The convenient marriage - Chapter 45: Chapter 45

Six years ago
A large iron forged intricate gate preventing entrance to all uninvited guests, a long alley bordered by the most beautiful colored flowers , delicate crafted fountains every here and there picking out from behind the clusters of luscious vegetation, an impressive French chateau styled mansion, with an even more intimidating interior design predominated by gilded golden marble motifs and antique pieces of mahogany furniture.
As opposed to an adult, all these would have never mattered to the young nine years old Aileen, who had been utterly terrified of being separated from her parents.
The sparkling diamond like chandeliers, the expensive paintings hanging on the walls unguarded, the meticulous servants that had led her to the spacious well lit living room, those would have never felt that important to the child who was accustomed to an almost similar style of living.
But this would have been how the nine years old Aileen would have felt. Well, for the eighteen years old Aileen "the almost similar" style of living was actually miles apart.
The current house she was in, was at least two times larger than her own. The newly bought mahogany furniture her mother had just renovated their own home with, could not be compared to the hand crafted items that felt more like pieces of art rather than objects used to decorate and store things. The commercial paintings and sculptures of living commissioned artists, how could they measure up to the famous pieces of sculptures and ancient paintings from decades if not centuries ago.
Feeling the sparkling of the general view hurting and pricking her eyes, as she had more and more understood what she had let slip out from her grasp, the young woman Aileen could barely maintain the still friendly smile and polite bearing, as she seemingly confident took her seat on the couch.
'Aileen, I'm so happy you are here!' A beautiful budding young girl's voice boomed happily at the sight if her cousin, just as the latter was trying to recollect herself.
It had been nine years since Jillian had been adopted by the old master Langdon of the main family. A period of time in which she had been showered with the best care, the best education, the best of everything, the one who was stealing another person's life and another's future.
Even the obvious grumpy old master had fallen under the conniving Jillian's charms, and had turned softer and friendlier because of her intrusion in the mansion. At least this was what Patricia, her mother, had informed her. Though Aileen could hardly tell what was there so special about Jillian that she could manage such a feat.
'Jillian, there you are. I've missed you.' Aileen appreciated as her smile grew larger, and she brightly held out her hands for her cousin.
Happy at the familiarity Aileen was displaying, Jillian immediately responded to her gesture and also rose her hands for the former to take. She did not notice at all, that even though so many years had already passed since her name was changed to Aria, Aileen still had yet to change her way of addressing her.
But even though she was not aware of it, the servants, who were just placing sweets and tea on the table for the ladies to enjoy, were already frowning at the disrespect. The master had already adopted the young miss as the young lady of the house. He was going to have her inherit all the fortune of the Langdon family, with only a few conditions in exchange, the main one being that Jillian had to be called Aria. Thus the lady should have corrected her cousin's words.
'Miss Aileen, please address the lady accordingly. She is no longer Jillian Monroe.' The butler informed just as he entered the living room.
While the normal servants could not say anything to Aileen, the old man who had been by the master's side for so many years already, naturally had a different standing between them.
'Ahh... Yes, you are right. I am sorry, Aria.' Aileen immediately paled a bit because of the embarrassing reminder and quickly changed the appellative.
'It's alright. You did not mean to. It's such a beautiful day, let's take a walk in the garden.' Jillian offered, wanting to defuse the slightly tensed situation.
She had never cared what name she was called by, and thus did not notice or tried to correct Aileen. In fact, if she were to choose... naturally she had wanted to be called by the name her mother and father picked for her, so it even delighted her that Aileen had said her name.
But for some reason unbeknownst to her, the grandfather that had been caring for her all these years was adamant about her being called Aria. The old man was a stern person, but he was quite caring towards her, so she had become fond of him and respected his wishes. As such, she only brushed the matter off, but did not question the butler or scolded him for intervening in the discussion.
'It's quite a stuffy atmosphere in this house. I do not know how you can live in this environment. You should just come back home, no amount of money is worth it. Mom and dad also miss you terribly.' Aileen sighed relieved, taking a deep breath of the flowery fresh air of the garden. She could only now speak her "true" mind, without others watching their interaction.
