The anxious voice, which kept repeating the name Aria, felt distant and faint to the young woman, who had spent what felt like a life time replaying bits and pieces from the past inside her mind.

The Langdon branch family's attitude towards their own blood related relative, their thoughts and selfish reasons... she had experienced them all as though she was a bystander in every scene she had been shown. Just like a play put on a stage, the small and big gestures of every person in the scene were presented to her clearly.

And with each memory, with each image... the greater her knowledge of their true purpose was, that much higher her unwillingness to keep on living became. She was disgusted by their words, by their actions, so much so that even more the belief inside her mind, that life really was not worth living, solidified.

Third person's omniscient point of view... it felt just like a technique a writer would use in his or her book, allowing her to see the worst side of humans more distinctly. It was as though someone was teaching her how harsh life truly was and how naive she had been regarding her hopes for the future. If the ones closest to you were capable of using you in such a way, then what could you expect from people unrelated by blood...

For all her life, there hadn't been one single person who loved her for who she was, not one single person truthful in their feelings towards her, sincerely loving and caring for the real her.

She had thought she could live someone else's life, she had thought she could finally gain happiness, but perhaps she was being punished because she had dared entertain such thoughts. She hadn't deliberately assumed Aria's identity or had any control in becoming Aria, but she was still a fake nonetheless. Coveting the real heiress's life, even if this thought of hers had been only for a second, it was still a sin for which she had been ruthlessly punished.

The more chaotic the thoughts of the young woman became, that much more she felt her consciousness losing touch with the outside world, even the voice she had initially heard disappeared altogether. It was as though she was falling in a pitch black abyss...

But oddly enough, as hopelessness took over her entire soul, instead of blaming anyone for her cursed fate, her last thoughts were still directed to the ones she was leaving behind, and especially towards Zane.

Even if he had not loved her, even if it was only a contract, even if she had only been a tool for him... she couldn't deny that the memories with him were still the most precious things she possessed in her entire lifetime.

It was a bitter sweet feeling, ironic even... for the few memories she most valued to not even be rightfully hers... a fake Aria... Why couldn't someone love her for who she really was just once?

Only once, couldn't someone cherish and recognize the real her? She thought, as she felt bit by bit her soul enveloped in pure black darkness.

"A fake Aria, a real Aria... your name was never important, the place from where you came from never mattered, even the outward appearance was only significant because of the soul inside of it."

Yes, if only someone had told her that, she was capable of loving that person for a lifetime, she would have been willing to give her entire being to that someone.

"The one who guided this body, making it shine these months, the soul who granted this face the vivid expressions that I had come to adore... it was only your heart I fell in love with."

No, not if someone had told her these words, it would have only mattered if Zane had said them, no one else but him. She had only wished for the owner of the voice, which seemed to soothe her soul at this moment, to love her.

"I only love you, little one, now and forever... my first and last love."

It seemed as though her mind was playing tricks on her during her last moments, otherwise how could Zane say exactly the words she most needed from him. His voice was but a whisper, such a tone lacked the authority needed for anyone to listen to it and obey it, but unknowingly it had been enough for her soul to forcefully become shackled once more.

It had startled her consciousness awake, causing the haziness from before to disappear, as she sensed her soul taken from the depths of the abyss, only for her to feel it placed inside the previous familiar body.

Frightened and confused because of the tumultuous experiences she had been going through for such a long time, culminating with the strange sensation from a second ago, the young woman reflexively opened her heavy eyelids. She was trying to discern what exactly was happening to her, she had thought she was already long gone. How could she come back?

Frowning a bit due to the bright light, which pricked her eyes, the ache suddenly calmed down when she felt a large shadow looming over her.

"Aria." Zane's voice still resembled a whisper, it was as though he was afraid that even his voice could harm the frail beauty, or just maybe it was because he felt his heart squeezed until it left him breathless, so he could not speak louder even if he wished to. The expressionless face, which gave no inkling of whose soul was currently residing in the petite woman's body, terribly frightened him. It obstructed him from showing a completely relieved and happy face.

"Aria?" He asked again, as he slowly placed his trembling palm on the still pale cheek.

"Can you hear me? Do you know who I am?" Zane asked again, seeing as Aria's hazel eyes only studied his face, but she wasn't appearing to want to speak and answer his questions.

Was it because the one who had woken up was Jillian? He was afraid to verify this fact with certainty. What if his Aria was no more?

Only when the young woman nodded at his question did Zane notice his foolishness. His petite wife had been in a coma until that very moment, naturally the mask and tubes, which blocked her mouth, made it impossible for her to answer him verbally.

Realizing this fact belatedly, he hurriedly pressed the panic button near her bed, which alerted the two nurses he had in the mansion for her express care.

"It's okay. You are alright, it's okay. The nurses will come in a bit to check on you. How are you feeling? Does it hurt anywhere? It's okay." Mumbling coherent and illogical phrases alike, Zane tried to reassure his wife. Though if others were to see him at that moment, they would feel like the words were more for himself, rather than for the small woman.

