'Darren!' A stern imposing voice could be heard, just as Darren had barely finished asking his question towards Aria.

Having gained his attention, as the man took his eyes off of his niece, and directed his gaze to Victoria, the one who had called out to him just now, only then did the Blacks family's leader finally continue.

'I have already told you, Aria is fine. What, do you wish for me to bring you all the medical records we have and show them to you?' Victoria continued expressionless, but it was evident in her tone that she wanted the matter to be dropped.

It wasn't a major problem for Aria's amnesia to be known normally, but considering the current circumstances or better said the people they were in the presence of, it was better like this.

She knew for a fact just how large of an influence the Langdon's branch family had on Jillian in the past, and she did not want the situation to be repeated. Using the absent memories, new ones could be "created" by them, ones useful for their own purposes. It was best for the situation to be avoided altogether.

There had only been two months since Aria had regain her consciousness, and Victoria could see how she was right now. Although clearly more lovable, gentler and friendlier than Jillian had ever been, at the same time perhaps also more naïve. The girl needed time to  grow as a person, to recognize the ones who would care for her and the ones who wanted nothing more than to profit from a connection with her and the Blacks. Before such a time, Aria could not show any weakness others might try to take advantage of.

'No, of course not. I only wanted to make sure of her health nothing more. If you are saying she is alright, how could I question it?' Darren smiled seemingly apologetic of doubting Victoria's earlier assurance, and placated the Blacks family leader's anger.

'If I look closely, she really does seem healthier than ever. The pregnancy has made her blossom into a fine beauty.' He immediately covered up the "accidental blunder", the smile on his face increasing, at his accomplished goal. No doubt Victoria was unaware of the contract between the two,  and Zane... he looked quite enamored by his wife right now, thus perhaps unwilling to part with the innocent her.

It was doubtful for the Black's family to try and keep Aria in a naïve state because they coveted her inheritance. Their own fortune had grown much larger in the last few years under Victoria's leadership and it had continued under Zane, for one reason. And for the second... Zane wouldn't have made the contract in which he would return old master Langdon's inheritance to the last penny to Jillian, if he really wished to profit from the latter's fortune.

Not to mention, his attitude towards Jillian from the present... was miles apart from the one he showed to Jillian of the past.

Although Darren felt satisfied that the matter of Aria's health had been thoroughly confirmed by the two, their behavior towards Jillian still did not sit well with him at all. They were being too careful in guarding her... it seemed that the matter of how he would proceed with the divorce and subsequent removal of Jillian from their life had to be handled with the utmost care. One single wrong move and everything could turn back to bite them.

He could only sigh internally, while still keeping up a mild apologetic smile on the outside. There was nothing he could do than move forward, after all his daughter's happiness was the most important, he convinced himself.

Even by this point, Darren was unwilling to admit the reality. William Monroe and everyone that had a connection to him, in the "real" heir's mind were evidently inferior to him and should be removed from any position that were even slightly higher than Darren's, as they were an evidence of his well hidden fraud. Jillian even more so should not have the life his daughter should have.

To put it in simpler words, he was in fact mirroring his own past and that of his brother onto their daughters. So just like how he had done in the past, just like how he had mended the crooked path of his future as the heir, he would also take care of his daughter's future as well.

'Yes, the girl looks truly healthy now. The glow of a mother to be is quite evident on you, my cute niece. You and your worrisome self, Darren... I am sorry Victoria. This man was truly terrified for Aria's well-being. So much so that even now he cannot believe she is well.' Patricia added timely, while letting out a subtle sigh, as though she was at a loss because of her overly concerned husband. She was the perfect partner of her husband after all.

Should she cause a blunder, her husband would immediately react lessening her meanings, and turning her phrases into misspoken words, and in reversal... she would do the same for her husband.

'My wife is indeed well. Order your dessert.' Zane stated with quite a forceful voice. The absence of the words "please" from his suggestion, causing the Langdons to feel obliged to listen to him without showing the slightest of displeasure.

With Zane's repeated disregard for their presence, even the thick skinned members of the branch family felt awkward, but they had no choice but to keep their pleasant smile on as they finally ordered their desserts.

The Blacks were just how they were before the intrusion, maintaining the same silence while enjoying the sweet beautiful decorated cakes, while the Langdons had no choice but to keep up the same somberness. Because of this Aria had relatively settled in the foreign presence of the relatives of the previous owner of her body.

Thankfully in the whole interactions between the families, a few rigid smiles from Aria's part had been enough to acknowledge the three new people's presence, and thus keep a basic small courtesy. Victoria and Zane had kept them at bay each time, for this she truly felt thankful to them, as her verbal replies were unnecessary in this way.

"How was the dessert, little one?" Zane asked indulgent, while showing his very first smile and the only gentle expression since the Langdon's family's arrival. Or more accurate, the first sign of tenderness and evident  care towards another person that they had seen Zane expressing since the branch family had known him.

Even the smallest of traces of coldness could not be found in any of his facial expressions. Perhaps had they not been at the same table during these changes in his general state, they would have thought that Zane was another person. 

