Episode 9
811 Words
Get me everything you can find on Lena Carter," Grandpa Sterling ordered into the phone, as soon as he left the room.
A brief pause crackled through the line.
"How soon do you need it, sir?"
"As soon as yesterday," the old man snapped, impatience bleeding into every word.
"…Understood. We’ll get on it immediately, sir."
He ended the call without another word, his grip tightening around the phone. Something about Lena Carter didn’t sit right with him—and he intended to uncover it, no matter the cost.
******
Meanwhile, at the mansion, angry voices echoed beneath the grand chandelier.
"What was that all about?" Clara demanded, crossing her arms, irritation evident in her tone.
Lena blinked, feigning innocence. "What are you talking about?"
Clara let out a dry, humorless laugh. "What happened at breakfast. Was that really the best you could come up with? Trying to question the paternity of Aria’s child?" Her eyes hardened. "You’ll never succeed. Aria is a decent woman, and Zander knows that."
She stepped closer, her voice dropping but cutting deeper.
"She was a virgin when they met. That’s why Grandpa loves her so much. So whatever game you’re playing—drop it. It’s never going to work."
For a split second, Lena’s mask cracked.
Shock flickered across her face… then something darker took over.
A virgin…? The word echoed in her mind like a taunt.
Aria is the complete opposite of her.
Her fingers tightened subtly around her glass as a storm brewed behind her eyes. Unlike Aria—pure, untouched, cherished—Lena’s past was something she had buried beneath layers of lies and survival.
And yet… Aria had everything she wanted, Zander’s trust and the patriarch’s love.
Her face twisted slightly before she could stop it.
Margaret, seated elegantly on the couch, observed the exchange with cold amusement.
"What’s so special about Aria’s virginity?" she said smoothly. "Besides… our Lena is a virgin too, isn’t she?"
The room stilled.
Lena forced a soft laugh, lifting her glass to hide the flicker of panic in her eyes.
"Of course," she said, her voice just a fraction too tight. "I’ve kept myself… only for Zander."
Her lips curved, but her thoughts spiraled.
I need to act fast. This isn’t going to be as easy as I thought.
Just then, her phone rang.
The moment she saw the caller ID, her blood ran cold.
Without hesitation,, she stood abruptly. "Excuse me."
She stepped away, heels clicking sharply against the marble floor until she reached a secluded corner.
"I told you not to call me unless it’s important," she hissed under her breath. "This better be."
"You’re being investigated," the man’s voice came through, low and dangerous. "By the patriarch of the Sterling family."
Lena froze.
"…What?"
"How did you know about that?" she demanded, her voice trembling despite her effort to control it.
A cold chuckle echoed from the other end. "So you doubt me now?"
"No—I mean… I trust your sources," she said quickly. "What do I do now?"
"Don’t worry," he replied calmly. "I’ll take care of him."
Her stomach dropped. "How?" she asked, unease creeping in. "That’s not your concern," he cut in sharply. "Just know—you owe me a night."
Lena’s grip tightened around her phone. "You know I can’t meet you. It’s too dangerous. Someone might see us—"
"Since when did you become cautious?" his voice turned threatening. "Don’t test me."
A long, suffocating silence followed.
"…Fine," Lena whispered at last. "As long as it doesn’t come back to me."
The line went dead.
For a moment, she just stood there. Her hands trembling.
Fear crawled up her spine as she clutched her phone tightly.
Why is that old man suspecting me?
Panic began to set in, sharp and unrelenting.
No… I can’t lose control now.
Her eyes hardened.
I need to tighten my grip on Zander.
With that single thought, her fear transformed into determination and she turned on her heel.
It was time to visit Zander at the office.
****
Meanwhile, Aria stood alone in the quiet room, her emotions still trembling just beneath the surface.
For a long moment, she didn’t move.
Her fingers tightened around the handle of her suitcase…
Then slowly—almost reluctantly—she let go.
One week.
It sounded small.
But it felt unbearably heavy.
Aria turned toward the bed where her baby lay, her tiny chest rising and falling in peaceful rhythm, untouched by the chaos surrounding her existence.
A fragile, aching smile touched Aria’s lips.
"Looks like we’re staying… just a little longer, my love," she whispered softly.
Her gaze lingered on the child, something resolute settling deep within her chest.
Then her expression changed.
"It’s time we pay your father a visit."
Zander owed her answers.
And she was going to get them.
- Writer
