CHAPTER 1

Aria’s POV

My husband Victor was chatting animatedly with his former university classmate Shane, their faces alight with excitement as they discussed their collaborative project. 

Shane Morgan again, I thought bitterly, gazing at the attractive woman who was standing very close to him. They’re always together.

I watched from the sidelines, my heart both heavy and excited with a secret that no one knew about yet – the newly received pregnancy report that lay in my bag.

“I've been working on this new app idea that’s going to be a game changer for many companies,” I heard Victor tell her, his brown eyes sparkling with enthusiasm.

“We’ll be the marketing arm, of course,” Shane quipped with a big smile. “It’s going to be awesome working together on another avant-garde software that’s bound to make waves in the industry!”

Victor chuckled. “Of course my company’s products won’t take off without the help of a very reliable partner — you.” He turned toward Shane, his expression soft and gentle as he gazed at her. He raised his glass as if to toast for her.

My heart felt like it was being squeezed. I had never seen him look at anyone with such tenderness, least of all me. I frowned, thinking of the many times I’d gotten jealous of that woman because she was always working closely with Victor.

Shane confidently explained to him her marketing ideas, and he listened to her attentively. Watching them like that tugged at my heart. How I wish he listened to me in the same way, respected and admired me that way…

I saw Victor’s mother Alicia approaching them. “Victor’s really lucky to have you, Shane. You’ve done a lot for the growth of his business.”

I frowned, feeling smaller and smaller by the minute. I wanted the floor to swallow me whole. It was as if Shane was Victor's wife, the way they all praised her, including Victor himself.

And I, his actual wife, stood aside like an invisible piece of dust, unnoticed by anyone. The laughter and accolades around me felt like a distant echo. 

I’m pregnant, Victor. You’re going to be a father. 

I’d been rehearsing this line over and over in my head since I came to see the doctor earlier today and confirmed my pregnancy. But how do I tell him about it? And how will he react?

I felt torn. Should I tell him? But my own husband has never learned to love me all this time. And his whole family seems to despise me. What’s the point of letting them know? They probably won’t care.

As I listened to the animated business talk, I felt even more out of place. I thought, Maybe, just maybe… this child could open that door for me. Perhaps they’d finally see me as significant, as someone who can be treated as a real part of the family.

But then, I remembered causing a commotion earlier when I’d arrived in a hurry. I fell down as I walked up the steps. It was quite embarrassing, since so many people stared at me and no one came to help.

And I knew Victor had seen it too, but his eyes seemed to just pass through me before he turned back to talking to Shane and some of his colleagues. 

On the other hand, his mother had thrown me a look of disdain and then pretended as if nothing happened.

Maybe I was just dreaming. They wouldn't take me seriously.

I sighed and bowed my head, moving toward the doors that led to the open terrace. I need to clear my head.

“Ma’am, would you like some wine?” I heard someone ask. When I lifted my eyes, I saw a waiter approaching me, holding a tray of filled up wine glasses.

“Uh, no, it’s okay —” I began to say, right before I felt someone grab me. It made me stagger backwards, but luckily, I caught myself in time before falling to the ground. 

“Owww!” a female voice cried out. I watched in horror as Shane stumbled and fell at the same time that several wine glasses were smashed, causing a mess on the floor beside her. 

“Why did you do that, Aria? You should watch where you’re going.”

What? Wasn't she the one who grabbed me? Why was she blaming me?

Once again, I became the center of attention for the second time — for being the ultimate klutz!

I felt myself shaking while others pointed and exchanged hushed whispers.

“Is that really Victor’s wife?!”

“Gosh, she’s so clumsy! It’s so embarrassing!”

“I think she did it to Shane on purpose!”

I was frozen on the spot, not knowing what to do or say. As the waiter began cleaning up, Victor rushed forward. I felt relief coming over me as I waited for him to come to my rescue. 

But to my shock, he went straight to Shane and helped her up.

“Are you okay?” he asked her with great concern on his face.

Shane nodded slowly. “I think so.”

He checked her arms and face for any wound, but there was none. “Thank God you didn’t get cut by the glass.” Then turning to me, he gave me a cold stare and demanded, “You better apologize, Aria.”

My mouth dropped open. “What? I didn’t…”

Alicia came toward us with a withering gaze directed at me. “Aria, you must apologize. Look what you did! You’re such a troublemaker, and you can’t even be humble enough to say sorry. Weren’t you taught the right manners?”

I stared at her wide-eyed, my heart pounding wildly. She always loved getting the chance to humiliate me. But this time, I didn’t want to give in. I stood my ground and refused to apologize when I knew that it was certainly not my fault.

Whispers started again around us. Many of the people present in that dinner party were well-known business elites, which made it even more degrading to be treated like this in front of everyone. I felt so humiliated.

“It wasn’t my fault,” I muttered, trying to suppress my anger. I didn't want to argue with my mother-in-law and make a spectacle of myself again in a bad way. I took a deep breath. “Alright, I’ll just leave.” 

"You should have left a long time ago," Alicia continued, "I really shouldn’t let Victor marry you. Shane is much better than you!” 

Damn, God. Why do I have to put up with all this? 

I could see Victor's indifferent face. And Shane simply put on an innocent mask.

Do I really want to continue living in such a toxic family and environment?

What about my future child? If my husband doesn't love me, how can he love my child?

As I turned to go, I couldn't help but think, What if I did leave Victor? I mean leaving this marriage.