Chapter 20 – Quiet Mornings and Heavy Hearts
Aria stirred awake slowly, her body aching in the dull, familiar way that pregnancy had introduced. Her dreams had been heavy—fragments of her parents' accident flashing like headlights in the rain, her father's voice echoing in a way that tugged at her heart long after the images faded.
She rolled onto her side and reached for the small wooden frame on the nightstand. A photo—her parents on their wedding day. Her mother's dress was old-fashioned, and her father had that wide grin he rarely let anyone see. Aria smiled faintly, brushing her thumb over the glass.
"I miss you both," she whispered, voice soft.
The penthouse was unusually quiet. Kade had gone out early to a board meeting, leaving behind a small note on the kitchen counter:
"Left early. There's orange juice in the fridge. Call me if anything—K."
She read it twice, then folded it and tucked it into her journal. It was one of the few things about him that didn't feel fake—the way he always left notes. He didn't say too much. Didn't press her. Just left quiet reminders that he was there.
Still, the distance between them hadn't closed. Not even close.
She poured herself some juice, grabbed a warm bagel from the warming tray, and padded barefoot to the sunroom. The morning light streamed through the tall glass windows, painting everything in gold.
It should have felt peaceful. But Aria couldn't shake the weight on her chest.
Even though Madeline was gone, and the calls had stopped, there was a lingering paranoia in her mind. She double-checked the locks every night. She avoided the elevators. Every time she stepped outside, she wore a hoodie or a hat.
The city felt too close now. Too loud. Too curious.
She picked up her phone and dialed her doctor. Her next appointment was in two days, but she asked if she could move it up. The nurse was kind and agreed to fit her in that afternoon.
By the time Kade returned that evening, Aria was curled on the couch with a baby book open across her lap. Her hair was in a messy bun, and she wore one of his oversized shirts without realizing it.
Kade paused in the doorway, watching her.
"You moved your appointment?" he asked softly.
She nodded but didn't look up. "I just… wanted to hear the heartbeat again."
He walked over and sat down beside her, careful to keep a little space between them. "Everything okay?"
"The baby's fine," she said, her voice even. "Heartbeat strong. Moving a lot already."
Kade let out a breath. "Good."
They sat there in silence, the sounds of the city far below muffled by thick glass and silence between them.
After a moment, Aria finally asked, "Why her?"
He blinked. "What?"
"Madeline. Of all people. Why her?"
He rubbed his jaw, clearly uncomfortable. "We weren't serious. She wanted more than I was willing to give. I wasn't honest about that. When I ended things, she… didn't take it well."
"So you left her behind and moved on." Aria's tone was laced with quiet judgment.
"I thought I had. But apparently, she didn't."
Aria looked at him then. "You say you're here for me. That you care. But caring doesn't erase the damage, Kade. You let people get close to you, and then you shut them out. You did it to me, too."
He flinched at that, but didn't argue.
She sighed and ran a hand over her belly. "I'm carrying your child. I'm living in your penthouse. And still, I don't feel like I know you anymore."
"You used to," he said quietly.
"I used to love you," she replied. "But love doesn't survive betrayal. And it definitely doesn't survive silence."
Kade looked away. "I'm trying to be better."
"Then start talking," she said firmly. "Not just showing up with flowers or mangoes or promises. Talk. Tell me what you're scared of. Tell me what you want from this. From us."
He was quiet for a long moment before speaking.
"I want to be part of our child's life," he said. "And… I want a chance to earn back your trust. Not force it. Not demand it. Just… earn it."
Aria's eyes softened slightly. It was the first time he hadn't sounded like a CEO making a deal.
"I don't know if I can ever trust you the way I did before," she whispered.
"I know."
"But… I don't want to keep shutting you out. That's not good for the baby either."
Kade turned to her, surprised. "So… what does that mean?"
"It means I'm willing to let you try," she said. "To be present. To show up. As long as you remember that being present doesn't mean being in control."
A smile tugged at his lips. "Deal."
They sat in comfortable silence for a while after that, and eventually, Aria shifted to lie down, her head resting lightly against his shoulder.
It wasn't love. Not yet.
But maybe it was something.
A beginning.