"Go away! Don't ever dream of sleeping in the same bed with me!" Nathaniel pushed Ariana away after fulfilling his desire, as if she was nothing more than an item that was no longer needed. Ariana's body staggered, almost losing her balance, but she remained still. No resistance, no protest. With trembling hands, she picked up her clothes that were scattered on the floor, then walked to the sofa that had been her bed since the first night they were married. Her tears fell silently. Every night was a new wound for her. "Nathaniel, why do you still treat me like trash after you've completed your desire?" Nathaniel, who was already lying down with his eyes closed, just sighed lazily. "I never wanted this marriage, Ariana. So don't expect you to earn my love." His voice sounded cold, like a sharp wind slicing Ariana's heart. Ariana bit her lip, holding back the sob that was about to break. She didn't expect much. Love might be too much of a luxury for a woman like her-a woman force
Elanor held a social gathering at her mansion, inviting socialites who, despite their age, still tried to look glamorous. Expensive dresses clad their bodies perfectly, diamond jewelry glittered in the light of crystal chandeliers, and their loud laughter echoed in the room, mingling with the scent of luxurious perfume. Meanwhile, in the corner of the house, Ariana was busy washing clothes in the back area. Her thin hands kneaded the cloths that were now submerged in the soapy water that had begun to turn cloudy. Every day, she went through this grueling routine without complaint. She was so busy with her work that she didn't even realize that her mother-in-law had been calling her over and over again. "Ariana! Make some food and drinks for my friends!" Elanor shouted from the living room. There was no answer. Elanor frowned, annoyed. "Ariana! Are you deaf?!" her voice rose, but there was still no response. Annoyance filled her chest. With quick steps, Elanor walked towards the la
That night, the air was bone-chillingly cold, as if describing Ariana's mood that had been frozen in years of suffering. Ariana stood in front of Nathaniel with her hands clenched into fists, her body trembling not from fear, but from the anger she had been harboring. The dim lights in the living room reflected her fragile silhouette, but behind it, there was a fragile blaze of love. "Nathaniel, in the five years I've been married to you, you've never given me more money," she said, her voice soft but filled with pain. "Can I ask for money for plastic surgery?" Nathaniel who was leaning back casually on the sofa looked up, his brows furrowed. His cold eyes looked at Ariana as if she had lost her mind. "Plastic surgery?" he asked, his tone scornful. Ariana nodded. His eyes, which had always radiated sincerity, now contained only despair. "Yes. I want to be a wife you can consider! I'm tired of this face, Nathaniel! I'm tired of being insulted! I want to change!" Nathaniel snorted.
Ariana stood transfixed, staring at Nathaniel who now wore an expression full of contempt. His words just now were still echoing in her head. A tramp? How inferior was she in the eyes of the man she had married five years ago? "I'd rather be homeless than live in this hell!" Ariana exclaimed, her voice filled with years of pent-up hurt. Nathaniel looked at her with a mocking grin. "Don't be ridiculous, Ariana. You have no one. You have no money. Without me, you're nothing." Ariana felt her heart sink. She knew Nathaniel had said that to break her confidence, to keep her under his control. But this time, she would not submit again. With trembling hands, Ariana took a deep breath. "I'd rather leave with some pride left than remain here as an unconsidered wife." Nathaniel approached, his tall body towering over Ariana. His eyes flashed sharply, full of dominance. "You want to leave? Try it, Ariana. See how far you can go without me." Ariana's throat went dry, but she would not show
"I'm giving you a chance, Ariana," Nathaniel's voice sounded flat, but there was a triumphant tone in it. "A chance to live comfortably with me." Ariana clenched her fists tightly. "Comfortably?" she laughed bitterly. "Living with you for the past five years has been hell, Nathaniel! I just want my freedom!" Nathaniel snorted, his steps approaching Ariana who was now standing on slightly shaky legs. Not from fear, but from anger that was about to boil over. "You think the world out there will just accept you? You have no money, no place to live, no one. How are you going to survive?" Nathaniel grinned. "I made you a reasonable offer. The money for your plastic surgery, I'll give you on one condition!" Ariana stared at the man with a hateful look in her eyes. "No, Nathaniel. My greatest folly is sticking with a man like you for this long." Nathaniel's face changed, but his expression remained cold. It was as if Ariana's words hadn't disturbed his massive ego. "I'm only offering the
Ariana stared at the man before her with shocked eyes. Her throat felt dry, and for a moment, she forgot how to speak. The man-the man who had filled her past-stood there, a look of disbelief in his piercing eyes. "Ariana?" the man's voice came back, softer this time. Ariana's chest rose and fell rapidly, her chest feeling tight. She wanted to say something, but the words seemed to be stuck in her throat. The night wind blew harder, making her already shivering body feel even colder. The man stepped closer, his expression turning more serious as his eyes caught the small suitcase beside Ariana. Ariana's messy clothes, pale face, and puffy eyes clearly illustrated that something had happened. "What happened to you?" he asked, his voice filled with worry. Ariana swallowed. "I..." Her voice trembled, her heart still filled with mixed feelings from her encounter with Nathaniel. "I left home." The man narrowed his eyes. "You left Nathaniel?" Ariana nodded slowly. She felt very embarr
Ariana wiped away her remaining tears with the back of her hand. She looked at the man in front of her who was still sitting quietly, as if waiting for her to calm down. It was silent, only the ticking of the wall clock and the night breeze from the large window could be heard. "I don't know what to say..." Ariana's voice was hoarse, her eyes still a little wet. The man sighed softly before saying, "You don't have to say anything right now. I just want you to feel safe." Ariana bit her lip, her heart warmed by the man's words. All this time, no one had ever said anything to her. Everyone just demanded, judged, or belittled her. But this man... he was different. After a while, the man finally stood up from his chair. "You must be tired. I'll prepare a room for you." Ariana nodded without protest. As soon as he left, she cast her eyes around the apartment again. This place was very different from her home with Nathaniel. It was cold, empty, and full of bitter memories. While here...
