The Broken Heiress Returns

Episode 8

Aria’s heart weighed heavily as she walked into the car waiting to take her to the East Mansion. This was more than she could bear. She fought hard to hold herself together.

The black car at the bottom of the steps stood ready, its engine running quietly. The driver stepped out the moment he saw her, rushing to open the back door.

"Madam, please—"

Aria stepped in without a word.

The door shut beside her with a muted thud, and just like that, they drove off.

Inside the car, silence settled heavily—the kind that wasn’t peaceful, but suffocating.

Aria sat perfectly still, her back straight despite the dull ache lingering in her body. Every movement reminded her of the pain she had endured just minutes ago.

Her daughter stirred softly, letting out a faint whimper.

Aria immediately lowered her head, her expression softening in an instant.

"Shh…" she whispered gently, her voice barely audible. "Mama’s here."

As she looked down at her baby, she smiled for the first time since walking out of that room.

Her baby’s face was soft and peaceful as she clung to Aria, as if she knew she could only rely on her mother.

We belong to each other, Aria whispered, as tears slipped from her eyes onto the baby’s cheek, sliding into the blanket and disappearing.

The driver glanced at her through the rearview mirror and nodded in quiet pity.

Aria was so lost in thought that she didn’t notice when the car came to a stop.

The driver quickly stepped out and opened the door.

"Madam, we’ve arrived."

Aria didn’t move immediately.

For a brief moment, she just sat there, thinking of her next move—holding her child and breathing in silence. Her mind replayed Zander’s question over and over.

"Is she…?"

She could endure anything from Zander, but his doubt about her faithfulness in marriage was a deal breaker.

The doubt in his voice killed her spirit.

A bitter laugh escaped her lips—soft, almost inaudible.

"So this is what I get," she muttered. "Six years of loyalty, of love… and he betrays me."

The ache in her chest wasn’t just from betrayal—it was the realization that nothing in that house had ever been hers, and now, with Lena’s return, nothing would ever be easy again.

She knew Lena’s arrival was no coincidence. Margaret and Clara had orchestrated it. Lena was their weapon, and Zander was the prize.

With quiet determination, she decided to leave for the sake of her daughter.

But where would she go?

She had grown up in a foster home, never knowing her real parents. When she came of age, she left to start her life. She still remembered how excited she had been when she got her first job at the hotel after months of searching.

When she married Zander, she only wanted to be loved, but she received the opposite. Still, she stayed, hoping things would improve—that when she gave birth to his child, maybe Zander and his family would finally love and accept her.

But today, she realized there was no hope for her here.

Gripping her baby tightly, she decided to start all over again. She was grateful for her daughter—now she had a family to call her own. If that was all she gained from her marriage, she was content with it.

Finally, she stepped out of the car and went to her room to pack.

Aria’s room was peacefully quiet, except for the soft breathing of the baby.

She stood by the open wardrobe, a small suitcase lying on the bed. Packing didn’t take long; she didn’t have many clothes to begin with. Zander never allowed her to spend his money. He always called her a gold digger, and to prove that she wasn’t, she never asked for anything.

Still, it never made him see her.

He only noticed her when he wanted intimacy—nothing more.

As Aria zipped up her suitcase, she took one last glance around the room to make sure she wasn’t forgetting anything.

"Going somewhere?"

A deep voice cut through the silence.

Aria froze. Slowly turning around, she saw Grandpa Sterling standing in the doorway, his sharp eyes taking in everything—the suitcase, the tension, the unspoken pain.

Aria lowered her gaze slightly. "Grandpa…"

He stepped inside, closing the door behind him.

"You’re leaving."

It wasn’t a question, and Aria didn’t deny it.

"I can’t stay here," she said quietly.

His gaze softened—just a fraction—as it moved to the baby.

Grandpa Sterling had been an unexpected blessing. He had come to love her like his own. But Aria felt guilty, as though she didn’t deserve his love, and she didn’t want to be the cause of his strained relationship with his grandson.

"I heard you went to the main house for breakfast. Does that have anything to do with your packing?"

Aria swallowed.

"It’s not just what was said," she replied. "It’s who believed it."

She then narrated everything that had transpired earlier.

A heavy silence followed as the old man thought deeply about her words.

"Do you trust me?" he asked suddenly.

Aria blinked. "What?"

"Do you trust me?" he pressed.

"Yes," she answered instinctively.

"Then give me one week."

Aria shook her head faintly. "What’s going to change in one week, Grandpa?" she asked, concern evident in her voice.

He had always protected her and made sacrifices for her, but he was growing weaker by the day. He should be resting, not fighting her battles. That was why she wanted to leave—she didn’t want to be a burden to him.

The old man’s expression hardened.

"I will investigate Lena Carter. I have a feeling there is something sinister about her. I promise you, she will be out of this family soon."

"No one will hurt you or my grandchild—not while I’m still alive. One week is all I ask."

Aria ran into Grandpa Sterling’s arms and cried her heart out.

"Why do you love me so much, Papa?" she sobbed.

"You are a good person, my child," he said gently. "And you remind me of someone I once knew."

He looked at her fondly.

"But that’s a story for another day. For now, rest. I have some digging to do."

He gently patted her shoulders and left the room.