Chapter 1: Truth Among the Lies
A Quiet Evening
Kyle's cart slowly made its way down the familiar path leading to his home. Inside, a four-year-old girl sat quietly, the only sounds coming from the creaking of the cart and the faint noises from the surroundings.
"Papa?"
A small voice echoed in Kyle's ears, and he turned to look at the little girl beside him. His heart skipped a beat as he noticed how much she resembled someone he had lost.
Layla.
This child looked so much like her.
"What's your name?" Kyle asked softly.
"Aria."
The name struck Kyle like a thunderbolt. Aria... it was the same name as the song Layla used to hum during their happiest times. Though Layla was gone, her voice seemed to live on through this child.
---
Kyle's Home
The cart stopped in front of Kyle's house. Outside, his wife, Marianne, and their son, Leon, were waiting. Leon, now seven, was three years older than Aria. Marianne smiled when she saw Kyle, but the moment she noticed the child in his arms, her smile faded instantly.
"This child...?" Marianne asked softly, her voice trembling.
Kyle remained silent, then gently introduced Aria.
"Aria. Layla's daughter."
---
A Heavy Silence
Kyle noticed the shock on Marianne's face. Leon stared at Aria, intrigued but unsure.
"Layla?" Marianne's voice was barely above a whisper.
Kyle responded quietly, "She's gone."
Marianne's lips quivered.
Kyle couldn't bring himself to explain why Layla had died, how her daughter had ended up in his care, or what Matthias was doing now. There was a sense of helplessness in Marianne's eyes.
"I'll explain later," Kyle said, sensing Marianne's growing distress.
"Do you want to keep her here?" Marianne asked softly.
Kyle fell silent for a moment.
Aria looked up at Marianne and called out, "Mama?"
Marianne's face softened for a moment, but there was still a deep sorrow in her eyes. Kyle felt a stirring in his heart, a feeling he couldn't fully name.
---
Leon and Aria
Leon observed Aria quietly. Seeing her reminded him of his late mother, and Marianne grew even more unsettled.
"Where did you come from?" Leon asked, eyeing Aria with curiosity.
Aria looked up at him, her eyes wide, "Can Mama tell me?"
Kyle felt a tightness in his chest. Who was Aria referring to as Mama? Was it Marianne or was it Layla?
---
Marianne smiled weakly and turned back to Kyle.
"Will you think of her as your daughter?"
Kyle noticed the deep resentment in Marianne's eyes as she looked at Aria.
"This child is the daughter of the woman I loved," Marianne whispered quietly.
Kyle looked into her eyes, and for the first time, he felt an unfamiliar tension between them.
---
Matthias – Searching for What's Lost
Matthias sat still in a room, his posture calm, yet his mind was racing.
"Layla..." he muttered under his breath.
"What's Isolde doing?" Matthias asked, but his thoughts were consumed with the memory of Layla.
"Don't you care about your children?" Claudine asked, struggling to remain composed as her frustration began to boil over.
Matthias remained silent, lost in his thoughts.
---
Claudine – A Mother Who Loves, Even If She Can't Love
Claudine had once loved Matthias, but now, she only cared for their children.
"I don't want Isolde and Abel to suffer the same fate."
Matthias, however, showed no interest in his children. Could she accept this?
---
Kyle – The First to Embrace Aria as His Own
Kyle looked down at Aria, now in his arms, and gently asked, "Aria, can you call me Papa?"
Though Aria could not speak much yet, she seemed to understand and didn't hesitate.
"Where's Mama?" she asked, still not forgetting Layla.
Kyle's heart tightened. Marianne had clearly embraced Aria, but who was Aria's real mother in the end?
---
Leon – The Brother Who Truly Cares for Aria
Leon had grown fond of Aria. He couldn't help but see her as family, his own sister.
"Mama, Aria is my little sister, right?" Leon said, taking her hand gently.
Marianne remained silent, lost in her thoughts.