Chapter 4

Victor''s POV

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

Last night kept playing on repeat in my head like a broken record. Aria asking for a divorce hit me like a punch to the gut. But the more I thought about it, the more pissed off I got.

I sat at my office desk, my brain spinning with confusion and frustration. I took a big swig from the wine in front of me and tried to get back to work. No luck. I couldn''t focus worth a damn. Aria''s face kept popping up, her voice echoing in my ears.

Last night, when I got back from that work thing, Mom and my brother were already gone. I crashed in the guest room - didn''t want to deal with Aria after our blowout.

Today I tried burying myself in paperwork and back-to-back meetings, but her words were stuck in my head like a broken song. Her jealousy, always needing attention - this wasn''t the woman I married.

She used to have her act together, you know? Independent, capable. She even worked at her dad''s company for a while. Now she''s constantly lost, insecure about everything.

How the hell did she end up like this? Is it because we barely spend time together? Or because she quit working after we got married?

A knock on my door snapped me out of it.

"Mr. Thorn? The board''s waiting for you in the conference room." My assistant Phil.

"Yeah, right. Thanks. Be right there." I shoved my confusion aside and got my head in the game.

After the meeting, I packed up and headed out. Mom had called wanting me over for dinner.

I don''t have time for my wife''s drama and mood swings, I thought. I''m swamped with this new app we''re developing. And now Mom wants to see me.

Driving to Mom''s house, the familiar route brought back memories I''d tried to bury.

My marriage to Aria was arranged - a business move to lock in a partnership with her father''s company. I needed the boost for my business, and her dad made his terms crystal clear.

"Marry my daughter," he''d said, no room for argument. I was shocked, but I didn''t see any reason to say no. Aria was gorgeous and seemed smart - qualities that could help my ambitions.

In the beginning, I didn''t really like her. Not personally, anyway. But I respected what she could do and what she meant for my business goals. I was laser-focused on success, eyes on the billionaire prize I''m proud to hold today.

It was all worth it.

Then there was that night. I got wasted at some party - which never happens - and woke up naked next to Aria. Hit me like a freight train. How could I let that happen? But the shock was just getting started.

Right after, compromising photos flooded my work email. Pictures of Aria and me from that night. The message was loud and clear: marry Aria, or these go public.

I confronted her afterward. "Are you blackmailing me?!" I was furious. Nobody manipulates me. "You know damn well I have to marry you for my company, my business. Why are you still pulling this crap!"

Aria looked completely lost, like she honestly had no clue. "I didn''t take those pictures!" She got defensive fast. "Besides, if those get out, my family and I are screwed too."

But I didn''t buy it. I knew they had enough money to make problems disappear.

Meanwhile, my reputation could go down in flames along with the company I''d built. My business, everything I''d worked for, could be toast! I was terrified.

I grabbed her phone and opened the photo folders. There they were! Clear as day.

"I-I don''t know how those got there, I swear!" Aria said. "Besides, I was drunk and passed out too. I couldn''t have taken those pictures!"

I was seeing red. Even though I''d planned to marry her anyway, she had to pull this stunt to make sure I couldn''t back out.

It felt like betrayal. Betrayed by someone I barely knew, forced into a marriage I never wanted.

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

I give her plenty of money and she doesn''t have to work at all, I thought. She should be happy. She should count herself lucky.

Looking back on our years as husband and wife, I''d say I''ve done my job as a husband - taking care of everything she needs and wants.

Why is she never satisfied?

I gripped the steering wheel until my knuckles went white, navigating the winding road.

"Why does she always have to stir up drama?" I muttered, thinking about how Aria always seemed to give Shane a hard time.

Shane never complained though. She always had that understanding smile, brushing off Aria''s tantrums like they were no big deal. I liked that about her. She was classy and refined - completely different from Aria.

While driving, memories of the accident suddenly hit me. I''m pretty sure it was Shane who pulled me from the wreckage. Yeah, I saw her wearing that necklace with the heart pendant.

I was drifting in and out of consciousness, but I remembered the flash of a necklace, the pendant catching the firelight. Shane''s worn it ever since. I''ll always be grateful for what she did, risking her own safety for me. That accident brought us closer.

When I finally got to Mom''s house, I saw my brother Samuel heading out.

"I''ve got to get to work," he said, all business as usual. No warmth, no hint of the bond brothers should share.

I forced a polite smile. "Want to stay for dinner, Samuel?"

He checked his expensive watch. "Can''t. Conference call with the London office in an hour."

Watching my brother hurry to his car, I couldn''t stop thinking about Aria. Her bright smile at dinner with Samuel last night kept replaying in my head. Such a contrast to the permanent frown she wears around me lately.

She actually looked happy, even though they hardly see each other. Made me narrow my eyes. What were they so excited about? Why did they act so close?

Suspicion crept in, but I pushed it down. Doesn''t matter, I told myself. She probably just wants my attention again.

I just need to stay cool and give her some space. Soon enough, she''ll come crawling back, begging to be with me again. She always does.