'It's not about the money. Grandfather, although he is a somber and taciturn person, he is just like another family member to me. And I am truly happy here.' Jillian appreciated smiling a bit to reassure her cousin.
Although she was close to her uncle, his wife and Aileen, and the three had always showed concerned to her each time she saw them, she had always felt out of place in their house when she had lived there. With so many years passed since then, she did not know exactly what had made her feel like this, this inexplicable alienation from them, but with her adoptive grandfather such a distance never existed.
Perhaps it was because the three were already a close tight family between themselves, and she felt they were not her own, not her own family, like she was not included in their inner circle. As opposed to them, the old master Langdon had no one else but her. Maybe this was why she had felt closer to the grumpy old man, he was just as lonely as she was.
'Are you truly happy, Jillian?' Aileen frowned sadly looking with a worried face towards her cousin.
'Of course I am, Aileen. You are too worried about me. You always say the same thing.' Jillian giggled and shook her head from side to side in a playful manner. Her cousin would always ask her to return to the Langdon branch family and live with them again.
'I know I always say it, but this time...' Aileen sighed again, but it was not the same relieved gesture from before. Her deep breath felt littered with worry this time, as though there was something heavy weighing on her chest and heart.
'What do you mean?' Jillian asked a bit uncertain, because of her troubled look.
'Have you never wondered why the old master is so insistent on calling you Aria? Look, even the butler reprimanded me just now because of the appellative I used.' Aileen answered looking directly into Jillian's eyes, trying to make sure she had gotten the latter curious enough to continue the conversation.
'Perhaps it's just a name he picked out, he might have thought it was a means to detach the person he selected from their past. There was also a rumor from the maids that his daughter liked that name very much because of her love for the piano. She had wanted to name her child like that. Who knows...' Jillian reasoned as they approached the small gazebo and finally settled on an iron small bench.
'Jillian... it's not. I... dad, he found out why the old master selected that name, because he was too worried about you. Eliza Langdon did not select the name for a future child. Jillian, she chose the name for a baby she already gave birth to years ago. The name you have now is that baby's name. You are just used by the old master as a replacement for the granddaughter he does not have by his side.' Aileen slowly recounted, but with a grave determined tone.
Her worried and heartfelt concern was prevalent on her face's every change of expression. Pitifulness towards Jillian, unfairness on her behalf, sadness... all of them were deeply etched on her fair visage.
'Ohh...' Was the only sound Jillian gave in reply to her words, as the word replacement was for the very first time understood in its entirety by her mind and heart.
'That's it? Jillian this is not a simple matter.' Aileen frowned even more, showing an even deeper sentiment of unfairness than before. Perhaps she wouldn't be this upset, if it was her own problem... her expression seemed to say.
'If there truly is a real granddaughter, we should be happy for the old master. He has been lonely..' Jillian reasoned regaining her composure, despite Aileen losing hers.
To be a replacement did not sit well with her at all, she of course wanted to be loved for who she was. It was not about the fortune she might lose, if the real heiress returned... but for the place she had barely made for herself, for the house she was calling home and the old man she had thought of as her grandfather.
Despite her private feelings towards the matter, she really wanted for the grumpy old man to become happier. She knew just how sad he was feeling without his daughter, if he could find them, then she would be alright with it.
'He has been lonely? What about you, Jillian? What about what you have worked so hard towards until now? And it's not only this what my father found out. He also found out that Eliza Langdon is already dead from a long time ago, and that even her daughter should be dead too.' Jillian spoke aggrieved again, as she checked with the corner of her eyes the slight brightness that faintly appeared on Jillian's pale face.
It was clear that the news relieved her heart. Just as Aileen had expected. Fluctuating her ignorant cousin's emotions bit by bit worked like a charm. If she had told all the information at once, it wouldn't have had the same effect.
