CHAPTER 4

Victor’s POV

I can’t believe this woman’s being so irrational! What a way to throw a tantrum!

The events of last night replayed in my head like a broken record. Aria's request for a divorce felt like a dagger through my heart. And yet, the more I thought about it, the more annoyed I got. 

I sat at my office desk, my mind swirling with confusion and frustration. Taking a big gulp from the wine I had in front of me, I decided to get back to the task I was doing. But I could not focus. Aria’s face kept popping up in my head, her voice echoing in my ears. 

Last night, when I’d come back from a work-related errand, my mother and brother were already gone. I had slept in the guest room, not wanting to face Aria after our argument. 

Today, throughout the day at the office, I tried to lose myself in the piles of documents and hours of meetings, but Aria's words had kept etched in my mind. Her jealousy, her constant need for attention, it all felt so unlike the woman I had married. 

I remember she used to be quite independent and competent, having worked a bit at her father’s company. But now, she seems lost all the time, always full of insecurities and doubts.

How did she turn out like that? Is it because we hardly spent time together? Or is it because she stopped working after getting married to me?

As I sat there, lost in my thoughts, a knock on my door snapped me back to reality. 

“Mr. Thorn? The board’s waiting for you in the conference room.” It was my assistant Phil.

“Oh, right. Thanks. I’ll be right there.” I pushed my confusion aside and focused on the task at hand. 

After the meeting, I packed my things and headed out. Mom had called, asking me to come to her house for dinner. 

I don’t have time to deal with my wife’s unreasonable whims and unstable emotions, I thought. I’m too busy, especially with this new app that we’re developing. And now my mother wants to see me. 

As I drove toward my mother's house, the familiar route triggered memories I thought I had buried deep.  

My marriage with Aria was arranged, a strategic move to solidify a partnership with her father's business. I needed the boost for my own company, and her father's condition was clear. 

“Marry my daughter,” he’d told me firmly. I remembered being shocked, but I saw no reason to object. Aria was beautiful and seemed intelligent, qualities that could benefit my ambitions. 

In those early days, I didn't really like her. Not personally. But I respected her abilities and what she represented for my business goals. I was single-minded in my pursuit of success, my eyes firmly fixed on the billionaire status I now proudly held.

It was all worth it. 

Then, there was that night. I got drunk at a party, a rare indulgence, and woke up to find myself naked beside Aria. The realization hit me like a freight train. How could I have let this happen? But the shock didn't end there.

Shortly after, compromising photos flooded my work email. Pictures of Aria and me, clearly taken that night. The message was clear: marry Aria, or these images would go public.

I remembered confronting Aria afterwards. “Are you blackmailing me?!” I was so angry. I didn’t like people manipulating me in any way. “You know perfectly well that I have to marry you for the sake of my company, my business. Why are you still doing this!” 

Aria looked bewildered, as if she honestly knew nothing about it. “I didn’t take those pictures!” She was quite defensive. “Besides, if those get out, me and my family will also be ruined.”  

But I didn’t believe her. I knew that they could find a way to deal with such, to make it go away, because of their money. 

On the other hand, my reputation might go down the drain along with the company I represented. My business, all my hard work, could go to waste! I was terrified. 

I recalled grabbing her phone and opening the folders of photos. There they were! It was clear evidence. 

“I-I don’t know how those got there, I swear!” Aria claimed then. “Besides, I was drunk and asleep too. I couldn’t have taken those pictures!”

I was furious. Even though I had planned to marry her, she had to stoop to something like this to make sure I had no way out or that I would never back down. 

It was a bitter feeling. Betrayed by someone I barely knew and now forced into a marriage I never wanted. 

But what choice did I have? I had to protect my business, to salvage my reputation. So, I married Aria.

Well, I give her plenty of money and she doesn’t need to work at all, I thought. She should be happy. And she should consider herself lucky. 

Thinking back to the few years we’d spent as husband and wife, I would say I’ve fulfilled my duties as a husband, taking care of her needs and wants. 

Why is she never satisfied?

I gripped the steering wheel, my knuckles turning white as I navigated the winding road.

"Why does she always have to stir up trouble?" I muttered to myself, thinking about how Aria seemed to always cause trouble for Shane. 

Shane never complained, though. She always wore that same understanding smile, brushing off Aria's antics as if they were nothing more than a mild inconvenience. I liked that about her. She was always very classy and refined, completely different from Aria.

As I drove, memories of the accident suddenly flooded my mind. I believe it was Shane who had pulled me from the wreckage. Yes, I saw her wearing that necklace with the heart pendant. 

I had been in and out of consciousness, but I remembered the flash of a necklace, its pendant glinting in the firelight. Shane had worn it ever since. I’ll always be grateful for what she did, sacrificing her own safety for me. That accident brought us closer to each other. 

When I finally arrived at my mother’s house, I saw my brother Samuel just stepping out. 

"I have to leave for work," he said, his voice clipped and efficient. There was no warmth, no hint of the bond we should have shared as brothers.

I forced a polite smile. "Would you like to stay for dinner, Samuel? "

He glanced at his expensive watch. “I'm afraid I can't. There's a conference call with the London office in an hour.”

As I watched my brother’s hurried back retreat to his car, I couldn't shake the thought of Aria. Her radiant smile during dinner with Samuel last night replayed in my mind. It was a stark contrast to the perpetual frown she wore around me lately. 

She actually seemed happy, even though they don’t see each other often. The thought made me narrow my eyes. What were they so thrilled about? Why did they act as if they were close?

My eyes narrowed as suspicion crept in. But it doesn’t matter, I told myself silently. She probably just wants my attention again. 

I just have to stay quiet and give her some space, and soon she’ll come running back to me like she always does.