Episode 10
877 Words
Across the city, in the top-floor office of Sterling Group Headquarters, Zander stood in front of the glass wall overlooking the skyline.
His assistant approached carefully.
"Sir… Miss Lena is asking to see you. Should I let her in?"
Silence stretched across the room.
Then he spoke coldly. "Tell her I’m not around."
The assistant hesitated. "She knows you’re around, sir."
Zander walked back to his desk, picking up a document without even looking at it. "Let her in, then."
Breathing a sigh of relief, the assistant quickly stepped out to usher Lena into the office and closed the door behind him.
Upon entering, Lena glanced around in admiration. Zander had always had good taste in everything. The interior décor was impeccable.
"…You really shouldn’t be here," Zander said, his tone low—but not angry.
"I had to come," Lena replied gently. "You’ve been avoiding me."
"I wasn’t avoiding you," Zander said quietly. "…I just didn’t trust myself around you."
Lena smiled and walked slowly to the table in front of him, her movements deliberate.
"And now?" she asked.
"…Now I realize I never stopped missing you," Zander confessed.
Lena’s lips curved slightly, victory flickering in her eyes.
"You see?" she whispered. "This… this is what you’ve been trying to ignore."
She leaned in and kissed him.
******
Aria didn’t give herself time to second-guess her decision to come to Zander’s office.
If she did, she might lose the little courage she had left. Besides, she was already here—and there was no going back.
She adjusted her baby gently against her chest, pressing a soft kiss to her forehead before stepping into the building.
Inside, the receptionist immediately straightened.
"Ma’am—good afternoon."
"I’m here to see Zander," Aria said, her voice calm but firm.
The receptionist hesitated.
"I—I’m not sure if Mr. Sterling is available right now—"
"I didn’t ask if he was available," Aria cut in softly. "I said I’m here to see my husband."
The receptionist broke into a cold sweat. Her eyes flickered nervously toward the elevator.
"He’s in a meeting."
"With who?" Aria asked.
The receptionist remained silent. That was answer enough.
"…Move."
"Ma’am, please—" the receptionist tried to stop her, but Aria was already walking.
The elevator ride felt endless. Each second stretched, heavy with dread, as Aria’s heartbeat grew louder until it drowned out everything else.
By the time the doors opened, she wasn’t sure what she would find. But she knew one thing—she wasn’t leaving without answers.
Outside Zander’s office, his assistant stood abruptly.
"Mrs. Sterling—sir is currently—"
Aria didn’t stop. Her hand reached for the door handle—then froze.
She could hear a woman’s moans from inside..soft and intimate.
Aria’s breath caught. Her fingers tightened around the handle as she pushed the door open.
The moment she stepped in, the scene before her made her heart drop.
Lena straddled Zander, her pale legs spread wide, shamelessly moving her hips in rhythm.
Zander and Lena pulled apart quickly, trying to dress.
Zander looked irritated at the interruption.
Lena, on the other hand, smiled faintly,like she had been expecting this.
"Aria," Zander said flatly. "You should have knocked."
The assistant rushed in behind her, flustered. "Sir, I told her you were busy, but she didn’t—"
"Leave. Now," Zander barked.
The assistant hurried out immediately.
"How long?" Aria’s voice came out barely above a whisper.
Neither of them answered.
Her chest tightened painfully.
"I demand an answer," she said, louder this time. "How long has this been going on?"
Zander exhaled, running a hand through his hair.
"It’s not what you think—"
"Then explain it to me," Aria cut in, her eyes glistening. "Explain why my husband hasn’t visited his own daughter… but has time for her."
Lena tilted her head slightly, studying Aria as though she were insignificant.
"You look tired," she said softly. "Motherhood must be exhausting."
Zander’s jaw tightened. "Don’t make a scene here. Go home. I’ll come see the baby tonight."
The words hit her like a slap.
Aria let out a shaky laugh. "…I see."
She wiped her tears quickly, as if ashamed of them.
"You don’t have to come. We don’t need you."
Zander frowned slightly.
Aria looked at him one last time.
Then she turned and walked out.
By the time she got home, her vision was blurred with tears.
She didn’t remember the drive nor did she remember entering the mansion.
All she felt… was the hollow ache in her chest.
She went straight to her room and slowly sank into the sofa.
Tears spilled freely, silently, as her shoulders trembled.
"I’m sorry…" she whispered.
"I’m so sorry you have a father like that…"
Her voice cracked completely.
"But I promise you…"
Her grip tightened slightly around the baby’s hand.
"I won’t let you feel unwanted."
At that moment, her baby cooed softly at her, as if responding.
Aria closed her eyes briefly. Then she made up her mind.
She would leave.
She would wait for Grandpa Sterling to return so she could thank him—for everything he had done—but also tell him that she could not stay any longer.
- Writer
