Aria's POV
My eyes zoned in on my laptop screen as I searched for a hall to celebrate my fourth anniversary with my husband, Ethan . Next, tomorrow was the set date. I had already hired the best caterer in the state and one of the most famous bartenders. It was guaranteed to be spot on. “Perfect,” I muttered, saving a picture of the hall for reference later. Ethan and I always celebrated our marriage anniversary with a huge banquet, and this year, it was no different. Every single social elite in town would attend, so I had to make sure everything was prim and proper. The unmistakable perch of Louisa's heels on the tiles drew closer as she approached the dining room with her mom sauntering behind. The smug look on their face was seen beneath the white chandelier. “Sign it bitch.” Louisa slammed the brown envelope on the white marble table, the thud snapping my thoughts out of my head. My neck craned and my eyes flickered between the envelope, Louisa, and Tracy. “What's this?” Louisa was my sister-in-law and Tracy was my mother-in-law. But they both despised and treated me like I was filth. I probably was to them, since I came from their own words “wretched background.” Louisa snickered. “They're your divorce papers. Time's up, you gold-digging slut.” She folded her arms as she cocked her hip. Tracy stood behind like some sort of bodyguard. She wrinkled her nose. Oh, she always wrinkles her nose when I am close by. She had told me I smelt like poverty. “What?” I snatched the envelope; its roughness grazed against my fingertip. Opening it I pulled out the white paper. My eyes dragged to the bottom of the paper, where Ethan 's signature was unmistakably seen. My eyes fluttered. The blood drained from my face as it turned pale and my heart thudded against my rib cage. “What is the meaning of this?” I asked, the strain in my voice not going unnoticed. Louisa stared daggers into my soul. “Divorce as in you should get your sorry ass up, and leave. My brother is fucking done with your slutty nature.” She snarled. She went round the table and forced a pen into my hands. My head became hazy as I attempted to make sense of what was happening. Ethan And I saw each other this morning. We were fine this morning. So why so sudden? “What are you waiting for? Sign it you whore!” Tracy strutted towards me, moving closer to probably slam my face on the desk like she always did. I slithered out of the chair before she caught up. Tracy growled in annoyance, but my mind was elsewhere. I shook my head. “It can’t be,” I muttered, inching backward till I leaned on the dark brown sideboard against the off-white wall. “Stop being so dramatic and sign these papers,” Louisa yelled, tapping her foot against the white marbled floor. My eyes tore at them. “I'll wait for Ethan to get back.” Louisa and Tracy had always hated our union. They had made several attempts over the years to ruin it, introducing their friend and friend’s daughter respectively to him. I have been accused of atrocities I couldn't dare to commit. This was probably one of their schemes. Tracy grimaced as she approached me. The high-pitched smack sliced through the silence as she struck my face. “Are you calling us liars?” Her voice was as cold as ice. My face turned red and tears pricked at the corner of my eyes. Was it because of the slap or the divorce papers that taunted me from the table? That I didn’t know. Ethan loved me. There’s no way he would do that. This has to be their doing. Ethan Always protected me from them. I have to wait for him. Louisa and Tracy didn't say anything more, just left the room with devilish grins on their faces. . . Two hours of pacing back and forth the living room came to an end when the familiar rev struggled beneath the clatter of the rain as Ethan ’s car pulled into the driveway. My sore fingers from all the biting clenched tighter on the paper as I stomped toward the front door, anticipation and trepidation flooding my veins. “Ethan , what are these?” I held up the papers. “Divorce papers.” A cold expression rested on his face—one that sent chills down my spine—as he shrugged off his partially drenched coat and tossed it on the white sofa. “Your services are no longer needed.” His words punched the air out of my lungs. I thought he….loved me. Although it was a contract marriage, I thought what we had was real. Was it all an act for the cameras? It was just three days to our anniversary. “Ethan ...why would…”My words hung in my pain-constrained throat. “Because he doesn't want you anymore, you witch! What don't you understand?” Louisa yelled from below the stairs, clearly enjoying what was happening. Ignoring her presence, my reddened eyes stared at Ethan . “Please talk to me. I don't understand. Why the sudden change of heart Ethan ?” My chest burnt, and I knew it was more than just the heartache—I was losing it. He sighed, and my bones froze. I hated that sigh. It meant he wanted to say something bad, as in