Chapter 10

Aria was staring intently at the television, gripping a bottle of tea tightly in her hands while pressing her lips together. The saleswoman sat quietly, facing away from Aria and engrossed in the program. Aria would have left earlier, but she was drawn in by a flash news announcement: her father had proposed to the woman next to him and the crowd around them was thrilled. As Aria watched her father and his fiancé exchange a kiss, her anger intensified. She could see the adoration in her father's eyes that he never showed when he was with her mother, and her heart felt heavy with sorrow for her mother. Aria turned away before tears could fall from her eyes and made her way to the park in the plaza.

Leaving early, Aria went to visit Jason's family and gave them some gifts she had prepared a month before. Although the items were simple groceries and school supplies for the children, they were worth more than anything to the family.

Aria pulled into the parking lot of the pa