Chapter 93 - Dark Past
Anya's heart ached. It was as if she could hear her heart slowly cracking.
All of Aiden's kindness, his tenderness, his love, all belonged to Keara. How happy Keara was to be loved by a man like Aiden.
Anya was jealous of the woman who died three years ago, but until now, that woman was still alive in Aiden's heart.
Anya sobbed and said seriously, "I don't know what Raisa said, but please don't believe her. I really don't use the money from their family."
Aiden continued to wipe away Anya's tears, no matter how much she shed. He didn't want to see the woman he loved sad like this, "I don't care what other people say. I only trust you."
Anya listened to the words while still crying, but a smile crossed her lips, 'Even though it's not me in your heart, even though your tenderness is not for me, I'm still grateful.'
"I must have saved the world before so I could marry you!" Anya said with a smile.
Aiden smiled, but said nothing. It seemed words alone were not enough to describe how much he loved Anya. He lowered his head and kissed Anya's lips. The kiss tasted salty from the overflowing tears, but Aiden didn't mind. It was Anya's lips that he kissed. He could accept it unconditionally.
Anya put her hand around Aiden's neck and returned the kiss. Their kiss became even more intense. Drowned by the sorrowful pain that was engraved in her heart, Anya continued to question Aiden's reason within her mind.
'Aiden, why are you being so nice to me? You don't want me to get involved with Raka and learn to love you. But I'm afraid, what if I can't control my feelings and fall in love with you too deeply? How should I face the fact that I'm just a substitute for you? That this face alone is all you miss? I feel like a thief, a thief with a face like Keara. I stole your tenderness, your kindness, your attention and everything from Keara.'
'I snatched you from that woman!'
"Why are you crying again?" Aiden let go of Anya's lips. He saw the tears streaming down her face more and more.
"No, I was just lonely thinking you were leaving." Anya buried her face in Aiden's neck, hiding the sadness she felt.
If Keara never existed, would she still be able to stand next to Aiden? Being his wife like this?
In her heart, Anya admonished herself not to be hypocritical. She didn't love Aiden, so she shouldn't have to worry about just being Keara's replacement.
But why did her heart ache? Why did it feel like her heart was burdened?
Aiden's eyes lit up when he heard Anya's answer. He did not expect Anya to feel reluctant to part with him. He thought Anya would feel more relieved and freer because no one would be watching her 24 hours.
Aiden kissed Anya's forehead gently, leaving his lips there, "I will be right back!"
Anya hugged Aiden tighter. Aiden's heart melted. At first, he thought that one week later, Anya would leave him and return to Raka's arms. But now, he believed he could make Anya fall in love with him and stay with him. He would never let Anya go.
Anya also hoped that one day Aiden could love her. She wanted to get rid of the woman who continued to be in Aiden's heart even though they were already in different realms. Aiden was a very nice man. If God gave her the opportunity to complete Aiden as his wife, Anya would never miss that.
"Before your college starts, I'll invite you to go." Said Aiden while still hugging Anya, "Your mother has been divorced since you were 10 years old, right?" Aiden asked, changing the subject.
"Hmm ... Have I told you that my mother was a famous perfumer?" Anya laughed remembering her mother, "Becoming a perfumer is not only my dream, but also my mother's wish."
Aiden said calmly, "You have the expertise and are very sensitive to smells. If you want to become a perfumer, make sure it is your own dream. Don't make your parents' hopes your life's goal because you're the one living your own life."
Anya held Aiden's hand and stroked him, "When I was 10 years old, my mother's workplace had an accident. Her face became damaged and she lost the sense of smell. I have to finish what she wants. Her goal is my goal, her dream is my dream." Anya said with full determination.
"You are an obedient child." Aiden replied with a laugh.
"You don't know what my mother fought for me." Anya said as her eyes wandered, reminiscing about all of her mother's struggles to raise her daughter alone.
"When my mother was still in the hospital, Mrs. Mona came with Natali and revealed her affair with my father. My mother was very angry and asked to get a divorce."
"At that time, your mother's condition was not suitable to take care of you. Why don't you stay at the Tedjasukmana Family's house with your father?" Aiden asked.
"My father is a businessman. He knows that my mother and I have no value to him so he doesn't want to take care of us anymore." Anya said with a bitter smile.
"Then?" Aiden asked softly. He wanted to know everything about Anya, including her childhood.
"I lived temporarily at my father's house because my mother was still in the hospital. I live in the attic, a place they turn into a warehouse. I cannot go down to eat with them or meet them. At that time, Mrs. Mona was pregnant and was afraid I would harm her."
A strained smile appeared in Anya's face as tears flowed from her eyes. This story was long gone so it felt like she was telling someone else's story.
Aiden listened to the story intently. He realized how bitter Anya's past was, "If it's too much for you, you don't need to talk about it."
"No, I will tell. I don't want to cover anything from you." The tears in Anya's eyes seemed like they couldn't stop flowing, "I killed their son."
Aiden's heart was touched. He could already guess what happened. But hearing it directly from Anya's mouth made him feel like he could feel Anya's suffering. He really wanted to embrace her and get rid of all her sadness.
A ten year old little girl had to lose her happy family and life in the attic of the house. She was not allowed to eat together, talk to her father and also leave her room.
The only thing the Tedjasukmana Family cared about was the son that was conceived by Mona.
"That day, Natali accidentally broke my mother's teddy bear. I felt so angry that I bit her hand. Mrs. Mona wanted to punish me but I locked myself in the room that day. I'm scared. I believe that she will kill me then. I tried to call my mother, my father, but no one answered. Finally, I called Raka." Anya told her while crying. Every now and then, Aiden wiped her tears with a tissue and still let Anya get all her guts out.
"Before Raka came, Mrs. Mona smashed my door and brought the belt in to beat me. I was scared so I ran away, but Mrs. Mona didn't want to give up and chased me. She accidentally slipped and fell from the stairs. At that time, I was scared so I immediately ran away, hiding in the Mahendra Family house."
"She had a miscarriage?" Asked Aiden.
"Yes and it was my fault." Anya answered in a low voice. She didn't dare look at Aiden, didn't want him to look at her with the wrong impression after knowing what she had done.
She had killed Mrs. Mona's son…
"It's not your fault." Aiden said, holding Anya's face, forcing Anya to look at his face. Then, he kissed her forehead and comforted her gently.
Anya cried even louder when she felt Aiden's tenderness, "I really hate Mrs. Mona because she destroyed my family. But I never intended to kill her son."
"I know." Aiden stroked Anya's hair gently.
"When I hid at Raka's house, it was Raka's mother who treated all my wounds. She also protected me when my father forced me to go home."
Anya paused for a moment after saying that.
"I don't blame Raka's mother for giving me money to separate from her son three years ago..." Anya continued in a low voice.