As Aria and Jack chatted, the family suddenly arrived, filling her room. Aria was taken aback, touched that they cared so deeply. Her eyes welled up with tears when Daniel walked in with flowers, a thoughtful gesture that deeply moved her.
"Aren't these lovely?" Daniel said with a smile.
Overcome, Aria struggled to find words. "Thank you... everyone," she stammered, her voice trembling. "My baby and I are doing fine."
Aiden burst into the hospital room, holding a knife to Dr. Max's neck. Aria's eyes widened in horror.
"Aiden, what are you doing?" Jack demanded.
"Come on, confess now," Aiden sneered, pressing the knife closer to Dr. Max's neck. "The truth...I want to tell you all about the IVF."
Aria's heart sank. She couldn't let Aiden reveal her secret.
"Get out of here, Aiden! No one will listen to you," she warned, trying to stay calm. "And I've already called the police. Leave now, while you still can."
Aiden laughed menacingly. "Aria, haven't you told everyone you're not Isa, but Aria? You pretended to lose your memory."
The room fell silent, with all eyes on Aria. Jack's mother, Mrs. Hilda, grasped Aria's hand.
"Is what he's saying true?" Mrs. Hilda asked gently.
Aria pushed her hand away. "Yes, it's true. I pretended to lose my memory, but I had my reasons."
Aiden interrupted, his voice dripping with malice. "Dr. Max, why don't you tell them the child Aria is carrying is Jack's, not mine?"
The room erupted into chaos. Jack stormed out, his face twisted in shock and anger. Ivy and Daniel looked on, stunned.
Dr. Max took a deep breath. "There was a mistake with the IVF. The child Aria carries is indeed Jack's, and the child Allison has given birth to is Aiden's."
Aria's eyes welled up with tears. The room emptied, leaving only Mrs. Hilda.
"Aria, I welcome you into our family. You're carrying Jack's child. Why didn't you tell us?" Mrs. Hilda asked, tears in her eyes.
Aria's voice trembled. "If you're done, then leave. Jack doesn't deserve this joy after betraying me. Please, leave me alone."
Mrs. Hilda departed, understanding etched on her face. Aria shattered, screaming and scattering hospital equipment. Aiden had ruined her plan.
Aria's world crumbled around her. She had lost control of the situation, and her secrets were now exposed. The hospital room, once a sanctuary, felt like a prison.
As she wept, memories flooded her mind: the pain of Jack's betrayal, the struggle to conceal her identity, and the desperation to protect her unborn child.
The door creaked open, and Dr. Max entered, his expression somber. "Aria, I'm sorry. I should have been more careful with the IVF records."
Aria wiped her tears, her voice barely above a whisper. "It's not your fault, Doctor. Aiden manipulated everything."
Dr. Max nodded. "We'll increase security and ensure Aiden doesn't harm you or your baby. But, Aria, you need to talk to Jack. He has a right to know about his child."
Aria's heart sank. Jack's anger and hurt were palpable. Could she face him now?
Just then, the door swung open, and Jack stood in the doorway, his eyes blazing with emotion.
"Aria," he said, his voice low and husky, "we need to talk."
Allison gazed lovingly at her premature baby in the incubator, tears of joy streaming down her face. She had won—won Jack's heart and become a mother.
Aiden entered, his smile sinister. "Congratulations, Allison."
Allison wiped away tears, wary. "What do you want?"
Aiden chuckled. "I want my child."
Allison laughed, confident. "She's my child, Jack's child. You're not her father."
Aiden's grin widened. "Look Allison ...you were carrying my child all along. She's my daughter, Elias's sibling."
Allison's world crumbled. She burst into tears, shouting, "Get out! You're a criminal! I won't lose Jack!"
She pushed Aiden away and rushed downstairs to find Jack. But as she approached him, Aria intercepted.
Aiden gazed at the baby, his eyes filled with determination. "I'll take my daughter, no matter what."
Jack stood, frozen, between Aria and Allison, unaware of the storm brewing.
"Allison, can you give us a minute?" Jack asked, his voice low and even.
Allison's eyes narrowed, her face reddening. "I'm not going anywhere, Jack. You think I don't know what's going on?"
Aria's smile was laced with bitterness. "You should be resting, Allison. You just gave birth."
Jack's grip on Aria's arm tightened. "Enough, both of you. Aria, how long have you known you were pregnant?"
Aria's gaze dropped, her voice barely above a whisper. "Two months."
Jack's eyes widened, his face pale. "You're carrying my child and you didn't tell me?"
Aria's laughter was tinged with pain. "You don't deserve to know, Jack. You cheated on me, lied to me, ruined my music career. You and Allison planned it all along, didn't you?"
The hospital room seemed to shrink, the air thick with tension. Allison's tears fell silently, her body trembling.
Aria's hand slipped into her pocket, fingers closing around a small knife. Jack's grip on her arm tightened.
"Let go of me, Jack," Aria warned, her voice low and deadly.
Jack's eyes locked onto hers, filled with regret. "Aria, please..."
Aria's knife flashed in the fluorescent light, slicing through Jack's sleeve, nicking his skin. He released her, his face contorted in pain.
The sound of Allison's sobbing filled the room. Aria's eyes blazed with fury.
"You hurt me, Jack. Now it's your turn to bleed," Aria spat, her voice cracking.
Jack's eyes pleaded for forgiveness. "Aria, believe me...I have always loved you, and it will never change the fact that I still love you.
Aria's face twisted in disgust. "You love me? You don't even know what love is."
The hospital room door swung open, and Jack stormed out, leaving Aria and Allison amidst the shattered remains of their lives.
"How dare you get close to him?" Allison spat, walking towards Aria with her raised hand.
Aria intercepted, her eyes flashing. "Don't you dare raise your hand" She slapped Allison's face, the sound echoing.
Allison's eyes widened, shock and anger mingling.
"You know what?" Aria seethed, grasping Allison's hair. "I know you orchestrated the stair incident. The oil, the fall... You wanted to harm my child!"
Allison's smile sent chills down Aria's spine.
"Report yourself to the police," Aria demanded. "You shot Liam. You're guilty."
Allison's smirk grew. "What proof do you have?"
Aria laughed, cold and hard. "I don't need proof. Jack will turn on you. You're wrong, Allison. Apologize for hurting Liam. He was innocent."
Allison's face twisted, and she pushed Aria. Daniel intervened, catching Aria before she fell.
As Aria regained balance, Allison seized her hair, pulling viciously.
"Let go of her," Daniel warned, his voice firm.
Allison sneered. "She pulled my hair; she should know how it feels. She thinks she's won, but this isn't over."
With a final push, Allison stormed off, leaving Aria shaken.