I Want To Press Charges

He rested his chin on the back of his hand. Aria's munching on something, probably her lunch.

"I had been given this life, a poor one, experiencing shortage in money, dealing with canned goods whenever I'm waiting for the pay day. Whenever I see the flowers I designed of and the ones I prepared of for the clients, I'd always ask…"

Prince waited for her to end the sentence. In a thorough investigation, he has known that Aria isn't living a luxury life like Avery did. Prince has done a lot of skim up to see whether she's doing well or not. Sometimes, he's a bit worried about Aria.

But he doesn't need to be sympathetic. Prince had a plan, and he needed to get himself straight.

"When should I buy those? When is the time I could be the one holding those flowers?"

Prince halted his hand in midair, just as he was about to retrieve his soda. Those words coming out of Aria's lips were all true. Although he's a bad judge of a character, he knew how much Aria wanted to feel like she's a millionaire someday.

Indeed, she was. She is the daughter of Cortez-De Leon, but she's unaware.

All of the things deprived of her were taken away when she was born. Only Avery experienced it.

If only Prince can drop it right away, he'd be able to sleep well in a wink.

"Then, just days ago, this man gave me a bouquet one, containing the flowers of yellow and white roses. It's defined as innocence and new beginnings, and friendship, too. I don't know how to react, because… it's the second time a man gave me flowers," Aria whispered.

It's barely a whisper, though, but Prince heard it. His devices were way out of the line. It's enough for him to hear it.

Prince dropped the chopsticks at the top of his able and stared into space. A muffled voice came up, but Aria didn't answer. She continued her food, munching on, while everyone have gone silent.

She doesn't want to say that the owner of the house was the one who brought her flowers.

Probably to stay away from accusations as much as possible and it's not the thing she needed for now. Aria had to hide it for a while before everyone found out. Prince wore off his headphones, put it down gently, and thought hard.

"What do you have in store, Aria…that I need to hate?"

If something triggered his loath, then his whole body would just react the same way it did with Avery. Prince had to allow the wrath to take over, if it meant he could end her life.

…

Aria resorted to wait for Prince to come home. She had to properly apologize. Both of them didn't end well with the kiss last night, and Aria prepared something down the kitchen.

The cooks allowed her to cook something. They're very impressed with her skills. Still, Aria doesn't want to boast around and tell everyone she knew how to cook. She should stay at her position as a florist on one day, and a gardener by other days.

Aria waited by the front staircase, looking out to the center statue, peeking around to see a car driving inside the cabin mansion. Still, the front gate was intact.

She flunked back to her seat, rested her chin in her palms, and tapped her feet impatiently.

Aria couldn't help but to long for the kiss. His scent, the way he held her waist, the way he undress her… everything about it was raunchy enough to turn her on. Aria was done enough deal on everything already, and she's pregnant, too.

With Prince's tantalizing eyes, she got fazed. Aria should stop her feelings for now.

It's not good anymore. It's only been a week, and she already broke her promise of not giving in to any guy!

Aria mumbled, "Let's stop it, Aria. Get a hold of yourself, alright?"

She kept on murmuring it until the front doors open. The crashing sound pierced through the air, and reached Aria after a split second. She immediately went down of the staircase, clasping her hands together, keeping it formal.

Aria rushed up, anticipating Prince coming out of his car. She waited at the corner, letting the chauffeur to approach him before her. Aria fiddled with her fingers, munching in her bottom lip.

Prince held onto the briefcase, and tapped the hood, letting the driver took care of his beloved car. He was about to step inside the mansion to end his exhausting day, but someone caught his eye. Someone on the corner square of a statue was Aria.

They met each other's eyes, and it made Prince raise his eyebrows.

"Aria," he called out.

She hastily took steps forward, stopping at a near distance, staring at his shoes. It was as good as new. It shone through the lights of the center square, and as Prince asked, "What are you doing out here? It's cold. It's not good for the baby."

Aria's face lit up, saying, "I just came out, checking if the garden is locked."

Prince nodded. She's lying. Just based on how she dart her eyes everywhere, Prince have known Aria was being untrue. He has been listening all day, tasking it while checking the files of the defendant's indictment.

Prince had to hear something, but he found nothing.

"Hmmm. Have you had dinner?" Prince asked. Aria looked up at him, and shook her head.

"Let's go. The maids must have prepared something."

…

It was a long drive from the city down to Varean. He leaned his forehead to the mirror, exhausted about his job and the hassle road down the countryside. Prince had to do it every day, or Aria would be suspicious.

It has been two days since he live here. Prince hasn't getting enough sleep because of the lights, the environment, and the natural sounds of the wild animals down the forest. He regretted to have bought the cabin mansion without even a single neighbor.

He had to indulge himself on this kind of set-up, or else, Prince would get killed.

With the Gomez and Fajardo asking for the updates between Avery and Aria De Leon's body, Prince had gotten mentally weak. All of those pressure and stress he attained for a long time.

Prince should have known how difficult it was to live up to their expectations.

As he had gotten longer down the sink, washing his hands repeatedly, someone knocked.

"Mr. Prince Gomez, are you alright?" It's Aria. He's surprised she's using honorifics once again. Probably to show to the maids they're of a formal relationship and nothing else but an employer-employee one.

"I'm coming out."

Prince turned off the faucet quickly and hitched tissue papers. He dried his hands up, opened the door, and went out. Aria was still standing by the kitchen counter, smiling at him. Prince didn't return the favor.

He had to act as if they're strangers. He had to avoid her for a while, but it's never going to be easy. Prince went to the long table, draped his coat around the chair, and saw the little serving of the dish.

He turned to the maids, but Aria came up, uttering, "I was the one who prepared the food. I insisted. So… if you want anything rather than the dish I made, it's totally fine."

Prince didn't say anything and observed the dish. It smelled and looked delicious. He cleared his throat, sitting down at the chair, and picked up a spoon. Aria counted a bit before sliding 2 seats apart.

Another bowl of rice and a small portion of the dish have been laid down.

Prince turned to Aria, querying, "You made this all by yourself?"

Aria hitched her breath, and nodded. "Yeah, just for you."

Prince scooped up the hot soup, and took a sip. He licked his lips. "Mmm, it's delicious."

Aria smiled quietly.

But then, Aria has come to realize she had something to ask Prince about. It's all about the father of her child, Bryce. Aria hesitated for a minute. Hesitations are never a good thing.

She dropped it while the tension was still present.

"I want to press charges to Bryce Fajardo."