CHAPTER 3

Aria’s POV

Just as I was about to speak, Victor straightened up and waved his hand to interrupt me. “Aria, I think you should apologize to Shane and to my mother,” he said firmly.

What the hell for? So that’s it? When I thought he was starting to care about me, all he wanted was for me to apologize for something I hadn't done.

“I said, it wasn’t my fault. It was Shane. She grabbed me, trying to make me fall.” This explanation was really silly. How could he possibly believe me?

Sure enough, as soon as I finished speaking, he impatiently waved his hand, signaling me to stop talking.

"Can you stop being so childish? Why do you always pick on Shane? Can't you just learn something from Shane, even if it's just a little bit?"

Great. He’s starting again, constantly comparing me to Shane.

He kept on talking, but I started to think. In these five years of marriage, what did I really gain? 

Disdain, calloused hands from working like a laborer in the house, and my husband's dislike. No one thinks I'm worthy to be Victor's wife.

In reality, I found it ridiculous. I had been struggling with whether to let Victor know that we were going to have a child since he was the father, after all. But seeing his indifferent expression and hearing his words, I felt none of this mattered anymore; I just wanted to leave him. 

“Victor,” I interrupted him, my voice steady despite the storm inside me, “I want a divorce.”

As soon as I mentioned divorce, I felt a sense of relief wash over me. Judging by the shocked look on Victor's face, I knew he never expected me to ask for a divorce. Ever. 

But then, with an impatient look, he scoffed, “Aria, stop being unreasonable. Is it really so hard to apologize?”

I was stunned, hurt by my husband’s disdainful expression and attitude toward me. I couldn’t believe he thought I was joking, and that he was still more focused on that apology! 

I took a deep breath. “I'm serious, Victor. I want a divorce. I want to leave you.”

His eyes narrowed, his impatience giving way to irritation. “Is this one of your tantrums again? It’s not funny at all. This isn’t like you, Aria.”

“Tantrums?” I said with disbelief, my voice rising a little bit. “I’ve never even thrown any tantrum before. I’m not joking, Victor. I’ve really thought about this for a long time. I can’t keep living like this.”

There. I’ve said it. I never thought I would ever muster enough courage, but I guess my patience had finally run out. 

“What exactly do you want? Haven’t I treated you well enough? I’m very busy every day and don’t have time to play games with you,” Victor snapped, his voice icy and dismissive.

What? Did he really think he was good to me? I wanted to lash out, to release all the negative emotions that had been piling up inside for years. I took a deep breath, ready to explain how he and his family had treated me over the years. 

But just as I opened my mouth to speak, his phone buzzed. And without a word, he answered it. I couldn't hear the conversation, but I could see the furrow in his brow and the impatience in his stance.

When he hung up, he looked at me with a mixture of annoyance and condescension. “You see, I’m very busy. I have to go now, but you’d better hurry and apologize to my mother and to Shane. I won’t pursue this matter further, and we can pretend you never mentioned the divorce.”

He didn’t wait for my response. He just turned and left, the door closing behind him with a decisive click. I stood there in a daze, watching him leave. My heart ached with a deep, persistent pain.

I can’t believe it. Here I was, opening up a serious matter regarding our marriage, and he was just brushing it off. 

I had thought about it for months, weighing the decision, imagining every possible outcome. Finally, I had found the courage to speak my truth, to tell him I wanted a divorce. 

But to him, it was just a joke. A fleeting annoyance he could brush off and dismiss.

Who am I kidding? I never mattered to him, and this just proves it further. 

Tears welled up in my eyes, but I refused to let them fall. 

Everything that happened in the past few years came back to me in a rush.

Before we got married, I loved him so much. I pursued him with the same fervor as chasing a fragile bubble, captivated by its beauty and determined to hold onto it, no matter how fleeting or elusive it seemed.My parents knew how much I loved him, which is also why my father supported Victor's company.

I thought our wedding day would be the beginning of my dream life with him. I had always daydreamed about a wonderful marriage and a lasting love, just like a little girl. 

After we got married, I did everything I could, just hoping he would notice me a bit more. But all he did was ignore me and spend more time with Shane.

This is not over, I thought as I blinked back tears. He might think he could ignore me, but I knew my own mind, my own heart. 

Does he still think I'll give in as usual? I won't do that anymore. I and our future child deserve better, and I’m very much determined to leave this marriage.