Chapter 4 — The Wish She Made Alone

The night air outside the Stellar Grand Hotel felt colder than before.

Aurelia stepped out slowly, her sleeve damp with blood. The faint metallic scent lingered, but she didn’t seem to notice.

Her ankle ached with every step. Only now did she realize that when she rushed forward earlier, when she pulled Alexander into her arms, she must have twisted it.

A faint, bitter smile touched her lips. Even her body had chosen him without hesitation. Even now, even after everything.

She walked forward slowly, a slight limp in her steps as the golden lights of the hotel faded behind her, and with each step, memories surfaced. Back in college…

There was a time Alexander cut his finger opening a package. It had barely been anything. A thin line of red, but she had panicked.

Dragged him halfway across campus just to find a pharmacy, Band-Aids. Antiseptic. Waterproof tape.

She remembered how tightly her brows had drawn together as she carefully wrapped his finger.  “Don’t let it touch water for three days,” she had insisted.

He laughed back then. “It’s just a small cut.”

She glared at him. “Small cuts can still get infected.”

Her voice had been firm, but her eyes had been full of worry. Aurelia let out a quiet laugh, Soft, Empty. Now—Her arm was bleeding, her ankle hurt with every step, and yet it mattered less than Clara’s slight stumble. “…At least the rack was stainless steel,” she murmured to herself.

Otherwise, there might’ve been a risk of infection. The thought felt absurd. She shook her head slowly. When did things change? When did he change? When did they change? Was it because…

Wasn’t she enough anymore?

The thought lingered, heavy and unwelcome. By the time she reached home, the silence greeted her first, cold, still, and Empty.

She stepped inside slowly. The candles were still burning faintly. The steak had gone cold. The wine sat untouched. Everything remained exactly as she had left it, but something about it now felt different.

At the hotel, she had been composed, controlled, and untouchable, but here…

She just looked tired, quiet, and worn down. Aurelia walked to the table and sat. For a moment, she simply stared. Then she reached forward and relit the candles. Soft light flickered across her face. She closed her eyes and made a wish.

Silently.

On their third anniversary, she wished that she and Alexander could stay together for real this time, not just because of a promise, not because of a debt, but because they chose it. She opened her eyes and blew out the candles.

And sat there for a moment longer alone. Then she picked up the knife, cut into the steak, and started eating, slowly and quietly. Every bite tasted like nothing.

Still, she finished everything on the table. Only the small cake remained. “Happy Anniversary, Alexander.”

The frosting was slightly uneven. A simple drawing sat beside the words. Two smiling figures, he and she, Aurelia stared at it for a long time.

She remembered the nights she spent learning how to bake, ruining mixers, burning ovens, trying again and again. Back then, it felt worth it, every bit of it.

But now she leaned back slowly. Was marriage always like this? Did it really… wear people down until nothing felt the same?

The gifts beside the cake remained unopened. The contract, the diamond, all untouched. As if they no longer mattered. After a long while, Aurelia stood.

Her arm had begun to throb more noticeably. Her ankle protested with every weight shift. Exhaustion crept in, heavy and unavoidable.

Since Alexander still hadn’t returned, she went to the bedroom, lay down carefully, but sleep didn’t come easily. Her arm ached, her ankle burned.

Her thoughts refused to quiet. She shifted, turned, tried again, but nothing felt comfortable. Not her body, not her mind.

Eventually, exhaustion won, and sometime later, she drifted into a shallow, restless sleep.

At 2:47 AM.

The door opened Alexander stepped inside. The faint scent of alcohol clung to him. His steps were uneven, but not from weakness.

From distraction, he stopped. His gaze landed on the table. The cake, the candles, the empty plates. His expression stilled. The understanding hit.

Their anniversary.

A flicker of guilt crossed his face. He walked over slowly and sat down. For a moment, he didn’t move. Then his eyes fell on the gifts. He reached out and opened the document first.

And froze.

His eyes widened. He flipped through it again, slower this time, careful.

Harbor International. Exclusive contract, no time limit, no restrictive clauses, his heartbeat quickened. “…Impossible.”