In the shortest time possible, the proficient nurses hurried to the room, and even without Zane instructing them to, they had already started checking the young woman's vital signs.

"How is she? Is she alright?" Zane questioned alarmed, he had absolutely forgotten the reassurance he was giving his wife moments earlier.

"How is this possible? The vital signs are a bit lower than normal, but considering Mrs. Black's previous state, they are far much better than before." The nurse stated surprised, as she skillfully removed the tube that obstructed the young woman's throat. Meanwhile, the other nurse was already dialing the doctor to ask him to come over and check up on the patient.

After barely having enough patience for the nurses to do their job, Zane once again approached Aria's bed and tried to talk to her. He felt it was ruthless of him to try to find out the truth when Aria appeared to still be out of focus, but he felt he could not wait for a second more. Not knowing the true identity of the one inside the body, was killing him alive.

"How are you feeling? Do you remember who you are?" Although he was showing his concern for her, inadvertently his true feelings shone through his words.

No matter how hazy the young woman's mind still was, Zane's urgency hadn't escaped her eyes. He was too impatient and worried, for her to not notice it after all.

Remembering the dream, and his aloofness from the bits of pieces of memory, which she had been shown, from the first moment he had gotten married up until the day of the car accident, she realized he had never even once showed such open concern towards his wife, or anyone else for that matter.

The red rimmed eyes, the dark noticeable circles, the weary expression, the obvious sunken cheeks... it was the face of a man who cared, of a man in love. His haggard appearance and much slimmer body were obviously due to her precarious health.

She could also tell that the words she had heard in her unconscious state had really been spoken by him. The urgency she had felt in his voice moments ago fitted perfectly with his expression at this very moment.

Normally when one would see such a tired and drained face it would worry them, but for Aria this face, which she had longed to see, brought nothing but joy. Why had she doubted his feelings because of that woman's words? The love in his eyes, the relieved expression at the sight of an awakened her could not be fake.

The truthful feelings which he was showing and his concern for her safety warmed her heart, and as a result of her inner thoughts Aria's face visibly brighten up as well.

She hadn't answered his question, not a word had she said since she had woken up, but this face alone was enough for Zane's heart to beat again furiously.

She was his Aria, she had come back to him.

Only at this moment did Zane finally allow his bottled up emotions overtake his entire soul.

"I am so sorry for not telling you everything, I was a coward and did not want to lose you. I never meant to take the children away, I was just afraid you would really divorce me if you knew of the contract... Thank you for waking up, thank you for coming back." He gently said with a shaky tone, as he held Aria's cheek with his hand. Then lowering himself to Aria's level, firmly pressed his lips on hers.

The salted kiss littered with Zane's tears sweetened Aria's heart even more, causing her eyes to moisten as well. If she was to objectively think about that night, though she did not mean to let her emotions get the best of her, it was also her fault. Because she had let Aileen's words influence her, she caused her soul to separate itself from Jillian's body.

But now, having Zane close to her, feeling his warm trembling lips on her own, she realized he was the anchor of her soul. Nothing else mattered anymore, the contract, her real identity... everything paled in comparison to what she had been about to lose.

With this realization, she remembered Jillian's words, she recalled the conversation she had with Aileen before her accident. The former had told her cousin that a replacement or whatnot it did not matter, she was still herself regardless of what name she had. What was important was her hopes for the future.

Aria had thought that the images were brought about because someone was teaching her the ugliness of life, but perhaps the one who had showed them to her had a different purpose. After all those memories had also proven to her that Zane's goal for the contract hadn't been the children, Jillian had been the one to express her dissatisfaction with the marriage first. He had only offered her a way out of the convenient marriage she disliked.

Perhaps it was because the coma hadn't been sleeping in the true sense of the word, so Aria was already feeling her body needing a much deserved real rest, she felt like drifting off to sleep. But despite the tiredness she was feeling, she did not ask Zane to let her go, indulging his kiss as much as the man wanted to. She could also not deny, only by having Zane this close to her, did she truly feel she had returned.

"Mister Black. I have just finished speaking with the doctor, he ordered for us to still keep Mrs. Black's oxygen mask on her face until he gets here. He want's to check himself that her lungs are functioning properly." The slightly embarrassed nurse reported, disturbing the moment of the two.

She could understand Zane's current mood, as she had been a witness to Zane's devoted care and deep love these past few months, but she also knew just how frail humans, who had been in a coma for several months, truly were. It was vital for every step that the doctor ordered to be strictly followed.

Hearing these words, Zane quickly snapped out of his muddled state, and checked up on Aria's expression. The petite woman always felt breathless when he kissed her in the past. Now with her weak state, she was prone to feel even more uncomfortable.

The slightly rosy expression and reddened cheeks calmed Zane's fear, and he immediately allowed the nurse to put Aria's mask back on, but he showed no intentions of moving away for even half a step. The patience he had, when he allowed the nurses to do their work before, had already ran out.

As such, the nurse had to move on the other side of Aria's bed and maneuver the oxygen tank, turning it back on.

"Don't worry I am here. You will be okay." Zane affirmed for the third... fourth time, as he barely contained the visible happiness.

