The Kidnapped Heiress

Chapter Seven

It was late when Aria stumbled back home and collapsed on her bed. Her mind was swimming and this time it wasn’t just because of alcohol. Brie’s ultimatum still rang clear. If Aria truly wanted to make an impact on Theo, she had to return to New York.

But…she couldn’t.

Just the thought of seeing Theo with another woman brought tears to her eyes. No, she couldn’t bear the humiliation. At the same time, her plan certainly wasn’t working either. It was just making her sick.

Her stomach lurched. She bolted upright and ran for the bathroom. Aria emptied her stomach into the toilet, struggling to breathe and keep her emotions in check. Finally, she leaned back. Sitting on the floor, she sighed and waited for the world to stop spinning.

“Aria?” her mother’s voice gently called from the other side of the door. “Are you all right, sweetie?”

No. No, I’m not, Aria fought a sniffle. Out loud, she said, “I’m fine, maman.”

“Are you sure? I can make you some tea to settle your stomach, and we can talk.”

“I’m fine, maman, really,” Aria insisted, but she didn’t feel that way.

“…Okay. Call me if you need me.”

She listened as her mother reluctantly left, returning to bed. No doubt her parents would stay awake, talking and waiting for her to call them. Aria sighed. She really should get her own place. It was rather strange she hadn’t yet.

Most kids couldn’t wait to fly the nest, but Caden and Aria had never seriously entertained moving out completely. She knew some of her friends thought it was weird, but Brie seemed to think it was sweet. In fact, Brie claimed Aria and her siblings were very lucky. Not everyone enjoyed having such caring parents.

Brie’s parents had divorced years ago and neither of her stepparents liked her very much. They clearly favored their own children and pushed her out as soon as they could. Neither of her parents were concerned for her, carrying on their happy families without her. In fact, it had been years since she visited either of her parents and knew nothing of how her half-siblings were getting along. But then again, none of them reached out to her either.

They probably had no idea Brie and her fiancée had opened their own bakery and coffee shop that was gathering a loyal following. And they certainly had no idea that Brie was planning to bake her own wedding cake. In fact, Brie had no intention of inviting either of her parents. Any time her father and mother were in the same room, it turned into a brawl, and she wasn’t going to allow that on her wedding day.

Aria was naturally her maid of honor and had offered her own father to be Brie’s escort for the wedding march. Brie hadn’t yet accepted the offer, thinking Aria should be the first one he walked down the aisle. Her fiancée’s father was another possibility, although it sounded like she was leaning more toward walking herself.

Aria had made the appointment to get her wedding dress as well as the bridesmaid’s dresses. She hadn’t told Brie the appointment was with her aunts Victoria and Charlotte. Brie would probably freak out once she learned the famous designers would be handling her gown, but that was why Aria was keeping it a secret until the actual appointment.

Which was tomorrow.

Aria groaned. Damn, she had almost forgotten all about it. She sighed and slowly pulled herself to her feet. Shuffling to the sink, she rinsed out her mouth, fighting the urge to repeat her earlier performance. Eventually, she managed to make it back to her bed and, mercifully, sleep took her.

* * *

She woke to the savory smells of eggs and sausage wafting throughout her parents’ house. Her stomach grumbled about its empty state. A moment later she was rushing to the bathroom as its churning got more violent and sent her heaving into the toilet again.

Catching her breath, she groggily headed to the shower. She breathed deeply, letting the lingering traces of the previous night wash down the drain. It was a long time before she emerged. She didn’t feel completely refreshed, but at least her head was clear and her stomach more settled.

Slipping on a pair of leggings and a sweater, she disembarked from her room to find the house oddly silent. Glancing at the clock, she realized her father and brother had departed for work some time ago. She had no idea where Lyra would have gone, but it meant she could have a quiet breakfast.

“Good morning,” Macey greeted.

“Bonjour, maman,” Aria responded automatically as she made herself a bowl of cereal and sat at the table. Macey watched her like a hawk. Aria’s skin prickled at her mother’s scrutiny but tried not to show her discomfort.

“Everything all right?” Macey asked.

“Yes, of course,” Aria shrugged.

“There’s nothing you want to talk about?”

“What is there to talk about?”

“Oh, girl stuff, maybe? Boy troubles? The usual things a girl likes to confide in her mother about.”

“There’s really nothing to talk about,” Aria shrugged.

“Aria…”

“Maman, I appreciate your concern, but I really don’t have anything I need to talk about.”

Macey sighed. Her children were stubborn. It was a trait she blamed on their father. She sat at the table across from Aria and sipped her tea. After a moment, she tried again.

“I get that you might not think it’s a big deal, or maybe you don’t want to talk about it. But you know I am always here for you. Just say the word, I’ll drop everything to listen.”

“I know, maman,” Aria assured her.

Macey remained pensive but nodded. There wasn’t anything else she could really say, at least not until Aria was ready to talk. With a sigh, she stood, squeezing Aria’s shoulder as she walked to the counter.

Aria ate in silence, stealing glances at her mother. She could see the concern etched in her mother’s face, but Macey wouldn’t push an issue they absolutely didn’t want to discuss. It had always been that way. Aria was grateful her mother wasn’t pushy, and she was beginning to regret not talking about her troubles. But she was still processing Brie’s advice, and she wasn’t certain she could handle her mother’s too.

She just wasn’t sure what she should do. Brie was right, she couldn’t continue like she had been. It was no good making herself sick. But could she really live in New York and risk seeing him?

What did she want?

Did she want him to suffer?

Did she want him to chase after her?

Would that make her happy?