Diana's POV

The front door closes and I almost jump at the sound of it, being well aware of the last goodbye we were always bound to share. The pain in my chest grows with every second that goes on, because I know, that's a second more that I'm going to spend my life without the only man who was capable enough of provoking any kind of feelings beneath my cold rotted heart.

When I talk about feelings, I don't mean that I'm an emotionally shut down person, what I mean is that I've been way too numb to the idea of a romantic relationship, it never appealed to me after what happened four years back. I do feel though, I always have, I care but I only care about my own, about my family.

Emily is the biggest part of it.

It's funny how I have to repress her thoughts even to myself when I'm not near her, forcing myself to resist mentioning her in front of anyone who isn't aware of her existence. The only time I'm allowed to even have her in my thoughts is the time I'm either alone in this apartment or when she's by my side, which is always. Except, on some weekends and during the time I spend in office.

I'm a mother! I've never really said that aloud before to anyone because I never needed to. She's like my little secret, my most beautiful possession.

Whatever happened in my past, it has stayed buried until today. Telling Aaron things, just even a minor part of it brought out memories that have been repressed in my mind through years, the things I don't even mention to myself.

My eighteenth birthday, for example.

I lost so much that day, yet by the end of it, an angel was there sleeping in my arms. Emily's existence in my life is probably the only reason I made it through everything, she was my only hope when I was drowning and fighting against the demons that were my thoughts. But, she saved me.

And when she's there, nothing else seems to matter. I'm a cold bitch to the world, I always will be, but to her, I'm the opposite of the word cold. I'm everything everyone wishes me to be. I've never raised my voice at her, that's how much of a control she has over me.

But when Aaron came along, things changed. No one had seen the other side of me, but he got through me, and I let him because I trust him. Even though he just walked out on me, I still trust him!

I didn't accept my feelings for him just five days ago, subconsciously I was aware of them from a long time. The night we kissed on the roof, that was the beginning of my process to slowly accept things to myself. But I kept pushing him away, because he couldn't know! He couldn't know about Emily!

And why he couldn't know it? Because he would have left me even before I got him. I have replayed this scene so many times in my head over and over again, where I tell him about my daughter and he decides to leave me, I just never thought it'll be this soon.

I'm well aware of the fact that I could've prevented all this if I was honest with him from the beginning, but I couldn't take that risk. Not just because of my daughter, but because of me too! If he had known about her, he would have wanted to be a part of her life too, and I wasn't ready for her to grow attached to someone I didn't know was here to stay. But, that's not the only thing! If he had been a part of her life, he would have seen the other side of me, the side I am not usually ready to show to people easily!

It's not fair, how I treated him. And he deserves better, which is why I let him go. I didn't stop him because I can't give him what he wants.

Someone to trust.

I'm a manipulative lying bitch, but that's just who I am and I've accepted it to myself. There's no harm in being truthful to yourself, that's the only thing that I've learned through years.

The door clicks open and I hold my breath, almost expecting it to be Aaron but Connor and Ella step in, with Emily by their side.

"Hey." Ella says, studying my face as they step closer and shut the door close behind them.

"They bought me ice cream." Emily grins at me, happily looking at her two scooped ice cream cone.

"Guys, it's cold outside. She'll fall sick." I sigh, moving to take it away from her but she pouts, almost on the verge of crying.

"Hey, let her be." Connor scolds me and I give him a look.

"You spoil her too much."

He proudly grins, "That's why I'm her favourite person alive."

I laugh at him before kneeling down in front of her, "How about you share one scoop with mommy?" I pout back at her and she considers it but then shoves the cone towards me.

"Will be right back." I smile at her before taking the ice cream to the kitchen and dumping one scoop in the trash, and slightly half of the second with a spoon before getting back to them. "There you go." I give it to her and she takes it silently.

"You threw more than half of it away." Connor gives me an unbelievable look.

"When she's sick, I'll call you to babysit." I pat his back as he takes a seat on the couch along with Ella and Emily and I occupy the other one.

"I don't see Aaron anywhere." Ella finally comments.

"Yeah, he left." I tell her, "For good." I add, just to be clear with them.

Connor's eyes go wide with surprise and Ella immediately reaches out for my hand across the couch, "Are you okay?" She asks.

"Why wouldn't I be?" I shrug.

"Don't do that." Connor says and I frown, "Don't pretend like you don't care when you clearly do. This is Aaron we're talking about, Dee."

Before I can respond to him, my daughter looks up to me with her warm grey eyes, "Who's Aaron, mommy?" She asks in her sweet little voice and I glare at my friends.

"I work with him babe." I tell her with a smile and she nods, going back to licking her chocolate ice cream.

"So?" Ella pushes.

"I'm fine. It lasted for five days, shocker! I actually thought about how I would be glad if it lasted for an entire week. Suppose I lost a bet against myself." I give out a bitter laugh.

"Do you want me to talk to him?" Connor offers and I almost jump out of my seat.

"No, no, no! If I ever find out that you talked to him about any of this, we're done being best friend. I'll honestly break up with you, even if you're Ella's boyfriend." I whisper yell at him, trying my best to keep my temper at bay in front of Emily.