Mirroring his expression, Aria also showed a small smile, then as she was about to allow the nurse to put the mask on her face, noticed the missing bump.

"The children..." Were the only words Aria could utter with her hoarse voice.

"The children are alright. They are safe, don't worry." Zane immediately assured her, but his words were not enough for Aria.

The children were too small to be taken out of her womb, what if they were not unwell and Zane was only appeasing her mood. She was no doctor, but she of course knew that if a mother had medical problems, the pregnancy would also suffer as a consequence.

"Show..." She said and tiredly raised her hand to stop the nurse from placing the mask back on.

"Let the nurse do her job, I will bring them right now." Zane hurriedly spoke, and even though he was reluctant to leave her side, quickly turned around and left. As ecstatic as he was right now, he would have done anything she asked, regardless of the difficulty of her request.

He also knew Aria loved the children very much, if seeing them for herself would make her compliant with the doctor's wishes, then he would of course do it without a complaint. Trying to appease her with words would only make her more worried, and it could perhaps affect her already battered up body.

It did not matter that it was already late into the night and the two peanuts were already long asleep, he briskly opened the nursery door and approached the cribs.

In actual fact this was the first time he was holding the babies, but he could not afford to enjoy the moment. He could only clumsily pick the still sleeping bundles up, as he had not even learnt the proper way to hold them yet.

Surprisingly not one of the two boy cried as he picked them, or even woke up for that matter. Perhaps it was because although he was quick in his actions, wanting to bring them to Aria as soon as he could, he was still very much gentle.

"Mister Black?" The nanny stated confused, as she entered the nursery. The sound from the baby monitor had alerted her of the movements inside the room of the twins, and knowing that at this hour most of the people of the mansion were sleeping, she had quickly come to check up on them.

"Wait here, I am taking the boys for a bit to my bedroom. I'll bring them back in a bit, please take care of them after." Zane informed her, as he was already by passing the dumbfounded nanny.

Well you could not blame her for her bewildered expression, her employer had never taken his children with him anywhere.

With the nursery on the second floor, the same as Aria's and Zane's bedroom, even though it was a bit further away, Zane's large strides quickly aided him in returning to Aria in a matter of only several minutes. It was just that to walk so fast, inadvertently his steps would make a noise loud enough, which could be heard from inside of each room on his way back.

As such, Victoria, who was quite the light sleeper, confused because of the disturbance exited her room to check up on the situation. The image of her son carrying his babies, send an aching pain to her heart, as she imagined the worst. Was he taking the boys to see their mother for the last time? Could Aria have already... She did not dare to think further, as she tightened the robe around her waist and quickly followed behind.

"Look, see they are really alright." Zane expressed as he approached Aria's bed and showed the babies in his arms.

With a trembling hand she reached for the small arm, which dangled unbothered in front of her, as the baby was still sound asleep. She did not know if the little one felt her hand or just instinctually acted on his reflexes, but as he tightened his small fist around her finger, her heart was flooded with warmth.

"So tiny..." She whispered slowly, her tired face mustering a small smile.

Even though she was wearing the mask, Zane could clearly hear her remark and sense her joy, so he enthusiastically relayed to her what he had heard from the maids.

"Don't look at them and think they are too quiet, this is only because they are still sleeping. They have been showing signs of teething, so they are chewing their rattle toys each chance they get. They are also troublemakers, they have everyone wrapped around their little fingers. When they saw Pudding left the room, they started crying and picking up a fuss, until the butler had no choice but to forcefully bring the dog back..."

As he recounted with relish the things he had overheard from his mother and the maids before, Aria listened with joy, even though her eyelids were already starting to close.

Victoria, who had remained at the door, not daring to interrupt the joyous event, had tears in her eyes. Even the usual expressionless face showed a vivid happiness. Though she did not know whether to cry or smile, because of her son's brazenness.

Zane only knew these things, because she had literally forced him to know of them, but he was now relaying them to Aria, as though he was the most perfect father.

***

Several months later

"Two little babies jumping on the bed,

One fell off and bumped his head,

Mama called the doctor and the doctor said, no more Hazel jumping on the bed." Joyfully sang Aria as she gently shook the rocking crib, from where the two smiling babies were currently watching her with curiosity.

"One little baby jumping on the bed,

One fell off and bumped his head,

Mama called the doctor and the doctor said, no more Key jumping on the bed."

Finishing the enthusiastic performance, Aria felt a pair of eyes on her and directed her gaze upwards.

"Work!" She firmly ordered the absent minded man, before she once again lowered her eyesight to the crib and started another song.

The receiver of the command, helplessly smiled as he touched his nose a bit embarrassed.

Though he had insisted for Aria to stay in his home office with him, convincing her that she and the children wouldn't distract him, he kept looking towards her each time he could, and each time he was caught by the small woman.

If it happened once or twice it was still alright, but he had lost count of how many times she had found him glancing towards her, so he could not blame her reaction. He could not even refute her silent disapproval.

But he really couldn't help it, unconsciously his eyesight wandered from the documents he had on his desk towards her even without his will.

Afraid she would really