The delicious food displayed in geometric shapes on just as beautiful plates, looked almost like an art work, making Aria unwilling to take a bite and disturb the beautiful arranged vegetables and steak. Though at the same time her mouth was already watery in expectance to taste the appetizing food.

She had been at a loss when the menu was placed in front of her to select her meal, so she had left Zane to pick for her. As expected the somber man knew the best food to order.

Aria was unaware that Zane had not chosen the most expensive or the best meal in the menu. He had kept to mind the food Aria preferred best. Even the strawberry smoothie topped with lots of cream was her favorite. So naturally it would appear delicious to her and even if Aria had not been hungry, her appetite would surely be good.

She was so enchanted that she had unwittingly also forgone all table manners, picking up from the table the first fork and knife she had found randomly, not waiting for Zane to pick them before her and copy him, like she had done in the past.

She could already feel just how tasty the food would be as she was about to lower the fork on the plate, when it disappeared from in front of her, to her utter dismay. She could only trace the direction of where the food appeared to be with a shocked and unwilling gaze.

With aggrieved sad eyes she looked towards the offender who had stolen it away, but didn't know how to ask him for the reason, even less how to reproach him.

"Take this plate." Zane replied unbothered to the question she didn't know how to ask, while he had already replaced her plate with his own.

"Thank you." She expressed gratefully, a tinge of guiltiness pricking her consciousness, seeing the small cute pieces of steak, pieces perfect for a single bite. It turned out he only meant to help her portion the steak.

Zane didn't reply to her words, as he also started to cut his own. There was no need for thank you between them, his attitude seem to say.

Victoria only glanced silently at their interaction, but didn't voice any words, as she slowly and as well-mannered as always ate her food.

The three were perfect partners for meals it seemed. The mother and son were quiet by nature, and Aria, well to her the most important was her food, so she also did not speak much.

The outing would have ended on a perfect note like this. It was a peaceful and ordinary time, nothing truly special about it, other than the doctor's appointment that had given Victoria a chance to meet her grandchildren. But this ordinary meal was in fact the first time the three had spent together as a family, it was the first time perhaps that they also felt like one inside their minds.

Victoria finally felt closure after years of searching, so no tension or preoccupations clouded her mind. Zane felt warmth of being in love for the very first time, so he couldn't be in a better mood than he currently was. And Aria, well she had never been surrounded by people who cared about her like this in the past.

An act of kindness of giving one a handkerchief and listening to their troubles, a move to hold her arm by the stern older woman when Zane had gone to park the car at the hospital, she imagined this would be how a mother would act towards their child.

Even when she was about to sit at the table, Zane's mother had made her change the seat to the inner most place, assuring her protection from the rare passersby and slight drafts of air. Of course these actions from the older woman might have been the care for her own grandchildren, Aria wasn't one to assume her own importance in Victoria's heart. But it still didn't make Zane's mother's gestures less heartwarming.

"How was it? Did you like the steak?" Zane asked looking to his left side, as Aria was just finishing her last piece of steak. By the look of her plate, she had indeed liked it, everything had cleanly vanished. But if there was one thing that he had finally learnt about Aria after eating so many meals together, was that one steak wasn't enough.

"Yes. It was good." She voiced slowly, her cheeks dyed red at the realization of her empty plate. Zane and Victoria still had about a third left of theirs.

"Should I ask them to bring another? They have one more kept warm, in case you are still hungry." Zane replied tender, with a small smile.

"No, it's enough. I can't eat more." Aria immediately reasoned, getting even more embarrassed. She had wondered why Zane had ordered four portions, though they were only three. Thinking about it, Zane was a man so naturally would have eaten more, thus she did not question the fourth plate's purpose, or better said owner. It turned out that it had been for her.

Did he already know she was a helpless glutton? It was one thing that she had forgone all etiquette and had accustomed herself eating her fill in his presence, and it was another for him to take notice of it. She could really die of shame at this moment.

Seeing her flustered appearance and knowing from the doctor that Aria indeed should keep her meal at a medium portion, to make it easier during childbirth, Zane did not insist on the matter, he only nodded in confirmation. And anyway, he had also ordered dessert for her, it would have really been too much. With a small smile, he rose his hand and gently patted the small woman's head, which appeared to be trying to hide inside an inexistent shell, before returning to finishing his meal.

Indeed the outing would have ended on a perfect note like this...

"Victoria, long time no see." A proud conceited voice greeted smilingly, just as Victoria and Zane had also finished their meals, only dessert was left to be served.

The man's first greeting wasn't even acknowledged by the person he had addressed it to, when the seemingly friendly and casual man, moved on to the next person.

"Zane, you are here too." Darryl Langdon's voice became even friendlier at the sight of the current leader of the Black's consortium. He was practically beaming at the wonderful coincidence.

Although there were still one two parties held by the Blacks each year to which they naturally were invited, Darryl and his family rarely interacted with the Black family during the said gatherings. And as the mother and son met hundreds of people if not more at such parties, it was doubtful if they could be remembered, if not for their close relation to Jillian, not that Darryl would consciously think or feel so.

