Chapter 8

Aria crossed her legs, took a deep sigh, and gazed at the empty desk of the Directress as she waited for her arrival. She spun the swivel chair to face the bookshelves near the door and scanned the titles until her thoughts turned to the book "Memories" that lay hidden under her office drawer. It was her mother's most treasured possession, and she was the only one allowed to hold and read it. Her mother was incredibly particular about her belongings; if she liked something, she didn't let anyone else touch it, not even her father.

Aria frowned as she remembered her parents and how they never once quarreled. Her mother seemed to know everything about her father's doings, but she kept quiet and never spoke of any unhappiness in her marriage. They appeared to be the perfect family, but it was a facade. After her mother's death, her father's secret relationship with his mistress became public, and he soon remarried. Aria felt anger and sadness at