Aria’s POV
As I walked out, I could still hear them fussing over Shane. The chatter and concerned murmurs filtered through the heavy doors while the waiters gave me strange looks. I felt extremely embarrassed and humiliated, so I hurried outside, desperate to escape their prying eyes.
The rain pelted down relentlessly, soaking me to the skin within moments. Shivering, I struggled to wrap my thin shawl tighter around me. I must have looked ridiculous, standing there drenched and miserable, trying to hail a cab.
“Please, just let me get out of here,” I muttered under my breath, casting frantic glances down the deserted street.
“Aria!” I heard someone calling my name. My heart sank. Great, just what I needed. Someone to give me more trouble.
I quickened my pace, ignoring the voice, hoping they'd take the hint and leave me alone.
In my haste, I stepped awkwardly on a slick patch of pavement. Pain shot through my ankle as it twisted beneath me, and I pitched forward, bracing myself for the hard impact.
But instead of hitting the ground, I was caught in a warm embrace.
Immediately I looked up and saw myself gazing at a familiar face. The handsome man, with his sharp jawline and piercing blue eyes, looked very concerned. His tousled dark hair suited his rugged yet approachable demeanor. “Are you okay, Aria?”
When my name was mentioned, I was taken aback, my mind racing through my memories. Who is this guy?
“I’m alright, thanks,” I managed to say, though I was wincing with pain.
He held an umbrella above our heads as he guided me toward the nearby shed. That’s when it hit me how I knew him.
This is Samuel Thorn, Victor’s older brother! Though half-brother, I could see the resemblance.
We hadn’t met many times before, but I remembered hearing that he worked abroad, running his own business. I hadn’t heard Victor mention he was back in town, but that wasn’t unusual. My husband rarely shared anything with me. And somehow, they didn’t seem to keep in touch often.
I stepped back a little, worried about dirtying Samuel’s clothes with my wet and muddy state. “I appreciate your help, but I don’t want to keep you. You should get back to the event.”
Samuel frowned, glancing down at my ankle. “Are you sure you’re okay? It looked like a nasty twist.”
“It’s fine, really,” I insisted, forcing a smile. “I’ll just need to rest it a bit. I really have to go home now.”
“But where’s Victor?” he wondered.
“He’s still busy with his business associates. I don’t want to bother him.”
I could tell that my ankle was swollen, but I insisted on leaving because I didn’t want to trouble Samuel any further.
“You know what? Let me just take you home,” he suddenly offered. “That way, you don’t have to keep standing on that ankle and you can rest immediately.”
“I don't want to be a bother,” I muttered.
“Don’t be silly,” he said softly. Before I could protest, he draped his coat over my shoulders, the warmth and faint scent of his cologne enveloping me.
“Come on, let me take you home,” he insisted, his tone leaving no room for argument.
I hesitated, feeling a fusion of gratitude. Finally, I nodded. “Alright. Thanks so much, Samuel.”
He gave me a small smile and led me to his car. The inside was warm and welcoming, a stark contrast to the chilly night outside. I settled into the passenger seat, wrapping his coat tighter around me, giving me a soothing feeling.
Samuel took me home, his arm wrapped around my waist to support my limping form. As soon as we stepped inside, he called out to the maid, “Can you help Aria change clothes? She needs to rest.”
The maid nodded and guided me to my room. I winced as I moved, my ankle throbbing with every step. Once in my room, I gingerly applied a plaster to my swollen ankle. The pain subsided a bit, but I knew it would take time to heal. After a quick shower, I changed into something more comfortable.
I emerged from the bathroom, surprised to see a delicious-looking meal laid out on the dining table.
“Feeling better?” Samuel asked, walking over to me.
“A bit,” I admitted. “Thank you for everything.”
He gave me a warm smile. “Come on, let me help you to the table.” He offered his arm again, and I gratefully took it, allowing him to lead me to the dining area.
“I was hungry, so I asked the chef to prepare something,” he explained, pulling out a chair for me. “Join me?”
I nodded, my stomach growling in agreement. “I'd love to. I didn't eat anything at the business dinner party.”
Samuel chuckled as he took a seat across from me. “I figured. Those things are more about appearances than actually eating.”
I felt a little awkward as I sat down. I didn't know what to say so I just kept quiet. But Samuel naturally started the conversation. Amazingly, he seemed to know how to make people feel comfortable. Gradually, I let my guard down and started talking more. I began to feel very relaxed.
