All Chapters of The Fourth Wife: Chapter 1 - Chapter 10

10 Chapters

The date is set

ARIA'S POVThe words resounded in my ears again."You'd have to marry Dominic, there's no other way we can settle our debts.And I couldn't reply. I had no words to change my fate. I was silent. I thought when they would officially tell me, I would scream, argue, tell them No, tell them over my dead body, but here I was silent as a dead mouse.What can I do? My mum is begging me in tears to just endure. “Aria.” My mum called my name, her hands stretching to hold mine, I should move to get closer to her but I just remained still. “ I'm sorry. We're sorry. But there's nothing else we can do.” She squeezed my hand when she finally got hold of it, her other hand wiping the tears that were streaming down her cheeks.“Aria, his uncle said he'll protect you”. My dad standing in the corner finally spoke, “He said he's going to make sure nothing happens to you, he's like a brother to me, he won't let any harm come your way.” He said moving closer.“The debts…” he continued, now really close t

Last Updated : 2025-09-04

Before Saturday

ARIA'S POVI slowly opened my eyes, and morning light poured in through the curtains. Everywhere was bright.Good. It’s morning again. The whole world moved on like nothing happened, like I didn’t cry myself to sleep.The memories of last night flooded in before I could even stop them. My parents begging me. The news I watched. My father’s words. My pleas on the cold floor. The date had been set.I stared at the ceiling for a long time, the only thing that stayed still when everything else had shifted. My body felt drained, like I had exhausted all my energy last night.Just as I was about to gather my thoughts on how I got to bed last night, a soft knock came at my door. I couldn’t move my mouth to answer. Slowly, the handle turned. I didn’t know who I was expecting, but nerves gathered in my chest. Finally, the door opened, and my mum stood there.Relief washed over me. Strange relief. I sat up, waiting for her to come in. She lingered in the doorway, unsure whether to step forwar

Last Updated : 2025-09-04

Presentable

ARIA'S POVI thought maybe when I woke up, this would all turn out to be a dream. A nightmare. But no, here I was. Friday was gone before I even noticed. Like it didn't care. And before I could even blink, it was Saturday.My wedding day. Funny. It's my wedding day, and I haven't even seen the man I'm supposed to marry. What a perfect wedding. I didn't bother stopping the scoff that slipped out.The house was loud. Really, really loud. I didn't even know I had so many relatives, they all came crawling out of nowhere, filling the kitchen with whatever they thought was funny, laughing like this was Christmas. And none of them could help with the debt. I rolled my eyes. The door creaked open, and my mum walked in, smiling like this was the best day of her life. I haven't seen her smile like this in months. She was holding my gown. The gown I never tried on. They just asked me for my measurements, and it was delivered to me in a box, like some delivery. I stared at it, hoping it woul

Last Updated : 2025-09-04

Marriage number four

DOMINIC'S POVShe walked down the aisle, slow and steady, hand in hand with her dad. At least she has one.When she reached me, he let go, and finally I looked at her gown. I shouldn't have. It reminded me of another wedding. Another bride. A memory I didn’t ask for.I quickly shoved it back down. This wasn't the past. This was business. A transaction between two families. That’s all weddings ever were to me now; contracts dressed up in white lace.She was trembling too much. If she didn’t stop, everyone would notice.I leaned closer, my voice low only for her to hear.“Stand still. Everyone’s watching.”And she did. Good. She listened. Maybe this would be easier than I thought.The priest’s words rolled over me. I’d heard them before, too many times. Same vows, same blessings, same tone like he was reading from a script older than both of us. I could almost mouth along with him, like an actor in a play I was tired of performing.I repeated after him, and when he asked the question I

Last Updated : 2025-09-04

Wedding night

ARIA'S POVIt was finally time to say goodbye. Goodbye to my parents. Goodbye to the people I once called home.I hugged my mum and held on longer than I should have, her familiar perfume hovering around me. I was going to miss that smell. When I finally let go, her smile was too bright, the most obvious fake smile I’d seen all day. The guests were better at hiding theirs. I could see she was breaking inside.My dad didn’t hug me. He held my hands instead and whispered, “Be strong.” I nodded and forced a smile of my own. Then he let go.The car was already waiting.“Goodbye,” I said to both of them before turning away. Why that word? It felt too heavy, like I was saying see you never. I wanted to run back and hug them again, but my feet kept moving forward, maybe so they wouldn’t see the tears building in my eyes.The valet shut the car door behind me with a heavy thud. The chauffeur glanced at me in the rearview mirror and gave a slight nod, saying nothing. I was glad. I didn’t think

