Bad memories

Aria POV 

Between drifting in and out of consciousness, memories surfaced like broken snapshots, each one hurting more than the last.

I remembered the day I quit my job to work at Julian’s company. I remembered walking into his office for the interview. He looked so tall, broad-shouldered. He wore a black suit that made him look even more professional. My heart raced seeing him sitting behind his desk. I had loved him since college, even though he never noticed me. To him, I was just another candidate.

“Miss Vale, your CV looks impressive,” he’d said that day. Then he paused, studying me. “What if I have a better offer than this job for you?”

My eyes widened in confusion. “What would that be?”

He walked toward me and gestured for me to sit down. He cleared his throat. “My board wants me married. They want me to have a wife.” His voice was low, businesslike. “Someone with no scandalous past. So would you like to be my wife? A contract wife for just seven years to put all the rumors to rest.”

I looked at him, my heart pounding. I was so happy. I saw it as an opportunity to get close to him, to see him every day, to sleep beside him. Maybe he would finally notice me. Finally see me.

“Yes. I don’t mind being your wife,” I said without hesitation.

I didn’t even think twice. I didn’t care if it was just a contract. I really wanted to be with him. My first love.

He brought out the contract paperwork. I read through the terms and signed it joyfully.

“I hope you agree with the terms and conditions?” he asked.

I nodded. I didn’t care about the terms. I only cared about being his wife.

“I hope you don’t have any other ideas. It’s just a contract.” His voice was cold and professional.

Of course. Just a business arrangement.

Then my dream drifted to our wedding day. There was nothing special about it. Just a courthouse registry. Two people as our witnesses—Jasmine and one man from the board to confirm the marriage. No proper makeup. No wedding gown. No flowers. Just us. Nothing else.

He even said there was no need for pictures. He told me not to read meaning into the ring he gave me. “It’s just for show,” he’d said.

I should’ve known. I should’ve seen the red flags. Maybe I did see them but was too foolish to care. The way he talked to me like I was nobody. I shouldn’t have agreed to that contract.

Four years of a loveless marriage. Four years of waiting for someone who would never love me back. I had wasted four years of my life on someone who never believed me.

I would prepare food for him, thinking he would come home to eat. But no—he would come home late. He didn’t care that someone, his contract wife, was home waiting for him.

I would ask why he came home so late. He’d tell me he was occupied and busy with work. Now I knew it was all a lie. He had been with Selene.

My dream drifted to our bedroom. The way he’d touched me, kissed me—it was passionate on the surface. But underneath, it was all empty. No real feelings. No love.

I was just a bed warmer, like Selene had said.

My dream shifted to when we went to his parents’ house. The way his mother was so eager to have grandchildren. I could see it in her eyes—she wanted to be called Grandma. She was practically glowing at the thought.

But her son, Julian, had called children a “distraction.” That word really hurt me. It hit me like a slap.

Then I saw myself in my parents’ house. I was seventeen years old again, back at the scene when my father brought home my stepmother and her daughter, Selene. I saw the cruel smile on Selene’s lips. The way she looked at me like I was nothing.

“I’ll take everything away from you… everything,” she’d told me that day. Her voice still echoed in my head.

And she was right.

She took away my father’s love—he never cared about me after that. She took my inheritance. She took Julian, who I thought would love me back in time. And now she was taking away my child.

In my dream, I saw myself crying for help. “Please, my child needs help!” I saw blood everywhere. I called for help, but nobody answered.

Then I heard loud laughter. I turned, and there they were—Julian and Selene, laughing at me. Laughing that I’d lost the child.

“No—that’s impossible. My child…” I cried.

“Please don’t take my child away from me!” I really cried for help, but no one answered.

“Abort that bastard child of yours.” Julian’s voice echoed through my head, cold and merciless.

I saw myself crying. I cried so hard.

Then I heard my name.

“Aria!”

A distant voice came through. I could hear someone calling me.

“Aria, can you hear me?”

I tried to open my eyes. They felt so heavy, like they’d been sealed shut. I forced them open.

White ceiling. Blinding lights. A faint chemical smell that told me exactly where I was before anyone had to say it.

Hospital.

Vanessa sat beside me. Her eyes were red and swollen. She looked exhausted, like she hadn’t slept in days.

“Finally! You’re awake. Thank God.” She whispered and grabbed my hand tightly.

I could easily tell she hadn’t slept. She’d been worried about me.

My throat was dry as I tried to speak.

She quickly grabbed a bottle of water, opened it, and held it to my lips.

“My baby—” I forced the words out.

Vanessa’s face crumpled. Her eyes filled with fresh tears. Her lips trembled. She looked like she was about to break.

“Aria—I’m sorry.” She finally said, her voice shaking. “The doctors really—really tried their best, but—” She sobbed. She couldn’t finish the words.

But I already understood.

The only real thing I thought I would have was gone. Finally gone.

“And where is Julian?” I asked, even though I already knew the answer.

“Umm—Julian is with Selene,” she said quietly.

How stupid I was. I hated myself.

I had finally come to realize that Julian would never love me. I was clinging to something that would never be mine.

The only thing in me that made this marriage feel even remotely real was gone. Disappeared. Just like that.

Four years of everything. How foolish I was.

It was time to let it go. Now was the time. I couldn’t take this anymore.

“I’m getting a divorce.” The words came out clearly, firmly.

Vanessa held my hand tighter. She didn’t say anything. Just squeezed my hand.

“It’s finally over.” I sobbed.

It was time for me to let Julian go. Selene had finally won. I was leaving Julian for her.

I didn’t want him anymore.

I was the one who took the contract seriously. Now, I need to protect my heart . Some love isn’t meant to be.

Just like me and Julian.