After Rebirth, I Became My Ex's Aunt-in-Law-Chapter 113: Tears Don’t Fix the Trust Fund

The silence in The Onyx was heavy, broken only by the soft hum of the air conditioning and the wet, ragged sounds of Bella Vale sobbing on the expensive carpet.

Aria sat in the plush velvet booth, looking down at her half-sister. She didn’t rush to help. She didn’t even offer a napkin. She picked up a truffle fry, dipped it in aioli, and took a slow, deliberate bite.

"Bella," Aria said, chewing thoughtfully. "You’re ruining the vibe."

"How can you eat?" Bella wailed, lifting her face. She looked wrecked. For the first time in her life, she wasn’t wearing makeup. Her face was blotchy, her eyes swollen, and her nose red. "Daddy is dying! He’s in the ICU! His heart..."

"People die, Bella," Aria shrugged, reaching for her wine. "It happens. Why are you telling me?"

"Because he’s your father too!" Bella screamed, her voice cracking. "He’s asking for you!"

"I don’t care."

"The lawyers are there!" Bella screamed.

Aria paused. She set her wine glass down. "The lawyers?"

"Yes!" Bella sobbed, abandoning the ’grieving daughter’ act for the panic of a woman about to lose her credit limit. "The Vale Family Trust. The emergency medical contingency... they won’t unfreeze the accounts for the surgery unless all living heirs sign the release. They need you. Mom can’t access anything without your signature."

Aria stared at her. A slow, dark smile spread across her face.

"Ah," Aria said. "So it’s not about love. It’s about liquidity."

"It’s about saving his life!" Bella insisted, though her eyes darted away. "And... and the inheritance. If he dies before the accounts are unlocked, everything goes into probate for years. Mom can’t access the accounts. I can’t access anything. We’ll be ruined."

"Tragic," Aria deadpanned.

"He also said..." Bella hesitated, lowering her voice. "He said he has to tell you something. About your mother. He said he lied."

Aria’s eyes narrowed. "Lied about what?"

"I don’t know! He’s delirious! But he said he can’t die with the secret. He said he needs to clear his conscience."

Aria looked at Zoe. Zoe shrugged. "Sounds like bait. But also... tea."

Aria thought about it. The "Secret" sounded like a desperate hook to get her into the room. But the money? The money was real. If she didn’t go, Raymond might die without paying his bills, and the Vale fortune would be locked up in court.

But if she did go... she could be the one to tell the lawyers "No."

She could stand in that hospital room and watch Lydia and Bella realize that their entire financial future rested on the whim of the girl they had abused.

"Okay," Aria said. "I’ll go."

Bella let out a sob of relief. "Thank you! Oh god, thank you, Aria! The car is outside—"

"I’m not getting in a car with you," Aria cut her off, pulling out her phone. "I’ll take my own transport."

She typed a quick message to Damien: Heading to St. Jude’s. Raymond collapsed. Lawyers involved. Need backup.

His reply was instantaneous: I’ll send the shadow security team.

Aria typed back: No, send me the burliest, most intimidating security you have. I want to look like I’m being escorted by a SWAT team.

Done, Damien replied. ETA 2 minutes.

"I’m coming too," Zoe announced, standing up and grabbing her purse.

"Zoe, you don’t have to," Aria said.

"Are you kidding? You need a witness," Zoe said, adjusting her sunglasses. "And someone to hold your purse while you destroy them. Besides, if I leave you alone with Bella, you might actually murder her, and I don’t have bail money."

Bella, seeing that Aria had agreed, suddenly wiped her face. She pulled her phone out of her pocket. Her demeanor shifted instantly from hysterical to performative.

"Okay, guys," Bella whispered to her screen, hitting the ’Go Live’ button on Instagram.

Aria watched in horror as Bella angled the phone to include both of them in the frame.

"Hey everyone," Bella said, her voice trembling with brave, tragic resolve. "I’m... I’m here with my sister, Aria. We’re at the Sinclair Tower. Our father... he’s in the hospital. It’s bad."

She sniffled loudly.

"But we’re putting our differences aside. Because that’s what family does. We stand together in times of hardship. Right, Aria?"

She shoved the camera into Aria’s face.

Aria froze. The red ’LIVE’ icon blinked at her. Thousands of people were watching.

If she glared, she looked heartless. If she rolled her eyes, she looked petty. If she told Bella to go to hell, she looked like the villain Bella always tried to paint her as.

The internet was a powerful weapon, and Bella had just pulled the trigger.

Aria forced her expression into a mask of somber concern. She didn’t smile—that would be inappropriate—but she nodded gravely.

"We’re going to see him now," Aria said, her voice soft and perfectly modulated for the microphone. "Family matters."

"See?" Bella sobbed to her followers. "Sisters forever."

Zoe gagged quietly in the background.

Just then, the lobby doors opened. Four massive men in black suits walked in. They were the size of refrigerators. They didn’t look like hotel staff; they looked like they ate hotel staff for protein. They moved with military precision, flanking the booth.

"Mrs. Sinclair," the lead guard rumbled, his voice deep enough to vibrate the table. "Your escort is ready."

Zoe’s jaw dropped. She looked at the guards, then at Aria, her eyes sparkling.

"Oh my god," Zoe whispered loudly. "Aria, can I keep one? Is that allowed? Look at the size of them! I love your husband’s resources. This is peak Mob Wife aesthetic."

Bella’s eyes widened at the sight of the private army. She looked suddenly very small in her tracksuit.

"Right," Aria said, stepping away from Bella’s camera with a cool grace that belied her fuzzy slides. "Let’s go."

She walked toward the exit, flanked by her wall of muscle, looking like a mob boss on a laundry day run.

"At least I’m dressed for a medical emergency," she muttered to Zoe as they pushed through the revolving doors.