Chapter 5 The war just began.

Aria's POV

I froze, heart pounding so loud I could barely hear anything.

Who is this woman?

Something about her-the bold stance, the way her eyes swept the room like she owned it unnerved me. Her outfit was daring, her beauty sharp and deliberate. The kind of woman who knew exactly how much attention she commanded.

But beneath all that confidence... there was something familiar.

I've seen her somewhere.

That smirk. That voice. My stomach twisted.

Where have I seen her before?

Before I could place it, she stepped into the room, heels clicking with unshaken confidence. Her presence filled the space effortlessly. For a brief second, I felt small.

She was beautiful, the kind that made you question your reflection.

Then her gaze landed on me. It lingered for some moment. Her expression flickered, it seemed she recognized me. But she quickly masked it and turned to Kian.

And then she spoke.

"So this is the whore you left me for?" she scoffed, looking me up and down with disgust. "A pathetic, pregnant joke playing house with her ex-husband's brother?"

Whore?

The word sliced through me like a knife.

My eyes snapped toward her, rage burning through my chest like fire.

How dare she? Who the fuck does she think she is to walk in here and insult me like that?

My fists clenched at my sides. I wanted to say something, to fire back, to wipe that smug expression off her face. My mouth parted ready to speak-

But then Kian stepped forward, his voice sharp, steady, and cold as ice.

"Watch your mouth, Ava!"

She raised a brow, mockingly, but he didn't let her speak.

"You don't get to walk in here and insult my wife. Do that again, and I swear you'll regret it." He gave her a cold dead glare that shocked me.

Wait... Ava?

That name... the one I'd heard in passing. Kian's ex. The one who walked away because she refused to have children.

Oh.

So that's her, but still, apart from being Kian's ex, she seems familiar like someone I'd known for years.

Ava's face twisted, shock flashing first, then pain, then pure rage. Her lips trembled like she might cry, but she masked it with venom instead.

Then I noticed Ryan.

His whole body had gone rigid. His eyes locked on Kian like he could tear him apart.

His fists were clenched, chest rising and falling, and his jaw locked so tight I thought it might snap.

He was furious that Kian called me his wife, his whole body screamed with jealousy. And strangely... I felt satisfied, a part of me enjoyed watching him break.

Ava scoffed, eyes wide in disbelief.

"Your wife? Have you completely lost your mind, Kian? You married your brother's ex-wife? do you have any idea how insane that sounds? What do you think society will say? Have you no shame?"

Kian's jaw tightened, but his voice was calm, firm.

"I don't give a damn what society thinks. If you really cared this much about me, you would've given me the one thing I asked for-a child. But you made it clear I was never enough for you and refused to get pregnant."

Suddenly, Ryan, who had been boiling with silent rage beside me, finally snapped.

"So that's what this is about?!" he exploded. "Because your precious Ava refused to give you a child, and Aria-what?-accidentally got pregnant, you thought that made it okay to steal my wife?"

I stiffened.

Wife again?

For some reason, hearing Ryan call me his wife ignited something sharp and bitter inside me, it sent a sharp wave of irritation through me. After everything he'd done, after all the pain he caused, he still thought he had a claim over me?

The audacity made my chest tighten with frustration. Rage simmered beneath my skin, hot and uncontrollable.

Before I could stop myself, the words burst out of me.

"I'm not your wife anymore, Ryan! Stop trying to claim me!"

The moment the words left my lips, Ava's head snapped toward me. Rage flared in her eyes, sharp and wild, like a storm ready to erupt. The way she looked at me made my heart skip, Ava's stare was venomous, burning with something deeper than jealousy. I felt like this woman might claw her face off right there.

Before I could brace myself, Ava marched towards me, her heels striking the floor like gunshots. She halted just inches away, and I flinched.

"How dare you?" Ava hissed. "You disgusting, shameless thing. Do you have no self-respect at all? You're really standing here playing house with your ex-brother-in-law?"

My breath caught. My heart pounded, confusion clouding her thoughts.

What is she even saying?

Playing with my ex-brother-in-law?

I opened my mouth to defend myself, but Ava didn't give me a chance.

"You're nothing but a home-wrecking leech," Ava spat. "A gold digger-that's all you are. You saw Kian's money and thought, 'why not trap him with a baby too?"

Trap? Why would I want to trap him?

I felt the tears sting the back of my eyes. My lips trembled. "That's not-"

"Don't speak!" Ava cut me off, voice rising.

"Does any of this make sense to you? You were screwing one brother, and now you're moving on to the next? Is that your thing now? You really think anyone's going to look at you and see anything but a filthy joke?"

My chest tightened. I could feel eyes on me-Ryan's, Ava's, even Kian's. My throat thickened with humiliation, pain bubbling beneath my skin.

I didn't want any of it.

