#Chapter 151: Watching You

Aria’s POV After taking the check, I stood there watching as Markus, smirking, told his driver, “Let’s go.” Markus rolled up the window as the car drove forward, curling around the circular driveway and then disappearing out into the street. With the limousine out of sight, the entire thing felt so surreal. I might have thought I had some kind of fever dream, except for the check in my hand. $5 million proved it was real. Walking into the house, I still felt rattled. Isabella was in the kitchen, helping the kids with their homework as they all sat at the kitchen table. “Mom!” William called, spotting me first. He hopped off the chair and rushed to my side for a hug. Joe was next. Isabella smiled at me, “Welcome back.” My closest friend, she only needed a moment or two to realize something was wrong. Her face fell, but, not wanting to alarm the kids, same as I hadn’t, she smiled again when they came back around to face her. “Come on and finish up here while I talk to your mom.