Her Second Life

Chapter 4

After dinner,I stepped out onto the balcony and the night air was cool, brushing against my skin like a soft reminder that I wasn’t dreaming.

“I quite agree that money is good but what kind of nonsense life did Past Aria live? Fiancé? Fancy dinners? A young fake smiley sweet sister? Bread with a bodyguard?” I muttered as I rubbed my forehead while leaning on the railing.

Moments later, I heard the door open but didn’t turn.I only knew it was Leon when he stopped beside me,close enough that I could feel him watching me.

“You left quickly,” he said smoothly.

“I needed some air,” I replied softly while looking up to him.

He studied my face like he was trying to decode it.

“You’re different,” he said finally.

“Different how?” I asked while smiling

“You seem more quiet and soft.” He said as he lowered his gaze slightly.

I blinked because that sounded… vaguely insulting?

“I’m just tired,” I said. “It’s been a long day.”

“That’s not it.” His voice tightened. “You didn’t even look at me during dinner.”

I turned a little toward him and gave a small, polite smile.

“Well… I didn’t think I needed to stare at you for the food to digest.” I said as I noticed his jaw tensed slightly. It seems like old Aria probably flirted and clung to him.

“No, not like that but you usually have a lot to say,” he said as he stared at me.

“I’m trying not to say the wrong thing.”I said while staring at him

“That’s new,you’re being… very polite,” he said slowly.

“Is that a problem?” I asked while laughing softly.

“No. I just didn't expect Aria Bennett to be polite.”He said as he leaned on the railing.

“I don’t remember you,” I said gently. “So I’m doing my best to be respectful.It feels… safer than pretending.”

“Aria,” he said quietly, “you and I… we weren’t strangers.”

“I know but we are now.I don't even remember you.”

“And you don’t care to remember?” he asked with a low voice.

“I don’t know you well enough to care… yet.” I said with all honesty.

“Okay then, I'll take my leave.”He said as he looked at me one last time and walked back inside.

When Leon was gone, I let out a breath I didn’t know I was holding and went back to my room. I shut the door gently and walked to the bed and sat down, sinking into the soft mattress.I pulled my phone off the bedside table and it unlocked with facial recognition.

The home screen was a picture of Aria Bennett posing like a model with bold makeup, sharp eyeliner and her lips slightly pouted while looking confident and flirty which was nothing like me now.

I took a deep breath and opened the search bar:Leon Harrington,and the internet loaded like it was bowing to royalty.

Photo after photo after photo:

Leon in a black suit at a business summit.

Leon shaking hands with government officials.

Leon cutting a ribbon at a charity event.

Leon received an award for “Youngest Strategic Operations Director.”

Leon looked like he owned the world and possibly the moon.

“He’s a… what? Operations Director? And—wait—he sits on the board?!” I whispered as my eyes widened more and more.

I scrolling down and more sentences jumped at me:

“Heir to Harrington Global Holdings.”

“Feared for his cold leadership style.”

“Rumored to reject relationships due to a secret fiancée.”

“Secret fiancée? Me?? In which universe?” I asked myself and shook my head while I opened the messages app.I froze as I saw the chat with Leon.It was long but only on one sided.

— Good morning, my love ❤️

— Are you busy? I miss you.

— Leon, text me when you’re free.

— Should I come over tonight?

— Dinner tomorrow? I’ll dress the way you like.

— Leon?

— Leon??

— Are you ignoring me?

— Please answer…

— I love you.

I was stunned as I stared at the screen while reading the ignored messages.

“So the old me was… chasing him?,Desperately?”I whispered as I felt a strong secondhand embarrassment that I had to lie down onto the bed and cover my face with a pillow.

“No wonder he looked confused today,” I muttered. “This version of me is a whole upgrade.”

Just then, the phone buzzed and two new messages from contacts named:

Camilla

Hazel

“Who…are they?”I asked myself and I frowned my face asI opened Camilla’s first.

Camilla:

Girl?? Your mom said you had an accident but you didn't last two days in the hospital.Are you alive or should we start planning your funeral playlist??

“Funeral playlist??”

Then Hazel’s message popped in:

Hazel:

Ariaaa answer our calls! Camilla is being dramatic again. What happened?? And why is Leon suddenly at your house?? Spill!!

More messages appeared rapidly.

Camilla:

Did you finally seduce him??

Tell me NOW.

Hazel:

We’re coming over tomorrow. Don’t hide, witch.

“…Are these really Aria's best friends? ” I asked myself as the glow from the phone screen reflected softly on her face. I continued scrolling through the phone that I didn’t notice the door open until Mr.Bennet stepped in.

“Aria,” he called me gently.

“Dad.” I answered while looking up at him.

He walked to the edge of the bed and sat down slowly, like he was afraid of disturbing her.

“How are you feeling? Did you get some rest?”

“I’m fine.” I said as I shrugged my shoulders while holding down the phone.

“You don’t look fine,” he said. “but you will be,you just need time. The doctor said it’s normal not to remember everything yet.”

“I know dad.” I said as I sighed and dropped the phone beside me.“Daddy… Can I ask you something?”

He nodded. “Anything dear.”

“Do you love me?”

His eyes softened immediately. “Very much dear,more than anything in this world.”

“So… will you want anything that will… affect my happiness?” I asked as I swallowed hard.

“Of course not,” he said while touching my hand. “everything I’ve done and everything I do,is for your happiness.”

“Then… I don’t want to marry Leon anymore.”

“Why?”He asked as he blinked confusedly.

“Because it’s not my happiness anymore.”

He let out a slow breath as he studied me with his eyes. “Aria… if you gain your memory back, you’ll realize that Leon was your happiness,you loved him and you accepted him.”

“No. I don’t want him anymore dad.” I said with a slight teary eyes and for a moment, he didn’t move. He leaned back slightly as his voice dropped into something colder.

“Alright then.”He said with a pause and a smile appeared on my face.

“But if you don’t want to marry Leon, you won’t have anything to do with my property.”

“What?”I shouted lightly as my heart dropped.

“You heard me,If you reject the life I planned for you, then you reject everything that comes with it.”

My lips parted, but nothing came out.I wasn’t expecting that,I wasn’t expecting him to draw a line so sharply.

He reached forward and brushed my hair behind my ear like nothing harsh had been said at all.

“You’re tired,” he whispered. “Your mind is confused,let’s not argue.”

“Daddy—”I called out as my eyes stung but I didn't let the tears fall.

“Shh.”He said as he gently eased my back onto the pillows.

“You need sleep,when you wake up, things will feel clearer.”

I closed my eyes and felt his hand rubbing her arm in slow circles,calming,soothing and lulling me into sleep whether I wanted it or not and before I knew it,I drifted off.