Is it my fault that I accidentally got pregnant for Kian? Why am I being targeted alone?

Then suddenly, Kian's voice sliced through the air, sharp and thunderous.

"That's ENOUGH, Ava!" he snapped. "You've said enough. Cross that line again, and I swear, you won't like what happens next."

His voice was low but lethal, the room going silent in its wake.

Ava froze, stunned by his fury.

Ryan's lips curled with disgust as Kian's voice died down. He turned sharply to me, his eyes gleaming with cold fury.

"You see that?" he sneered. "You like being humiliated like this, don't you? Maybe it turns you on. But I'm not going to stand here and watch it happen."

I blinked, startled. "What are you talking about?"

"I'm taking you home," Ryan said firmly, grabbing my arm. "You're still my wife. I'll make sure no one-no one-dares speak to you like that again."

My stomach twisted. "Take me home?" I echoed in disbelief, yanking slightly against his grip. "Ryan, what are you saying?!"

He tightened his hold. "We're leaving."

"Yes, yes!" Ava chimed in eagerly, her voice high with glee. "Please, take her away! Maybe I'll finally have some peace with my boyfriend."

Kian's fists clenched, the tendons in his arms tightening as the scene unfolded before him. I could feel the storm building behind him, but I barely had time to react. Ryan had already started dragging me toward the door.

"Ryan, let go of me!" I cried, panic rising in my throat.

Ryan is already losing it. He's not thinking straight. His hate for Kian has already made him grow soo obsessed with me.

"Ryan, leave me!" I screamed, tears rolling down my cheeks

He's-he's not hearing me!

What kind of mad person is this?

I pulled my arm, struggling to break free. But his grip only tightened.

"Stop it, Ryan!" I shouted. "I don't want to go with you!"

"Too bad!" he snapped. "You don't know what you want. I'm fixing this."

By the time we reached the doorway, my breath was ragged, and my wrist ached from his grip. But just as Ryan reached to yank the door open-

A strong hand clamped around my shoulder from behind.

In one swift, furious motion, he shoved Ryan's hand off me and stepped between them, his chest heaving with rage.

"Don't. Touch. Her."

His voice was low, threatening, and final.

Ava quickly stepped between them, pressing her palms to Kian's chest. "What is wrong with you?" she hissed. "Let her go, she's Ryan's wife. She belongs to him."

Her hand cupped his cheek gently, her voice softening. "You don't have to do this. I'll give you what you've always wanted, Kian. I promise. A baby. A family. Just like you dreamed."

Ryan nodded quickly, latching onto her words. "See, Kian? Ava loves you. She's willing to give you everything. So just let Aria and I leave peacefully."

Kian was silent.

The room fell into a tense stillness.

My heart was thudding. Sweat beaded on my forehead as my vision blurred slightly. My hands trembled at her sides. No... No, this can't be happening.

Why isn't Kian saying anything?

Ryan turned to me, his voice coaxing now. "Look, Aria... even Kian gets it now. He's not stopping us. He's letting you go. So come with me. Don't make this harder than it is."

I shook my head desperately. "No... no, Ryan. I don't want to go with you."

Ava scoffed and shouted, "Can't you see?! Kian has accepted it. Just leave already!"

Ryan grabbed my arm with force again, and yanked the door open.

I gasped. "Let go of me-Ryan, stop!"

"Enough!"

Kian's voice thundered through the room like a whip. His eyes blazed with fury as he marched toward them.

With a harsh motion, he yanked Ryan's hand off me and shoved me protectively behind him. His voice was sharp, trembling with rage.

"I've had it. Both of you-get out of my house. Now."

Ava's eyes widened in disbelief. "What? Kian-what are you saying?!"

"Just keep quiet and leave!" He yelled.

Ryan's fists clenched. "No! I'm not leaving without my wife!"

Kian narrowed his eyes. "Oh, you're not?"

He didn't wait for a response. Before either of them could react, with a powerful shove, he pushed both Ava and Ryan out of the doorway. Ava stumbled, her heels scraping the floor, and Ryan nearly lost his balance.

"Kian!" Ava shrieked. "How dare you throw me out?!"

"You're making a mistake!" Ryan roared, fists clenched. "You'll regret this!"

But Kian stood tall, unbothered. His gaze didn't waver as he stared at them.

Then he said just one word.

"Bye."

And with that, he slammed the door in their faces. The echo rang through the house, final and cold.

As the door slammed shut, I sank to the floor, breathing heavily, sweat clinging to my skin.

Kian rushed to my side, kneeling. "Aria? Are you okay?"

I didn't answer at first, just stared blankly ahead, still overwhelmed by everything. And whispered, her voice low and tired.

"Whatever's coming... Kian, this is just the beginning. Ava and Ryan won't make our lives easy."