The Next morning
Allison stood in the kitchen, her mind racing with schemes to eliminate Aria, the obstacle blocking her path. Her gaze landed on a can of oil, and a sinister plan began to form.
Just then, Ivy entered the kitchen to grab a glass of water. She noticed Allison holding the can but thought nothing of it.
As Ivy turned to leave, she stumbled on the staircase, causing the can to spill its contents.
"Since you're here, Aria will lose something," Allison muttered to herself. "I won't let you steal Jack from me, never."
The family had already gathered at the dinner table.
Allison descended the stairs, resplendent in her black gown.
Aria followed, dressed in white, preoccupied with her plan to confront Aiden.
As Aria reached the staircase, Allison's smile faltered.
Aria's foot slipped on the spilled oil.
She grasped Allison's hand, and together they tumbled down the stairs.
Aria's world went dark.
Allison screamed, clutching her stomach in agony.
---
At City Hospital, Mrs. Hilda accompanied Jack, her son, to the emergency room. Jack's friends, Leah, Leo, Daniel, and Ivy, followed closely, concerned about Aria and Allison.
Ivy's eyes narrowed, suspicion etched on her face. "Something's off about Allison."
Austin, hiding his true identity as Liam, anxiously awaited news about Aria.
In the operating theater, Allison lay unconscious, her pain evident. Doctors rushed to deliver her baby prematurely.
Meanwhile, Aria fought for her life. Bleeding and battered, she clung to her unborn child. Doctors worked tirelessly, bandaging her forehead and stabilizing her condition.
"Aria's baby is viable," a doctor announced, "but she needs rest."
Aria remained unconscious, her fate uncertain.
Daniel approached Jack, his voice low. "Choose, Jack: Allison or Aria?"
Jack's silence spoke volumes.
Ivy intervened, her tone firm. "Daniel, stop. This isn't the time."
Allison gave birth to a healthy baby, placed in an incubator. Mrs. Hilda and the others rejoiced.
Leah and Leo exchanged worried glances. "Aria's still unconscious," Leah whispered.
Austin's anxiety intensified, his secret weighing heavily.
Aiden's mind raced, consumed by desperation. He couldn't let Aria expose him. He had already silenced his mother, Mrs. Amelia, in cold blood. His father remained captive, a constant threat to his freedom.
"If I eliminate Aria, no one will ever know," Aiden thought, his eyes scanning the hospital.
He knew Jack's loyalty would waver if he discovered the truth. Aiden's grip on his secrets began to slip.
"I need to act fast," he muttered, plotting his next move.
Aiden's thoughts were interrupted by the sound of hospital staff rushing past.
"Nurse, how's Aria?" Jack asked, anxiety etched on his face.
"Still critical, but stable," the nurse replied.
Aiden's eyes narrowed. "She can't wake up. Not now."
He slipped away, lost in thought.
Aiden crept into Aria's hospital room, knife in hand. Aria's eyes snapped open, and she grabbed the blade, her hand bleeding.
"You're mad!" Aria exclaimed.
Aiden sneered, "I hate that you look like Isa. You know the truth, and you must die."
He pinned Aria's hand, knife to her neck. "Please, don't hurt me," Aria begged.
Aiden snarled, "You deserve to die, and that child isn't mine; it's Jack's."
Austin burst in, pushing Aiden away and punching him.
"Aria, are you okay?" Austin asked.
Aria nodded, still shaken.
Austin tended to her bleeding hand, tearing his shirt to create a makeshift bandage.
"Who are you?" Aria asked.
Austin revealed his identity, removing his mask.
Aria's eyes widened, "Liam? But you died!"
Tears streamed down their faces as they hugged.
Austin explained, "I was the masked man at the party."
Their lips met in a passionate kiss.
Footsteps approached, and Aria whispered, "Hide!"
Austin vanished into the shadows as Jack entered.
Jack's eyes narrowed, "Aria, what's going on?"
Aria's heart raced, concealing Austin's presence.
Aiden crept into Aria's hospital room, knife in hand. Aria's eyes snapped open, and she grabbed the blade, her hand bleeding.
"You're mad!" Aria exclaimed.
Aiden sneered, "I hate that you look like Isa. You know the truth, and you must die."
He pinned Aria's hand, knife to her neck. "Please, don't hurt me," Aria begged.
Aiden snarled, "You deserve to die, and that child isn't mine; it's Jack's."
Austin burst in, pushing Aiden away and punching him.
"Aria, are you okay?" Austin asked.
Aria nodded, still shaken.
Austin tended to her bleeding hand, tearing his shirt to create a makeshift bandage.
"Who are you?" Aria asked.
Austin revealed his identity, removing his mask.
Aria's eyes widened, "Liam? But you died!"
Tears streamed down their faces as they hugged.
Austin explained, "I was the masked man at the party."
Their lips met in a passionate kiss.
Footsteps approached, and Aria whispered, "Hide!"
Austin vanished into the shadows as Jack entered.
Jack's eyes narrowed, "Aria, what's going on?"
Aria's heart raced, concealing Austin's presence.
Aria's eyes blazed with fury as Jack approached. "Leave me alone, Jack."
The fluorescent lights above cast an eerie glow on Jack's confused face.
"What's wrong, Aria?" Jack asked, his voice laced with concern.
Aria's voice dripped with venom. "You think I'd forget? I've remembered everything."
The beeping of monitors and muffled hospital chatter faded into the background.
"You're the father of this child," Aria spat, her hand on her belly.
Jack's eyes widened.
Austin emerged from the shadows, his presence commanding attention.
"I'm Liam," he declared, his voice firm.
Aria's gaze locked onto Jack's. "You and Allison will pay for what you did."
The scent of antiseptic and fresh linen filled the air, contrasting with the toxic tension.
"You destroyed my life," Aria hissed. "Now, it's my turn."
Jack's face paled.
Allison's voice echoed from the doorway. "Jack, what's going on?"
Aria's smile twisted. "Your downfall has just begun."
The sound of monitors escalated, mirroring the rising tension.
Austin stepped closer, his eyes burning with determination.
"We'll make them suffer," he whispered to Aria.
Aria's laughter sent chills down Jack's spine.
The hospital room transformed into a battleground.
Aria's gaze snapped back to reality. Jack stood alone, concern etched on his face.
"Aria, what's wrong?" Jack asked softly.
The hospital room's sterile silence enveloped her. No Austin, no confrontation.
Aria's mind reeled. Was it just a dream?
She rubbed her temples, trying to shake off the vivid hallucination.
"Nothing, Jack," Aria whispered, her voice barely audible.
Jack's eyes narrowed. "You're scaring me, Aria."
Aria forced a weak smile. "Just tired."
The machines surrounding her beeped steadily, a stark contrast to her racing thoughts.
As Jack's eyes lingered, Aria wondered: Was her subconscious warning her?
Or was it just a desperate cry for justice?
Aria's thoughts swirled, her grip on reality tenuous.
Suddenly, the door creaked open. Ivy entered, carrying a bouquet.
"Hey, Aria! Thought these might cheer you up."
Aria's gaze drifted from Ivy's warm smile to Jack's worried expression.
How much longer could she keep her secrets hidden?