Aria's POV
I ran as fast as I could. My legs were tired, but no—I couldn't stop. I knew he wasn't behind me, but still… I couldn't stop. What just happened? Why did he—? I didn't expect he would. Was it just a way to relieve his anger?
There—my car. I rushed inside, breathless, and told the driver to take me home. He looked at my face and understood without asking.
When we arrived, I went straight to my room. I threw myself onto the bed.
Darkness covered me.
Not that again!..
.....
...
..
.
Peep...peep. ..peeeeeep..
That sound… I know this sound.
I slowly opened my eyes. I wasn't in my room. I was in a bright place—too bright. The walls were white, the smell sharp, sterile. A hospital.
I looked around from the bed I lay on. Yes… I was in a hospital. But how did I end up here?
A nurse came toward me, bowing politely. Behind her walked her—my so-called mother.
Why is she here? What does she want now?
I looked at her, a mix of disgust and surprise twisting my face. Every emotion I felt was clear, and I knew she had already read me.
"What do you want?" I asked in the coldest tone I could manage.
She only smiled, completely ignoring my question. Pulling out her sweet card, she asked,
"How are you feeling, honey?"
How was I feeling? How will I feel after what you did to me?
"Stop your sweet talk!" I almost shouted.
The bodyguards rushed into the room immediately. Of course—they thought I might do something to her. If only they knew what she had done to me.
I tried my best not to cry. But seeing her, remembering it all… I couldn't help it. The tears started to slip from my eyes. I didn't want them to see me weak. I didn't want her to see me break.
I turned my face away, laying back on the bed, covering myself with my hands. Their voices blurred—the nurse, the guards, my so-called mother. They spoke with the doctor, his words faint, mentioning that if this kept happening, it would not be good for my body.
I didn't know when I fell asleep.
But once again, the darkness came—only this time, no pain, no tension, no annoyance. Just… relief.
A cold wind brushed against my face. I closed my eyes and let it carry me into rest.
____.
Midnight __.
Aria's POV___.
I slowly opened my eyes. It was still dark outside. Midnight, maybe.
I looked at the wall. A small clock ticked faintly.
3:40 AM.
My legs didn't hurt anymore. My head wasn't aching. After I slept, everything seemed fine. But still—something inside me hurt.
Why?
Why did she come?
I don't understand. If she came here, there must be a reason. And if she has a reason… it will change my life, just like she ruined it before.
I've already cut all ties with her.
So why? What does she want from me now?
My head is bursting from all these thoughts.
I got up quietly from the bed. I was still in my school uniform. I pulled off the coat and the tie, left them folded on the chair. Now, just a plain white shirt. My skirt still on, my hair loose, my feet bare against the cold floor.
I didn't know what I was doing. I didn't know where I was going.
All I knew was this: I didn't want to face them.
I didn't want them to see me.
I didn't want them to take me away again.
I don't want to lose—not here, not now.
Sinas, zorvath GHSS, KHSS. I don't know how I'll face tomorrow.
But if tomorrow comes…
I'll only go to KHSS.
Not with them.
Authors POV__
Aria walked slowly through the hospital corridors. The path stretched endlessly before her, silent and white. Her thoughts were heavier than her steps—her whole life, the incidents, the scars her mother left behind. Why had her mother claimed her now? What did she want?
Her legs moved on their own until she stopped in front of the elevator. Just as she turned, the doors slid open.
A tall male figure stepped out, his phone pressed to his ear. He noticed her immediately. Raising his eyebrows, he asked,
"What are you doing here?"
Aria froze. Her chest tightened as she looked at him—her brother.
She snapped back into herself and muttered coldly,
"None of your business."
"How dare you be rude to your brother?" came a sharp voice from behind.
Aria stiffened. She didn't even have to turn around.
Her mother.
The one she had been running from.
The one she wasn't ready to face.
And yet, here she was.
Regret washed over her. She wanted to turn away, to run—but her brother's hand shot out, gripping her wrist. He spun her to face him.
"Anurag!" she called, her voice echoing down the corridor.
Pain twisted in her chest. Her mother hissed from behind, "Can't you be a little quieter? A little less dramatic?"
Aria's eyes burned red. She shoved her brother back, her voice breaking.
"Why can't you people just leave me alone?"
Her brother's face darkened.
"You're part of this family. Of course we care about you. You can't run away from that."
"I don't want your power. I don't want your money!" Aria cried. "I've already cut all my ties with you!"
Her brother's grip tightened.
"You can't. You were born into this family, Aria. That's something you'll never escape."
"No! I am not part of this family. I am not one of you. You're monsters—I refuse to belong here!" Aria's voice rang down the sterile hallway, her bare feet cold against the polished hospital floor.
"Stop it, Aria! You know nothing!" her mother's shout cracked like a whip from behind.
Aria halted mid-step. Slowly, she turned, her loose hair falling over her face, her white shirt wrinkled, her skirt brushing against her trembling knees. Her eyes burned with fury.
"Nothing?" she whispered hoarsely. Then her voice rose, trembling with rage and despair.
"Yes—I know nothing. And I don't want to know! I don't want your world, your power, your blood-stained legacy. Just leave me alone—leave me alone!"
Her words echoed against the white walls, raw and jagged, louder than the faint hum of the hospital machines.
She tore her wrist free from her brother's grip, shoving him back with all her strength. He staggered. Her bare feet slapped against the floor as she stormed down the corridor, each step sounding louder than the last.
Her brother stood frozen, veins straining against his clenched fists. Her mother's lips curled into fury, but for the briefest moment, her eyes flickered with something else—fear.
Side by side, mother and son watched Aria's figure retreat, her voice still ringing in the cold silence she left behind.