로그인I thought divorce would free me from Roland Voss, the man who turned our marriage into a gilded prison. But walking away from a Voss isn’t freedom. It’s war. The press calls me a gold-digger. His lawyers call me a liability. And Roland? He just smirks across his mahogany desk and murmurs, “You’ll never escape me, Aliyah. Not while you carry my name.” I swore I’d never shatter again until I met him. Dominic Voss. Roland’s younger brother. The man I shouldn’t even look at, let alone want. He sees the cracks in me no one else bothers to notice. When the world turns its back, Dominic leans close and whispers, “Let me protect you. Even if it means going against my own blood.” Every stolen glance is treason. Every brush of his hand sets me on fire. And when Victor Hale, a rival billionaire with teeth sharper than Roland’s, circles closer, I realize I’ve become the prize in a game where men like them never lose. But I’m not the same woman Roland once broke. This time, I’m willing to risk everything, scandal, ruin, even the wrath of the dynasty that branded me theirs to choose the man who makes me feel alive. The question is… Will my freedom cost me my heart? Or will loving Dominic ignite a war that none of us survive?
더 보기Aliyah's POV
I sat on the couch as I watched the minutes pass by, the clock ticking continuously as I awaited the arrival of my husband.
The clock ticked closer to midnight, but Roland wasn't here.
No. Not tonight. Not on our third anniversary night.
Frustration boiled within me, heat rising in my chest.
This could only mean one thing. He didn't care about tonight.
I didn't care. No matter when, I'll be here waiting.
My eyelids grew heavy, but I forced them open. No sleep until Roland gets back.
My gaze shifted to the dining table, the dinner I had personally prepared because of the special day lying untouched. The meal had turned cold, making anguish press deeper in my chest.
Moments later, the door swung open and Roland stepped in.
I jumped to my feet, my words filled with anger. It's our wedding anniversary tonight, Roland, I reminded him.
He shrugged, like he didn't have a care in the world. What about it?
His words send a surge of anger coursing through my veins, setting my blood on fire.
How dare he treat today as nothing?! After three years of enduring this loveless marriage?
It's our anniversary, Roland! I yelled. I made dinner, waited for you for hours only for you to come back now? My tone was etched with disbelief.
And all you say is "What about it? I said, my voice laced with sarcasm.
I've had a hectic day, Aliyah. I'm tired, so just rest, he muttered, attempting to ascend the stairs.
I grabbed his arm, forcing him to face me. What have I ever done, Roland? All I did was love you! All I ever wanted was your attention! I've never asked for too much! My voice quivered.
He groaned in frustration, his eyes darkened. “Don't forget your place, Aliyah." This marriage was not built on love, but on power! Wealth! Don't act naive.
His words shattered my heart, tears brimming my eyes.
“But I loved you with every fiber of my being,” my voice cracked.
Roland scoffed, looking so cold and distant. “Don't be mistaken,” he said, the words coming out of his mouth with so much hatred. You are merely a pawn for this game in the business world, Aliyah. A pawn I'm supposed to exploit to my advantage.
I recoiled, taking a step backwards, my voice barely audible as I whispered. What did you just say?
I said what I said, dear wife. You're a trophy. Nothing more. His words crashed into me like a storm, the impact of his cruelty becoming unbearable.
A trophy.... Meant to stand by his side, forcing a smile while acting like the perfect wife.
To the world, we were perfect. A perfect marriage every woman would have prayed for.
Tears cascaded through my cheeks, every word he had uttered, shattering my heart into a million pieces.
I sniffled, letting out a bitter laugh. So that's all I am to you? A pawn. A trophy you flaunt whenever you want?
“Don't twist my words, Aliyah!” he snapped.
I don't need to twist anything, you just made yourself clear. My voice trembled with fury.
Roland sighed heavily, like my pains were nothing but a nuisance to his existence. “It's past your bedtime, Aliyah.
That was a way of telling me I've done enough.
The anguish in my throat tightened, Roland. All I wanted was your love. Your attention.
His gaze darkened. You got married to a Voss. Don't expect more.
His cold words struck deeper than a knife. The way he said it, as though I had married him because of his name....his power.
Visions of building a family with him shattered in an instant.
I should have known, My voice cracked. From the very beginning, I should have seen through you.
A smile tugged at the corner of his lips, Then what?
It made my fists curl, but Roland Voss wasn't done.
He stepped closer, his words filled with mockery. If you had seen through me then you would have done what?
Don’t forget. Consider yourself fortunate, Aliyah. You married a Voss.
"Don't make it sound like I married you because of your damn name!" I roared. I married you because I loved you!
Roland chuckled. Love? Don't be naive, dear wife. His hands cupped my face, his grip firm, gaze merciless.
