Chapter 41

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Silvia’s pupils contracted , her breath catching for a moment as she tried to steady herself .
“ Why ? ” she whispered , her voice strained . “ Why don’t you find them ? ”
Aria gave a cold laugh , her eyes narrowing in mockery . “ If they can’t even get their own child right , what makes you think I’d bother with them ? ”
Stall silent , suddenly feeling the weight of her words . With Aria , there was always this pressure an invisible weight that made it hard to breathe .
Sikia said , “ If we’d swapped back earlier you wouldn’t be in this mess . ”
Aria replied , her voice casual , yet sharp , “ But even if we had , the result would be the same . You were always more suited to be Saxon family’s daughter
than ever was . ”
Aria’s features were a carbon copy of Zoe’s — her small face , large eyes , the softness that suggested innocent
But the coldness in her gaze , the constant distance she kept from everyone , made her unapproachable
The Saxon family believed Aria’s aloofness was due to her upbringing , but it wasn’t .
She had always been this way . It wasn’t the environment that had shaped her ; it was just her nature .
Even if she hadn’t been switched at birth , the outcome would have been the same . The family wouldn’t like her .
What they wanted was a cheerful , lively , optimistic , and kind hearted daughter – someone like Silvia
Aria could never be that ..
ent out i
Silvia took a step forward , about to speak , when suddenly the lights flickered and then went out , plunging them into darkness .
Instinctively , she screamed , but before she could process anything , a firm hand yanked her forward . Something whizzed by her ear , so close that could feel the air shit , it embedded itself in the wall with a soft thunk .
Her heart raced , and before she could comprehend what had just happened , Aria had already pulled her into the living room , slamming the door shut behind them and locking it
Silvia’s hand trembled as she tried to steady herself . “ W – what just happened ? ”
Aria didn’t answer .
Only Silvia’s erratic breathing filled the room .
A few long moments later , the lights flickered back on .
Aria’s expression remained unreadable as she casually pulled something from a drawer and began extracting the needle lodged in the door .
Silvia’s gaze followed the needle , her mouth going dry . “ What … What is that ? ”
Her fingers instinctively went to her ear , where she could still feel the faint sting . She glanced down and saw a speck of blood on her fingers .
The same needle that had whizzed past her head .
Her heart pounded in her chest .
She thought , Aria hadn’t pulled me just then , that needle would have stabbed right into my temple ! ”
She swallowed hard , her mind racing . What’s going on ? Had it been meant for me ? Or for Aria ?
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Aria didn’t respond as she neatly placed the needle into a small sealed bag , setting it on top of the shoe cabinet .
Silvia’s gaze shited , and the noticed the faint scars on Aria’s pale shoulder – thin
Then her eyes darted down . A small scar – still raised – peeked out from under Aria’s sleepwear , and Silvia’s phone slipped from her grasp , clattering to
the floor .
She couldn’t help but stare , her breath catching in her throat .
Aria glanced back at her , then bent to pick up the phone , placing
git in Silvia’s hand .
“ Don’t come here again , ” she said , her tone as cold as ice . “ Whatever happens tonight stays between us . Otherwise , the consequences are yours to beac
Silvia didn’t speak . She was still frozen , staring at Aria
There had been another scar starting from the left shoulder and going downwards . It hadn’t been deep , but it had been quite noticeable .
Aria hadn’t even worn the expensive dresses Zoo had bought her when she first came home – dresses that still hung untouched in the closet .
Silvia
a had assumed Aria didn’t like them , thought she was being stubborn or resentful , and that’s why she refused to wear them .
Now , she felt foolish even thinking that .
Ana turned away , heading further into the house
Silvia hesitated , then reached out , her hand brushing against Aria’s arm . “ This place is dangerous Please come with me . Let’s go back together . ”
The needle was most likely meant for Aria , not her .
She wondered , “ And the scars on her back … what had Aria been through ? ”
She felt a pang of guilt , realizing just how sellish she’d been , resenting Aria’s position .
She thought , “ My biological parents came to me asking for money . I hoped they would go to Aria