2. Divorce me

"I, Jayden Mattew promised Aria Kates to have and take care of each other from now until eternity. In times of hardship and joy, in times of abundance and in shortage, and in times of health and illness. to always love and respect each other, until death do us part."

Jayden's words still remembered clearly in Aria's mind when they said their sacred vows on the altar. Even Aria could still feel the sacred and touching atmosphere of silence on their wedding day.

At that time, Aria thought that Jayden was playing his role well, just like her. Because neither of them wanted the marriage to happen. Maybe Aria and Jayden said 'Yes' to getting married, but this was only to fulfill the wishes of their extended family who had arranged a marriage between the two of them. And they are just avatars there who must be ready to do everything as ordered.

But over the course of almost a year together, those thoughts slowly disappeared. Jayden's kindness, affection and attention made Aria completely lost in false happiness. And unfortunately, Aria fell in love with that man.

She poured all her trust and feelings into Jayden who he thought also had the same feelings for her. Aria almost breaks people's arguments about households that will not last long if they start with an arranged marriage that is not based on love.

But apparently Aria failed. People's arguments turned out to be correct. Aria's household was on the verge of collapse.

Because the man she trusted had shown his true identity. The figure who hated Aria more than anything in this world.

It doesn't matter that Jayden was the first man Aria fell in love with. In a sense, Jayden is Aria's first love. It's really sad that the feeling of love that started to grow has now turned into hate. Aria also really hates Jayden.

Maybe. Aria herself still doubted it. The woman took a deep breath, wiping the tears that rolled down her cheeks rather roughly.

Aria turned her head when someone opened the door to the room where she was being treated. However, when she saw who had come, Aria immediately looked away, not wanting to look at that figure.

"How are you?" Jayden asked as he took off his jacket and slightly loosened his tie which felt like it was strangling his neck.

"What do you care?" Aria snapped. In fact, she didn't even look at her husband at all.

Jayden chuckled softly then approached the bed Aria had been in for the past few days in the hospital. Because after what happened that night, Aria had to give birth immediately because she was bleeding heavily. Luckily, she and her baby survived. Even though the baby had to be treated intensively because it was not born on time.

"I couldn't possibly let you die after taking the trouble to carry you here," Jayden said, pulling Aria's chin to look at him. The man smiled crookedly, making the woman in front of him clench her fist as if she wanted to slap him again. But what she did instead was brush Jayden's hand away and then looked away again.

"You should have rejected our marriage at that time, Jayden," said Aria, placing all the blame on the man's shoulders. She wonder if Jayden firmly refused at that time, she wouldn't have to feel the heartache she is feeling now.

If you ask why Aria didn't just refuse, the answer is because Aria has her own reasons that she can't tell anyone. In the sense that Aria doesn't have an alibi to refuse because in fact she has to get married to cover up all her actions. So why is Aria now blaming Jayden? What a very naive woman.

"If I refuse... your family will be destroyed, Aria," Jayden said. He no longer needed to pull Aria's chin. The woman was happily looking at him now with a look like she was going to kill him.

But instead of scaring Jayden, the man smiled faintly and sat in the chair there. Fold your arms across your chest arrogantly.

"We got married just for mutual benefit, right?" Jayden said again.

This cannot be denied. And perhaps the strongest reason the marriage occurred. If it weren't for Jayden's family, Aria and her family would probably be living under the bridge now. At that time, the condition of Aria's father's company was very worrying, until Jayden's family came like angels who finally made things stable again.

"Then why have you treated me as if you liked me all this time? If you really hate me, you should just treat me like trash!" Aria said letting go of all her annoyance and disappointment. At least if Jayden was rude, Aria wouldn't have to fall in love and feel excruciating pain when she found out that the man loved someone else.

"A shepherd must feed his sheep well and correctly so that when they are slaughtered, the shepherd will get fat sheep," answered Jayden. He turned his face slightly towards Aria. "Likewise with you. I have to use you well while you are still with me," he continued.

Plaque!

That's enough. Aria was really fed up with that guy. Jayden turned his head with a sharp gaze. His big hand gripped Aria's jaw tightly, making the woman wince in pain. She tried to let go of Jayden's hand but she couldn't. Jayden is too strong.

"Who do you think you are, huh? How dare you slap me?" Jayden said with a flash of anger in his eyes.

"Let me go!" Aria said hitting Jayden's hand.

Tears escaped in the corners of Aria's eyes. She winced softly feeling the pain in her jaw and stomach at the same time. Isn't Jayden a little bit sorry for her? She had just given birth to their first child. But Aria was wrong to expect compassion from a man like Jayden. She'll never get it.

"You woman doesn't know herself!" Jayden said then removed his hand from Aria's jaw roughly. He felt like he was wasting his time dealing with that woman. Jayden went to get his coat and car keys.

"Divorce me, Jayden!"

Aria's scream made Jayden's steps stop again. He turned around, raising an eyebrow.

"I will do it with pleasure," Jayden said with a happy face as if those were the words he was most waiting for from Aria. The woman's chest throbbed even more with excruciating pain.

Would she part like this?

"Yes. That's better," said Aria, looking down to hide the pain that seemed to be slowly killing her.

"But before that, shouldn't you also think about your family."

For the second time Aria looked up. Jayden looked confused. What does that man mean?

"If we divorce now, they will lose everything because your father's business is now under my company," Jayden said, immediately making Aria flinch.

Jayden put on his jacket as he approached Aria's bed again. Bending down slightly so that his face was right in front of Aria's face.

"And one more thing, doesn't your father have a history of quite serious heart disease?" Jayden asked playing his main card. "Can he bear to hear the news that his beloved child who has just given birth will divorce her husband?" Jayden continued.

Aria clenched her hands tightly into fists. Why does Jayden hold onto Aria's weaknesses so much? While Aria doesn't have anything. So now what should Aria do?

Her heart strongly refused if she had to endure her marriage to Jayden. It hurts too much. But Aria also couldn't see her family being destroyed, especially if she had to lose her father. Even just imagining it, Aria's chest felt very tight as if the oxygen around her was being forcibly taken away.

"How? Do you still want to divorce me?" Jayden asked. The look on his face looked so happy because he was able to make Aria speechless.

"You bastard!" Aria cursed in response.

Jayden chuckled lightly then straightened up after briefly kissing the woman's forehead.

"I take that as an answer no," he said then walked away leaving Aria struggling with mixed feelings.

"I won't let you go easily, Aria Kattes. You have to pay for everything first," Jayden muttered in a vengeful tone after closing the door to the room. He looked at Aria behind the small window there before walking away.

*****