Chapter 10: Unveiling the Past
Aria couldn't shake the feeling that the Xian estate had more to offer than its gilded walls and perfect gardens. It had been nearly a week since she'd moved in, but she felt no closer to understanding Elias. Instead, she felt more like a guest in his life—a temporary fixture, a piece to complete a puzzle that didn't even include her.
But the mansion, with its layers of silence and unanswered questions, had begun to reveal something else: secrets. And Aria was starting to wonder if the locked doors and hushed conversations weren't just there to keep her out—they were there to hide something.
It was late one evening when the opportunity to uncover one of these secrets presented itself. She had been walking down the grand hallway, lost in thought, when she passed the study door and heard muffled voices. Curiosity tugged at her, but she hesitated. Elias rarely allowed her to intrude into his private spaces, and she'd learned quickly that doing so without invitation was a gamble.
But tonight, something was different. The door was slightly ajar, and the low murmur of Elias's voice reached her ears. His tone was unusually soft, lacking its typical edge.
She stood there for a moment, torn between the instinct to turn away and the pull of something deeper. Her heart beat faster, her curiosity outweighing her hesitation.
Taking a deep breath, she pushed the door open just enough to slip inside.
Elias was sitting at his desk, his back turned toward her, facing a man who stood on the other side. Aria couldn't see his face, but his body language made it clear that he was familiar with Elias—at ease, even. The conversation was quiet but intense.
"…It's not that simple, Father," Elias said, his voice low and strained. "You know I can't just… erase it. We're too far in."
Father?
Aria froze, realizing that she had inadvertently overheard something far more personal than she expected. The figure across from Elias leaned forward slightly, his voice hushed but filled with authority.
"You don't have a choice," the man said. "The Xian name is bigger than you, Elias. This has always been about legacy. You know that."
Legacy. The word lingered in the air like a weight.
"I never asked for this," Elias replied, his tone sharp now, a crack of frustration breaking through. "But I'll do it. I'll finish it. The deal is sealed. There's no turning back."
Aria's pulse quickened as the pieces of the conversation began to fit together. She knew Elias had a reputation for being ruthless, but hearing the frustration in his voice… it sounded like there was more to his cold demeanor than just business.
She stepped back quietly, but not before catching a glimpse of the man in the room. His face was partially illuminated by the desk lamp, but what struck her the most was the resemblance to Elias—sharp features, the same intensity in his eyes.
Aria's breath caught in her throat. Was that his father?
She backed away slowly, her mind racing. She needed answers, but now she wasn't sure if she wanted them. What was Elias hiding? What was the "deal" he mentioned? And why did he sound so burdened by it?
The weight of the conversation followed her down the hallway, a gnawing unease settling deep within her. As much as she tried to shake it off, she couldn't help but feel that she'd uncovered only a fraction of what Elias was carrying.
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Later that night, Aria sat in the grand, empty living room of the estate, her thoughts swirling. She couldn't stop replaying the conversation she had overheard. Elias was hiding something, and the way he spoke to his father—it wasn't just about business, not just about the company. It was personal. He was trapped by a legacy he didn't want.
As she sat there, trying to make sense of it all, Elias's voice broke the silence.
"Aria."
She turned quickly, startled by his sudden presence. He stood in the doorway, his usual composed demeanor firmly in place. But tonight, there was something different in his eyes—something unreadable.
"I didn't expect you to eavesdrop," he said, his voice calm but with an edge of something else.
Aria's heart skipped a beat. She stood slowly, trying to keep her composure. "I… I wasn't trying to eavesdrop."
Elias stepped into the room, his gaze locking with hers. "Then what were you doing?" His voice softened slightly, but the question hung heavy in the air.
"I—I heard you talking. It sounded important," she admitted, her voice quieter now. "Your father... he said something about legacy."
Elias didn't flinch. He simply stood there for a moment, his expression inscrutable.
"I'm sure you didn't mean to overhear that," he said finally, taking a step closer to her. "But yes, legacy is… important. It's been drilled into me since I was a child."
Aria swallowed, unsure whether to press further. "But why does it matter so much? You seem… burdened by it."
Elias's eyes flickered for a moment—just a brief moment of vulnerability before the mask returned. "It's not something I want to discuss," he said coldly. "But if you must know, my father expects me to carry the weight of the Xian name, the business, the empire. And it's suffocating."
His words hung in the air, and Aria felt an unexpected surge of sympathy for him. The walls he'd built around himself were so strong, but she was starting to see the cracks. Maybe Elias wasn't as cold and ruthless as he let on. Maybe he was just a man trapped by the weight of expectations.
She hesitated, then took a step toward him. "I didn't mean to make you uncomfortable."
Elias's gaze softened slightly, and for the briefest moment, he seemed… human. "You didn't. It's just not something I like to talk about. But since we're being honest, Aria, I need you to understand something."
She looked up at him, her heart pounding. "What?"
"This arrangement—it's not about you. It's about me fulfilling a duty. So, whatever happens between us, don't forget that."
The words stung more than she expected, but she kept her composure. "I won't," she said quietly.
Elias turned to leave, but before he did, he paused. "And Aria... don't get too comfortable. You're a key in this world, nothing more."
The door clicked shut behind him, leaving Aria standing alone, feeling more uncertain than ever about the role she was playing in this high-stakes game.