The Heiress' Revenge

Chapter 204: The Decision

Ariana’s POV

I was seated in my parlour, the smell of tea and cinnamon filled the air as I sat on the couch, wrapped in a blanket, staring at the flames.

My mother was sitting across from me, her hands wrapped around a cup of tea, her eyes were on me, she had been staring at me for days since she got here, like she was afraid I would disappear if she looked away.

Over the years I had been gone, something had changed between my mother and Daniel; they had been making up for lost time.

I was happy for them, I really was, after all, they deserved happiness.

They deserved a second chance to finally have the life that was stolen from them so many years ago.

"My child, are you sure about this?" My mother’s voice was soft but careful, like she was walking on eggshells. "Are you sure you want to move on from Dante? From your children?"

I didn’t look at her; instead, I kept my eyes on the fire. "I’m sure."

"But they’re your family, you’ve been through so much together. You’ve survived so much together. Don’t you think you owe it to them to at least try?"

I shook my head. "I’ve tried enough and tried and tried, yet every time I try, something happens. I’m tired, please, Mum. I’m so tired."

My mother set down her tea, leaning forward. Her eyes were wet. "I know you’re tired, I know you’ve been through hell, but running away isn’t the answer. Pushing people away isn’t the answer."

I finally looked at her. "You’re one to talk, you pushed Daniel away for forty years and let him think I was dead, you let him mourn a daughter he never got to meet, and now you’re telling me not to do the same thing?"

My mother’s face crumbled as tears spilled down her cheeks. "I know, I know I made mistakes, terrible ones. I’ve spent the last two years trying to make up for them, but I don’t want you making the same mistake"

I softened. I didn’t mean to hurt her. "I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to throw that in your face. I know you’re trying, and I know it wasn’t your fault, but I’m just... I’m just lost right now. I don’t know what to do, there’s a lot."

My mother wiped her eyes. "Then let me help you"

I looked back at the fire. "I appreciate that I really do, but I need to do this on my own. I need to figure out who I am without Dante without my children"

My mother was quiet for a moment, then she said, "And what about Phillip? He’s been trying to talk to you for weeks now. Don’t you think you should give him a chance?"

Oh my god, Philip... I don’t know, I don’t want to use him as a rebound.

"Phillip is my friend. He’s been a good friend. But I’m not ready for more than that. I don’t know if I’ll ever be ready for more than that."

My mother nodded slowly. "I understand, but don’t close yourself off completely. Don’t build walls so high that no one can reach you, you deserve to be happy, my love"

I felt the tears come, but I blinked them back. "I don’t know if I deserve anything anymore. I’ve made so many mistakes I’ve hurt so many people, and now it’s all coming down to me."

"You’ve also saved lives. You’ve protected your children, sacrificed everything for the people you love, and you know that’s nothing."

I leaned my head on her shoulder. "I miss them. I miss my babies so much. I want to be with them, but we don’t always get what we want."

My mother stroked my hair. "Then go back to them, be with your children, and forget whatever is bothering you inside that head of yours. They need you, the kids, and Dante"

I shook my head. "I can’t not yet or maybe not ever. I need to be okay first, I need to... ugh! There are just too many reasons I can’t be with them"

"Ariana—"

I sat up, wiping my eyes. "Mum, I appreciate everything you’re saying I do, but I need you to respect my decision. I need you to stop pushing but to just be here for me with no judgment or pressure."

My mother nodded. "Okay. Okay, baby, I’m sorry, of course, whatever you decide."

I squeezed her hand. "That’s all I ask."

"Mama," I said. "Can I ask you something?"

"Anything."

"How did you know? How did you know that walking away from Daniel was the right thing to do? Even though it broke your heart, even though you spent forty years regretting it."

My mother was quiet for a long moment, then she said, "I didn’t know. I thought I knew I thought I was doing the right thing by protecting him and you, but I was wrong, so wrong."

"But you survived by building a life. You raised me and kept going."

"I survived, but I wasn’t really living, not until I found him again"

I looked at her. "Do you think I’m making a mistake? Do you think I’m going to regret this?"

My mother sighed. "I think you’re doing what you think is best. I think you’re trying to protect yourself, or you’re scared, and I think one day, you might wake up and realize that you pushed away the only people who ever truly loved you."

I felt the weight of her words. "I already know that, but I can’t go back, at least not yet. Maybe not ever."

I hugged her back. "Thank you, mum, for everything, but then there is one more thing"

She nodded. "I’m listening."

"I don’t want to talk about Dante anymore. I don’t want to talk about my children. I don’t want to talk about the past. I just want to focus on the future."

My mother’s face was soft. "Okay, if that’s what you need, that’s what I’ll give you."

"Thank you." I took a deep breath. "I’ve decided to go back to the company. Ares has been running things, but he needs help, and I need something to focus on. Something to keep me busy, keep me from falling apart."

My mother nodded. "I think that’s a good idea"

I smiled. "I hope so. I need to prove to myself that I can do something right. That I’m not just a walking disaster."

My mother grabbed my hands. "You are not a walking disaster, don’t you ever say that"

I squeezed her hands. "I’ll try not to."