After All the Hurt, She Chose Herself novel Chapter 72

Aria's grip on her phone tightened, and she suddenly found it hard to breathe.

[Roxanne: Think it over carefully. I can sell it for a low price, and you'll never set foot in that house again. As for what's inside, you won't get a single thing.]

Aria's vision blurred.

These were the only things she had from the only family she'd ever known.

And now Roxanne was using them to threaten her.

A tear dripped onto the screen, and Aria quickly wiped it away.

Gideon saw it, and an uncomfortable feeling stirred within him.

He hadn't been trying to bully Aria; there was just no need for a family to make things this ugly.

It was Aria who wasn't being reasonable.

She couldn't see the bigger picture.

"Fine, I'll drop the charges, but Eveline has to apologize to me!"

Eveline heard her and immediately retorted, "You want me to apologize? In your dreams!"

Aria glanced at Gideon, then back at Eveline. "She humiliated me like that, and now all I want is an apology. Otherwise, this negotiation is over for everyone."

As she spoke, she took out her phone and sent a voice message to Roxanne. "I need Eveline to apologize to me right now. If she doesn't, do what you want with the house!"

Gideon frowned. "What house?"

Aria let out a self-deprecating laugh. "My biological mother's house, of course. To save your mother, I'm about to lose my own mother's house."

She and Lilith had been switched at birth. Her father was unknown, and her mother had died young.

Aria had nowhere else to go, yet they still treated her this way.

A thick, suffocating knot tightened in Aria’s throat as the walls of her world closed in. She sniffled, then bit her lip and said, "If it comes to it, we'll all go down together!"

"Calm down," Gideon said, displeased. "I didn't expect the Rowans to push you this hard, and I won't let them push you to the point of mutual destruction."

Seeing her tear-rimmed eyes, Gideon's heart softened.

But since Aria had already agreed, she couldn't say anything more and simply nodded.

Gideon stood in front of Aria and reached out to wipe the tears from the corner of her eyes. "Don't cry. What house is it? I can help you."

Aria slapped his hand away.

"I don't need your help! If you feel so sorry for me, then get your mother out of my sight! And tell her to never appear in front of me again!"

Did Gideon think she was a dog he could reward with a treat one moment and punish the next?

And expect her to always be grateful for his kindness?

Fat chance!

Aria got up and walked over to Eveline, her voice icy. "Apologize. Otherwise, I won't sign the settlement agreement!"

Not only did she demand an apology, but she also held up her phone to record it.

Gideon's hand was a little red from the slap, but he wasn't angry. He stood behind Aria and said, "Mom, apologize. You went too far this time."