Ariana sat on the edge of the sofa restlessly. Her hands were still shaking after receiving the call from Nathaniel. She stared at her phone, as if she could still feel the coldness of the man's voice penetrating her mind. Leonard observed Ariana's expression calmly. His eyes were understanding, but also sharp as if he was strategizing in his mind. "He won't shut up," Ariana's voice finally came through, almost a whisper. "I know." Leonard crossed his arms over his chest, his eyes sharp. "But you have nothing to fear. I won't let Nathaniel touch you." Ariana gave the man a doubtful look. "Why are you doing this? Why are you helping me?" Leonard was silent for a moment before finally answering, "Because I know what men like Nathaniel are like." His voice sounded deeper. "And I can't bear to see someone like you have to keep suffering." Ariana bit her lip. She wanted to believe, but her years of experience with Nathaniel had made it difficult for her to trust any man. However, bef
Evening WhispersThe evening sky was painted in shades of orange as Ariana sat on her bedroom balcony, cradling her growing belly. A gentle breeze swept through her hair, but her heart felt unbearably heavy. This baby… the only thing keeping her going amidst the chaos surrounding her.Nathaniel stepped out from the house, carrying a cup of warm tea. “You haven’t had dinner,” he said, placing the cup on the small table beside her.Ariana let out a deep sigh. “I’m not really hungry.”Nathaniel sighed as well before sitting in the chair next to her. “Ariana, you need to take care of yourself. This baby needs you.”A weak smile played on Ariana’s lips. Her hand gently caressed her belly. “I know. It’s just… I can’t stop thinking about all of this. If Axel is really alive, what does that mean for my child?”Nathaniel remained silent, his gaze fixed on her. He wanted to reassure her, but he knew Ariana needed more than just words.“Have you ever considered… what if he wants this baby?” Aria
Chasing ShadowsAriana sat in her office, her hands still trembling after last night’s phone call. That voice… Axel. The man who was supposed to be dead.Nathaniel stood near the window, his expression tense. “We need to make sure this isn’t a trap.”Ariana shot him a sharp look. “You think I misheard?”Nathaniel sighed. “That’s not what I mean. But we’re dealing with an enemy who doesn’t play by the rules. If Axel is truly back, then someone has been covering up his death all this time.”Ariana ran a hand over her face, trying to calm herself. “I can’t just sit still.”Leonard entered with a serious expression. “I’ve looked into it. There’s no record of anyone named Axel still being alive or using a new identity. But there is something strange.”Ariana tensed. “What is it?”Leonard handed her a brown envelope. “This was delivered this morning. No sender.”Ariana tore it open and pulled out its contents—several black-and-white photographs. Images of her in different places.At the off
The Game Isn't OverAriana sat in her office, staring at her computer screen with a cold expression. Serena had fallen. Jonathan Pierce had disappeared. But she knew this game wasn’t over."He must be planning something," she muttered.Nathaniel walked in, his face serious. “I have news.”Ariana turned to him. “Jonathan?”Nathaniel nodded. “Yes. He hasn’t truly disappeared. I just received intel that he was spotted at a luxury house on the outskirts of town.”Ariana’s eyes narrowed. “He’s hiding there, plotting his next move.”Nathaniel leaned against her desk. “What’s your plan?”Ariana met his gaze. “We make him come to us.”Nathaniel smirked. “I like the way you think.”---Night InvestigationThat night, Ariana, Nathaniel, Leonard, and Mason approached the luxurious house Nathaniel had mentioned. The place was dark, only a few dim lights glowing at the front.“Are we sure he’s here?” Mason whispered.Ariana raised her hand, signaling for silence.They crept closer, peering through
Ariana sat in the cell with a blank expression. Her hands were clenched in her lap, her body still tense from what had happened earlier.Serena had planned everything.She and Leonard had been set up, and now they were being held on charges of trespassing and attempting to destroy evidence.The cell door opened, and an officer approached. "Ariana Vasquez, someone wants to see you."Ariana stood up cautiously.As she stepped out, her eyes locked onto Nathaniel’s sharp gaze. He stood with his hands in his pockets, his jaw clenched."Is Serena still free?" Ariana asked before Nathaniel could speak.Nathaniel gave a slow nod. "Yes. But I’ve arranged for your and Leonard’s release. We need to leave now."Ariana clenched her fists. "She’s playing dirty.""She always does," Nathaniel said, nodding to the officer. "Let’s go."As they exited the police station, Mason was already waiting in the car."Get in," he said urgently.Ariana and Leonard quickly got inside, and the car sped away."I fou
