Chapter 5 2

Aria had never been a fan of wearing hoodies. She liked cute dresses or button-up shirts better but when she was changing her outfit for her flight back, she knew that wearing hoodies even when it was summer was a must for her to hide her face just in case someone recognized her.

The omega who used to sing at one of Harris's bars in New Zealand checks the time on her watch again before she finally calls a taxi as she tries to hide her face with her hoodie. It was 10 a.m. already and the address written on her phone was about an hour away from the airport. Aria put her luggage at the back of the cab before he settled inside. She also gave the driver the complete address before she leaned back and checked her phone.

Since she is an orphan and has no family in the US, Harris gave her the number of his trusted friend, Knight Ashbourne. At first, she was hesitant to accept the offer again because he'd been helping her for the past three years but when he informed her that Knight was an alpha who had high respect for Omegas, she relented.

She accepted the phone number since Harris already told her that he already informed his friend about her arrival.

Aria decided to dial the number for the first time. a man on the other side answered on its third ring.

"Hello?"

"H-hello. Is this Mr Knight Ashbourne?" Aria asked hesitantly when she heard the deep and authoritative voice from the other line.

"Yes. Is this Aria Thomson?" the man asked with a little excitement.

She knitted her eyebrows when she noticed. "Yes, this is Aria... hmm, I'm Harris's friend." she tried to hide her confusion.

"Oh, it's nice to finally hear from you, Miss Aria. I'm sorry but this is Justin, Justin Steele. Mr. Ashbourne is in the middle of a meeting. He informed me about your arrival today. Are you at the airport already? Shall I call a driver to pick you up and--"

"Wait! No! I mean, hold on a second Mr. Steele. You said Mr. Knight is in the meeting?"

Aria asked, a little confused because as far as she could remember, Harris told her that he didn't have a business but he could help her once she was back in New York.

"Yes, Miss Thomson. Mr Ashbourne is in the meeting but he is aware that you're arriving today. So please tell me where to pick you up so I can instruct the driver to--" Micheal is interrupted.

"I'm sorry Justin but can I just call you again later? I just have to deal with something."

Aria made up an excuse so she could hang up from the call.

"Sure Miss Thomson but please call us immediately if you need help with anything." He said again before finally ended the call.

Aria sighed as she looks out the window. She noticed how the city Looked busier compared to the last time she was there. She also noticed the beautiful buildings that were towering along the streets.

"Mr. Driver can you please pull over." Aria suddenly asked the taxi driver to stop the car in front of a chicken restaurant.

The taxi driver seems confused at first because it was clearly not the address she gave him but she explained that she needed to meet someone else there first so the old taxi driver just dropped her off. When she was standing outside the restaurant,is only then when she finally realizes that she really was back. He went inside and ordered a bucket of fried chicken & a can of soda.

The truth is, she had no one to meet there.she just wanted to breathe and think of the things she really wanted to do now that she was back. First on her list is to visit her baby. She wanted to pay respect to her daughter but she knew it was risky to go to the private cemetery of the Carter,s so she just made a mental note to buy a bouquet of roses that she could scatter on the River later.

The Omega's heart suddenly throbs in pain again upon remembering her angel. She doesn't cry anymore, she doesn't sob like a baby too whenever she remembers Kiana.

But her heart never failed to remind her that she lost a piece of herself. Her fading mating mark is also a huge reminder every day of how broken she is.

She knows that her marriage to her mate was dissolved 3 years ago but the mating mark on her neck was still visible even though it was slowly fading through the years that she's been away from her mate. Aria almost jumps off her seat when the waiter serves her food. She was lost in her deep thoughts that she didn't even notice how much time passed by. She looked at the chicken and forced herself to smile.

"Come on Aria, at least let this fried chicken welcome you back," she mumbled to herself before she took a bite of the tasty fried chicken.