But there was nothing more that Darryl hated in this life, and this was the fact that he needed the girl of his bastard brother to help him in forging connections. The death of his brother should have ended any remembrance of the stain in his perfect life, the almost loss of his inheritance, but unfortunately there was still Jillian... well temporarily, thankfully.

The birth would bring the contract in effect in a month or so. And luckily bit by bit Aileen had also managed to get closer to Victoria, as the older woman liked women who thrived to make a career in the business world. The coincidental meeting during their vacation strengthening their bond even more.

"It's been so long since I've seen you both. And Aria, my niece, you look totally changed." Darryl affirmed joyful and equally surprised, approaching even more the table of the three. Though he was not really looking towards her, his observation being casually spoken.

At his words, Zane only slightly nodded in greeting, but had no inkling of the identity of the person in front of them. Aria's uncle? Was this person the one who had raised Aria until old master Langdon had adopted her? But then it meant he was also Aria's lawyer. He slightly frowned at the possibility, though was not particularly worried about it.

He did not know what kind of a person this man was, but as long as he was with Aria, he could easily deflect any mentions the man would make about the contract. Not that he could talk about it anyway.

The lawyer could not bring anything about her legal issues in discussion, he would be breaking the client lawyer confidentiality if he did. It didn't matter that he and Victoria were family, any words about the contract would result in his ban from the Bar in a heartbeat. Moreover, if he only dared to do it, Zane would bring down his whole company.

With these thoughts in mind he also checked Aria, it was apparent that the petite woman did not recognize the man, and also did not seem interested in Darryl's appearance, as she was still focused on her strawberry smoothie.

"Hello Darryl. How have you been?" Victoria interrupted other comments Darryl might have spoken regarding Aria.

"Oh... I've been alright, this would be the polite reply. But we are family here, I can only speak the truth. I've had a real hard time. I am aware you both were taking proper care of Aria, that you offered her the best medical care she could receive. But not knowing about Aria's condition, her worsening health..." The words were few, but they were enough to show an uncle's care towards his niece, while at the same time ever so slightly reproach the family of not having informed him that the woman had already regained consciousness. He was after all, her closest blood relative.

A normal unassuming bystander would have thought that Darryl really cared about Aria, but both Zane and Victoria knew better. The man's deepest grievance had nothing to do with Aria herself, he was absolving himself of any guilt of not being by her side. He did not know of her condition... a clear insinuation he was not informed by them of Aria's comatose condition in depth, or subsequent recovery.

And if they were to go even deeper in to his meaning, it could be the man was actually showing to the other people around his closeness to the Black family.

To be able to reproach them openly, whoever but him had such an ability. And at the same time really be entitled to receive an apology from them. Perhaps he felt that it could help elevate his place among the businessmen, or maybe it was just to add to his perfect constructed righteous image.

Either way, there was one certain thing that was clear to both mother and son...

"Aria has received the best of care, as you can see she is doing alright. You do not need to preoccupy yourself about her health. Since she is already one of the Blacks, naturally we take care of our own." Victoria replied normally, maintaining her usual unbothered state. Though the words clearly drew a line between the so called families. The Langdons were a distinct family from the Blacks.

"That is good, our Langdon family really left their own in the best of hands." Darryl stated deflecting her dismissal of their kinship with skill, while also reminding once again of the personal connection. In fact, deep down it was after all impossible for him to not sense the distance between them, and especially to not know of the firm boundary that Victoria rose between them. But Darryl of course would never admit it out loud, he would barely even allow himself to think about these facts, much less admitting them.

Hearing his words, Victoria no longer tried more to deflect his words. It was no wonder he indeed was a good lawyer, he maneuvered things and words to his liking no matter the situation. As an old player in the business world, of course Victoria could very well do the same, but why bother.

A grown up does not argue with a child. Using the same principle, a large and powerful family will not argue with a smaller one. A few points in Darryl's advantage due to them, wouldn't cause them problems. With these aspects in mind, she left him to his own devices, not trying to contradict him.

"Anyway, because of our busy schedules we rarely find time to meet like this. I'm here with my wife and Aileen also. What do you say we join you for dessert? We have also finished our meal." Darryl asked as he had observed the empty plates with a corner of his eyes.

He and his family had barely received their meal orders. Naturally, it meant that they actually hadn't finished their meals at all, perhaps only half way done or maybe even less. But as the people at the Blacks table had finished theirs, and could possibly decline to continue their meals together because of this reason, he had no choice but say they had eaten as well.

The questions he had concernedly asked about Aria's health and were still unanswered in detail by the people at the table, seemed long gone from his mind.

"Alright." Victoria simply answered, not expressing any displeasure for his suggestion, or pleasure for that matter. They were after all, Aria's close relatives. She couldn't just push them away unfoundedly.

Zane on his part, was pretty much still calm and expressionless as always. The only one who was not comfortable was Aria. Aileen's name made it easier for her to identify the person who had claimed to be her uncle. He was the one who had Jillian in his care until she was picked up by old master Langdon.