'But even then, the old master has not made you the rightful inheritor yet. You know why?' Aileen continued her meaning, as Jillian had yet to respond to her previous words.
'It's because even though he is convinced that they are dead, the Blacks family leader is not. Victoria Black is still searching for the real Aria's whereabouts, and the old master is silently approving of it. On the surface he gave up searching for even her grave, he also adopted another child, but he let Victoria search still.
And what do you make of Victoria's intentions Jillian? She accepted you as a future daughter in law, but she searches for the real Aria? If you will get married in the future to her son, and she finds the real girl at that time, will she force you to divorce? Are you just a temporary solution in their eyes? Will they make you give up even your husband, when the real Aria comes back?
And what about the girl who returns, if she indeed is not dead... will that woman accuse you of stealing her life? Will she turn them all against you my dear cousin?' Aileen finished her words as big teardrops finally fell from her eyes.
The sparkling drops of water covered her eyes almost in their entirety, but Aileen could clearly see through her hazy eyes that her goal was achieved.
It would appear that it was quite easy to make the naive Jillian reject all of their feelings and intentions. To make her doubt each and every one of them.
At this point, Aileen had not met Zane yet, she had not known how the future husband of Jillian was like, otherwise she would have tried harder to impede the marriage from happening at all. She was just not satisfied to see Jillian live a better life, when the latter was clearly inferior to her.
For six years Aileen and her parents had subtly managed to create a barrier inside Jillian's heart. They made her doubtful of the true intentions of the old master Langdon, wary of Victoria's true thoughts, and hateful of the marriage that would take place.
She had become a cold sharp person who cared for nothing but the fortune she was supposed to inherit, in her fear of being replaced. After all, if the real Aria was ever to appear, she would most likely take back the life that was meant for her.
Present time
Years had passed since that time, Jillian had become less fearful of Aria's sudden appearance. But her displeasure had remained the same, and the branch family's influence only increased as they appeared to stand by her side in the supposed appearance of the true Aria.
'You haven't left for your home yet?' Aileen asked seemingly surprised, just as Aria even more shaken than the former was exiting a toilet cubicle.
'We will go now. I just needed to use the bathroom.' The small woman slowly affirmed, and having no other choice, moved towards the next sink Aileen was in front of, and started to wash her hands.
'Jillian, how are you in the Blacks mansion? Are you truly alright there?' Aileen asked suddenly, without the slightest hint of unfamiliarity.
With or without her memories, she should still be easily controllable, Aileen acknowledged inside her mind mockingly, though her face seemed littered with an easy discernable worry.
'Yes. Of course I am.' Aria replied slowly, uncertain of what Aileen was hinting at. As opposed to the Jillian from before, Aria of course would not feel the same concern from Aileen, thus the effect the latter thought she would have on her cousin also did not appear. But unaware of the different soul inside Jillian's body, Aileen would not realize this fact so quickly.
'Are you really?' Aileen asked again with an almost quivering voice, as her mouth seemed to want to release a long held sigh.
'It would be great if that were true...' The emerald eyed beauty affirmed vaguely, her words appearing to be without a sure and firm conclusion.
'It is true.' Aria replied again a bit more forceful than before. She couldn't put her finger on why she couldn't get the warmth of a family from Aileen, in spite of the obvious care the latter displayed towards her, but she really felt reticent towards her instinctively.
For some odd reason, she felt as though Aileen wanted for her to not fit well with the Black family with her repeated questions, rather than alleviate her concern for her family member.
'Jillian...' Aileen tried to ask another question with the same tone unassured by Aria's reply, when her words were briskly cut.
'Aria!' The usual mellow tone that would hardly fluctuate in the presence of foreign people became suddenly determined because of the appellative she was called by.
'What?' Aileen baffled managed to utter with difficulty. Not even the Jillian from before ever used such a sharp voice with her, no matter how cold she was with other people.
'My name is Aria, not Jillian.' Even Aria herself was surprised by her own sharpness, but still maintained her firm stance.
