"Aria, it's Mom."
Aria looked up and, seeing her mother Isabella, threw herself into her arms.
"Mom, I finally get to see you again. Mom... you've lost weight."
Isabella gently patted her back.
"Aria, you've been sleeping too long. I made some chicken soup to nourish you. You still have over twenty days left in your postpartum confinement. Don't go out again, okay?"
"No, I have to go out."
Aria turned to look out the window—it was already dark again. She had slept too long.
"Mom, I have to find out who pushed the old master down the stairs before he's laid to rest. I need to avenge him and clear my name," Aria said with determination.
"You silly child, even if you do find out, so what? By then, your body will be ruined. No woman who's just given birth should be running around like that. If you get postpartum illness, even the best doctor won't be able to save you."
"Mom, I'm not afraid."
She had already lost her daughter. This revenge—she had to take it.
She would hate Micheal for the rest of her life.
Isabella patted her back again.
"Let's not talk about this for now. I'll go get the soup. Drink a bowl first."
"Okay."
Aria nodded. The aroma of chicken soup drifting from the kitchen felt like a dream.
It had been more than half a year since she'd had a proper meal. Every day since then had been torment.
But being back with her mom… even if this wasn't their home, as long as Mom was here, everything was okay.
Four dishes and a soup—all her favorites.
"Mom, where's Philip?" Aria asked as she ate.
"He went out. I asked him what for, but he wouldn't say. Sigh, that boy's still so introverted."
"Mom, I've been thinking—who set me up? What do you think?"
"Sigh… I want to ask you the same thing. Aria, who could it be?"
Aria shook her head. It seemed her mom was just as puzzled.
It was clear she had to investigate. Only then could the truth come out.
The old master's cremation and funeral were tomorrow. Tonight, she had to uncover the truth.
Time was tight, but even if it was just luck, she had to try—better than waiting around doing nothing.
"Aria, you and Philip should leave this place. The farther, the better…" Isabella sighed, brushing aside the stray strands of hair on Aria's forehead with tender affection.
After finishing her last bite, Aria stood up.
"Mom, I'm heading out."
"Aria, it's no use. Micheal must've investigated too. If even he couldn't find anything and still believes it was you, what more can you do?" Isabella tried to hold her back, clearly worried.
"Mom, after eating your cooking, I'm back to full power. Don't worry, your daughter won't be defeated that easily. That Ruby woman has never seemed like a good person—it was her who pulled out the old master's oxygen tube. I will prove to Micheal who the real killer is."
"Aria, let me come with you."
"No need. The more people, the bigger the target."
Aria changed clothes and left Philip's apartment, taking a cab straight to Smith Hotel.
It was at the banquet held at Smith Hotel that everything changed.
She had been working as a waitress and was delivering food to a room when Micheal suddenly arrived.
That night, Micheal took her.
That night, she became pregnant with his child.
That night, the old master ordered Micheal to marry her.
Micheal probably never knew—she had fallen for him since middle school.
Back when Micheal returned to their school to give a speech, she'd been sitting in the front row. From that moment on, she became his fangirl.
She liked him.
So, when the old master asked Micheal to marry her, she didn't resist.
Marrying the man she loved—it felt like fate.
Who would have thought that what she believed was fate would turn into her personal hell.