That night, dinner was quiet.
Tiffany kept babbling excitedly about how Aria was "how pretty she was" and how she "always wanted a sister."
Little Noah kept staring and admiring her, smiling up with his tiny teeth which few had fallen out.
Aria barely spoke. Everything felt too perfect… almost too warm.
But she forced herself to believe this was a new beginning.
The next day was Saturday. No classes.
Aria stayed in her room, scrolling through her phone, her body still heavy with exhaustion.
She hadn't slept properly in days. Every time she closed her eyes, she saw her mother's body hitting the ground.
A soft knock pulled her out of her thoughts.
"Aria dear? It's Vanessa. Can we talk?"
Aria sat up quickly.
"Come in."
Vanessa walked in with a gentle smile, closing the door behind her. She sat on the edge of the bed, eyes lingering on the dark circles under Aria's eyes.
"Oh darling… you look so tired. You don't sleep well, do you?"
"I'm fine," Aria lied with a small smile.
Vanessa stroked her hair softly, tucking a strand behind her ear.
"You look so much like your mother," she whispered. "Her sky-blue eyes… her auburn hair… the same face."
"You… knew my mom?" Aria asked quietly.
"Yes. Iris Presley." Vanessa nodded. "We all went to high school together your mother, your father, and I. They married so young… everything was perfect until he found out she cheated on him."
Aria's face dropped instantly.
"What are you talking about?" Her voice trembled.
"I'm sorry if it sounds harsh," Vanessa said gently, "but it's simply the truth."
Aria clenched her jaw. "Don't speak about my mother like that."
Vanessa's smile faded.
"Alright, Aria. Let's get to the real reason I came here."
Her tone shifted, sweetness gone, replaced by cold calculation.
"You see… your late grandfather Dawson made a marriage pact with his closest friend years ago. Their children were supposed to marry. And your father was meant to go through with it, but he fell in love with your mother and got married to her instead… the marriage falls to you now"
"What?" Aria stared at her, horrified.
Vanessa continued calmly.
"Aria your father's company is in serious trouble and only this marriage can save it. They wanted Tiffany but she's too fragile and too innocent and now you're our only choice"
"You lied to me..." Aria whispered shaking her head
"So that's why you brought me here? To throw me into some arranged marriage with a stranger? To save your company? Absolutely not."
She stood up, heading toward the door.
"Aria." Vanessa's voice sharpened, cold, quiet and lethal.
"Take another step, and I'll make sure the world remembers your dead mom exactly the way I decide"
Aria froze.
Slowly, she turned back.
"What… are you saying?"
Vanessa rose to her feet, eyes glinting with cruelty.
"I'm saying that I have enough influence to drag your mother's name through the mud. The public only knows your father once had a first wife but they never knew who she was, I can make them know her better.
I'll smear her name to the extent that you her daughter won't be able to walk out freely for the rest of your life"
"One article," Vanessa whispered, "and your dead mother's reputation will be gone forever. Is that what you want?"
Aria's breath hitched. Her hands trembled.
The room suddenly felt too small, like the walls were closing in.
Vanessa smiled sweetly again, as if she hadn't just threatened to destroy a dead woman name.
"Think carefully, Aria. This marriage is for everyone's good... Including you"
Aria stood rooted to the floor, trapped between anger, fear, and heartbreak.