ARIA'S POV:

"Are you fine now mom?", I asked as we both cuddled under the blankets.

"Yes baby. I'm fine. How are you feeling?", She asked giving me a small smile.

"Better.", I told her before looking at the television on which some new movie was going on.

"Will iris come to meet me?", I asked still looking at the TV.

"Ofcourse Ari..she must be on her way.", She replied kissing my head. Papa and Ryan were out for some work. They haven't told me what had been done with Hades but they had promised me that he will never come back.

"You're lost again.", Mum murmured before getting up. I whined not wanting to be left alone. I don't want to be taken again. I shivered at the memory of chains binding me to his bed.

"I'm not going anywhere. Let me bring your medicine. Yes? It's the last day of those bitter candies.", She told me making a face making me smile. She always called medicine 'bitter candies'.

"Ok."

"See, who is here and you're here too.", I heard mum's voice from the living room.

I peeked out of the blanket and at the people standing near the door. Iris and Maxim.

"ARIA....I MISSED YOU SO MUCH.", Iris sobbed as she almost tackled me down from the couch. I hugged her back tightly as we both cried. She looked fine. She had no injuries which made me smile.

After our little breakdown, we talked about school, shopping and parties. The only thing that interested me in all these was the shopping part only. I don't think I can go to school or a party right now.

"Hey.", A strong husky voice had me looking up. Ryan had dragged Maxim towards us and he was the one saying hy to me. He was a built man and the Russian accent of his  couldn't be missed.

"H--i.", I whispered looking down. I don't know when men started intimidating me.

"How are you?", He asked making me squirm. I don't like it. I don't like any man's eyes on me.

"I--I'm good.", I murmured as my hands shook under the blanket.

"Okay, okayyyy....sir you can go now.", Iris cut off us in between making me sigh and relax while Ryan looked unhappy and Maxim looked genuinely happy to cut the awkward chat short.

"I want them to be friends.", Ryan flicked Iris's head making her go all mad woman on him. I laughed loudly as she threw the empty wooden plate and it landed straight on his bum making him shriek.

Ryan looked at me accusingly before jumping on the couch with me.

"You look better when you smile Ri-Ri.", He grumbled as a soft look came to his face. I patted his arm and leaned on his shoulder as Iris moved here and there teasing him. I have thought about them as a couple a lot of times but they never said anything so I don't know if they like each other romantically or at all.

Ryan's phone rang loudly making me jump up from the little nap that I was about to take with Iris already asleep on the floor. The girl could sleep anywhere.

He came back looking angry but one glance at Iris sleeping form and the anger vanished. Ohhh... something was going on.

"Aria...umm..mumma isn't home right now and I've to go to some work.", He told me looking sorry to leave me.

"Go..go..I am fine and I don't need you.", I told him waving my hand making him pout.

"Should I put her to bed?", He asked looking at Iris making me nod. He effortlessly picked her up as she landed a small slap to his face in her sleep making me whistle. He looked at me shocked but smiled anyways and took her to my bedroom.

"Okay... I'm going but Maxim is here so if you need anything tell him and he is a good man. You need not to be scared.", He told me bending down and kissing my forehead.

"B---but..I'll be fine.", I told him not wanting Maxim near me...he may be nice but he is a man, isn't he?

"Shh... Papa and I need someone to look after you at all times princess and this is for the best. He won't come near you, see, he is standing there. The man has spikes on his ass, he never sits.", He grumbled the last part making me giggle.

"I heard that.", Maxim shouted making me cower away.

"Don't shout.", Ryan told him seriously and he looked at me once and nodded.

"Bye, call me if you want anything otherwise tell Maxim.", He told me one last time before heading out.

I looked at the place where the bulky man stood doing something on his phone.

"Like what you see, little Ari?", He asked still typing something aggressively on his phone. I gasped and hid myself in the blanket as heat covered my whole body. His voice didn't sound like he was threatening me. Maybe he won't hurt me.

When I looked up again, he wasn't there making me sigh and look at the TV again. I didn't notice when my eyes closed and the next time when I woke up, I was in his arms. Maxim sighed as he stood up from the ground with me clutched to his chest like a koala.

"You were falling down.", He grumbled out looking at my confused and scared face.

"I'm not lying. You can check the security camera.", He said as he pulled me slightly up. He pushed my bedroom door open with his leg making Iris get up and look here and there sleepily.

"What?-----oh... wait, are you okay? What happened? ", She asked worried after her confusion went away with her sleep.

"She's fine..was about to fell down from the couch. Your parents are outside.", He told her making her nod and arrange the bed for me.

"Umm..you can p--ut me d..down.", I told him still slightly scared of the close proximity with the new man. But he felt safe. Safe. A big word in anyone's life but he actually did. Maybe the monster's beatings had made me lose my mind too.

My eyes teared up as he softly put me down on the bed and put the penguin blanket on me.

"Sleep.", He said or ordered, I don't know but I couldn't let his hand go.

"I need to leave.", He whispered softly and took his hand away. My eyes filled up with more tears as he turned away and went out. I don't deserve anything I guess. He scared me but he made me feel safe. But why would he sit with a broken girl who has been raped and abused. No one wants used things Aria. You will have to start living like this. All alone. Mom and dad won't protect you forever. Ryan will have his own life with someone and same with Iris. You will stay alone forever.

"Breath...ARIA...You're not alone Aria. Shit.... Ryan, she is having a panic attack...no....she is gone.", He was shouting into the phone but my eyes were shut as my lungs constricted again and again as the memories flooded my mind. I wanted to die. I don't want people to look at me weird as if I was something delicate but disgusting.

I felt arms encircling me and putting my face on their chest. The warmth made me feel unusual and a hand rubbed my back telling me to breathe in. I finally copied what the person told and my eyes opened to meet Maxim's green eyes. His body was tensed as if he was scared of touching me in the wrong manner and trigger those dark memories again.

"Shh...close your eyes...I'm here.", He whispered soothing words to me and I snuggled deeper into his chest unconsciously. I was too tired to think about the closeness in between us and finally I relaxed enough to take a small nap.

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Idk what's going in my mind.👀

How do you find Aria depending a little on Maxim?🧐

Thank you for the comments on previous chapter. I read them but I think that Hades had to die. He couldn't get better and that was for sure. AND PLEASE I LOVED TORTURING HIM.😆😆

Next chapter after 30+ votes and 15+ comments!

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Love
Himanshi ❣️