To meet that whole family, the ones who knew about the previous Jillian and her fakeness was not something she wanted.

In fact, yesterday having trouble falling asleep, Aria had left her bedroom thinking to visit the music room... But a quiet hallway and the slightly ajar open of the office room, it was enough for her to overhear Zane speaking to his mother.

Flashback

"So as the old master was thoroughly convinced that the real Aria had died at birth and there existed no other heirs from the direct line, coupled with the affection he held for his foster granddaughter... this was why the old master chose to marry Jillian to you.

He perhaps wanted at least for the girl who he had grown fond of over the years to have a future beside us, while also have the inheritance of the main Langdon family protected from those who might take advantage of Jillian otherwise." Victoria stated tiredly. At least this was how it appeared to Aria's ears, as a final sigh left the older woman's mouth.

Aria was just about to pass by the door when Victoria's words had stilled her in place.

Not the real granddaughter... these words resounded inside her mind, as a shiver overtook her whole body, and her face lost its rosy pink hue in favor to a deathly pale white expression.

She was afraid of the words that would follow after those Victoria had already spoken... would Zane abandon her now knowing her body's identity? Her cold bloodless hands, the incontrollable tremble and the constant prickles inside her heart made her not want to hear the answer to that question. But the moments of silence that passed until Zane opened his mouth to speak in reply to Victoria's words, felt even worse for her spirit that was barely hanging by a few threads left.

"So you're telling me that Aria, my wife is not the real granddaughter of old master Langdon?" Zane asked with a seemingly normal tone, after a few moments of silence.

The repeated words which replayed endlessly in Aria's head now spoken by the one she loved, even more shook her entire being.

"Yes." Victoria replied with a trembling perturbed voice.

"Alright." Zane nodded without his expression changing in the slightest, he was as stone faced as always.

The calm response and the lack of anger from his tone, ever so slightly alleviated her anxious state, when his mother asked him directly the question she most feared knowing the answer of.

"Do you mind it? I made you get married to a woman who is not the real granddaughter..."

"Do I mind it?" Zane repeated the question and appeared to seriously reflect on it for a few seconds.

"Yes, I mind it..." He finally affirmed honestly, shattering all of Aria's hopes. He minded the identity of his wife.

It was a normal affirmation, one she could not find any fault in. Everyone would care about the one they chose to spend their entire life with, everyone had the right to know who that person really was, Zane included. But these exact words at the same time made her feel the most unwanted and out of place she had ever been, including even before her death when no one cared about her in the slightest.

Unable to hear more, she had forsaken her initial plan. There was no doubt about it, even if she tried to play the piano after all... she wouldn't be able to. She wasn't capable to do anything for that matter.

She barely even dragged herself to sleep.

End of flashback

Aria shuddered remembering the awful sensation and hellish nightmare. A bad dream which was only dispelled by Zane's soothing voice and his promise that assured her he did not mind who she was, that he loved the one she was at this moment.

That's right, Aria encouraged herself, Zane had already confessed his love towards her the previous night, so there was no need to think about anything else other than that.

"Are you alright, little one?" Zane asked as he covered the small hand which was resting on the table with his big palm.

"Yes. I am alright. I was only wondering how the dessert will look like." Aria answered slowly, finally snapping out of her thoughts.

"I haven't eaten that dessert before, but it should taste alright." Zane assured her, and noticing the slightly cold hand he was touching, unbuttoned the cardigan he had on him, before placing it on her shoulders.

"I am not cold." Aria immediately reasoned, seeing he had remained dressed with a simple thin shirt. The maids had dressed her adequately for the weather. Although the maternity dress she had on her was also thin, the same as Zane she had a fluffy cardigan over it, so she felt just right. The coldness of her hands had nothing to do with the outside temperature.

"Keep it on." Zane intervened as she was trying to remove the cardigan from her shoulders, and wrapped her even more with it. The petite woman appeared more lovable dressed with his oversize clothe.

"But you will be cold then." Aria had stopped fighting to remove his cardigan, as Zane kept his hands over her shoulders stopping her from undressing, but she could still convince him with her words.

"If you are warm, then I will be warm too. Or do you prefer I hug you, to keep you warm?" The man affirmed without a care for the moment, and without bothering about Victoria's presence, facts that immediately helped crimson the small woman's cheeks. The pale expression from before easing up quite a bit because of his words.

"Thank you for the cardigan." Aria immediately expressed gratefully, as she indirectly refused his offer. Though she really did not feel it was something to be thankful for.

"You're welcome." Zane smiled brightly, and did not make Aria feel more uncomfortable, removing his arm from over her shoulder.

At least this was his opinion, that there was nothing to make her feel embarrassed longer. But looking at the palm that returned above her smaller hand which she had placed again on the table, she would beg to differ. It didn't seem he would take his hand away any time soon.

"Victoria, Zane, how wonderful it is to see you." A woman's elegant voice expressed happily, as an older and younger woman both approached their table. Accompanying them was Darryl who had returned with his family.

"Hello Aunty Victoria, Zane." A younger woman also greeted with the same joyfulness. Even the elegant tone resembled the older