For other people like the Langdon branch family, perhaps she would always be known as Jillian, but her name was Aria, it was the only thing that she felt was her own and she did not want to lose it... this last thing that defined her and linked her with her true self. It had been a blessing for her to have the same name as the host, even if she found out later on that the host was only renamed as such later on. Everyone around her called her Aria this whole time, so it felt even weirder to be called something else.
She also liked, better said loved, that the one she had fallen in love with would call her by her true name. If in the future Aileen might say that name with Zane in the area, he might start using it too, thinking she would prefer using her birth name instead. And there really wouldn't be any real valid reasons to refuse him.
'You always liked it in the past. It reminded you of your origin, now to deny it...' The surprise on Aileen's face did not need to be faked at all, it was after all the only reaction that had been the same as her inner thoughts throughout this whole exchange.
'The past is the past. My name is Aria Black and will always be Aria Black.' Aria again strengthened her words with a graver tone. And feeling as though she needed to get away from Aileen before she slipped up her words, she quickly grabbed a paper towel and wanted to bypass the latter on her way to the door.
'Whether you are named Aria or Jillian, either way you are not the real one. You are someone the old master brought in to replace his granddaughter perhaps in a fit of loneliness. But at the end of the day the only ones who care about you are my parents and I.' Aileen spoke assuming a bit of a harsher tone, making Aria waver in her steps.
Seeing this, naturally Aileen continued to increase the doubt in the latter's mind. After all, she knew best which strings she needed to pull to make Jillian unsure of her beliefs. Aileen had no way to know that Aria had reacted to the words "the true one" because of her soul, not the adoption.
'Jillian, deliberately or not, we were kept in the dark with matters of you waking up from the coma. Ask yourself why was there a need for that? And although you do not want to admit it, you have forgotten about the past.
I can see it from your gestures, from your expression. Tell me, has Zane tried to help you regain those memories? He hasn't, I bet. Because a memoryless Jillian is better manipulated. In the office the other day he took me away from you expressly, he even warned me to stay away from you. And now at the table they also shielded you from speaking to us directly.
If he isn't hiding something, there would be no need for that. Don't trust him too much, you might regret it later.' She finally concluded, keeping her intent tone from her first word to her last.
'When I woke up from the coma, the first one there was Zane. When I needed support for readjusting to a normal life after the accident, it was still Zane the one who helped me. He has been the one taking care of me this whole time, the one who cares most about me. So I am sorry, but I will have to believe him first, in the detriment of everyone else, including a family who had never once visited me, despite their claim of being the ones who care most for my well-being.'
Remembering the words Zane had mentioned to her, that in the future there might be people trying to take advantage of her connection to the Black family, and also knowing that the one who has supported her all the way had been Zane, naturally Aria was not about to listen to Aileen's slandering words.
Especially since Zane had never lied to her about anything. He had always explained to her everything in a calm and understanding manner. So she would never doubt Zane just because of someone's claims. If he was really trying to keep her away from everyone else, it was only because he was protecting her, nothing more than that.
'Jillian...' Aileen desperately wanted to try to reason more with Aria, as her mind wandered to the handbag which held a conclusive proof that Zane was really hiding something from Aria. It was after all the catalyst which could demonstrate that Zane had lied to her, and that he was capable of even more lies. She could even make it that in fact everything had been one huge lie based on that single piece of document.
This single moment of hesitation due to her remembering her father's warnings and becoming fearful of the consequences, made Aileen silent for a second and thus lose sight of Aria's presence. Realizing this in the next moment, she quickly exited through the bathroom's door to search for the petite woman who had already left without bothering to finish the discussion.
It was apparent that this Jillian was more difficult to handle than in the past, even though she seemed mellower and more gullible than before. The first impression she had gotten from her in the office had been truly wrong. She was truly unpredictable, and she seemed infatuated with Zane, a lot so.
If they were to wait until she gave birth, perhaps by that time she would believe so blindly in him that even the original documents shown to her very face would not matter to her. Then they would truly fail in separating the two, Aileen thought.
