CHAPTER 4

ARIANA’S POV

“You can stay in your old room,” Lillian said as we climbed to the third floor of my uncle’s house.

“Is it really okay for you to bring me here?” I asked hesitantly. I was worried because I clearly remembered that Auntie Vivian had never liked having me in her home.

“Yes. Don’t worry about Dad and Mom. I’ll talk to them.”

“Thank you so much, Lillian.” After Lillian left, I stepped into my old bedroom. This space used to be a storeroom. It only contained a single bed and a wardrobe. 

We hadn’t possessed the money back then to buy any extra furniture. After I got married, my uncle and aunt seemed to have left my old room completely untouched. 

I took a shower and changed into my old pajamas. Exhaustion quickly swept over me, and I soon fell into a deep sleep.

The next morning, bright sunlight filled the room when I woke up. I had another quick shower, put on fresh clothes, and was brushing my hair when I heard a sharp knock on the door.

“Wait a minute…” I called out. I rushed to open the door, only to find Daniel, my older cousin, standing outside. I immediately stepped back. All the years I had lived here, Daniel had treated me horribly, leaving me with deep emotional scars.

“Look who it is,” he sneered, eyeing me up and down. “What are you doing back in my house, little sister? Did your husband throw you out? Has he finally gotten tired of you?”

Before I could answer, Daniel yanked me out of the room by my arm. “Daniel, stop! Please let me go!”

“Don’t you dare tell me what to do in my own house, you bitch. Now that you’re back, you’ll serve as my maid again.”

Whenever I thought about the way Uncle Theodore and Auntie Vivian had treated me like a servant, a heavy sadness washed over me. Lillian was the only person in this family who had ever shown me kindness.

“By the way, you look even hotter now, Ariana,” Daniel said with a disgusting smirk. “Living the high life after selling your virginity to that rich guy, right?”

I felt completely humiliated. His cruel words brought back the terrifying, painful memories of how he had tried to assault me in the past. Before I could stop myself, my hand flew across his face.

“Watch what you say, Daniel!” Daniel staggered back, his eyes widening with pure shock.

“You’ve grown quite bold, you little slut,” he snarled, his face twisting in rage. “I’ll make sure you remember this day when I tear that arrogance right out of you!”

He grabbed a handful of my hair, yanking it hard enough to make me cry out. His other hand started roaming over my body. I screamed for help, and just then, I heard footsteps rushing frantically up the stairs.

Auntie Vivian looked stunned as she reached the landing, while Lillian desperately tried to pull me free from Daniel’s grip. “Daniel, have you lost your mind?! What are you doing to Ariana?” Lillian shouted at her brother.

Auntie Vivian, however, seemed far more concerned about my presence in her house than what her son was trying to do to me.

“Ariana, when did you even arrive at my house? What do you want here?” she demanded coldly.

I glanced at Lillian and noticed her nervously biting her lip.

“Auntie, I want to stay for a few days… if you’ll allow it,” I said quietly.

“Stay here? Why?” Auntie Vivian paused, realizing something wasn’t right. “What happened? Don’t tell me you upset Nathan so badly that he kicked you out. Answer me, you foolish girl!”

Her harsh words stung like a physical blow. “You can’t behave this way, Ariana. Do you want to destroy your uncle’s business all over again? You know how much we rely on Nathan’s money to keep everything afloat. Go back to him immediately and apologize until he forgives you!”

“I can’t, Auntie…” Nathan had hurt me deeply. I had always done everything my uncle and aunt asked of me, but this time, I just couldn’t obey them.

“Tell me what happened, or I’ll beat you to death!” Auntie Vivian shouted. I had already decided not to tell anyone about my pregnancy yet. They didn’t know about Sophia either, but sooner or later, they would find out the truth.

“Nathan is planning to divorce me.” The color drained from Auntie Vivian’s face the moment the words left my mouth. Her shock quickly turned into pure rage. 

Before I could finish what I was saying, she lunged forward, grabbed me, and slapped me so hard that I stumbled and crashed to the floor.

As if the slap wasn't enough, she raised her foot and started kicking me over and over. I curled up instantly, wrapping my arms tightly around my midsection to shield myself. My baby. I need to protect my child.

“Aunt, please forgive me… Auntie, please stop!” I begged desperately, clutching my belly. The pain was overwhelming. Lillian screamed, trying to pull her mother away, while Daniel simply watched the scene unfold with a cold smirk.

“Mom, stop this right now! It’s not Ariana’s fault! Nathan is the one who hurt her! Please stop, Mom!”

“Don’t defend her, Lillian! This foolish girl must have done something to anger him. Now tell me, what exactly did you do to make Nathan that furious?”

I shook my head, sobbing, while Auntie Vivian demanded that I look up and answer her.

“No matter what happened between you two, you are not allowed to let him divorce you. If you do, I’ll make sure you regret it for the rest of your life, you stupid girl.”

With that final threat, she turned and walked away, Daniel following closely behind her. Only Lillian remained. She helped me stand up, her face filled with deep pity.

“I’m so sorry, Ariana. I didn’t expect Mom to behave that way,” Lillian whispered.

I shook my head gently, aching all over. “It’s not your fault, Lily. Thank you for allowing me to stay overnight.” Deep down, I knew my uncle and aunt would never truly accept me here again. 

I made up my mind to leave today, even though I had absolutely no idea where I would stay. As I passed through the living room to leave, I noticed the house had been completely renovated since my last visit. 

The expensive new furniture and the shiny new car parked in the garage showed that Uncle Theodore’s business was doing much better now. 

I supposed I should be happy for them. “That foolish Ariana will ruin all our plans if Nathan divorces her. She’s so ungrateful, just like her stupid mother.” 

I froze, my hand hovering over the front doorknob as Auntie Vivian’s sharp voice carried from the kitchen. “If Nathan goes ahead with the divorce, we must find another way to make sure he keeps giving us money,” Uncle Theodore replied.

“What if we get Lillian to seduce Nathan and take him away from Ariana? It shouldn’t be difficult. After all, our daughter Lillian is much more beautiful than that useless girl.” 

I quickly covered my mouth with my hand, fighting hard to hold back the tears that threatened to choke me as Auntie Vivian’s cruel words echoed in my head.