Chapter 1: "No. I won't sign it."

Aria traced invisible patterns on the tablecloth, a nervous tic that betrayed her. Her heart raced, it's thundering beats echoing in her ears and each pulse a reminder of the anxiousness coursing through her body.

She stood in the middle of the softly lit room, fluffing the same cushion for what felt like the hundred time, making sure every detail was in place for tonight.

Everything had to be perfect tonight, from Adrian's reaction, his shock, joy, everything.

Rose petals trailed from the entrance of there mansion to the dinning table, which she had set with trembling hands just an hour ago.

In the center of the table, a cake sat proudly, it's white icing adorned with the words "Happy 5th Anniversary" written in delicate red frosting.

She had even went ahead and made his favorite foods, grilled sea bass, ginger chicken and spicy tofu. She could still smell the garlic in the air.

She let out a weary sigh, the sound heavy with the weight of her exhaustion.

Pacing towards the window, she stared down at the street outside, but it was empty still. Her phone trembled in her grip, the screen still dark.

She rubbed at her temples in s gentle, circular motion, trying to seek relief from the persistent ache that throbbed behind her eyes.

Adrain promised he'd be home by Seven, she made sure to remind him, again and again, because tonight really mattered to them both.

She fidgeted restlessly, unable to find a comfortable position and her hands trembled because of the restless anxiety coursing through her body.

Maybe Adrian got caught up at work, maybe it was traffic or he forgot his phone somewhere.

She dialled his number again and it went straight to voicemail. Again. For the hundredth time.

Her stomach churned with a nauseating mixture of dread and anticipation.

The tick of the clock echoed in her ears making each passing second a reminder that time was slipping away, fueling her thoughts of what could have happened to him.

She tried to steady her breath, while smoothing down her dress and brushing a stray hair behind her ear with trembling hands. Beads of sweat dotted her forehead, despite the coolness of the room.

Her movement lacked it's usual grace it once had, and it was now replaced by clumsy uncoordinated motions.

With great effort she moved towards the door, hoping of going to the office to inquire about him.

But she barely took two steps towards the door, when the front doors handle turned and Adrian Wu walked in like a stranger.

No smile, no apology, just cold narrowed and unreadable eyes.

She smiled in an attempt to hide her concern and she swallowed a lump in her throat.

"Adrain?" Her voice shakes. "Where have you been? I was worried. You didn't pick up any of my calls. I... I cooked your favorite dishes, and I also made cake. Did you see the..." She rambled on.

"I was busy,” he mumbled, interrupting her.

His voice was barely audible, as though he were speaking to himself rather than to her.

She clutched the hem of her dress tightly, the fabric bunching in her hands.

“I cooked. Your favorite. Won’t you say anything?” her voice cracked as she asked.

“I don’t really care about the food Aria.” He muttered angrily.

His words were flat and lifeless, lacking any hint of enthusiasm or interest in what she was saying.

Her smile faltered, and her voice shook like a fragile bird taking flight, each word a delicate wing beat that fluttered with the weight of her nervousness.

"What do you mean?” she asked her voice shaking.

“We need to talk." He trailed off.

There was a flatness to his eyes as he looked at her, a lack of depth and warmth that was disturbing.

His gaze was distant, as though he was looking through her rather than at her.

She ran her fingers through her hair with trembling hands, and hard knot constricted in her throat, making it hard for her to breath.

“Sure. What’s going on? You’re scaring me. Is it the company?” she asked quietly.

He walked pasts her, tossing a folder onto the table. The usual warmth in his voice was now replaced by distance coldness.

“I need you to sign these.” he answered coldly.

Her thoughts spiraled in a dizzying whirlwind of anxious whispers that drowned out any reason, leaving her feeling helpless and vulnerable, and her voice cracked more.

“What… what is this?” she choked out.

He crossed his arms, his eyebrows arched in a high, mocking fashion.

“Divorce papers.” he sneered.

Her breath catches in her throat, and she clutched at her chest, her fingers trembling as if trying to keep her racing heart from leaping out of her body.

“Adrian… what are you saying?” she asked her voice breaking.

Her voice was a fragile thread threatening to snap under the weight of her panic, and her skin pricked with a clammy cold sweat, making goosebumps to rise in its wake.

His eyes narrowed into slits as his face bunged up into a disgusted sneer.

“I’m saying I want a divorce.” his top lip curled up in disdain the more he looked at her.

It was as if she was looking into the face of a total stranger.

Her skin lost all its color, and she tried to block her face, to hide the terrified scream that was trying to come out of her mouth.

Her chest tightened that it became hard for her to breath.

"But… but yesterday… you made me sign over my company to you.” her eyes filled with tears.

Her heart hammered against her ribcage, a thunderous beat that reverberated through her body.

"You said it was to help me, that was too sick to manage it. You told me we were partners for life and that nothing would change.”she whispered, with tears running down her face.

Her limbs turned to jelly, making her knees to buckle beneath her as fear coursed through her veins, weakening her a little more with every passing second.

Her hands shook uncontrollably, an tremor that betrayed her terror.

Adrian's wrinkled nose and furrowed brows screamed of distaste, as he turned his head to the side, refusing to look at her.

“And what do you expect? For me to stay married to you? That’s laughable.” his gaze hardened more.

She took a step back, her face ashen, and she clung to the nearest chair for support, her fingers digging into the hard surface, seeking an anchor in the storm of her panic, desperate for something to hold unto.

"No. I won’t sign it. Not after what I gave you… what we built.” her lips trembled.

His mouth twisted into a sneer, and he slammed his hands down on the table. Hard. Which made her flinched back.

“You didn’t build anything. You inherited that company, I just took what was always meant to be mine.” his eyes were hard like ice.

The light in her eyes dimmed, taking on a hollowness that was almost distant. There was a disconnect in her eyes, a sense that she was no longer fully present in the moment.

“You married me for the company.” she stated, her lips quivering.

"Finally catching up Aria? Yes. That company was the only thing I ever wanted. You? You were just the key to getting it.” he said glaring at her.

She flinched, her thought sluggish, as though they were slogging through mud.

She felt like she was floating on a cloud, disconnected from the world below, free from the weight of emotions going through her.

Her stomach contracts into a tight ball, and she could feel the wave of acid welling up in her belly, as a sharp pain shot through her chest.

“But I loved you. I still do.” she said, her voice breaking as she spoke.

"That was your mistake.” he bit out, making her flinch again.

The way he looked at her made her sink further into the depths of despair.

It was the way he was looking at her with so much contempt in his eyes that made her breath catch.

“You made me believe you loved me Adrian.” Her voice caught in her throat, a strangled whisper that betrayed the fear coiling within her.

"And you made it so easy. You were so desperate for love.” his eyes twitched with distaste.

Her vision blurred making the edges of her surroundings warp as fear and panic clouded her vision.

She leaned on the table, pressing her hands to her heart, trying to elevate the pain coursing through her chest.

She used her hand to cover the cough that raked her body and was shocked to see blood bloomed across her pale skin.

"Please Adrian… I made everything perfect tonight. I wanted to surprise you. I… I was going to tell you…” She squeezed her eyes shut, then opened them again, blinking hard.

And she pressed a shaking hand on her still flat stomach.

"I’m pregnant.”she confessed, biting her lip hard.