5. Framed

"Did you tell him about your pregnancy?" Jennifer arrived at the mansion the following morning, after Ariadne had told her everything over the phone.

"He doesn't want to hear anything from me." Ariadne said, as she sat on the bed, with the divorce papers next to her.

"But you need to tell him, Aria. After all, he can't abandon his legitimate child for a bastard with a mistress."

"He will always choose Crystal over me, Jennie. No matter what." Ariadne smiled bitterly.

"But you should still try. Think about your child."

"I am done thinking. And this time, I will do the right thing." Ariadne didn't sleep the entire night. She was thinking about their lives.

"And that is...?" Jennie looked at her.

"I will divorce him."

This time Jennifer wasn't surprised. Deep down in her heart, she knew this day would come if Xander's behaviour didn't change. But she never imagined that Xander would be such a scumbag to cheat on Ariadne.

"I am done fighting, Jennie. I have endured everything.. but cheating.. no. This time, he has crossed the line. It ended here." Ariadne's eyes reflected her pain and helplessness.

"He is right, maybe I deserve it." she sighed defeatedly.

She signed the divorce papers.

"You are free, Xander. You are now free from me." she murmured as tears streamed down her cheeks.

"You won, Crystal." She eventually accepted her defeat.

Jennifer hugged her.

Ariadne sent the divorce papers to Xander the same day.

..........

Three days passed in melancholy.

Ariadne went for a checkup as she was feeling low. Her eyes had become even more darker around the edges. She looked like a gost.

"You need to rebuild your life, Aria. Take a look at yourself. What have you done to yourself?"

They sat in Jennifer's chamber after the checkups. Jennifer was a gynecologist herself. However, as the hospital was owned by her father, she handled only special cases. Most of time, she was preoccupied with paper work.

"You used to be a very jolly girl, always smiling and living life to it's fullest. Where is that Ariadne? Get back to your old self, Aria."

"I am affraid that's not possible anymore." There was no light in Ariadne's eyes, only pain.

"Everything has changed. I have changed."

Jennifer sighed.

"Yes, it was all because of that man. Aria, have you ever realized that you have lost yourself in search of his love. You literally gave up your career, your dreams and what did you get in return? Cheating and insult... for two long years." Jennifer could not see Ariadne like this. She was furious.

"You need to think about yourself now. At least, think about the child, who needs a strong mother."

"I know, Jennie, but it's not easy for me. I am trying."

Jennifer knew that Xander's cheating had completely broken Ariadne. Silence fell as no one spoke for a while.

"So, what have you decided to do now? I mean, you need to tell Xander about your pregnancy at some point. Even if you don't, he will figure it out eventually."

Except for Jennifer, no one was aware of Ariadne's pregnancy. She didn't even tell Grandpa. He was already unhappy with the divorce. Ariadne was afraid that if Grandpa knew about her pregnancy, he would not allow the divorce to proceed.

"I don't know."

"As far as I recall, Xander was never this rude to you in the past. I'm not sure what magic that bitch has used to make him so much hateful towards you." Jennifer recalled their past.

"Because in the past, we were not married and he had the opportunity to be with his love. But I ruined his plans."

"you were his fiancée, and he was wrong to get involved with another woman."

"We were all children at that time. His feelings may have changed over times."

Jennifer sighed with frustration.

"It was my fault, Jennie, and no one else's. I should have given up and moved away from their lives. It took me too long to realize this." Ariadne stated.

"Ok, let's not talk about the past and focus on your future now. Just remember this, Aria. I will always be there for you. All you need to do is, ask me." Jennifer assured Ariadne.

"Thanks, Jennie. I don't know, what I would have done if you weren't by my side."

"Oh, it's nothing."

"Also, I need you to do me a favor." Ariadne added.

"What's it?"

"Could you help me find an apartment? I don't want to live in that mansion anymore."

"Ok. I will let you know, but if you would like, you can stay with me until I can find an apartment for you."

"Ok, I will let you know."

After their discussion, Ariadne returned to the mansion.

"Good evening, madam." The maid greeted her.

Ariadne went straight to her room after nodding to the maid. She felt hollow inside as she walked into her room. Although she didn't have many memories of Xander in this house, it had witnessed all of her difficult days over the last two years.

Everything that had happened in the last two years flashed before her eyes, suffocating her. 'No, I can't stay here even for a moment.'

She walked to the closet before opening it and find a bag to put all of her important documents in.

She decided to move into Jennifer's apartment today and stay there until she could find another one.

She was going through her belongings when she heard a knock on her bedroom door.

"Madam, Miss Crystal is here to meet with you." a maid said from the other side of the door.

'What, Crystal?' it was the last name she would want to hear at the momemt, let alone meet.

"Who?" Ariadne asked for confirmation.

"It's me Aria, Crystal." Crystal spoke.

