Sweet Hatred Chapter 324: Secret

ARIA

Ash’s car slled faintly of leather and smoke, the windows tinted just enough that the world outside blurred as we drove out of Kael’s estate. The silence pressed at first, suffocating, until Ash finally broke it.

"So," she said casually, though her tone carried its usual sharp edge. "Looks like you and Roman are back to playing lovebirds without admitting it."

I huffed out a laugh, surprising even myself. "I confessed," I admitted softly. "I told him."

The wheel jerked in her hand for a fraction of a second before she steadied it again. The car dipped slightly as she corrected the pace, and my heart jumped.

"Sorry," she muttered, almost too quickly. Then her eyes flicked to . "And I’m guessing he told you he loves you too?"

I nodded. Her lack of surprise made my chest tighten. "You don’t seem shocked at that part."

Ash’s lips curved in sothing between a smirk and a sneer. "Because it was obvious. To everyone but you two. Only you and Kael seed hell-bent on being oblivious to your own damn feelings."

Her words slid under my skin like guilt. Obvious. To everyone else but .

As if reading my thoughts, Ash added, "Don’t beat yourself up over it. He’s just as bad. That man overthinks himself into corners. Clueless bastard, really."

A quiet laugh escaped despite the sting in my chest.

Her gaze lingered on for a beat before shifting back to the road. "So... the girl he was kissing that night. In front of the bar."

The air thinned instantly. I looked down at my hands. "It was Erin. He told she was drunk. That it was a mistake."

Ash didn’t respond right away. The silence stretched until it felt unbearable. Finally, she spoke. "The other day, when I t Kael about the Zephyrcore project... I think I rember seeing a small photo. Him and a girl. I didn’t rember it until now." She glanced at . "Who is Erin to him?"

I forced the words out. "She... she claid to be Ivan’s half sister. She had letters, pictures of them together."

"I see.." she drawled, her eyes remaining fixed on the road.

"Yeah"

Ash exhaled, long and heavy, as if she’d been holding her breath. "Well if that’s the case, then I’m glad."

It caught off guard. "Glad?"

Her eyes softened in the mirror. "Glad because you look better than before."

The words sank into with a quiet weight. I understood imdiately what she ant.

"That day I saw you after searching at that café, you looked half a ghost already. And then, on top of it all..."

The ache split open again, the loss flooding through like fresh blood.

Ash’s voice gentled. "Sorry. I ruined the mood. I only ca because I was worried about you."

"Don’t," I whispered, swallowing the lump in my throat. "Don’t worry. And... thank you."

For a mont, it was silent again. Then Ash asked the one thing that froze the air in my lungs.

"Did you tell him about the baby?"

I stopped breathing. My chest locked, my nails digging into my palm.

The question hung in the air like smoke.

I didn’t answer. I couldn’t. The silence was so heavy it pressed into my chest, and from the way Ash’s fingers tightened on the steering wheel, I knew she already understood. She didn’t need to say it out loud.

"You don’t have to say anything yet," she said finally, her voice quieter than I’d ever heard it. "Not until you’re ready. But, Aria... if you and Kael are really going to be together, you can’t keep this from him forever. It wouldn’t be fair to him."

Her words carved through . Because I knew she was right. I knew it. And still, the thought of looking Kael in the eye and telling him I lost our child... my chest twisted so hard it felt like my ribs were breaking.

I pictured his face, except I couldn’t. Not really. I couldn’t imagine how he’d look at once he knew. Would it be anger? Disappointnt? Or sothing worse, pity? The dread gnawed through my stomach, bile rising in my throat.

Ash must have felt the tension spiking off , because she sighed and said, "I’m sorry. I didn’t an to pile that on you."

"It’s fine," I murmured, forcing the words out before my throat closed. "Don’t apologize. You’re right."

For a beat, the car moved in silence again, the road stretching out ahead of us. I didn’t even care to ask where we were going. Then Ash cleared her throat. "That’s not the only reason I ca."

I looked at her warily.

"The doctor inford you still need another scan," she said carefully, glancing at from the corner of her eye. "To make sure everything was cleared. If there’s any tissue left behind... it can cause a dangerous infection."

The words made my stomach knot. I hadn’t thought that far ahead. I’d been so consud with guilt, with grief, that I’d forced myself not to think about the aftermath.

I swallowed hard. "Oh."

Ash softened, though her tone stayed firm. "Have you noticed any symptoms? Fever? Pain?"

I shook my head quickly, clutching my hands together in my lap.

"Good," she said. "But we’re not leaving it up to chance. I already made arrangents. We’ll go to a hospital today. Kael won’t know, it’s between you and . You can put your mind at ease."

Relief seeped into , sharp and guilty all at once. I hated myself for it, but I felt lighter knowing soone else was carrying the decision for , even just for now.

I nodded faintly. "Okay."

Finally we arrived at the hospital.

The building slled too clean. That sterile sharpness of disinfectant that clung to the back of my throat, making feel like I didn’t belong here but sohow deserved it.

Ash had spoken to soone ahead of ti, because the mont we stepped inside, a nurse in pale scrubs was already waiting, polite and efficient. "Miss, this way."

I followed, my legs heavy, like I was walking into judgnt.