Chapter 1

Life is funny, one minute everything looks perfect, the next minute it falls apart so badly you start questioning if any of it was ever real.

I stood in front of my father’s grave, looking at his casket. The only person I had in this world was gone. My heart felt like it was in a mincer and was being torn into pieces but no tears fell from my eyes. It was as if I was still in denial, like all of this was a dream… or maybe because the past few days I had been crying nonstop and now I had no more tears or strength in me.

People were talking around me, low whispers passing from one person to another.

“Such a pity.”

“She lost everything.”

“I heard the husband took over the company.”

“They are now divorced, so he’s now her ex-husband,” another person added.

I heard all their words loudly. Were they here to mourn with me or make a mockery of me? Right now, I didn’t care.

The only thing I could see was my father’s casket being lowered into the ground.

My father… the only man who never failed me. Despite losing my mother at a young age, he acted the role of both parents effortlessly, showering me with love. But now he is gone.

Is this the last day I’ll ever see my father?

I clenched my fist beside me. My throat tightened at the thought of it, but that wasn’t the only thing that shattered my heart.

I failed my father.

“I’m sorry, Dad…” I whispered. “I ruined everything.”

My hand moved slowly to my stomach out of habit.

I froze.

I still wasn’t used to knowing I had lost my five-month pregnancy. Just a few weeks ago, I had gotten the gender. I was expecting a boy.

Now the child was no more.

Can my life be more cruel? Losing both my dad and my unborn son.

“Ariana.”

I recognized the voice immediately. My body stiffened.

Slowly, I turned.

And the moment I saw them, something in me snapped.

Ethan and Lila were holding hands like they belonged here.

My chest tightened immediately. They had no right to be here. Not after everything they did to me. They still showed their faces here, knowing people would talk.

For a second, I wanted to drag both of them out and smash their heads on the ground so badly.

And ask them one question.

How could they?

How could the two people I trusted and loved more than anything destroy me like that?

Ethan… the man I trusted with my life, my love, and my father’s empire.

Lila… my best friend, the one I saw as a sister. The one person I thought would never stand against me.

They took everything from me. And yet here they are.

At my father’s burial.The same man they stole everything from.

My hand curled into a fist, but I didn’t move. I can’t create a scene at my father’s burial. My father was a well-respected man. I’m not going to let these two get into my head.

So instead, I forced myself to breathe and looked straight at them.

“What are you doing here?” I asked, my voice shaking despite trying to stay calm.

But how could I? This was the first time seeing Ethan and Lila after I was handed the divorce papers.

“We came to pay our last respect,” Ethan said, clearly unbothered.

I laughed bitterly with pain in my voice.

“Did you just say last respect?”

I took a step closer, looking straight into his eyes.

“You came with your side chick to pay respect to the man you stole everything from?”

“News flash,” Lila sighed, “I’m not his side chick, but his fiancée.”She raised her hand slightly, showing me a big diamond ring on her finger.

My heart broke seeing the ring , there were really serious about getting married , did i really know these people

“Ariana don’t start drama here. This isn’t the place.”Lila rolled her eyes.

She was right about one thing. This wasn’t the place.

They had both come here to get a reaction from me, knowing people were already talking.

I looked away from them, back to my father’s grave.

The priest called on me to pour my sand.

My legs felt heavy as I walked forward. My hands trembled slightly as I picked up the sand.

I stared at the casket for a second before letting the sand fall slowly on it.

“I’m sorry, Dad…” I whispered under my breath. “I’ll take back everything you worked all your life for… and restore your legacy.”

The rest of the sand was poured, and just like that…

My father was buried.

People came, hugging me and saying their sympathies, but I didn’t hear any of it. It felt like I was floating into space, my mind drowning in pain.

They started leaving one by one.

By the time I turned, it was just Nora… and two people I didn’t want to see.

I walked towards them.

“Why are you still here?” I snapped. “Get out.”

“You heard her,” Nora said, stepping forward. “Leave. Don’t you have any conscience? How do you both sleep at night?”

“I see you’ve recruited a minion,” Lila scoffed.

“It’s better to be a minion than a Jezebel like you” Nora pointed at her in anger

“Get out both of you” I yelled at them

“I didn’t want to be here anyway to mourn your dead father… You orphan.”She laughed. The sound was cold and cruel.

I didn’t even know when I rushed at her.

Ethan stepped in front of her immediately, shielding her.

I looked at him in disbelief,He was protecting her.

My stomach sank.

Did he hate me that much… to allow Lila to use such words on me?

“Let’s go, babe,” Lila said, then kissed Ethan on his lips before dragging him away. “She’s not worth it.”

Not worth it.

I staggered back, and Nora caught me.

Ethan turned briefly to look at me… then looked away. He had no guilt or remorse in his eyes.

How did I fall in love with this man?

“Ariana, don’t mind those two idiots,” Nora said softly.

Everywhere darkened suddenly. A loud thunder struck.

I looked at the sky, but even the weather wasn't by my side. Who did I offend in my past life to be punished this way?

Then it started drizzling.

“Let’s go to the car, it’s about to rain.”Nora held my hands

I shook my head.

“You can go. I want to be left alone with my father for some time.”I pulled away from her

“But the rain—”

“Nora, please just go. I’ll be fine.”

She let out a breath, then nodded.

“I’ll be waiting for you in the car,” she said, hugging me. “You’re not alone, Ariana.” she left.

I walked slowly back to the grave and fell to the ground.

“Dad…”I lay on the grave, touching the tombstone.

“Are you really gone…?”

My eyes became blurry, and the tears I had been holding in came rushing down.

“I… I don’t know what to do, Dad…” I cried bitterly. “I can’t do this without you. Please come back…”

The rain poured heavily on me. I was soaked. My black dress and hair were covered with mud.

But I didn’t care.

“Dad, forgive me… I couldn’t protect your legacy. I allowed them to take your company… they took everything…”

I cried harder.

Thunder struck again, lightning flashing across my face.

“Dad!” I screamed, holding onto his grave.

Tears streamed down my face like rain falling.

I closed my eyes, shaking in pain ,All of this was too much for me to bear my life had turned upside down overnight.

I noticed the rain stopped touching me,I frowned slightly. Has the rain stopped?

Slowly, I opened my eyes.

My vision was blurry at first. But when it cleared…

I saw a man. Standing behind me holding an umbrella over me.

“Who are you?” I asked, my teeth shaking from the cold.

“Crying won’t save you, Ariana,” he said coldly.

He knew my name But I didn’t recognize him.

“Leave me alone,” I said, turning back to the grave. “Who are you to tell me what to do?”

“How about I tell you there’s a way to get revenge on them?”

I turned to him immediately.

“Revenge?” I let out. “You don’t have a way. I don’t even know you… stranger.”

“There’s a way,” he said.

“Which is?” My brows raised in confusion.

He looked straight at me.

“Marry me, Ariana Vale.