Fina's heart pounded as she heard her mother's voice, but something about the tone made her pause. Isabella's words lingered in her ears, heavy and full of implication.

"Wait, what do you mean there's more?" Fina asked, the unease in her stomach growing. Her mind was a whirlwind of conflicting emotions, and she wasn't sure if she could take any more revelations.

Isabella let out a sigh, and Fina could almost hear the weight of the conversation on the other end. "Fina, I know you're hurting right now. But there are things about what happened with Aiden and Sophia that you don't know. I know you're angry, and I understand why. But I also think you should hear what Aiden has told us."

Fina's grip on the phone tightened, her fingers trembling as she stood still in the entryway. "What did Aiden say?" Her voice came out strained, filled with the kind of raw emotion that only those closest to her would hear.

There was a pause, and Fina could hear her mother exhale slowly. "He came to me, Fina. He explained everything. He said that Sophia kissed him first. He didn't want it, but he was shocked. He told me he pushed her away immediately. He didn't kiss her back. He didn't want to hurt you."

Fina felt the words pierce her chest, confusion and doubt swirling in her mind. He didn't want it? Aiden had never said that before. He never mentioned the force of Sophia's actions.

"Are you saying... he didn't want to kiss her? He didn't kiss her back?" Fina whispered, her voice hoarse, not sure if she was ready to believe it.

Isabella's voice softened. "Yes, sweetheart. He didn't kiss her back. He was shocked, and he told Sophia to stop, but she didn't listen. He didn't know how to react, Fina. And that's why he feels so guilty. He's been beating himself up over it. He's been calling you, trying to explain, but I understand why you don't want to listen right now."

Fina's mind raced as the pieces began to shift. The anger that had been so sharp before started to dull, and something else began to take its place—confusion, hurt, and the bitter taste of uncertainty.

"I don't know what to believe, Mamma," she admitted, her voice breaking. "Aiden kissed her, and I saw it. I saw it with my own eyes."

"I know, sweetheart. But sometimes, the situation is more complicated than what we see in a single moment. I'm not saying you should just forgive him right away. I just think you should hear him out before making any final decisions." Isabella's voice was calm, gentle, but filled with a wisdom that Fina hadn't fully understood until now.

"I don't know if I can, Mamma," Fina whispered. "I don't know if I can trust him again."

Isabella's response was quiet, but it was the kind of response that held more weight than any words could convey. "Take your time, Fina. But don't shut him out completely. You don't have to make any decisions right now. Just know that you're not alone in this."

Fina felt the tears well up again, this time slower, more controlled. She closed her eyes and let her mother's words wash over her. Aiden had messed up. She couldn't deny that. But maybe... maybe there was more to the story. Maybe there was a chance for them to fix things. Or maybe not.

"I'm so confused, Mamma," Fina admitted. "I don't know what I'm supposed to feel."

Isabella's voice softened. "You'll figure it out. Take it one step at a time, sweetheart."

After a long pause, Fina sniffed and wiped her eyes. "Thanks, Mamma. I needed to hear that." She sighed, feeling exhausted both physically and emotionally. "I'll think about what you said."

"I'll be here for you, always," Isabella assured her.

"I know," Fina replied quietly before hanging up the phone.

For the first time that day, she felt a bit of clarity. The pain in her chest hadn't completely gone away, but the weight of anger and betrayal seemed to lighten just a little. Maybe there was a way to move forward, even if she didn't know how just yet.

She sat in the hallway for a while longer, letting the quiet wash over her, her thoughts tangled with the possibility that Aiden might have been telling the truth.

But even as her heart wavered, there was one thing Fina knew for sure: whatever happened next, she wasn't going to let anyone else define her emotions—not Sophia, not Aiden, and certainly not anyone else. This was her decision to make. And for now, she was going to take it one moment at a time.

And when the time was right, she'd figure out what to do about Aiden.

But for tonight, she just needed to be with herself.

a/n

uh oh hmph 👀👀👀