Chapter 5

"I'm giving you a chance, Ariana," Nathaniel's voice sounded flat, but there was a triumphant tone in it. "A chance to live comfortably with me."

Ariana clenched her fists tightly. "Comfortably?" she laughed bitterly. "Living with you for the past five years has been hell, Nathaniel! I just want my freedom!"

Nathaniel snorted, his steps approaching Ariana who was now standing on slightly shaky legs. Not from fear, but from anger that was about to boil over.

"You think the world out there will just accept you? You have no money, no place to live, no one. How are you going to survive?" Nathaniel grinned. "I made you a reasonable offer. The money for your plastic surgery, I'll give you on one condition!"

Ariana stared at the man with a hateful look in her eyes. "No, Nathaniel. My greatest folly is sticking with a man like you for this long."

Nathaniel's face changed, but his expression remained cold. It was as if Ariana's words hadn't disturbed his massive ego. "I'm only offering the best solution, Ariana. You want my recognition, don't you? Plastic surgery can change your life. It can make you accepted. It can make you... desirable but all of that comes with conditions that you must fulfill!"

Ariana gritted her teeth. "I'm tired Nathaniel, you never claimed me as your wife is because I'm not pretty enough!"

Nathaniel shrugged his shoulders indifferently. "You said it."

Ariana's heart felt like it was being squeezed. For five years, she had tried her best to be a good wife, tried to please Nathaniel, hoped that one day he would see her as someone worthwhile. But in the end, this painful reality became clear: Nathaniel never loved her.

The tears she had been holding back began to well up in her eyes, but Ariana refused to let them fall. Not again. She had cried enough for this man.

"I won't take your offer." Her voice was steady, though there was a slight tremor in it. "I will not sell my pride for a little money from you."

Nathaniel sighed, his expression looking as if he was tired of this argument. "Ariana, you're acting like a silly woman in a cheap drama story. Are you sure you can survive without me? The outside world is more cruel than you think."

Ariana bit her lip. It was true, she had no idea what awaited her out there. She had no plan, no place to go. But one thing was for sure-anything was better than staying trapped in a relationship that only tortured her every day.

With steady steps, she reached for the small suitcase she had packed. "I'll find my own way."

However, before she could step outside, Nathaniel blocked her way again.

"If you leave now, don't ever come back," his voice sounded colder than ever. "I will never accept you again. No matter how miserable you become."

Ariana looked at him sharply. "I'll never come back, Nathaniel."

Silence.

They stood facing each other, two people who had once been husband and wife, but were now nothing more than two strangers.

Ariana waited a few seconds, hoping Nathaniel would step aside. But he remained standing there, as if still wanting to test the extent of her resolve.

Without thinking, Ariana lifted the vase of flowers by the door and swung it violently to the floor. Shards of glass scattered, the sound echoing throughout the room.

Nathaniel was startled, but his laughter quickly returned. "That's really impressive. You want to show me you're serious?"

Ariana took a deep breath. "I've been silent long enough, long enough to accept your treatment without fighting back. But now, I won't let you ruin my life anymore."

Nathaniel watched Ariana with a look that was hard to read. "All right," he finally said. "Go on.”

Ariana stared at him in disbelief. "You just let me go?"

Nathaniel shrugged. "I just wanted to see how far you could go."

Ariana didn't answer. With trembling hands, she pulled the suitcase and stepped outside. The night breeze immediately greeted her, pricking her skin, but she felt strangely more relieved than before.

Nathaniel remained standing in the doorway, watching her with a dismissive gaze. "I give you one week. You'll come back with a face full of tears, begging me to accept you again."

Ariana didn't turn around. She continued walking.

Step after step that felt heavy, but also full of freedom.

For the first time in five years, she truly felt alive.

---

The cold air enveloped her body as Ariana stood at the edge of the road, her small suitcase lying beside her. The street was deserted, with only a few cars passing by. She shivered, not only because of the piercing night temperature, but also because of the fact that she was completely alone now.

Where should she go?

Ariana reached into her pocket, looking for her cell phone. But it had been dead since this afternoon. She had no money for a taxi, and nowhere to go.

Her mind drifted to one name. Lina.

Her best friend from college. The only person who might still care about her.

Without thinking, Ariana dragged her feet, looking for a coffee shop or public place that was still open so she could borrow a phone. Every step was heavy, but she didn't let doubt overcome her.

She had chosen her own path.

Now, she just needed to find a way to survive.

In the distance, a black car drove slowly, then stopped in front of her.

The window rolled down, revealing a man with a piercing gaze that scrutinized her from head to toe.

"Ariana?"

Ariana froze in place. The voice sounded familiar.

When she raised her head, her eyes widened.

The man was...

The last person she ever imagined meeting again in a situation like this.

Her heart skipped a beat as he got out of the car, standing in front of her with a shocked expression.

"Why are you here?"

Ariana bit her lip. She didn't even know what to answer.