Last Updated : 2025-09-04

Chapter 6: An heir

DOMINIC'S POVThe fresh air was the first to hit us when we finally stepped outside. The last sets of cars had just rolled out of the driveway, their headlights fading into the darkness. My uncle loosened his tie, and I caught the smirk tugging at his mouth.“Only you, Dominic,” he said, shaking his head. “Only you would abandon your bride on the very first night. I mean, who does that?” He laughed.I raised a brow. “Technically, it isn't my first night.”That only made him laugh louder. I didn’t see what was so funny, or maybe he was just drunk.“Ah, yes. You’ve had plenty of practice, haven’t you?”I didn’t bother replying, and that seemed to amuse him even more.“Still,” he went on, touching my shoulder, “it’s different when the woman bears your name.”Yup. He was drunk. When he leaned closer, the smell of alcohol was sharp.I exhaled slowly, trying to breathe past it. “Names don’t mean a damn thing.”His face changed then, now serious. “Don’t be foolish,” he said, his tone tighte

Last Updated : 2025-09-10

Chapter 7: Expiry date

ARIA'S POVSo this is my husband.Did he just fire that poor guy for dropping a glass? Well, he had just talked about my life and death while cutting into his steak as if it meant nothing.He set his napkin down and spoke again, not even glancing at me.“Be ready by noon. We’re going out, and wear black.”Why did he talk so much without even raising his head? And why is he talking while eating,wasn’t he taught table manners?Fine. If I had only a one-year life span, I might as well use it for something worth it. Shopping!So I replied, my voice loud enough for him and every servant to hear, “I don't have anything to wear.”That made him look at me at last. His eyes lingered on my face, as if he were processing what he had just heard. “Are you that poor?”“Yes.” My voice wasn’t loud this time. He had just shattered my confidence with four words.The silence that followed… I swear I could hear my heartbeat. If the servants had listened closely, they would have heard it too. His gaze rem

Last Updated : 2025-09-11

Chapter 8: Kiss

ARIA’S POVA cemetery.All this fuss so I could stand in front of some stones.At first, I didn’t get it. They were lined up perfectly, black marble with gold inscriptions shining in the sunlight. I noticed only one had flowers arranged neatly on it.I stepped closer to read the names, then I saw it. They were all women. Young women carrying the same last name as mine now.My stomach twisted. We were in an open place, but I felt suffocated.Dominic didn’t say a single word. I bent lower to read the years carved into the stones. None of them lived past thirty. The one with the flowers was the youngest.Why did he bring me here? To see my before… and my after? I forced the lump back down my throat.This wasn’t just a random place. I looked around and saw these were the only headstones here. This was his private graveyard for his partners.My body shivered. This felt like torture. And as if the image of the headstones wasn’t enough fear, his voice came from behind.“You should see what c

Last Updated : 2025-09-12

Chapter 9: Welcome, Uncle

DOMINIC’S POVExactly five minutes later, Juan knocked. Twice. Then came in. This was why I kept him close, always on time. He closed the door behind him, he knew not to leave it open for eavesdroppers.He stood there, hands folded at his front.“You were late today,” I said.“Yes, sir.”It wasn’t his nature, he always kept to time, but the red mark on his cheek reminded me, someone had to take the fall. She probably felt the sting worse than he did. I hate delays, and I had to teach a lesson. So I made him the scapegoat. It needed to be someone’s fault.He lowered his head. “It won’t happen again. I’m sorry, sir.”“It better not.”I leaned back in my chair, watching him stand there with his head slightly bowed. For a moment, I almost dropped it. Then the thought slipped out:“So, what do you think of her?”His head snapped back up. Guess he was caught off guard.I rose from my seat and paced. Letting the words spill like I hadn’t meant them. “She’s… different. I forget her name. She

Last Updated : 2025-09-15

Chapter 10: Family arrives

ARIA’S POVAfter tossing and turning around the bed, I picked up the phone again. The dim light of the screen glared back at me. I had been staring at it for almost ten minutes, thumb hovering over the call button. My mum’s number.I typed it, erased it, typed again.What would I even say to her? Hello, I’m fine, I’m going to last at least nine months here. He said I’m going to give him an heir. He barely looks at me but demands one? Blissful marriage, am I right? And oh, are you enjoying the money you got off from selling me off…I pushed back the tears forming. I didn’t want to admit it. But I missed them. I missed home. I missed my mummy.Again, I erased the number. With a sigh, I dropped the phone face-down on the bed. I wasn’t calling tonight. Maybe tomorrow, maybe never.My throat felt dry, so I decided to head down for water. Anything to stop my mind from running in circles.The corridor was quiet, just like always. The house was always quiet. But as I reached the top of the st

Last Updated : 2025-09-16

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