"And what gave you that idea? Do you think I cared about my fake father? My mother had already told me the truth about my real father when I turned ten. I always knew who my real father was. I could’ve inherited so much wealth if only you didn’t appear and ruin everything. Do you even know how much I’ve lost thanks to you?"

Aren was struck by lightning as soon as heard that, emotions raging inside his chest.

"Y-You always... knew?..." he murmured, disbelief written all over his face.

He wanted to deny what he had just heard.

"Ugh, you’ve ruined my mood. I’m leaving." Ariana cursed and left with an annoyed expression.

Selene too went on her way.

The only one left remaining standing was him.

The father who realized just how pitiful he was.

The father who understood all his daughter’s love for him was an act.

The father who realized why her behavior had changed after she turned ten. 𝐟𝕣𝕖𝐞𝐰𝕖𝚋𝐧𝗼𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝗰𝐨𝐦

The father who figured out why his daughter seemed closer to his best friend.

Hah... What a pitiful father he was...

He then moved, hiding the pain in his chest.

He moved towards the exit, leaving behind the plate of food on the table as students watched his back in confusion.

Maybe he was heading for the washroom, many thought.

But no...

He exited the campus, holding himself together just enough to not break into tears.

{Aren’s perspective}

I moved with heavy steps, my heart aching continuously.

My eyes were flickering with tears which I held barely from falling down.

My lips, which quivered with emotions, I pressed them together to not show the storm of emotions raging inside me.

I took out my phone with trembling hands, calling Arol.

As the ringing echoed in my ears, I took deep breaths, bracing myself to speak through the choking emotions.

"Hello boss."

"Arol. Get the car." My voice was shaky, requiring a lot of effort to just speak small sentences. "I’m leaving."

"Yes boss."

As I reached the gate, the security guard asked for the photo which I had promised him when I entered.

I looked at him with a broken smile on my face.

I knew that if I speak right now, I might not be able to stop myself from sobbing.

Thus, seeing the hopeful eyes of the guard, I nodded with that forced smile.

The guard’s eyes lit up with excitement as he approached me with his phone.

He opened the camera and got close to me for a selfie.

It was then I noticed my expression.

My eyes were teary, but other than that, I had managed to hide my emotions pretty well.

With a minimalist, solemn smile, I allowed him to take the selfie.

Once he was done, he looked at the picture as if it was a treasure, whereas I could only focus on my expression in that photo.

It was faint, but if anyone paid attention, they could notice the sadness in my eyes.

If they tried to see more than just my face, they would see the effort with which I was holding my broken smile.

Until now, I had forced myself, refraining from thinking about what Ariana said. I knew that once I began to think about it, the emotions inside me would burst out like a volcano.

I at least needed a private space before I could let out my emotions.

Wrooom!

At this moment, my luxury car arrived to pick me up.

I opened the door and entered the back seat.

"Where to, boss?" Arol asked with a cheerful smile.

"Back to my hotel." I said, my voice cracking at the edges. "Also, I’ll be rehearsing an emotional scene. Don’t be startled or disturb me."

"I understand, boss."

Once I got the nod from Arol, I let my thoughts flow freely.

’Aria, you...’

Memories flashed in my mind.

Her smile—Fake!

Her affectionate voice calling me papa—All an act!

’I could give my everything to you.’

’I could give my life, my soul, my very being to see you happy...’

’And yet... yet... I was...’

’Just what am I?’

’What the fuck am I?’

I screamed in my heart, tears streaming down my face.

’I was true to her...’

’I loved her more than anyone or anything...’

’So why?’

’Just what more do you want from me?’

’What have I not given you?’

’Just because he is your biological father... all my love doesn’t hold meaning?’

"Hah!"

My breathing grew heavy, almost as if I was having difficulty breathing.

I rubbed my forehead, my face contorting to let more tears wet my cheeks.

’Why is this happening to me?’

’First, I was betrayed by Amelia...’

’Now, even Aria too?’

’Was I a demon in my past life?’

’What heinous crimes have I committed god?’

’What have I done to deserve this?’

I cried, hiding my face with my palm.

The low sobs echoed in the car alongside my shaky breathing.

Arol, however, thought of them as part of my acting.

Meanwhile, my chest ached, my throat was choked with emotions, feeling like lump that didn’t allow me to speak anymore even if I wanted to.

I gulped continuously, trying to feel liberated of that lump, but alas, it remained aching as my thoughts continued.

’Wait!’

My eyes widened as I realized another thing.

’So she knew Amelia was betraying me.’

’She also knew that Neil was meeting Amelia behind my back.’

’Now that I think about it, wasn’t Arol with Aria?’

’Arol was one person who wouldn’t betray me no matter what, so to get him out of the way for Juan Moss... there was only one way.’

’Force him to leave.’

’Aria insisted me on that day to let Arol come with her.’

’She didn’t want any other bodyguard.’

’But I never suspected a thing.’

’Hah. What a fool I was.’

’So she knew that I would be killed by Neil...’

’and yet...’

I bit my lower lip.

’She helped them...’

’She helped them kill me...’

As that realization struck me, my whole body trembled.

My face contorted painfully and I clenched my trembling fists.

My tears flowed without any breaks.

It hurt more than being betrayed by Amelia.

It hurt more than even getting rammed by the truck and dying.

Even a thousand deaths might not be able inflict this much agony on my heart.

’Should I just die?’

’For what am I even living?’

’My wife wasn’t mine.’

’My daughter wasn’t mine.’

’What is even left?’

’What am I even fighting for?’

’If something wasn’t mine in the first place, do I have the right to take revenge on the person who took those things away from me?’

’Didn’t Amelia and Aria belong to Neil in the first place?’

’I was just a fool...’

’A fool who mistook another’s family as my own.’

-----------------------------------

(A/N - I would like to share how this turn of event came to my mind.

At first, Ariana was supposed to be innocent and I planned for some romance maybe.

But then, esteemed reader, Katanka, arrived in the review section.

He called the daughter a useless addition to the story and she ruined it for him.

So thanks to him, I began thinking, and then arrived at this twist.

If you liked this path of the story, you can thank Katanka in the review section.

And if you hate it, you can curse him too.

Just felt like sharing.

Thanks for reading. ^..^)