The increasing sense of crisis which the Langdon couple were sensing more and more as a consequence of Zane's warm attitude towards Aria, had blinded the two in noticing other things that were taking place at the same time. 

One of them being Aria's general appearance, which was by now holding only a fraction of Jillian's former physical traits. This coupled with the make-up free face and homely style of clothing, made her even more unrecognizable.

Well this could have also been because they had never paid much attention to the former Jillian, most of the times preferring of having only their daughter interact with her to keep up the appearances. Or perhaps, because they assumed that the accident and subsequent coma could have had something to do with the altered features. Aria was also puffier now because of the pregnancy, which added as another reason to explain her strangeness. Were they to think about these things that is.

As for Zane, it was understandable to not notice the differences, because the changes occurred gradually right under his very eyes. One would not notice a plant growing day by day after all, you would not be able to tell if it was a bit taller, or if another leaf was about to sprout watching it every single day. 

Only by remembering the past Jillian and the current Aria, would he realize it. But not paying attention to Jillian... of course he would not be aware of her changed state, a change that had actually accelerated these past few weeks. Or maybe... it might have been magic the one which blinded all those who knew the previous Jillian, preventing them from recognizing the differences.

The second thing, and perhaps the most important that the Langdon couple had not detected, was Aileen's erratic state of mind. 

Although keeping up her friendly appearance fairly well, considering the hate that dominated her heart and thoughts in their entirety, for her parents it should have still been easy to see through her outward gentle state. But unfortunately for them, they were too focused on Zane and Aria to notice it.

They also did not know that Aileen had overheard the discussion from the other day, and knew about the contract between Aria and Zane, and it's exact content. She had even managed to find the original document in her father's office and photographed it, when she had visited his firm conveniently during the busy time of the day for the older man, a period in which she could be left alone unattended.

If they were to be aware of these pieces of information, then they would have realized that their daughter was moments away of making a terrible resolve. She was barely restraining her mouth from blurting out the fact that their marriage was just a fitting contracted deal nothing more, a convenient marriage.

Initially she hadn't planned using the contract, she only wanted to see with her own eyes the divorce papers, to sooth her worries. But now the images stored on her phone kept appearing inside her mind, while the hand that she was using to hold the fork, seemed to want to reach for her handbag and show everyone the truth.

The only thing that still kept her in place were the words her father had reasoned  with during the discussion that she had overheard. Remembering the warnings her father gave to her mother... she shouldn't be rash in revealing what she knew, she reminded herself again, while taking a bite to eat of a dessert, which she could not taste any sweetness from.

'How was your first week at the consortium Aileen? Have you gotten accustomed to your work?' Victoria asked as the silence had went on for some time already.

In essence, although normally taciturn people, Zane and especially Victoria were not arrogant people, well at least Victoria. Having guests at the table, she still should exchange some cordial words, if only for politeness's sake.

'Aileen, Victoria's talking to you.' Patricia nudged a bit her daughter when the latter seemed unfocused and was only looking down towards her plate.

'Yes?' She immediately snapped out of her thoughts and quickly looked up at Victoria, feeling her mother's forceful touch on her hand.

'I was asking... how was your first week at the consortium? Have you settled in yet?' With the same expressionless face Victoria asked again, but at least not as unapproachable as Zane's.

'Yes. I am learning a lot from my seniors. I quite enjoy my work.' Aileen answered with a small smile on her face. She was actually easing up a bit because of Victoria's question. 

That was right, she thought. She had just been about to commit a grave mistake... She had a better education than Jillian, a better career, a privileged noble background, in fact everything about her was million times better than Jillian. The only advantage Jillian had was the fortune left by the Langdon old master and the fact that she was chosen for the marriage. If Zane actually cared about her, it was only because she had been close enough for him to become aware of her.

Zane was a busy man, he would work until late hours according to the people from the company. He was also not really visited by women, as those who tried to see him multiple times were redirected to his assistant and secretary, when the real purpose of their visit was obvious. Judging by these facts, it was clear that Jillian caught his eyes because of her pregnancy and their living together, not because of her outstanding qualifications. It was only because he saw her every day and interacted with her more than every other woman.

But a momentary interest in a woman who could not become better than she currently was... would surely fade away just as quickly as it appeared. After all, Zane would want a capable career oriented woman to be by his side, someone who could share the burden of the company with him. Aria had no redeeming features that could keep him tied to her.

'That's good. Keep focused on your career and you will surely do alright. I am sure your father is anxious that you have chosen a different career path than that of a lawyer. But if you bring back a son in law for him, and have him take over while also fulfilling your wishes at the same time, then his worries will be soothed.' Victoria stated casually, exchanging a few thoughtless words. She knew too few things of the branch family to delve in more complicated or personal matters.

These were the older woman's thoughts, but to the hope driven Aileen, Victoria's meaning touched the most sensitive wishes of her heart. She felt like the latter was implying something more than just a casual matter. Indeed, if she were to get married to Zane, the firm of her family could become part of the consortium, and he could take care of it also. 