“Love is for the weak!" We don't live on love, we live on power!” He gritted, then took his hands off my face roughly before he stormed upstairs.
He left me picking the shards of my emotions.
He dared to call my love weak?
No love. No feelings. But I was just finding out after three years.
I trailed behind him, walking into our master bedroom but was met with surprise when I saw the sight of him.
Roland was shredding his clothes off, getting dressed in a new suit adorned with designs, the sharp scent of his cologne filling the air.
You....are going out again? My voice trembled.
Without turning to look at me, he responded. Yeah. To a bar.
The realization hit me hard.
He was preparing to go to a bar, seeking pleasure in the arms of another woman.
Pain washed over me, intensifying the torrent of emotion swirling inside me.
Now you humiliate me by flaunting your infidelity? I asked.
I sacrificed everything for him, but to him, this marriage is nothing.
His face twisted with rage. Don't accuse me baselessly, Aliyah.
Before I could retort, his phone rang. He stormed past me, answering the call.
I'm waiting, a woman's voice said from the other end of the phone.
I'll be there in a jiffy, Roland replied, his tone flat.
The sound of his retreating footsteps echoed through my ears.
Then he was gone, leaving me to process everything that had happened.
He wasn't just discarding me, he was cheating. Betraying me.
The realization cut sharper than a blade.
Then I knew it was time... time to liberate myself from the shadows that had consumed our marriage.
Tonight, I vowed. I was done being his trophy. And this was the beginning of my end with Roland Voss.
~Aliyah's Pov~I went back to my room without saying another word.The corridor felt longer than usual, each step echoing softly against the polished floor. By the time I closed the bedroom door behind me, the tight knot in my chest had finally loosened, just a little. This room was the only place in the house that felt remotely mine, even if that, too, was an illusion.I kicked off my heels and sank onto the edge of the bed, staring at nothing in particular. Ronald’s words replayed in my head, sharp and dismissive, like they always did when the performance ended. I shook my head, as if I could physically dislodge them.I reached for my phone, more out of habit than intention.The screen lit up.Dominic: Hey. Just checking in. How are you doing?My breath caught.Before I could stop myself, my lips curved upward, the smile blooming effortlessly, soft, genuine, unfamiliar. It startled me how quickly it came, how easily the heaviness in my chest lifted at the sight of his name.I sat up
~Aliyah's Pov~The rest of the morning passed in a strange, stretched-out quiet.With Ronald gone, the house felt larger than usual, every corridor too long, every room too empty. I tried to occupy myself with small, ordinary things. I rearranged the flowers in the sitting room. Straightened cushions that didn’t need straightening. Flipped through channels on the television without settling on any of them.Nothing held my attention.Eventually, I went back upstairs and changed into something simpler, more comfortable. The elegant dresses from last night felt like they belonged to a different version of me, one who smiled easily, who knew exactly where she stood. This version felt softer. Exposed.I sat at the vanity and brushed my hair slowly, watching my reflection with a critical eye. I looked the same, yet something felt off, like a thread had been pulled loose somewhere inside me. I pressed my lips together and stood up.Get out of your head, I told myself.By midday, hunger final
~Aliyah's Pov~The drive back was quieter than the one that brought us there.Ronald sat behind the wheel, one hand resting casually at the top, his posture relaxed in a way that suggested satisfaction. The city lights streaked past the windows, blurring into long lines of gold and white. I stared straight ahead, my reflection faintly visible in the glass, composed on the outside, unsettled beneath.“You handled yourself well tonight,” Ronald said at last. “The press loved you.”I nodded. “I’m glad.”He glanced at me briefly, then back to the road. “You seemed distracted toward the end.”My chest tightened. “Just tired.”A pause followed. Not an accusing one, measured, thoughtful. “These events can be draining,” he said finally. “You’ll get used to them.”I forced a small smile. “I’m sure.”I really could not tell what got into Ronald this evening, but I really didn't have the strength to bother. He was definitely tipsy. The rest of the drive passed in silence. When we pulled into the
~Aliyah's Pov~The moment his name left my lips, something shifted in Victor’s expression.Not surprise. Not denial.Satisfaction.That alone was enough to send a warning bell screaming through my head.I straightened immediately, forcing my shoulders back, forcing calm into my face. “Excuse me,” I said coolly, already stepping past him. “Enjoy the rest of the evening.”I didn’t wait for a response.I walked away with measured steps, reminding myself that running would only draw attention. The hall felt larger now, louder, the conversations sharper at the edges. I wove through clusters of guests, nodded politely at familiar faces, paused briefly near a table, anything to put distance between me and him.I reached another section of the hall and exhaled quietly.Get it together, Aliyah.I lifted my glass again, barely taking a sip this time, my eyes scanning the room instinctively. Ronald was still occupied, surrounded by people who clearly mattered more than I did at that moment. Good
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