“I haven't had a meal like this in ages,” I confessed. “It's nice to just... enjoy the moment.”
Samuel's expression softened. “I'm glad I could be a part of it.”
Just then, Victor returned home. As he saw Samuel and me chatting happily, his face twisted with anger, as if he'd been robbed of something he owned. His eyes narrowed, and he approached us with a cold tone, asking, "What are you two doing?"
I thought he was still upset about the event at the dinner party. “Hi, Victor,” I greeted him, trying to keep my tone light. “Samuel saw me outside the hotel and offered to bring me home because it was raining.”
He glanced at me without responding. Instead, he turned to Samuel, his brow furrowing. “Samuel, I didn't know you were back in the country.”
Samuel nodded, his demeanor as calm and composed as ever. “I arrived yesterday.”
They stood in silence, an uncomfortable tension hanging in the air. It was a bit weird. The way they treated each other made them seem nothing like brothers.
Just then, Alicia came in, her eyes immediately lighting up when she saw Samuel. She didn't even glance my way.
“Samuel! It's been ages!” Alicia exclaimed, rushing over to him. Even though she wasn't Samuel's real mother, she always seemed to be good to him. I guessed it was because Samuel was very successful in his career.
They went off to talk, leaving me alone with Victor.
Victor finally looked at me, his frown deepening. “What happened to you?” he asked, his voice clipped. He motioned to my bandaged foot.
I was taken aback by his tone. Did he just show concern for me? That’s definitely a first. I never thought he’d ever care for me, and this rare moment left me feeling conflicted as I recalled how he frequently blamed me and made me so unhappy in the past.
“I twisted my ankle, and it really hurts,” I whispered and found myself expecting more.
He came over and checked my ankle. I felt a glimmer of hope in my chest.
Perhaps he really is starting to care about me. If I tell him we have a child, will he also start learning to love me?
Aria’s POVJust as I was about to speak, Victor straightened up and waved his hand to interrupt me. “Aria, I think you should apologize to Shane and to my mother,” he said firmly.What the hell for? So that’s it? When I thought he was starting to care about me, all he wanted was for me to apologize for something I hadn't done.“I said, it wasn’t my fault. It was Shane. She grabbed me, trying to make me fall.” This explanation was really silly. How could he possibly believe me?Sure enough, as soon as I finished speaking, he impatiently waved his hand, signaling me to stop talking."Can you stop being so childish? Why do you always pick on Shane? Can't you just learn something from Shane, even if it's just a little bit?"Great. He’s starting again, constantly comparing me to Shane.He kept on talking, but I started to think. In these five years of marriage, what did I really gain? Disdain, calloused hands from working like a laborer in the house, and my husband's dislike. No one think
Victor’s POVI can’t believe this woman’s being so irrational! What a way to throw a tantrum!The events of last night replayed in my head like a broken record. Aria's request for a divorce felt like a dagger through my heart. And yet, the more I thought about it, the more annoyed I got. I sat at my office desk, my mind swirling with confusion and frustration. Taking a big gulp from the wine I had in front of me, I decided to get back to the task I was doing. But I could not focus. Aria’s face kept popping up in my head, her voice echoing in my ears. Last night, when I’d come back from a work-related errand, my mother and brother were already gone. I had slept in the guest room, not wanting to face Aria after our argument. Today, throughout the day at the office, I tried to lose myself in the piles of documents and hours of meetings, but Aria's words had kept etched in my mind. Her jealousy, her constant need for attention, it all felt so unlike the woman I had married. I remember
Victor’s POVI wondered what my mother’s agenda was this time. With her, it was never just plain dinner. Something was always up. I opened the door and was greeted by the warm, familiar smell of home-cooked meals.“Victor, you're here!” Shane's voice rang out as she came into the hallway, her face lighting up with a welcoming smile. Behind her, I saw Mom and Aunt Felicity waving at me from the dining area. I wasn’t really surprised that Shane was also there, because she and my mother were quite close. “Hey, Shane,” I replied, forcing a smile. “Listen, I wanted to apologize for what happened at the party last time. Aria—”“Don’t worry about it,” Shane interrupted, waving her hand dismissively. “It was my own carelessness. I should've been more careful.”I sighed, relieved by her understanding. Shane was always like this—so forgiving, always speaking well of Aria no matter what happened. It was something I admired about her, but it also made me feel a bit guilty.“You're too kind, Sh
