the ward with the nurses.
"It is time for the surgery." the doctor declared.