ARIA’S POV“Julien!”The word slips out easily from my mouth, causing others to turn their gaze towards me, curious about how casually I refer to Julien by his first name.“Hi, Aria. Good to see you after so long.”As soon as Julien mentions my name and speaks to me only, everyone around me gasps. His alluring French accent adds to the moment, and I realize how much I've missed hearing it. Julien hasn’t changed at all.He remains as captivating as ever, his presence as magnetic as his art. His charm and elegance are just as I remember, and the way he engages with everyone around him is truly enchanting. It's clear that his charisma extends beyond his paintings, making him a fascinating individual both on and off the canvas.“How do you know each other?”Regis is pleasantly surprised and he questions, while I notice Adam and Tanya eagerly awaiting our response. Their expressions betray a mix of curiosity and anticipation.“I’m happy that you haven’t lost touch on art and glad that you’
ARIA’S POVThat was indeed unexpected from both Tanya and Julien. However, knowing Julien, he can be quite savage at times when someone pushes his buttons. His sharp wit and unapologetic nature often catch people off guard, especially in situations like this.Tanya's expression shifts to one of embarrassment as Julien retorts sharply at her. It's clear she's taken aback by his unexpected response, her confidence momentarily shaken. All she was trying to do was impress the Millers, but it ends up backfiring badly and I wonder what she’ll do next.The anger is evident on her face—her eyes narrow, her lips press into a tight line, and her cheeks flush with frustration. She struggles to maintain her composure, but the embarrassment and fury simmer just beneath the surface, making her look even more agitated.Just as Julien is trying to ignore Tanya and talking to Regis and me, we hear her lashing out.“How dare you! Do you even know who I’m? I can buy anything and anyone I want!”There sh
TANYA’S POVI can't express how furious I am right now. I've always been respected, and now I've been publicly disgraced. I'm certain the media will have something to report tomorrow morning. The humiliation and anger are overwhelming, overshadowing any sense of composure or restraint.What does Regis think of himself? All these men are vying for my attention, eager for even a glance from me, and here he is, turning me down. For whom?! I’ve always had men at my feet, professing their love, but when I confessed to Regis Miller, he turned me down.I am not the one to give up. So, I kept on trying. When I asked him to join me tonight at the exhibition, he had said that he was not interested since he had someone else accompanying him.The reason I came here tonight was to see who was that someone and here I am met by this bitch, Aria! Wherever we go, she’s always there, either with Nathan, Adam, or Regis. Doesn’t she have any girlfriends to hang around with?I can’t understand what’s so g
ARIA'S POV My husband and boss Adam, is laughing at every joke that leaves the lips of his first love while I watch them through the glass doors that separates his office from mine. I had been dutifully preparing some documents that needed his signature and also setting up his meetings for the day like I have done for 7 years as his secretary but since Sophia’s arrival, I have been unable to get any work done. I feel a pang in my chest every time Adam laughs, almost tearing up at the thought that he has never laughed like that around me. I stare at her slender frame, her lush black hair that bounces back into place even when she throws her head back in laughter and the grace in every of her movements. Sophia is an epitome of feminine grace and every of her features is proof of why Adam has been hung up over her even though they separated years ago. Even though he married me. The dark binds of his office are brought down abruptly, blocking my view of them both and now all I can see i
ARIA'S POV I am speechless for the next few seconds as his words hit me like a freight train. I wait. I wait for his hard eyes to soften with remorse at the harsh words he threw at me but that doesn’t happen. He is glowering at me, nose flaring angrily. “Adam, how…how could you say that to me?” I say, my eyes crossing over to Sophia who is now hiding her own frame behind his tall, muscular one, “In front of her?” “Because it’s the truth!” He yells again, startling me into making a small helpless sound. Adam has never yelled at me. And even though it hurts me to admit that he is truly saying the truth, he has never said it to my face and I never really thought he would. I have always known it yet it hurts to hear it come from him. It feels like a thousand needles are pricking my heart and making me bleed out with so much pain. He runs his fingers through his hair, seeming frustrated. Like he would rather not have this conversation with me. And just when I think it is over, he cont
ARIA'S POV Grandmother’s funeral is being held on a gloomy day, much to my displeasure. I listened to the weather forecast so I could choose the perfect day for the funeral, and according to the forecast, the day is supposed to be sunny and bright just like Grandmother. I feel duped standing by grandmother’s grave with the sky covered in clouds that only worsen the dark and depressing feeling that has settled in my guts since her death. I have cried so much that I have no tears left to shed at grandmother’s grave and now have to wear dark sunglasses to hide how red and puffy my eyes are rather than to complement my black dress. There are a few people hanging around the other graves in the cemetery to pay their last respects to their loved ones and at each grave, there are at least two people; couples holding each other, families comforting each other and even church processions. I am alone, with no one to comfort me since no one else bothered to attend my grandmother's funeral. W
ADAM’S POV I want a divorce. The words circle around my head non-stop. Of all the shits I have had the pleasure of hearing–and trust me, I hear a lot of crap as a CEO–Aria asking for a divorce out of nowhere has to be the worst. I am a man who takes pride in my strength and ability to handle situations no matter how unexpected they are. It comes with the job, yet for some reason, I am unable to utter a single word or move my feet until she gets into the car with my uncle. When I finally come to my senses, she is long gone, leaving me to drown in the pool of shock she created. I am shocked at her audacity; the way she looked me in the eyes as she hit me with those words. Aria’s cold hazel eyes totally betrayed the meek and timid trait that I have only ever known her for. I am equally shocked at myself for actually being affected by it when I shouldn't have batted an eyelash, after all, I never wanted to marry her. The three years of living with Aria felt like I was in bondage creat
ARIA'S POV I’m thankful that Regis doesn’t ask any questions as he drives me back home. He offers to drive me into the compound but I turn him down and wait till he drives off before I sigh and walk into the house. The house is brimming with maids who rush over to me the instant they hear the door open but I raise a hand to stop them all from coming close to me. I am no longer the mistress of the house. I walk past them all to get to my room. Adam and I only share a room when he is looking to satisfy his sexual urges. He crawls into my bed and peppers kisses all over my body till I give in and that is the only time I ever feel wanted by him. As I walk into the room, I refrain from staring at the bed for longer than I should, afraid that the memories of us tangled up in sheets with him buried deep inside of me will break my resolve. And right now, I have only one resolve–to leave Adam for good. I begin to pack while that resolve is still strong, not even stopping for one moment to