bad. “It's not a game, Aria. You should sign the papers and leave. I have no use for you anymore.” The air hung, heavy with the cold. My heart shattered, the tiny cracks pierced deep into my bones, engraving pain. Blood rushed to my ears, and my head felt light and woozy. It felt like I was in a dream…a nightmare. Tracy ambled into the living room. She tossed the pen at me. “Sign the papers and get out of my son’s house.” The terms of the contract slipped in; I act as his wife and he pays my mother’s bills. I swallowed hard as a different kind of chill dashed down my spine. I faced Ethan . “What about my mother?” “She gets nothing. The contract is done. Leave.” Ethan ’s tone was cold and ruthless. My eyes widened and self-honor fled as I collapsed on my knees, holding his leg like he was some sort of god—savior. Tears as hot as hell, dribbled down my cheeks burning the depth of my skin. “Please. Ethan , you are all I have.” My voice quivered. Ethan Pulled his legs away as he groaned in disdain. “Leave you wretched slut. Ethan Has found someone befitting for his caliber. Bethany, the daughter of conglomerate tycoon Walter Reed. She would be a much better wife than your filthy self.” Louisa grinned I glanced at Ethan, and his expression told me all I needed to know. Almost immediately, thunder boomed outside and the downpour became heavy. This was because of another woman. It would never be good enough for me. I could never fit into his world. Picking my shattered heart, I rose off the floor. “Fine. I'll sign it.” I grabbed the pen and wiped the tears off my face. But it only poured out more, as heavy as the rain outside, soaking the divorce papers spread before me on the black coffee table. With a sharp inhale, I signed the papers. After all, it was my fault—I got too fucking comfortable. I mistook an illusion for reality. Shunning the happiness that outlined Tracy and Louisa's faces, I handed over the papers to Ethan. “I'll pack my things.” Tracy sneered. “What things are you talking about? The things my son got for you? Oh no, no sweetheart. You came here with nothing, so you leave with nothing.” Louisa giggled in agreement. I turned to Ethan, who said nothing. Who did nothing… But when he did, he commanded, “Get her out of here.” He turned to the security man who I hadn't noticed standing on opposite sides of the door. I widened my eyes in disbelief. He wouldn't. “Now!” Within seconds, the man gripped me by my wrist as though I could fly away at any moment. His rough calloused hand bruised my skin. I winced as he pulled me out of the house into the rain with no money, not even a cab fare to get to my house on the other side of the city. He tossed me outside the gate. I winced as my knees and elbows grazed against the wet, cold tarred ground. The chains clinked as the security man locked the gate. I remained on the floor before the gate, like a sinner cast out of heaven—for sins I knew not. After a while I rose to my feet, like a zombie, I trudged beneath the pouring rain. It splattered on my skin as if I was a punching bag for its agony. The blisters formed on my barefoot with each step. The death-freezing cold couldn’t cure the haunting heat in my chest. I hugged myself and my teeth jittered as the coldness devoured any form of warmth in me. Before long, a black Ferrari pulled out of nowhere beside me. The tinted glass window slid down gracefully, revealing a man with hair as black as a sky with no moon, and a face chiseled to perfection. “What's a damsel doing under the pouring rain? Let me give you a lift?” How could something cold stir up something warm? Impossible, right? Yet, his cold blue-hazel eyes brewed a scorching heat, one that burned my cold breath—burned through my skin, my muscles till I felt the warmth in my bones. I had seen this face before, I recalled through the fog of pain that had clouded my thoughts. I narrowed my eyes at him and gasped lightly. It was Julian Edmund, the biggest conglomerate CEO in New York, and Ethan's direct business rival.We waited until the house was asleep.The guards rotated shifts. The cameras were checked. Gabriella had been tucked in and kissed goodnight. Julian lingered by her door a little too long.I didn’t say anything.We both knew what we were about to do couldn’t wait.Clara’s room had been locked since the day she vanished. No one dared enter. Not even the maids.But that night, Julian took the keys from the drawer in his office and walked ahead of me in silence.I followed him down the east wing. The air felt colder there, like the walls remembered her.He unlocked the door. We stepped inside.The room smelled faintly of lavender. Her sheets were neatly made. The curtains drawn. It looked untouched.Too untouched.Julian didn’t speak. He moved with purpose, checking the closet first.I opened the drawers. Inside were perfectly folded clothes. Underwear, white cotton bras. No dust. No sign of haste.But it was the mirror that stopped me.A heart drawn in red lipstick. Inside it, Julian’s