"Alright, chill. I won't do it." He backs off and I sigh.

"Listen, I'm going to go to Marcel's place. Need to take care of something." I say, standing up from the couch.

"Do you need us to babysit?" They offer and I turn to Emily.

"Hey kid, you want to come with mom to visit Uncle Marcel or hang with Connor and Ella?" I ask, leaving the choice to her like most of the times.

"Gramps! I want to go to Gramps!" She jumps out of her seat out of excitement and I smirk at Connor.

"Sorry bud, she likes someone better than you."

He flips his finger at me and I slap his head, after making sure that Emily didn't see his actions. We can be really careless around her regarding our use of creative words and stuff!

After Connor locks the apartment, and all of us make our way down to the parking lot, we part our ways. I put on the belt to Emily after she settles in the passenger seat before starting the engine and turning the heat on.

I drive through the busy roads of the New York, trying to talk to Emily about what she did while she was out with Connor and Ella. She's a smart kid, she catches onto things easily. She held onto my hand for more than half of the drive, which she usually does when she knows that I'm upset.

Parking the car in the basement, we take the elevator up to Uncle Marcel's penthouse. It leaves us to the foyer and she lets go of my hand as soon as she spots him, running right into him arms when we get into the living room.

"Hi Gramps!" She cries out and Uncle Marcel startles, looking away from the newspaper as he opens his arms and settles her on his lap.

"Hi kid. What a pleasant surprise." He grins at her and then follows his gaze to me, "Hey there."

"Uh, where's your daughter?" I ask, looking around.

"She went out, she'll be back soon." Shelly responds as she enters the living room.

"Emily, I need you to go inside for a minute." I tell her and she reluctantly slips out of Marcel's embrace. Afterwards, I turn to Shelly, "Just tell the cook to keep her company for few minutes." I say and she frowns but gets to action nonetheless.

She appears back in the living room a minute later, "What's wrong, dear?" She asks, stepping closer.

"Did you tell Charlotte about Aaron?" I shoot back, sounding as mad as I intend to be!

Her mouth shuts down as she stares back at me but then finally speaks up, "We were just talking and it slipped." She admits.

"What happened, Diana?" Uncle Marcel stands up as well.

"How many times do I have to tell you both to not mention any part of my life to anyone else? Why the hell is it so hard for you to keep my things to yourself? You know the kind of relationship Charlotte and I share, you're well aware of how much she despises me, yet you go around blabbering things about my personal life to her." I shout, failing to keep it together.

"What the hell happened, Diana? Why are you shouting at us? Did Charlotte do anything?" Marcel questions, scowling at me.

"I left Emily under your watch. You both were the only ones I trust around her, you agreed to babysit. I didn't force it on you!" I yell, grabbing the roots of my hair.

"Yes, and we did look after her, Dee." Shelly defends herself.

"Really? Then what the hell was your daughter doing with her when she showed up at my doorstep today?" I ask, fuming with rage and they both look taken aback.

"She said that she was visiting near your apartment and could drop Emily back, I thought that would save you a trip." Uncle Marcel tells me and I give out a bitter laugh.

"Well, did it ever occur to you that I might not have been home? Did you care to check up on me? Or did you even think that Aaron might be there?" I speak, as harshly and coldly I can.

The expression of shock on their faces drives me mad even further. They're well aware of their daughter's intentions towards me, which are always bad and yet they didn't seem to be careful!

"Did he find out?" He asks.

"Of course he found out! What was I supposed to do? Lie to him about not having a daughter when she was standing right in front of me?"

"Well, considering that you've lying to him all this time. It wouldn't have been a shocker." A voice that I've come to despise the most speaks behind me and I scoff, turning around.

"I wasn't lying to him,I clearly didn't tell him about something. There's a difference!"

"Well, looks about the same to me." She smirks.

"Aren't you supposed to be in Chicago?"

"Came back last night, only to find out the glorifying details about Diana Rose dating a male version of Virgin Mary. Thought I'd add a little spice to your love story."

Her smug look annoys me beyond words could convey, but actions aren't too overrated either! I proved that when I slapped her, right across the cheek.

"That was for splitting me up with the only guy who seemed to care about me!" I spit before leaving the room, and going to find Emily.

As soon as I see her playing with a soft toy with the cook, I pick her up in my arms. "Time to go back home, hun." I smile at her through my rage and I'm glad when she doesn't argue back.

"Diana, we're sorry about what happened between Aaron and you. I will try to talk to him and make things alright again." Uncle Marcel apologises when I enter the living room again.

"No, if you know me, you would know that's the worst way to deal with this." I tell them. When Charlotte takes a threatening step towards me with a look of revenge in her eyes I scoff, "Don't even try, not in front of her."

"Dee." Shelly calls out and I close my eyes and sigh.

"If I were you, I wouldn't be expecting myself to come back here anytime soon."

xx

Hey guys! I'm well aware of my limited audience, yet half of you are the silent readers. I was like you once, that was until I understood the importance of votes and comments to the writer!

I'm not asking for much, I don't want to leave big annoying author's note that everyone skips, but could you all please vote and try to leave a comment?

It would mean a lot to me.

Anyway, have a nice day! xoxo.