The Kidnapped Heiress

Chapter Three

“Caden,” Macey said, handing her son a cup of tea, “can you please check on your sister?”

He glanced up, his expression pensive. Like everyone else, he was worried about Aria. The way she rushed past him when she returned home made him think she was being chased by hell itself. It made him nervous. He knew where she had spent the night, and it took everything in him not to rush over to Theo’s condo and demand answers. The only thing that held him back was that he was certain Aria wouldn’t want him to interfere.

“It’s been two days, and she hasn’t left her room,” Macey sighed. “She barely eats. I’m worried, but she doesn’t want to talk to me. I’m hoping she’ll talk to you.”

After a moment, Caden nodded. Macey breathed a little easier, but she was still concerned. It wasn’t like Aria to close herself off. Coda and especially Lyra were getting rather antsy about their older sister’s unusual behavior. Julius threatened to bust her door down and demand answers numerous times, but she knew such a heavy-handed response would not be productive. He just wanted to protect his baby from whoever hurt her, but Aria was not a five-year-old needing her father’s protection. She was a woman, and she needed her family’s support, not an interrogation.

“Thank you, sweetie,” Macey smiled.

It pained her to admit that her daughter didn’t want to confide in her, but she trusted in the twins’ connection. All her children were close, but the bond between Aria and Caden was unique. Perhaps it was unfair to send Caden in to force Aria to talk, but Macey hated doing nothing when it was obvious her daughter was struggling.

Caden sipped his tea, studying his mother. Even at fifty-five, she was beautiful and vibrant. Her red hair was as bright as ever, lacking any sign of gray that so tormented his father. Though he often overheard women complain about their fine lines, he thought his mother’s made her look even more beautiful and sophisticated.

Julius lavished as much attention on her as ever. No other woman could catch his eye and those that tried soon made fools of themselves. Just as Macey became even more beautiful and sophisticated with age, so too had Julius. He was a striking figure and as handsome and desirable as ever. There was no shortage of women wanting to stand by his side. Caden might have allowed himself to be annoyed by their shamelessness, but it had always been that way. If anything, it only brought his parents closer to each other.

He took his time finishing his tea before eventually making his way to his sister’s bedroom. Now was as good of a time as any with Coda and Lyra out of the house. It was unlikely they would be interrupted.

Gently knocking, he said, “Aria. It’s me.”

It was several moments before he heard her footsteps on the other side. The lock clicked, and the door cracked open to reveal his sister’s withdrawn face. He frowned. He couldn’t recall a time she looked so distraught and pale. Dark rings were under her eyes, which seemed listless. Caden had thought she was just being dramatic as always, but now he realized their mother’s concerns were valid.

“Aria…”

“Can you do me a favor?” she asked.

“Yeah, sure.”

“Could you run to the pharmacy and grab me a Plan B, please.”

His gaze widened, but otherwise he maintained a neutral expression that Aria appreciated. She didn’t want pity or questions. She just needed her request fulfilled.

“Yeah, I’ll go now,” Caden said after a moment. “I’ll be back.”

She nodded before closing the door. Caden hesitated before he turned and headed back the way he came. He was worried their mother would have questions. However, when he returned to the kitchen, she was gone. A glance out the patio doors assured him she was in her darkroom with the red light blinking over the door. With a sigh of relief, he grabbed the keys to the family sedan.

Caden drove to the nearest pharmacy and walked up to the counter to make his request, knowing it was not something to be found on the floor. The pharmacist gave him a disapproving frown, but he wasn’t bothered. He paid and walked out with his purchase before the cashier’s curiosity got the better of her. It would be better for her to mind her own business.

Returning home, he poured a glass of water before knocking on his sister’s door again. This time she opened the door wide for him to enter before closing it and locking it. Mutely, she accepted the package and the glass of water, sitting at the desk. Caden sat on the bed, silently observing her.

From there he could see just how strained and gaunt she had become. Normally, she was always very careful about her appearance. Now, her hair was haphazardly bound in a ponytail, and she was still in her pajamas. In fact, he was quite certain she had been wearing the same clothes for the past several days.

“Stop staring and just ask,” Aria finally said.

“Is it who I think it is?” he asked.

Pressing her lips together, she nodded.

“Did he force you?”

“What? No, of course not,” she snapped. “We…it was consensual.”

“So?” Caden eyed the package she had requested.

“He said it was a mistake,” Aria sniffled. “He said it shouldn’t have happened because he was planning to break up with me from the start. And then I saw this.”

She handed him her phone with the image of Theo and the other woman displayed on screen. It made her sick to her stomach to look at it, but she couldn’t stop staring at it. Caden frowned, staring at the woman in the image.

“He was with another girl the very next day,” Aria shook her head. “Who knows how many he’s been with. I never meant anything to him at all.”

Caden stood without a word, heading for the door.

“Where are you going?” Aria demanded.

“I’m going to go to his place and punch him.”

“No! Sit down,” Aria dragged him back to the bed. “Just sit. This is exactly why I didn’t want to tell dad about it.”

Caden sighed, dropping back onto the bed while she returned to her chair. Without another word, she opened the package and took out the solitary pill. Aria hesitated a moment longer before tossing it in her mouth and washing it down.

She gave Caden a pained expression, “I just don’t want there to be anything tying us together since we’re strangers now.”

Caden nodded without comment. Aria always thrived in large, dramatic gestures. She set down her glass with a sigh of resignation.

After a moment, she turned back to him, “So, what about your audition? Is it done? Did they accept you?”

“It’s tomorrow,” Caden said.

“Good. I’ll go with you for emotional support,” Aria said, glad she didn’t miss it.

Caden raised a brow, considering his sister for a long time. Finally, he nodded. There was no use arguing with her when she set her mind on something.

“So, what are you going to tell maman and dad?” Caden asked.

“What do you mean?”

“You’ve been locked in your room for two days. They know something is wrong.”

“I’ll just tell them I got a stomach bug and didn’t want to spread it to everyone else.”

He gave her a dubious look. Perhaps with another family that excuse would work. But their mother was not just anyone. She would know it was all a lie, but it was also unlikely that Macey would openly question it. No, their mother would wait until Aria was ready to talk to her.

“It’s fine. I’m fine.”

Finally, he nodded. She was trying to distract herself and get her mind off what had happened. He supposed it was all right for her to distance herself from the raw memories. They often talked about having children and starting families. Never once did they consider what it would be like to want neither.

“So, what piece are you going to play?” Aria asked.

“I was thinking Mozart.”