The Heiress' Re Chapter 153 - 179 Return to New York

Chapter 153: 179 Return to New York

Ariana’s POV

"Hello?" Sarah’s voice was cautious and distant. She didn’t recognize the number.

"Sarah," I said. My voice was soft. "It’s . It’s Ariana."

There was a long silence. I thought she hung up. I thought she didn’t want to talk to .

"Ariana?" Her voice cracked. "Ariana, is that really you?"

I smiled with tears in my eyes. "It’s really . I’m sorry I haven’t called. I’m sorry I haven’t texted. I’ve been... It’s been a lot, but I’m back. I’m in New York, and I need to see you."

Sarah was crying. I could hear it in her voice. "I thought sothing had happened to you. I thought you forgot about . I called and called, but you never answered. I left ssages. You never replied. I was so scared, Ariana. So scared."

I wiped my eyes. "I know, I’m sorry."

"You’re my best friend," Sarah said. "You’re the only family I have; when you left, it felt like a whole new pain."

I took a deep breath. "I know that now I’ve been with my family, my real family... It’s been so much better with them, and now I’m back and ready to fight. I’m ready to take back what’s mine."

Sarah was quiet for a mont. Then she said, "Your family?"

I nodded as though she could see , "Yes."

I laughed. It was a bitter sound. "That’s a long story. One, I’ll tell you when I see you, but right now, I need to see you."

Sarah didn’t hesitate. "Yes. Yes, of course. Send

the address. I’ll be there."

I smiled. "Thank you. I’ll send it right away."

We said goodbye, I ended the call, and sent her the address, putting my phone down.

There’s so much to do

******

I opened the door, coming into view with Sarah, who stood stagnant.

"Sarah," I said, my voice was soft. "I’m sorry."

She didn’t say anything, she just pulled

into her arms, hugging

so tight I couldn’t breathe.

I hugged her back just as tight.

Her voice was broken. "I thought sothing happened to you."

I pulled back and looked at her face. "I’m sorry. I’m so sorry I needed to figure out who I was without everything falling apart around ."

She wiped her eyes.

I pulled her inside.

We got settled. "Talk to , tell

what happened while you’re away."

I took a deep breath and began filling her in on the part where I left and how I t my new family.

Sarah’s mouth fell open. "Wait, wait. Ricardo is not your father? The man who ruined your life? He’s not even your real father?"

I shook my head. "No, he’s not. He couldn’t have children of his own. My mother was pregnant with

when her parents forced her to marry him. He agreed to claim

as his own. He raised

and used . He never loved ."

Sarah stared at . "So your real father... Daniel... he didn’t know about you?"

Tears filled my eyes. "He didn’t until a few months back."

Sarah squeezed my hands. "But you found him? You t him?"

I nodded. "His son, my brother, Ares. He found . He searched for ."

"And what are they like? Your father? Your brother?"

I smiled. A real smile. "They’re... amazing. Daniel is everything a daughter would want, and He’s trying to make up for forty years of lost ti."

"And Ares?"

I laughed. "Ares is annoyingly bossy."

Sarah leaned back and let out a long breath. "Wow. Just... wow. I don’t even know what to say. Your whole life has been a lie, and now you have a whole new family. A whole new identity."

I nodded.

Sarah was quiet for a mont. "Well, it’s good you’re back now... at least you can take care of lissa."

I groaned. The re ntion of her na aggravates

Sarah took a deep breath. "lissa is gutting the company piece by piece.... She’s been bringing in her own people. People who will do whatever she says. She’s selling off assets. Transferring money to offshore accounts. She’s not just running the company. She’s destroying it."

I felt the anger rise in my chest. "How much has she taken?"

"Marcus said he’s lost track, but she’s using shell companies and fake nas. By the ti anyone realizes what’s happening, there will be nothing left."

"You have no idea how much I want to ruin lissa... all this is happening because of . I should have never signed those papers, but I’m going to get it back... I swear it, every bit of it, I’ll get it back."

Sarah ca to stand beside . "How? How are you going to do that?"

I turned to face her. "Ares made a partner with Dante’s company, and she has no idea what is coming her way."

" I’ll take back my children and make sure Ricardo and her end up behind bars...and then I’ll move on."

Sarah was quiet for a mont. Then she said, "And Dante? What about Dante?"

My face softened just for a second. "I can’t with us anymore, Dante and I, we just don’t belong with each other."

"But—"

"I know," I interrupted. "He hid so from

for all these years and—" I sighed, burned on my lower lip.

Sarah reached for my hand. "What do you want? What do you really want?"

I took a deep breath. "I want my kids, and that’s it, and a new life away from all of this when everything is over."

"And Dante? You don’t want him anymore?"

I put my head in my hands. "A lot has happened, Sarah, too much. Every ti we try to make it work, sothing happens. Every ti we think we’re okay, sothing tears us apart. I can’t do it anymore. I can’t keep fighting for a relationship that keeps breaking. I can’t keep hoping for a future that never cos."

Sarah has put her hand on my back. "But you love him, and I know you do, and he loves you too."

I looked at her, my eyes were wet. "Love isn’t enough. It’s never been enough. We’ve tried so hard, fought countless tis, but sohow it always goes down the drain... We’re all hurting, and I’m tired. I’m so tired of fighting for sothing that feels like it’s always slipping away."

Sarah didn’t say anything; she just rubbed my back, letting

cry.

"When we’re together," I said, "things seem like they’re okay for a little while, and we go back to being the way we were, distant and lost. I don’t want that anymore. I don’t want to keep going in circles. I don’t want to keep getting my hopes up just to have them crushed again."

"You’ll be fine... I promise"

I pulled her into a hug. "Thank you."

She hugged

back. "Always."