Aria’s POVI’ve had enough. Five years… Five years of enduring such humiliation and belittling by Victor and his family, of being treated like a nobody. And even after five years, he still believed that I was the one who’d taken those stupid naked photos of us to blackmail him into marrying me! God, I would never have stooped so low! But does anyone believe anything I say? No!I couldn't believe I used to be so persistent. I even damaged my friendships for the sake of this marriage.I immediately sent a message to my lawyer, telling him to go ahead with the divorce agreement. That's it. I won't spend any more time arguing with him. Let's just bring this all to an end quickly.Victor didn't come back that evening. But I didn't ask him urgently as usual either. Luckily, my lawyer was very efficient; he sent me the agreement that same night.The next day, I began packing my things. There wasn’t much in this house that truly belonged to me. I took off that very simple wedding ring from
Aria’s POVShane was still chattering away, showing me off. Her voice grated on my nerves. "You see, Aria, I've been working with Victor's company for years while managing my own. I know everyone and everything here," she said condescendingly. "Victor's lucky to have me as a good friend and business partner.""Oh, there's Samantha," Shane pointed out, waving across the room. "She handles all the important accounts. I recommended her for the position, actually.""And over there," she continued, oblivious to my lack of enthusiasm, "that's Peter. He's in charge of marketing. I often give him tips."“Are you done? I don’t have time for this, Shane, just take me to Victor’s office.” I interrupted her, feeling my patience wear thin. She paused and sneered. Just as we turned a corner, she stopped suddenly and I looked back at her in confusion. But then I collided with someone carrying a glass of water. The cold liquid splashed all over me, soaking my blouse and making me gasp."Oh, my god,
Aria’s POVI emerged from Victor’s company building, feeling unsure of my next move. As I hailed a cab, I found myself giving the driver Jessica's home address. Jessica had been my best friend since high school, but our communication had dwindled. Since I’d gotten married, she had persistently advised me to consider divorce, a sentiment she had expressed numerous times. Perhaps I should heed her advice. I’ve just been too stubborn, not listening to her all these years. Despite Jessica's disapproval and anger over my unwavering support for Victor, I held onto the hope that he would eventually reciprocate my feelings.Oh God, I was so stupid.I stood at her doorstep, mustered up the courage, and knocked on the door. When Jessica opened it, she didn’t say anything at first but just looked at me as if she'd seen a ghost. “Hi,” I tentatively greeted her and managed to force a smile. "Aria?” She let me in, but then, she seemed to instantly notice the troubled look on my face. Frowning,
Victor’s POVFor a moment, Aria seemed stunned. Then, she quickly recovered, attempting to wrench her hand away. "I'm not your possession. Not anymore, Victor."Behind her, Jessica glared at me. “I think you should leave now. This is my house and you are not welcome here.”I wanted to say more. But Jessica pushed me away and slammed the door. “This isn’t over, Aria,” I shouted angrily. I stormed back to my office, my mind reeling with anger and confusion. How could Aria do this? And why didn't Shane tell me about the divorce agreement earlier? I barged in, slamming the door behind me."Shane, what the hell?" I demanded, my voice sharp with accusation. "Why didn't you tell me about this?"Shane looked flustered, her eyes darting around the room. "I... I thought it was just some petty fight," she stammered. "Aria was being dramatic, as usual. I didn't think it was serious.""Petty fight?" I repeated incredulously. "She filed for divorce, Shane! This is serious!"Shane took a step bac
Aria’s POVI sat on the couch, fidgeting with the hem of my shirt, lost in my thoughts. My hand, which held my phone, was trembling. I was trying my best to be brave, but I was also scared and uncertain of the future. I honestly still hadn’t thought about where to go from here. Why does Victor have to make it so hard? He never cared about me, anyway!Troy, my friend Jessica's boyfriend, sat across from me, his eyes filled with concern.“Sorry, Aria… Am I causing you trouble?” he asked, his voice soft.I looked up, meeting his gaze. “No, not at all,” I replied, forcing a smile. “It's fine.”“Okay. I was just calling you because Jess is done cooking dinner for us.”“Alright, I’ll be right there. Thanks.”Jessica was like a sister to me, and staying at her house felt more like home than the mansion where I’d been living with Victor for the past years. As Troy and I walked to the kitchen, the delicious aroma of Jessica's cooking filled the air, making my stomach growl in anticipation.D