Chapter 3

I gripped the bracelet on my wrist, my cheeks flushed as I said, "Victor agreed to the marriage. This is my wedding with him."

Layla snickered. She brushed her fingers over the bruise on her neck, closing the distance between us with two slow steps.

Then I saw that look in her eyes, the one I knew all too well. It was arrogant, dismissive, like she was already sure she'd win.

She smiled, her voice low, "Aria, honestly, I don't even care enough to fight you for him. I don't even like the guy.

"You cling to something so worthless, something you barely managed to grab. What happens when I just snap my fingers and take it away?

"Aria, you have no idea how much I enjoy seeing the humiliation and resentment on your face then."

I clenched my jaw, raising my tightly clenched hand. With a loud smack, I slapped her hard across the face.

Layla screamed.

My parents rushed downstairs, fussing over her, full of concern.

Right at that moment, Victor walked in, holding the wedding planning document for me.

As soon as he stepped inside, he saw Layla, her neck and arms marked with bruises, her face streaked with tears.

He stopped dead in his tracks, his face darkening instantly.

Layla looked at him, and tears started streaming down her face.

The instant she started sobbing, Victor's eyes widened in shock. He dropped everything and rushed straight to her, ignoring everyone else.

My dad was furiously condemning the troublemaker's actions.

My mom was wiping away her tears.

Victor rushed over and lifted Aria into his arms.

I could hear Victor's voice shaking as he said, "Call the police. We need to take her to the hospital and have her injuries examined."

From the moment Victor walked in until he left, he never once noticed me standing quietly by the window, just a few steps away.

*****

"Ma'am, we've arrived." The nanny's voice pulled me back to reality.

The car was already parked outside the pet funeral home.

I got out of the car.

Holding Connor's hand, I walked through the lobby and headed to the prep room in the back.

I changed into my work clothes and put on a mask.

I started prepping and suturing a Samoyed that had just died in a car accident and was brought in for care.

The owner was in tears, her voice breaking as she begged me, "I don't care what it costs. Please, just make him look like he did when he was still alive."

As I picked up the surgical thread, I couldn't help but wonder if anyone even cared enough to pay for my body to be fixed up if I died in a car accident.

Connor kept pestering me for my phone, so I handed it over. He started a video call right away.

The screen lit up with Owen Hughes's face. He was standing on the beach in a loud floral shirt.

I heard Owen let out a soft 'tsk'. "You rascal, I thought your mom finally bothered to call me herself."

A woman in a skimpy outfit shoved her face into the camera, grinning. "Mr. Hughes, whose kid is this?"

Owen answered, "My son."

Everyone on the other end was cracking up, the whole group laughing and joking together.

Amid all the teasing and banter, someone called out, "No way?"

The woman was laughing so hard she bent over, then slung her arm around Owen's shoulder.

Connor seemed a little unhappy.

I took off my gloves, grabbed the phone, and was about to hang up when Owen stepped away from the crowd. Now it was just him on the screen.

His smile faded as he apologized, "Sorry, something urgent came up at work.

"I'll be back tonight. If it's not convenient for you, I can have my assistant, Jimmy come pick Connor up."

I said softly, "It's fine."

Owen paused, clearly hesitating before he finally spoke, "Jimmy said he ran into you and Victor at a restaurant. So, he's back?"

I gently patted Connor's head and told him to go play on the swing in the garden.

I then replied quietly to Owen, "Yeah."

The sea breeze was messing up Owen's hair.

He turned his eyes away, not really looking at anything.

Owen said, "Aria, if you ever want to divorce, I'll cooperate."

I was stunned for a moment. "Why are you suddenly talking about this?"

Owen lowered his eyes and fell silent; I didn't hear another word from him.

Thinking back to the woman who was all over him just now, it suddenly clicked for me.

I spoke up again, "If you need to, we can get divorced right now. Connor's three now. He will understand."

Owen suddenly cut in, his voice firm, "I don't want that."

I was taken aback by how intense his reaction was and gave him a confused look.

But he quickly slipped back into his usual nonchalant attitude. "I'm not the marrying type. Why would I want that?

"So, you're not in any rush to..." His voice got quieter, and he mumbled the rest quickly, "Just don't rush to marry Victor, okay?"

But I always hear things loud and clear.

Even though I know he was always running his mouth, I still felt annoyed. "Why would I ever want to marry Victor?"

Owen didn't say another word.

I took a deep breath, trying to calm myself. My voice was flat. "Owen, I'm not that desperate."

I didn't wait for his apology, just hung up.

Five years ago, after Victor left me at the wedding, I completely fell apart.

My world crashed down and I spiraled into depression.