After Serena was taken away by the police, Ariana stood frozen in place. The night air was cold, but that wasn’t what made her shiver. Something was bothering her, something unfinished.Nathaniel stepped closer, his voice calm but filled with caution. "Are you okay?"Ariana turned to him and nodded. "I just feel... this was too easy."Mason, who had just finished talking to the police, joined them. "What do you mean?"Ariana bit her lip. "Serena was too confident. She knew we were going to catch her, yet she never looked panicked."Leonard sighed and glanced at the police car taking Serena away. "She must have planned something."Mason shoved his hands into his jacket pockets. "Then we need to be prepared. I don't believe for a second that Serena is giving up that easily."Nathaniel nodded in agreement. "And we need to find out what she's hiding."---Ariana woke up feeling restless. She had spent the entire night trying to analyze every move Serena had made. That woman had built her
That night felt quieter than usual. Ariana sat on the sofa in her apartment, her eyes fixed on the laptop screen displaying a collection of documents about Serena. Even though they had gathered enough evidence to bring her down, the fact that Serena had disappeared made everything even more dangerous.Leonard, sitting near the window while keeping an eye on the outside, spoke up. “Serena isn’t the type to run away without a plan. If she’s gone, that means she’s preparing something.”Ariana took a deep breath. She knew he was right. Serena wasn’t just an ambitious woman—she was smart, cunning, and wouldn’t let anyone destroy what she had built.“No word from her at all?” Ariana asked, turning to Mason, who was busy on his phone.Mason shook his head. “No movement in her accounts, no travel tickets under her name, and almost no digital traces.”Nathaniel, sitting across from them, leaned back in his chair with a serious expression. “That means she planned this long before we even realiz
The night grew late as Ariana sat in the living room of the villa where Nathaniel was hiding. The cold air slipped through the window cracks, but the tension in the room made her barely notice it.In front of her, Nathaniel stared at the documents Mason had just handed him. His hands clenched, his jaw tightened."So this is Serena," he murmured in a low voice, as if still processing the fact that the woman he had trusted all this time was actually the greatest traitor in his life.Ariana watched his expression carefully. "Did you really never suspect her?"Nathaniel lifted his gaze, his eyes filled with anger and guilt. "I knew she was ambitious. I knew she wanted more than I could give. But I never imagined she would go this far… framing me, ruining my life."Ariana could hear the pain in his voice, but she couldn’t let emotions cloud her judgment. The most important thing now was figuring out their next move."We can’t let Serena get away with this," Ariana said firmly.Leonard, who
Ariana spent the entire night thinking about Nathaniel’s request. She knew that helping him meant getting involved in his world again—a world that had once broken her heart. But if what Nathaniel said was true, then this wasn’t just about her. There was a truth that needed to be uncovered.On the other hand, there was Leonard. The man who had always been by her side, who didn’t want to see her trapped in the shadows of her past again.That morning, as sunlight streamed through the apartment window, Ariana was still sitting at the dining table, staring at the pile of documents Nathaniel had given her the night before. She had read them over and over, yet certainty still eluded her."You haven’t slept all night," Leonard’s voice came from behind her.Ariana turned around. He stood at the bedroom doorway, his expression filled with concern. His slightly disheveled hair indicated that he, too, hadn’t slept well."I was just trying to make sense of all this," Ariana replied, rubbing her te
Ariana sat in the living room of Leonard's apartment, staring at her phone screen with mixed emotions. News about Nathaniel’s financial scandal was still flooding various media outlets, and every time she saw his name, her heart felt heavy."So, what are you going to do now?" Leonard’s voice snapped her out of her thoughts.She turned to see him standing in the kitchen doorway, holding a cup of coffee. He looked relaxed in his rolled-up long-sleeved shirt, but his gaze was filled with concern."I don’t know," Ariana admitted. "I don’t intend to get involved in Nathaniel’s affairs, but… I can’t shake this strange feeling."Leonard walked over and sat on the sofa beside her. "Strange feeling?"Ariana nodded slowly. "I don’t want him to suffer, even though I know he deserves the consequences. I just… find it hard to ignore all of this."Leonard sighed and placed his cup on the table. "I understand. After all, he was a part of your past. It’s natural to still have feelings about the situa