Ariadne froze in her spot.

'What does she want this time? Hadn't She already gotten her hands on Xander?'

Ariadne was thoroughly perplexed.

Before she could say anything, the door was pushed open and Crystal stepped inside.

"Hi, Aria." Ariadne turned to find Crystal standing at the door.

"You can leave now." Crystal said to the maid.

"What are you doing here?" Ariadne asked Crystal, trying to keep the turmoil in her heart under control.

She lost everything in her life to this woman.

"Why, can't I come here?" As soon as the maid left, Crystal's tone shifted from polite to mocking.

"No you can't. This is my house, and I don't think you have anything to do with me."

"Oh, common, this is Xander's mansion, not yours, so I can visit whenever I want." Crystal challenged Ariadne with an arrogant look.

"Oh, I forgot. Xander had given you this mansion in charity as he left you... for me." She moved closer to Ariadne and spat those words.

Ariadne swallowed hard as her throat became dry. She felt helpless as she had nothing to counter.

"We don't need it anyway. We can build a far more luxurious mansion in the future." Crystal added as she scanned the room.

"What do you want Crystal? Have you come here to tell me this? Then I am very sorry, I don't have time to listen to your nonsense." Ariadne walked past Crystal to go down the stairs.

"We are getting married next month, Aria. Xander and I." Ariadne halted in her tracks at Crystal's words.

"Well, congratulations to both of you." She said, closing her eyes as she tried hard to control her trembling voice.

"Oh, doesn't it hurt you? I am sure it does. Don't pretend like you are not affected by it."

"Enough, if you don't have anything to say, you can leave." Ariadne yelled in frustration.

Suddenly, Crystal came closer and grabbed Ariadne's hands.

"I am sorry, Aria; Xander cheated on you because of me. But I was his true love from the beginning and you came between us." Ariadne sensed something was off as Crystal acted awkwardly.

"The child in my womb is evidence of his love for me." Crystal whispered in Ariadne's ear.

"It was the most passionate night we have ever had." Crystal smirked as she saw the pain in Ariadne's eyes.

Ariadne, no longer interested in Crystal's taunt, pulled her hands away from Crystal's grip.

But as she pulled her hands away, Crystal deliberately leaned on the floor,allowing herself to fall down the stairs.

Only then did Ariadne realize they were standing at the top of the stairs.

Everything happened so fast that Ariadne couldn't process it all. She gasped when she saw Crystal rolling down the stairs.

Crystal collapsed on her stomach and cried out in pain.

"Crystal" Ariadne hurriedly climbed down the stairs.

"Oh, God. How could you do this to Miss Crystal, Aria?" Someone shouted as she approached Crystal to check on her.

"What? What did I do?" Ariadne asked, looking at Crystal with concern.

"My baby" Crystal cried out loudly, clutching her stomach.

"You pushed her down the steps." Cathy, the head maid, accused and pushed Ariadne's hands away as she was trying to hold Crystal.

"What? No, I didn't push her." Ariadne was perplexed.

"You did, I saw it with my own eyes." Cathy added.

"What?" Ariadne's eyes widened, and she looked around. All the maids were staring at her.

"Seriously?" She came to a realization.

It was a trap. 'So that's why Crystal came to see me.' She was deliberately provoking her to get a reaction from her. Ariadne froze on her spot.

Shortly after that, Crystal was brought to Grace Hospital. Ariadne wanted to go with them, but Cathy refused.

When the chaos in the mansion subsided, Ariadne returned to her room, grabbed her packed bag and left for Jennifer's apartment.

.....

"What a wicked woman." Jennifer was furious.

"But you didn't push her, so you don't need to worry."

"The maids are on her side, Jennie, I was fooled again."

Cathy treated Ariadne coldly from the moment she moved into the mansion after marrying Xander. Over time she discovered that Cathy was Margaret's devoted companion. In the past, Margaret had used her countless times to bully her.

Ariadne felt terrified. She had no idea what Crystal's motive was, but she was certain it would be bad for her. Not to mention that Crystal was pregnant as well.

"I have already signed the divorce papers. Why can't they leave me alone?" Ariadne cried in helplessness.

.....

After sometime Ariadne received a call from William.

"Where are you, Aria? How did this happen?" William asked as Ariadne answered the call.

Ariadne's face paled. 'So, everyone is already aware of the incident. It means Xander may have known by now too.'

"Grandpa, I did nothing, please believe me." Ariadne went into a panick.

"Calm down, Aria, I know you will never do such things. Tell me exactly what happened." William soothed her.

Ariadne told him everything.

"I see. Where are you now?" William's voice was serious, which made Ariadne more nervous.

"I am at Jennifer's apartment now."

"Ok, don't worry, stay there for the time being. Nothing will happened to you."

Ariadne nodded.