Searching for Jillian, darting her gaze from left to right, she spotted the cardigan designed for a man which the latter was wearing on her shoulders, another thing that had irked her before.
She had to show her documents at this very moment, she encouraged herself and wanted to open her handbag to search for the evidence when she recognized the man she loved appearing from a side.
With him present by Jillian's side, naturally she could only forgo any intentions she had just had. She could only watch hidden by the decorative plant which had been placed by the door of the bathroom, as the usually cold man brightened up while he approached her cousin.
They were at some feet away, but his warm expression, the hand he placed gingerly on her waist, all of it pricked her eyes.
'You should have waited for me to come with you to the bathroom.' Zane scolded gingerly as his tone seemed more like he had suffered an injustice rather than upset.
'It was close. I could go by myself.' Aria replied blushing a bit because of his closeness.
A man who was always this attentive to her, a man who always placed her above himself would never hurt her like Aileen had tried to insinuate. A company president waking up several times a night just because she needed to use the bathroom. A man who did not care about his own proper rest even though he was as busy as he was just to tend to her needs.
She did not know what Aileen was trying to do just now in the bathroom by speaking to her of Zane like that, but she would trust her heart and Zane's love above all else.
Aileen's words had already very much shook her before causing her weird moments of stillness happening, deep down her heart rejected ever doubting everything again. She did not want that strange experience occurring ever again. She had a feeling that if it ever did occur, it would be the last time it ever did. Her heart would not dwell in this body from that moment onwards.
'Alright I won't say anything about it anymore. It is good that you are ok. But...' The somber man said, adopting his usual cold expression. No warmth of the earlier brightness appearing on his face.
'But...' Aria repeated unsure of what he wished to say, as she felt the hand on her waist bringing her even closer to his body.
'But you should alleviate my anger with a kiss. Don't you think?' He finally continued when she expressed her curiosity in knowing more.
'Anger... what anger?' Aria stuttered baffled. It wasn't possible for him to hear what Aileen spoke about in the bathroom, he had arrived from the opposite direction of it. And the interaction had also been very short.
'What do you mean what anger? I had no chance to tell you before, since we were not alone together at all today, but now we are... You took advantage of me last night, and this morning I woke up alone in bed. Shouldn't you take responsibility for what you did? I mean you kissed me so forcefully, you practically took advantage of me and this morning...' Zane hoarsely started to say as he brought his face closer to Aria's level. But he was unable to continue as Aria quickly covered his mouth with both her hands.
His words felt so wrong, no matter who may have heard them, they would all misinterpret the situation. It was like she had... she could not even dare think, of what wrong conclusion other may come to hearing him.
'H-how con you say it like that? I did not...' Aria quickly denied as her cheeks flushed a bright red.
'Wasn't it you the one who repeatedly told me you love me last night and then kissed me? You even opened your mouth and french...' Zane started to say again as he moved a bit her hands with the arm which he was not keeping on her waist so he could talk, but still kept them close to his cheek.
'Woahhh...' Aria immediately interjected before he could continue speaking again.
'You told me repeatedly you love me, I only said it because you wouldn't let me go until I said it.' She righteously denied his affirmation, though her heart felt like it would burst out of her chest, remembering the previous night.
'No matter what you say, I am still waiting for the kiss. It's your own fault if you prolong the matter and not give me one. Even if mom will arrive, I will not move an inch until you do. I'll even let her know why we can't leave yet. She'll be here any second now.' Zane reasoned, as a small smirk appeared at the corner of his mouth, seeing the obvious fluster in her gaze.
Clumsily Aria put her hands on his neck and quickly pulled his face even lower as she put her lips on his own. There were no people around in the hallway, but she was not sure when others might arrive, and knowing Zane's stubbornness, he really would not move until she would kiss him. She would be too embarrassed, if he were to tell Victoria why he was not moving.
Watching the sweet interaction between the two, Aileen's fingernails were about to make her hand bleed as she forcefully clutched them in anger.
There really was no more time to wait.