Aria’s pov
The room slled of sex and expensive cologne,his cologne to be precise.
Mia squeaked, scrambling for the sheet like it could erase what I’d just seen.
Ethan pulled out, grabbing a robe from the chair. "Babe, wait,it’s not what it looks like."
I finally found my voice after the long minutes of silence as I watched them trying to cover their nakedness. "Then what is it?"
He stepped closer, hands up like I was a wild animal. "It was nothing babe,I just got hooked up with the stress from the launch. It’s just one stupid mistake, Mia ans nothing to ,You’re the one I love."
Mia whimpered behind him, clutching the sheet to her chest.
I let out a short,bitter laugh. "Nothing you say? Ethan,were fucking my secretary like a whore in a hotel room while I stood outside like a fool at my own company launch."
"It was a slip babe,it won’t happen again,I promise," he insisted, voice dropping to that coaxing tone he used when he wanted sothing. "Co on, let’s talk. We can fix this."
I shook my head. "No."
His face hardened. The charm cracked. "Fine,you want the truth Aria? You pushed to do this."
I blinked. "Excuse ?"
"You were always glued to that damn laptop," he spat. "Coding, debugging, tweaking the ga, night after night.
You neglected , Aria,my needs. A man has needs, and you weren’t there for them.
What was I supposed to do? Stay celibate while you play tech genius?"
The words hit like slaps. "You’re blaming for your cheating?"
"I’m saying you weren’t a wife. You were a roommate with a laptop." He stepped forward, towering over . "Now get out. I have a launch to finish."
He grabbed my arm hard and shoved backward into the hallway. The door slamd in my face, the lock clicking like a gunshot.
I stood there, chest heaving, the corridor lights blurring,what the hell was going on?When did my perfect husband turn into this horrifying monster?
Then sothing snapped.
I turned and ran ,not away, but back toward the elevator, then down the stairs because waiting felt like dying. My heels clacked on marble, echoing in the stairwell.
I burst into the lobby, breath ragged, dress wrinkled. People stared but I didn’t care.
I grabbed the microphone from the DJ who imdiately cut off the music.
"This is my company!" I yelled at the top of my lungs, voice cracking through the chatter. "DreamForge Studios is mine! Ethan Caldwell stole my ideas, my code, my dream,he’s a thief and a cheat!"
The room fell silent for a minute,heads turned and suddenly silent whispers filled the room, phones ca out taping as I raged in pain.
Security moved in fast ,two burly n in black suits .
"Ma’am, you need to leave."
"I’m the founder!" I shouted again, tears hot on my cheeks. "He stole everything!"
They didn’t listen. One took my elbow, firm but not cruel, and escorted out through a side door into the humid night. The red carpet blurred behind .
Rain started falling,soft at first, then harder,it was as if the whole heavens was against today.
I stood under the awning until a cab pulled up. I climbed in, gave my address, and curled into the corner seat.
The driver glanced in the mirror but said nothing.
When I got ho, I kicked off my heels, peeled off the dress like it was contaminated, and stood under the shower until the water ran cold.
Then I crawled into bed, still damp, I cried until my throat was raw.
How could Ethan be this cruel,we have been married for three years and this?, nothing would have prepared for this.
I cried continuously till sleep finally took .
******
Morning light stabbed through the curtains like knives.
I stood lazily from bed and faced the mirror which was by the right.I looked a ss,eye sore,hair ruffled and last night make-up sared all over my face.
My phone buzzed endlessly on the nightstand,hundreds of notifications.
I grabbed it with shaking hands.
The first thing I saw was a trending hashtag; #DreamForgeDrama
Posts everywhere.
"So crazy chick , apparently Ethan’s wife ,crashed the DreamForge launch last night yelling she owns the company , Ethan Caldwell is a king, ignore the hater."
"Saw the video, girl looked unhinged. Probably a jealous ex or sothing."
"Calling herself the founder? Slut alert. Ethan deserves better than that ss,I don’t know why he married the bitch in the first place."
"Protect Ethan at all costs! This liar is trying to ruin his big night."
Screenshots of my outburst circulated like wildfire. Soone had posted on an anonymous account and it was going viral
My face went red, tear-streaked.
Comnts called desperate, unstable, a gold-digger who couldn’t handle success.
One post from an anonymous account;"Heard she was sleeping around in the office too. That’s why he dumped her."
I scrolled until my stomach churned.
They didn’t know and they obviously didn’t care.
Ethan was the golden boy, the charming CEO who just dropped a hit ga and I was the villain in their story.
I dropped the phone and buried my face in the pillow.
Then almost imdiately a knock on the door ca soft at first, then firr.
I dragged myself up, wrapped in a robe, eyes swollen.
I looked through the peephole. A man who looked like he was in his mid-twenties in a plain suit stood in front of the door holding a manila envelope.
I opened the door a crack. "Yes?"
"Miss Aria Thorne?"
I nodded.
"Docunts for you." He handed the envelope and walked away without another word.
I shut the door, leaned against it, and tore it open.
"Divorce papers."
Ethan’s signature is already there,bold, final.
"Grounds; Irreconcilable differences."
A note clipped to the front: "Sign and return. Let’s end this cleanly."
"What in the actual fuck?"
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