Chapter 4

Aurora's POV 

Damien’s hands paused briefly against his shirt buttons. For one foolish second, hope filled my chest 

Maybe he felt guilty. Maybe somewhere deep down, there was still something between us.

Then he continued unbuttoning his shirt calmly.

“Love,” he repeated coldly. “Is the last thing I’m interested in. Its never enough to sustain a marriage”

The words hit me harder than I expected. I stared at him quietly, feeling my heart crack all over again.

“So that’s it?” I whispered painfully. “You don’t care about me at all?”

Damien finally turned toward me. His expression remained unreadable. “You already knew what this marriage was from the beginning, Aurora.” he said dryly. Even though it hurt, he was right. The marriage wasn't a love match, at least for him. I loved him, I truly did but Damien never said he loved me. He never showed affection or stand up for me when I was being maltreated by his family. Still I remained optimistic, hoping one day he would see how much I loved him and would reciprocate my love for him. But it seemed like I was a foolish daydreamer.

I shook my head immediately. “No,” my voice trembled. “No… I knew our marriage was arranged but I thought… I thought maybe someday you’d grow to love me.” I said although I sounded like a fool to my own ears.

Damien looked almost irritated by my words. “That was your misunderstanding.” he said, scoffing at my words.

I felt tears sting my eyes instantly. “How can you say that so easily?” I cried softly. “How can you openly flaunt another woman while you’re still married to me?”

Damien said nothing. The silence hurt even more.

“And bringing her here…” my voice cracked again. “How could you bring the woman you cheated with into our home?”

At that, Damien’s expression darkened slightly. Then he said something that completely shattered me. “Because Vanessa is worth more than you are.” he said heartlessly, not even considering how much his words hurt me.

I froze. For a moment, I genuinely stopped breathing. Worth more than me…? Worth more than his own wife? A secretary was worth more than me?

I could hear a small voice in my head calling me worthless. I was reminded everyday by Eleanor that I was no longer a multimillionaire heiress and was worth nothing but I did my best to ignore her. Even if I wasn't worth anything, my husband was still very wealth. I tried not to think too much about it or feel bad, but heating Damien say it broke me completely.

Did he also see me the same way his mother did? Was I really truly worthless in his eyes too?

My fingers curled tightly against my sides as I felt completely humiliated. I looked away quickly before he could see the tears spilling down my face.

“You don’t mean that…” I whispered weakly to him.

"I do" he said blankly, breaking my heart all over again. Before I could respond, he spoke "oh that reminds me, I have something for you" He was and the way he said it told me it was nothing good, for me at least. Damien walked toward the dresser without another word and opened one of the drawers.

I watched him silently, confused. Then he pulled out a folder and tossed it onto the bed carelessly.

“Sign it.” he ordered coldly without another look.

My brows furrowed. Slowly, I picked up the papers with trembling hands. The moment I saw the words written across the top page, my entire body went numb.

DIVORCE AGREEMENT.

My vision blurred instantly. I couldn't believe what I was seeing as my hands began to shake. I looked up at Damien in disbelief before looking down at the paper. Divorce papers? He was divorcing me?

“N-No…” I whispered shakily. The papers slipped from my fingers onto the bed.

“No…” I mumbled again.

Damien looked completely calm. “We both know this marriage no longer serves any purpose.” he said to me.

I stared at him in horror. “You want to divorce me?” I coughed out in shock.

“I already made my decision.” he said quietly.

My chest tightened so painfully that it became hard to breathe. “No…” I cried, shaking my head desperately. “Damien please… no…”

He looked away coldly. “Don’t make this difficult.” he said to me. Difficult? How could he say that so casually?

I rushed toward him in panic and grabbed his arm tightly. “Please don’t do this,” I begged desperately. “I know things haven’t been good between us but I can do better-”

“Aurora.” he cut me off.

“I’ll change,” I continued tearfully. “I’ll stop bothering you. I’ll stay out of your way completely if that’s what you want just please-”

“This marriage is over.” He said in a tone that left no room no arguments. Tears streamed uncontrollably down my face now.

“Where am I supposed to go?” I cried brokenly. “I have nobody left…”

My parents were dead. My uncle hated me. I had no money and no family. Nothing. Damien’s blue eyes remained painfully emotionless. “That’s not my problem.” he said casually like he wasn't ruining my life.

I stared at him like I didn’t recognize the man standing before me. This was Damien. The man I loved. The man I married. The man I devoted my entire life to. Yet at this moment, he looked at me like I meant absolutely nothing. Slowly, Damien pulled his arm away from my grip. 

“Sign the papers and leave tonight.” he said coldly yo me. Then he walked past me out of the bedroom without another glance. The moment the bedroom door closed behind him, my legs gave out beneath me. I collapsed onto the floor sobbing uncontrollably.