He stood up abruptly and headed toward the bedroom. “Aurelia!”

She had only just fallen asleep. It was nearly 3 AM. He grabbed her shoulder and shook her. “Aurelia, wake up!”

Pain shot through her arm as she was pulled awake, and her ankle shifted awkwardly. She frowned, barely conscious. “…What?”

Alexander held the contract in front of her. His expression had hardened. “Why did you give me a fake contract?”

No concern, no hesitation, only suspicion.  “Are you trying to make me look like a fool?”

Aurelia blinked, then frowned. A flicker of irritation surfaced. “…Alexander,” she said quietly, trying to stay calm.

“This contract is real. I spent a lot of effort getting it.”

But he didn’t believe her, not even a little. He let out a short, cold laugh and tossed it back at her. “Who are you trying to fool?”

“Who could get a contract like this from Harbor International?”

He looked straight at her. “Do you think you’re the CEO?”

Aurelia went silent for a second, then bent down, picked up the papers carefully, straightened them, as if trying to preserve something that was already slipping away. “It’s real,” she said again, quieter this time.

“If you don’t believe me… call their CEO.”

Alexander hesitated just for a moment. Then he took out his phone and called Clara. After a brief explanation, her calm voice came through. “Give me ten minutes.”

The room fell silent, heavy and tense. Ten minutes later, his phone rang. “I checked with my uncle,” Clara said. “There’s no such contract. Senior management hasn’t even been around.”

A pause. “You’ve probably been scammed.”

Alexander’s expression darkened immediately, and then the anger came. “I even confirmed it,” he said sharply, glaring at Aurelia.

“This is fake.”

“I’m really disappointed in you.”

Each word hit harder than the last. “You just need to take care of the house.”

“Why would you lie about something like this?”

“Do you even understand how embarrassing this is?”

His voice grew colder. “I’m meeting the CEO next Wednesday. If I bring this out…”

“I’ll look like a joke.”

Before Aurelia could speak, he tore the contract apart. The sound was sharp, Violent Paper ripping through silence. Fragments scattered into the air, falling slowly like snow.

The unopened box beside it was knocked aside carelessly, sliding across the floor. Aurelia crouched down, one piece at a time. She picked them up. Quietly and carefully, each fragment felt heavier than it should.

Alexander turned toward the door, then stopped. “Tomorrow morning,” he said coldly, “you’ll apologize.”

“You were rude today.”

“I’m very disappointed in you.”

Aurelia’s hand tightened around the torn pieces; they cut into her palm, but she didn’t react. “…Why should I apologize?”

Her voice was low, controlled, but something underneath it was breaking.

Alexander paused, clearly not expecting that.

Aurelia looked up at him, steady, unflinching.

“Aurelia… do you still remember who your husband is?”

Her voice didn’t rise, but it carried weight, cold and quiet. “You were in her arms. In front of everyone.”

A pause.

“If that happened in private…”

Her gaze didn’t waver. “Would it have gone further?”

“Aurelia!” Alexander’s anger flared instantly.

“We’re just colleagues,” he snapped. “Don’t say something like that again.”

His tone turned sharp and harsh. “Otherwise…”

He stopped, then said it anyway. “…I won’t give you any money.”

Silence.

Even he seemed to realize how hollow that sounded. “…Then move out,” he corrected coldly.

“This is my house.”

Aurelia froze. For a second, she didn’t react at all. “…Alexander,” she said quietly. “Have you lost your mind?”

Her voice didn’t rise, but the disbelief was clear. “Haven’t I always treated you well?”

Alexander let out a faint scoff. “What’s the use of that?”

His expression was distant now, detached. “She has power; she can help me.”

His gaze hardened slightly. “That’s something you can’t give me.”

A pause. Then “Tomorrow… apologize.”

And just like that, he turned and walked out. The door closed with a dull sound. Aurelia remained where she was, Fragments still in her hands. The room fell completely silent.

That night, she didn’t sleep again. She stayed awake until morning, Alone  With nothing but her thoughts.