Chapter 6

ARIA

I fell asleep in the car after an exhausting day of work. When I opened my eyes, we weren't at our Hampton estate but parked outside Morgan family mansion. Blake glanced up from his phone.

"Victoria's back from Europe with gifts. Family gathering," he said flatly, already heading inside.

Victoria—Blake's sister who never missed a chance to remind me I didn't belong.

Inside, Victoria was showing Elizabeth something in a Chanel bag. When she spotted us, her smile disappeared. "Blake! Finally." She completely ignored me.

"Some of us actually work," Blake shot back. "Not everyone lives on Instagram."

Elizabeth turned to me with a forced smile. "Aria's been doing wonderfully at work."

Victoria snorted. "Of course she has. Housekeeper's daughter with a vegetative father, absent mother, and a husband who can't stand her. She's used to struggling."

Blake said nothing. Not one word to defend me.

Elizabeth looked horrified. "Victoria! That's enough. Aria is family!"

"Emma's back from Paris," Victoria said, staring right at me. "Who knows who'll be family soon."

Right on cue, the butler appeared. "Miss Emma Grant has arrived."

"I need the bathroom," I mumbled, practically running upstairs.

I locked myself in, thinking about sneaking out through the side door. Ten minutes later, a maid knocked.

"Mrs. Morgan, your husband says to remember your position. You're expected downstairs."

Blake wanted to torture me. But I couldn't hide forever.

Downstairs, Blake sat center table. When I entered, his eyes flicked to me once, then away.

And there she was. Emma. Radiant in white, placing food on Blake's plate with practiced intimacy. He smiled at her—a real smile that reached his eyes.

He never smiled at me that way anymore.

EMMA

"Aria!" I greeted her enthusiastically, taking her hand. "Come, sit here."

I guided her to a corner seat—far from Blake and poorly lit. I naturally took my place beside Blake in the main seat.

"I was specially invited," I told Aria softly while adding food to Blake's plate with the practiced ease of someone who'd been Mrs. Morgan for a decade. "Blake wanted us to talk."

I noticed Aria watching me serve Blake. Understanding flashed in her eyes. She must have realized I would soon become the true lady of the Morgan family, while she was merely a temporary placeholder.

Elizabeth entered carrying a tray. Seeing me serving Blake, her face hardened.

"Aria is my daughter-in-law," she said coldly. "Miss Emma, this isn't appropriate."

I stepped back gracefully, but couldn't hide the triumph in my eyes. Blake hadn't objected to my behavior. That said everything.

"My stomach feels off," Aria explained quietly, her face indeed looking pale.

Victoria, who had been watching from the side, smirked at the scene.

"Oh, our Aria isn't feeling well again?" she said acidly. "She can't even have kids. What's the point of keeping her around?

"Victoria!" Elizabeth scolded sharply. "Mind your language!"

But Victoria wasn't finished. "I'm stating facts. Three years without results. Maybe it's karma for what her father Aaron did. That's why his daughter..."

"Enough!" Elizabeth cut her off.

I clenched my fist, complex emotions rising inside me. Victoria's cruel words reminded me of why Blake and I really separated.

What no one knew was that I had been the one to break up with Blake before he got together with Aria.

Not because I didn't love him - I loved him desperately. But his feelings for me weren't deep enough.

Seven years together, yet our intimacy never went beyond holding hands and hugging. He kept a wall around his heart that I could never penetrate.

That day, I cried and suggested we break up, expecting him to fight for me, to realize what he was losing.

Instead, he nodded and handed me a check.

"I planned to spend my life caring for you as gratitude for saving me from that fire. But if you want something else, this money is my thanks."

My heart shattered completely. All his kindness toward me was merely gratitude, not love.

"Elizabeth prepared salmon soup especially for you," I smiled at Aria. "She said it's your favorite."

When the maid brought the steaming bowl, Aria's face instantly went white. She covered her mouth and rushed to the bathroom.

I "concernedly" followed her, watching as she hunched over the toilet, retching.

"You're not actually pregnant, are you?" I asked coldly.

"No... just upset stomach... work stress..." she stammered unconvincingly.

She'd been secretly in love with Blake for ten years, which already disgusted me. Now she planned to trap him with a baby? Delusional.

"Rest, then. I'll get you something milder," I said.

But I lurked outside, watching through the door crack. When Aria returned to the table, she avoided the salmon soup completely, eating only pickles and spicy appetizers.

Pregnancy cravings for sour and spicy foods. Evidence confirmed.

Perfect. Aria was pregnant and obviously hadn't told Blake. This was exactly the leverage I needed.

I found Blake reading in the living room and displayed my most charming self.

"Paris pastries made me gain weight," I twirled to show off my figure. "Elizabeth keeps pressuring Aria for grandchildren. If I hadn't prioritized my dance career back then... we could've been so happy now, right?"

"Having children changes a woman's body," Blake responded tenderly. "You deserved your own career."

I tested carefully: "If I married you and had your children, would that make you happy?"

"If you bore my children, I would certainly be happy," he answered, looking straight at me.

Exactly the response I wanted.

Just then, I noticed Aria's shadow by the stairs. She stood frozen with a tray in her hands, clearly having heard everything.

I raised my voice deliberately: "You're so good to me, Blake. I knew you'd support me."

Watching her pause and then hurry away, I felt immense satisfaction. Let her hear Blake's words herself. Let her understand that she and her unborn child meant nothing to him.

But Blake's next words wiped the smile from my face.

"Emma, you saved my life. I won't hurt you. I'll grant whatever makes you happy, within my power."

So that's it. His kindness came purely from gratitude, believing I'd saved him. Not love—repayment of a debt!

The ten-year-old lie had become my prison.

During that fire, Christine pulled me out while Aria stayed inside.

When rescuers carried out unconscious Blake and Aria, I instantly decided he had to be mine.

"I saved him," I declared to everyone. "I went back in for him!"

Aria was in shock and couldn't contradict me. By the time she regained consciousness, it was too late. Conveniently, Aria lost her memory of the rescue. Her mother and I got our story straight - we told Aria she had fallen down the stairs while playing and suffered a severe spinal injury. Using this lie as cover, I stole the credit that rightfully belonged to the person who had saved my life.

People believed me—the noble heiress—over a housekeeper's daughter. How could Aria ever deserve the Morgan family?

At midnight, I sat alone in my room. I kept replaying everything that happened today.

Blake's kindness was just gratitude, not love. This brutal truth made breathing difficult. Worse still, Aria was pregnant without telling Blake.

Was she trying to secure her position in the Morgan household? I couldn't let her succeed!

I remembered the fire ten years ago and the lie I told. If Blake learned the truth—that Aria saved him, not me—I'd lose him forever.

Now Aria carried Blake's child. Once born, my chances would vanish. Elizabeth would favor Aria more, and Blake would value their marriage because of the child.

No. I couldn't let this happen.

I grabbed my phone and dialed a number.

"It's me," I whispered. "Proceed with our plan. Remember, make it look convincing."