Chapter 314

ARIA POV

The apartment buzzed with tension as Aria paced back and forth, grappling with the unsettling confrontation that would take place between Evie and Andy. Evie had just left, claiming she had it all figured out on how she would handle him.

Aria had her doubts. She wanted to trust Evie, but she knew how reckless her friend could be.

The front door creaked open, drawing Aria's attention. Expecting to see Evie, she was taken aback when it was Evie's mother, Mia, who strolled into the apartment with an air of nonchalance. Aria's eyes widened, surprise mingling with the anger that simmered beneath the surface.

"M-Mia!” Aria stuttered, her eyes widening. “What are you doing here?"

Mia glanced at Aria, her expression unreadable. "Evie invited me over. She must have forgotten to mention it."

Aria blinked awkwardly. "Evie didn't mention anything about you coming. What's going on?"

Mia brushed off Aria's concern with a dismissive wave of her hand. "Oh, you know how forgetful she can be. It's no big deal. Besides, I thought it would be nice to spend some time with one of Evie's friends."

Aria's skepticism lingered, but Mia's casual demeanor left her with little choice. "Fine," she muttered reluctantly. "But maybe you could come back another time. I’m a little..."

Mia's eyes narrowed slightly, a calculating glint in them. "Nonsense. We can still chat. In fact, why don't you join me for a little outing? I'd love to get to know you better, Aria."

Despite her reservations, Aria agreed, hoping to gain insights into Evie's life and the mystery surrounding this woman. They left the apartment together, but Aria was still overwhelmed. She wondered if Evie knew how invasive Mia was, just walking in without care.

Mia led Aria to a quaint little home tucked away in a quiet neighborhood. The scent of fresh tea leaves filled the air as Mia prepared a pot for the two of them. Aria couldn't shake the feeling that Mia had an ulterior motive, possibly getting information about Evie out of her, but she decided to play along.

As they settled in with their tea, Mia's gaze grew increasingly invasive. Aria shifted uncomfortably in her seat, feeling like she was being dissected by Evie's probing mother.

"So, Aria," Mia began with a sly smile, "tell me more about Evie's life. What has she been up to lately?"

Aria hesitated, unsure of how much to reveal. "She's been busy with work and some personal stuff. You know how it is."

Mia's eyes glinted with curiosity. "Oh, personal stuff? Do elaborate. I haven't had a chance to catch up with Evie properly."

Aria sighed, feeling the weight of the secrets she carried. "Look, Mia, I don't want to betray Evie's trust. She's going through a tough time, and I can't just spill all her secrets."

Mia's smile faltered for a moment, but she quickly recovered. "I understand, Aria. I'm just worried about my daughter. It's been a while since we've had a heart-to-heart, and that Timothy guy is keeping her all to himself lately. Very strange."

Aria's guard remained up, but Mia's seemingly genuine concern softened her resistance. "Well, Evie has been dealing with some personal demons. She's been distant lately, and I think she's struggling with something she doesn't want to share, even with me."

Mia leaned in, her eyes narrowing with intensity. "Distant? Struggling? What exactly is going on, Aria? You can trust me."

“Don’t take it personally. She probably trusts her therapist more than either of us at this point, honestly,” Aria murmured, and she clapped a hand over her mouth in horror. “Shoot!”

Mia's eyes narrowed at the unexpected disclosure, and Aria immediately regretted letting the information out. The room hung heavy with tension as Aria tried to gauge Mia's reaction.

"I didn't realize that was something you shouldn’t be sharing," Mia remarked with a cool detachment, her tone cutting through the air.

Aria bit her lip, sensing the sudden shift in the atmosphere. "I... I'm sorry. I didn't think it was a big deal."

Mia's expression tightened, and she stood up abruptly. "Excuse me for a moment," she said tersely, heading towards the restroom.

As the door closed behind Mia, Aria felt a wave of unease. The air in the room seemed charged with unspoken questions, and she couldn't shake the feeling that she had stepped into a delicate territory. The revelation about Evie's therapy sessions was not something Aria had intended to disclose, and now she wondered how Mia would react.

On edge, Aria decided to take a look around the apartment, hoping to distract herself from the mounting tension. She remembered Evie expressing her suspicions about Mia, and curiosity gnawed at Aria's mind. She discreetly wandered through the apartment, glancing at the framed photos and the curated decor that adorned the walls.

Her steps led her to a door at the end of the hallway, a door that seemed different from the others. She tried the doorknob, but it didn’t budge. She hesitated, debating whether to respect the boundaries of privacy or to venture further.

Unable to resist her growing curiosity, Aria retrieved a bobby pin from her hair and skillfully unlocked the door. The room revealed itself in a whirlwind of chaos — wigs and clothes scattered across the floor, papers strewn haphazardly across a desk.

Aria's breath caught in her throat as she took in the scene before her. It was as if the room held a secret life of its own. Urgently, she slipped inside, her eyes scanning the room for clues. The desk drew her attention, covered in a mess of papers that seemed to tell a story of their own.

Among the scattered documents were IDs for various women, each bearing a striking resemblance to Mia. Aria's eyes widened with disbelief. The details on the IDs were uncanny, capturing every nuance of Mia's appearance, with only minor alterations to each woman's features.

Confused and intrigued, Aria took out her phone and began discreetly snapping pictures of the incriminating evidence. The room held secrets that Mia seemed determined to keep hidden, and Aria felt a sense of urgency to uncover the truth.

As Aria delved deeper into the papers, she discovered a pattern. The women in the IDs were hairdressers, tailors, waitresses, and any other occupation where one could easily hide. Aria's mind raced with questions, the pieces of the puzzle slowly coming together.

Just as Aria was engrossed in her findings, a voice echoed down the hallway. "Aria, where are you? Are you hiding?"

Panic gripped Aria. Mia was searching for her, and the room held secrets that she wasn't meant to uncover. In a rush, Aria pocketed her phone and made a hasty exit, closing the door behind her just as Mia rounded the corner.

Mia's eyes narrowed suspiciously as she took in Aria's presence. "What were you doing in there?"

Aria tried to compose herself, her heart pounding in her chest. "Oh, I was just admiring the decor. Your apartment is lovely."

Mia's gaze lingered on Aria, her skepticism evident. "Admiring the decor, huh? That's an interesting choice of words."

Aria's mind raced for an explanation, her thoughts a jumble of half-formed excuses. "I was just exploring. I hope that's okay."

Mia's scrutiny intensified, her eyes drilling into Aria's. "Exploring, you say? Well, let's stick to the common areas, shall we? My personal space is off-limits."

Aria nodded hastily, her mind racing to come up with a plausible reason for her impromptu exploration. "Of course, Mia. I didn't mean to overstep."

Mia's expression softened slightly, but a lingering suspicion remained in her eyes. "Just be mindful of boundaries. Now, let's get back to our conversation."

As they returned to the living room, Aria couldn't shake the sense of unease that clung to her. The locked room held secrets, and the discovery of the mysterious IDs only deepened the enigma surrounding Mia. Aria had unwittingly stumbled upon a hidden aspect of Mia's life, and she couldn't shake the feeling that Mia knew exactly what she’d witnessed.