After the explosion, I couldn’t find Julian by dawn.“Have you see my husband?” I asked the housekeeper.“No ma’am. But breakfast is set, though,” she answered I found his breakfast untouched but my mom and Gabriella had had theirs already.I sat to eat but I was worried about Julian.He left no note, no goodbye. Just a locked drawer, and a tense silence that filled the entire estate.By the way his clothes were thrown across the couch it looked like he changed in a rush.Clara had vanished again. No sightings. No trace. Just whispers that she was still out there. It was obvious at this point that she had help..Julian didn’t tell me where he was going.But I knew.He was hunting Vanessa. She had to be the one helping Clara.Julian’s POV Anger and rage boiled in me.Vanessa wasn’t easy to intimidate. That much I knew but I had to speak to her, she had to stop aiding Clara’s madness.She liked power plays.She liked secrets more.I had sent her a message earlier so we met at a restau
Insomnia hugged me, my thoughts all on how Clara had made her way in here.She hadn’t hurt me. Hilisn and the guards got to her before she could do anything. But I couldn’t wave away the look I saw in her eyes. Not rage. It was obsession. Utmost devotion to Julian.She believed he belonged to her.And part of me wondered if she was right. Because I had seen them interact. I had seen Julian stand up for her to me.I sat on the edge of his bed watching him sleep.He opened his eye a little, “I asked you to sleep here with me today, Aria. Why do you act like it’s an unpleasant thing? You should be happy and comfortable in your husband’s arm”I wasn’t.I hadn’t been in his arm for a while. So why now? This was one of his security and control measures. Gabriella was made to sleep with my mom, with security heavily manning the door. While I was forced to sleep here.I didn’t sleep a wink.By morning, the security team had locked Clara away “Where was she locked?” I asked the chief of sec
Julian’s paranoia was increasing.He oversaw the locking of the gate , and sometimes locked it himself. Everyday there was a new guard he hired.. He did a never ending vetting of the security guards. He watched the security cameras, sometimes deep into the night.“You don’t have to do this, Julian. You’re overworking yourself. With this, your business and political career, you’ll most likely run mad,” I said.He remained stoic. “I already failed once.”“She’s home.”“And she still wakes up crying. You think I don’t hear her? You think I don’t know the reason you have those bags under your eyes is because you stay awake at night comforting her!?.”I sat beside him. “I don’t mind doing that, you should rest, Julian. You’re not a god, Julian. You can’t control everything.”He looked at me. “No. But I can control this house.”I was tired at this point.The next night, I saw reason to agree with Julian’s protectiveness.It was in the night time when I heard some noise, I went out to check
On a sunny Thursday, my mom and I sat by the garden, not saying anything but enjoying each other’s company.When I noticed someone running out from the front door, it was Julian. I got up immediately, my mom trailing after me.“They found her, they’re on their way here. They’re bringing Gabrielle home” he said joyfully.I immediately followed him, A black SUV made its way into the estate The moment the door opened and she ran into my arms, Her face was streaked with dirt. Her hair tangled. She clung to me so tight it hurt. I didn’t let go.Julian stood behind her, his expression unreadable. “One of our team members found her in a locked bedroom in an abandoned lodge two towns over. No one else was there. She’d been alone” One security personnel said. Julian nodded tightly. He watched me wrap my arms around her. His jaw was tight. His fists, tighter.I carried her to the couch, brushing the hair out of her face. “Are you hurt?”She shook her head, then looked up at me with wide e
I sat on the bathroom floor, the positive pregnancy test still trembling in my hand. My heart trembled. This was not the time for this.. I couldn’t be excited, I couldn’t feel the joy that should come with creating life. All I felt was fear. Fear of Julian’s reaction, fear of what will happen to the baby in a world where its father has so many enemies. Fear for missing Gabriella.I strolled around the quiet mansion like I normally do if I’m trying to relax. Julian had left earlier without informing me as he has always done since the kidnap of Gabriella hadn’t told him. I placed my hand on my belly. I couldn’t tell him about this pregnancy. At least not yet.“We agreed that there would be no kids in this relationship. Damn I messed up.” I muttered to myself. I wasn’t even sure if Julian still had any proper kind of affection for me anymore. With this whole Gabriella thing he has been a bit hostile. This couldn’t be more wrong timing. I stayed deep in thought until I fell asleep on t