It had been two weeks since the incident. Aria was leaning on a cushion. She was clutching a pillow tightly. After the incident, she had decided to forget everything that happened that night and even forget about Ethan and start her life afresh. She called him a couple of times but was sent directly to voicemail.
It had been hard, but she had managed to move on. Two days ago, she was at work when she started feeling weak. She also felt like vomiting. After she went to the hospital for a checkup, it was revealed that she was pregnant.
Aria felt weak. The supposedly good news for many women; she didn't know how to feel about it. She didn't even know who impregnated her, it was a very shameful occurrence, and she didn't know how to keep up with it. She felt abandoned and dejected, causing her to see how she ended up in the wrong room that night.
Just one mistake had managed to ruin her life this much. She could not reach out to her best friend, because after she confronted her with what Ethan had told her, Stephanie did not deny it. Stephanie had repeatedly shown her disapproval of Ethan a couple of times in the past, so it was a shocking revelation to her.
Now she had decided to leave the city and go back to her parents in Pennsylvania. It was a hasty decision, but it was the only thing she could come up with at the moment. At least she wouldn't face the shame of telling people that know her in the city that she didn't know her child's father. In Pennsylvania, she could just tell people that her husband was dead. They could buy it off since no one knows her status over there.
With her mind made up, she went inside her room to pack up.
"Madam, we are here."
Aria, who was absent-minded just now, jerks up.
"Oh, is that so? Sorry I fell asleep." She apologized. She had just arrived in Pennsylvania by train a few minutes ago and took a cab to her father's house.
"Here," she paid her cab fare and alighted with her luggage.
She stood in front of the two-story modern farmhouse. This was where she grew up. She remembered how she always snuck inside her father's pickup truck to follow him to the farm, she always got scolded, and her big brother would console her till she sobered up.
"Aria!" She was still reminiscing when she got startled by the sudden call. She turned and saw it was her younger sister Trisha.
Trisha ran towards her sister and hugged her tightly, "You are back Aria, I really missed you. You have been in New York for a long time and forgot all about us." She complained.
Aria laughed and pinched her nose, "who said I had forgotten you?" She reached out and pinched her again.
"Can you stop it Aria, I'm not a kid anymore." She pouted.
"Nonsense, in my eyes you're still and will always be my baby sister. Trisha blushed, "you are very mean Aria." She yelled.
"Can you stop teasing your sister already, see how she's blushing like a newly wedded bride."
Aria looked up and saw her mother standing in front of the modern farmhouse.
"Mom" she called out unconsciously. Her mother, Mrs. Harper smiled, even in her old age she still looked very beautiful. One can tell from her looks that she was gorgeous during her younger years.
Before Mrs. Harper could not reply, she dashed forward and hugged her tightly.
"Mom," she broke out crying. She had already told her mom what had happened. The woman felt sorry for her poor daughter who had found herself in such a pickle. Plus, she never liked Ethan.
"Aria my dear, it's not the end of the world, we are your family and are always here for you. Please can you stop crying now, sweetheart, or I might be forced to join you." She teased. Aria laughed.
"Now come on in, let's go inside. Mrs. Harper led his daughter inside the house". The inside of the house looked quite modern. All the furniture was newly bought.
"Wow, seems like you and dad did a refurnishing." She exclaimed.
"Yes, much of our old furniture is already so old, so your dad and I decided to just replace everything and give the house a fresh look. What do you think of it?"
"Wow, you guys did a great job, I must say." Aria replied sincerely. "Where's father and brother?" She asked all of a sudden.
"Oh, your father, he went out of town, but he will be back soon. Your brother went to the farm. He will be back soon." She replied.
Pennsylvania is well known for agriculture and her father, Mr. Harper happens to own a huge soybean farm. He was one of the biggest soybean producers in their area and was well known.
Her mother and sister helped her with her luggage. After that, she went downstairs to chat with them in the living room. Mrs. Harper didn't want her daughter to feel so bad, so she tried her best to make her most welcome.
While they were chit-chatting, she subconsciously looked out the window and saw a black SUV trying to pack in the garage. Soon a huge and tall man came out of the car wearing only singlets.
Aria smiled blissfully when she saw the man. He was whistling loudly, looking carefree as he walked towards the house.
"Raphael keeps growing mom, will he ever stop?" She asked in wonder.
Her mother laughed, "why won't he? It would be surprising if someone with his appetite didn't continue growing."
Raphael came inside the house still whistling. He was about to greet his mother before going upstairs when he paused all of a sudden, his eyes wildly open.
Aria grinned when she saw his expression before pouting. "Are you going to just stand there gawping?"
Raphael spread his arms wide, a warm smile lighting up his face as he waited for her embrace. She stepped forward, and as she fell into his arms, he wrapped her in a bear hug, squeezing her tightly against his chest. His grip was so strong that her breath caught; she felt almost overwhelmed.
"Stop it, do you want to kill me?" She said while trying to push him away. Raphael finally released her.