3As such, a slight blush appeared at the thought, and with the corner of her eyes she dared look towards Zane's direction again. Since she had seen his obvious concern for Aria, she hadn't had the mental power to check their sweetness more, but just now she yearned to see him. It was the first time she had stood so close to him since she had first met him.

'Yes, Victoria. This is what we hope also. This child... she is too hard working, but she is not focusing on the firm she will eventually inherit, unfortunately. I can only hope that the one she marries will take over for us. Of course, we must find someone with an already great deal of experience in running a company. But this is quite a delicate matter. There are not many eligible young men in Aileen and Zane's generation.

Really her perfect scores, her countless diplomas, and the girl does not want to put them to good use.' Patricia explained with a troubled look, while coincidently or not forgetting to include Aria in the same generation as the two. She appeared every bit a worried mother.

Darren did not verbally confirm his wife's words, but also nodded on the side strengthening her meaning. He was sure that Victoria was also regretting the fact that she had listened to the old master Langdon and had married Jillian to her son. By taking in an orphan girl who she was not even remotely keen on,  though as a side note it was a thing he had facilitated in happening , she had missed a perfect candidate right in front of her eyes.

'That is true. It is a bit complicated to find a capable man who will look after the company while ensuring he takes care of it in your stead. A person who does not pretend to administer it in your place, only to covertly take over the company completely.' Victoria replied to Patricia's words pensively.

Hearing her opinion, Darren felt a prick in his heart, as he felt that the woman's words were actually directed at him. He had taken over Jillian's company as well. But he only had the company returned to his rightful owner, he reminded himself. And also it was an information quite guarded, there wasn't anyone alive from the relatives who had participated at the reading of the will all those years ago, no one who knew of this matter.

Whether Victoria spoke with a hidden meaning or was purely stating the facts based on Patricia's words, the two Langdons could not tell, as such they tried to be the same as the former... unreadable. They were even skilled enough to maintain their worried face which appeared to seek an advice from the Black's family leader.

'Well, you are still young Darren, so you can still look after the company for a bit more. And Aileen is a beautiful capable woman, any family would be lucky to have her in their midst.'

At the high regard Victoria attributed to Aileen, and because of her appreciation of the fortune she could bring to the new family she would marry into, all three Langdon's felt their heart swell with pride, only to be plummeted to the ground with her next sentence.

'Working at the consortium, Aileen is bound to meet some outstanding men to bring back home for you. Who knows, perhaps at the party from next Saturday in a not so formal work environment, she could find a charming man.' She concluded unbothered.

'We shall see, we don't want to rush into a marriage for her without knowing fully well the character and background of the other party.' Darren sneakily brushed over the matter. Of course he was not willing to listen to Victoria's advice.

What kind of men would participate at the employees' party? Although career oriented people indeed, not one of them could compare to Zane.

Was she trying to say that for Jillian it was alright to have a husband like her son, but his daughter not? He was baffled at such nonsense.

'Yes, Victoria. Our daughter was raised like a treasure, we cannot choose anyone rashly.' Patricia immediately added, equally stupefied and irritated at her proposal.

'Alright.' Victoria replied simply and did not bother to convince the two of her idea. It had been only an advice offered in passing, naturally she did not feel compelled to convince them otherwise.

'Should we get going now, mother?' Zane inquired when there was a brief moment of silence. He felt the discussion had ended and there were no more necessary pleasantries to be made.

Raising his eyes from Aria's plate, after checking that she had indeed finished her dessert, he looked in his mother's direction, asking for her opinion.  Though his suggestion seemed more like an already concluded decision.

'Indeed, we should get going. Aria should lie down a bit. Her spine must be strained by now. Well then, if you will excuse us.' 

Elegantly wiping the corner of her mouth, ensuring no smudge accidently remained on her lips, Victoria already started to proceed to close the unexpected meeting.

Only now, did Aria finally look up from her plate, happy to leave the unpleasant meeting. Staying in the presence of foreign people, constantly worried to be included in a discussion she might know nothing about... nothing felt more relieving to her, than Zane's and Victoria's words right now.

 Zane smiled indulgent, seeing her bright usual expression blooming on her face that always caused his heart to ache. Tenderly he gently patted the petite woman's head, before supporting her a bit to stand up on her feet.

'Ohh... Yes. Then we will speak more next time. It was pleasant to see you, even if it was only for a little while.' Perhaps because of Victoria's disregard for Aileen's possible future husband, but Darren also wished to conclude the meeting as it was.

Regardless of everything, what mattered most was first the divorce, then they could see from there. Until then they had to portray a model of a true perfect noble family. He could not afford to show the slightest hints of displeasures.

 If Darren knew one thing about the Blacks, it was that they never considered a divorce happening between the members of their family, and were highly harsh if separation was ever brought up, especially to the one marrying into the family. Well, it was only natural to be like this. Every disruption even in their personal lives could affect their shares and company tremendously, so they did not take it