Aryanna ran down the hallway hastily. She took a shot corner at the end of the route and collided with someone.
The person grabbed hold of her to prevent her from falling. Aryanna looked up to find Sebastian looking back at her. His eyes were full of worry when you noticed tears in her eyes.
"Careful there, love. You might get hurt, " an older woman standing beside Sebastian let out.
"What's wrong, dear, " Sebastian probed, sensing the panic in Aryanna. He left her for a moment to fetch his mother to meet her, he didn't anticipate that he'd meet her running for her life the next second.
Aryanna lowered her eyes, Sebastian had more faith in her than she had in herself. He trusted that she was strong and could overcome anything her enemies threw in her direction. Aryanna didn't dare to meet his gaze and let him down.
She met Carlos and broke apart. Carlos reminded her of the ill-treatment she received from him. The man broke her heart, destroyed the foundation of her trust in others, crashed her soul, and defeated her.
"Did someone hurt you?"
Aryanna senses his concerned gaze on her, she suddenly realizes what a mess she must seem to him. Sebastian leans in close, his sweet warm breath lingering next to her ear.
"Your silence is making me worried. Tell me, what's wrong, love? " he inquired softly.
Sebastian's brow suddenly darkens as he gets genuinely alarmed. Aryanna looked into his dazzling eyes, her heart pounding against the walls of her chest. Sebastian felt too good to be true for her.
She suddenly regards him through narrowed eyes as her insecurities grow by the second. Aryanna curled away from him, feeling small and unessential in his glamorous world.
"I can't do this, " Aryanna cried out.
"Do what, Ari?"
"Everything. I can't be your wife or take over your company. I'm not cut out for this, Sebastian, " she let out her worries.
The woman next to Sebastian burst into laughter. Unable to keep it in, she laughed out loud. Aryanna paused in her cries and turned to her. She pondered over her words to see what was so funny that the woman was laughing at her.
Aryanna ran her eyes from the woman to Sebastian. She saw the resemblance between them, the woman was older than her husband so she assumed he was his elder sister.
Sebastian noticed her interest in his mother's identity and spoke up, "This is my mother, Henifer Leerstrom, " he introduced her.
Aryanna broke free from his hold. She instinctively took a step back, wiped her tears, and straightened her attire. 'How could you make such a bad first impression with your mother-in-law? ' Aryanna internally scolded herself.
"Henifer, it's a pleasure to meet you, " she took Henifer's hand and lightly pressed it on her forehead to show respect.
Henifer managed to calm herself and stop laughing. "The pleasure is all mine Aryanna, " she let out warmly.
Aryanna shivered. She held her breath and waited for the harsh remarks she had to say to her. Aryanna found cruelty in all she learned of who she was and her mother's past and hence she expected cruelty from all she met.
"Sebastian told me all about you," Henifer spoke. "How are you faring with the harsh treatment that you endured dear? " she questioned.
Aryanna shot a surprised gaze at Henifer. It was the second time that someone asked her how she was feeling about the cruelty she received from others. Aryanna was speechless.
It wasn't frequent for her to get concerns from others and when she received them, there was a catch. She had no clue how to respond to Henifer's question.
"Why do you feel that you can't be his wife or run a company, " Henifer changed the subject sensing Aryanna's internal turmoil to her previous one.
Aryanna had hundreds of reasons why she couldn't live up to Sebastian's expectations of her. She feared listing them would offend him hence she only named one, "I'm not sure if Sebastian told you, but I used to be a waitress in a small coffee shop. I know nothing about... "
"Cinderella was a maid before the glass slippers came along and got her crowned as the next queen of her kingdom, " Henifer cut in. "She is proof that if the slipper fits, you should take your chance and seek a better life, dear, " she added.
Aryanna blinked in confusion. Henifer Leerstrom was nothing like the rich woman she had encountered in her life. Aryanna saw where Sebastian got his manners, he had an amazing mother.
"I don't want you to think that I'm with your son for his money, ma'am, " Aryanna openly stated.
"And why wouldn't you be with him for his money? " Henifer asked.
Aryanna was tongue-tied. The question felt like a trap, she traced her gaze to Sebastian, and the man flashed her a warm smile. One that didn't give away what his mother was trying to pull with the question she raised.
"My son has money and the ability to make more, if you don't spend that money dear then who will? " she went on to ask another question. "Understand that a money greedy wife drives a man, and motivates him to make more money. So I expect you to be with Sebastian for his money, " she added.
Aryanna felt warmth from her, Sebastian rested his hand on her backrest. Aryanna's skin buzzes at his touch.
"Don't call her ma'am, she is your mother-in-law, " he let in.
"Call me mother, dear, " Henifer pulled Aryanna away from Sebastian. She made Aryanna stand beside her. "I'm made to believe that the people that hurt you work here, is that right? "
Aryanna nodded in response. Surprisingly, Carlos and Leah worked in Sebastian's company. This explains why Carlos never invited her to his company or their parties. He never wished to have her meet Leah.
"Even more reasons you need to take the job Sebastian is offering. Show your enemies that they are wrong to believe they can break you, " Henifer advised Aryanna.
"I'm no...not strong enough, " Aryanna's voice weakened. She stuttered as the words flowed out of her lips.
"I'm sure Cinderella had her insecurities about the title that came with the slipper fitting her. But she put them on and rode away with the prince, " Henifer let out. "If a maid can become queen and rule an entire kingdom then a waitress can run a company, " she confidently added.
Aryanna pushed her anxiety deep down in her heart. Her worries blurred in the presence of the warmth her mother-in-law awarded her. They faded away replaced with a motivation to try and embrace her new life.
"Fake your strength until you become strong. Eventually, you'll grow and see that you are more than a waitress or your mother's mistake, " Henifer said, Aryanna felt her heart in her throat.
Henifer knew of her mother's past. She knew of her identity as an illegitimate child, born out of wedlock and orphaned at a young age. Yet, she treated her warmly and Aryanna failed to believe her eyes.
It was hard for people to look at her and not see her flaws. To find people who want her to thrive, and who see the potential in her. Nevertheless, her fate led her to cross paths with two amazing people who through marriage became her family.
"Promise me that you'll fight for yourself before you decide to quit, " she insisted.
"I'll try to put the slipper on... "
"Don't try, dear. Do it, " Henifer cut in. "That's the only way to get things done. "
Aryanna beamed, "I'll do it, Mother, " she couldn't conceal the confidence eluded in her voice as she assured Henifer to take her advice.
Her mother-in-law's smile widens as she throws an arm around Aryanna and she turns her attention to Sebastian. "I like her, " she gave her approval.