Chapter 2 The Beginning of the End

Aria

I never thought that I'd be among those women-the ones who ended up with a man who didn't love them. But that's exactly what I did.

I am Aria Lane, an executive secretary to a pushy and egotistical boss: Leon Knight. Organized and Invisible...yup that's me. Until one day, I wasn't.

The morning started like any other. Coffee. Calendar updates. A dozen ignored pleasantries.

Then Leon Knight, my boss-the man who never gave a second glance to anyone unless it was in a mirror-called me to his office with an unreadable face.

"Close the door."

I did so, holding my notebook, ready for some legal briefing or PR emergency. What I got was an offer...one that wouldn't exactly give you butterflies.

"I need a wife." His voice was even. Cold. Like he was asking for a quarterly report, not a life partner.

I blinked. "Excuse me?"

"You heard me."

"Should I place an ad or–"

"It's you I want"

"Huh?! Why me?"

"I trust you. You know how to take orders. You don't ask questions."

His words stung more than I expected. But I didn't show it.

"Why?" I asked, not because I didn't understand, but because I wanted to hear him talk.

"There's a catch in my inheritance. I have to be married before the end of this year or my status as CEO is audited. This is business, Aria. Contractual only."

"What if I refuse?"

"I'll get someone else. But I'd prefer someone I can trust.".

The silence hung there. I wasn't dumb. I recognized what this was. A year of standing by his side-publicly, privately-never really being his.

"I need time."

"You have until tomorrow."

That night I didn't sleep. My roommate, Ella, tried to make sense to me. "You can't marry a man like him, Aria. He'll ruin you."

Perhaps I was already broken. Or perhaps I simply wanted to feel important-even if it was a lie.

By morning, I had made up my mind.

"I'll do it," I said, standing before him like I had a spine of steel.

He signed the contract in front of me without even a flicker of feeling. "One year. No real relationship. We attend events, keep up appearances, and then we break up. You'll be compensated."

I put my signature after his.

And that was the beginning of my end.

---

We had a modest wedding. Reserved. More business than celebration. He did not kiss me at the altar. Not even a smile.

He locked himself in his study on our wedding night.

I cried myself to sleep in the guest room.

Weeks turned into days. The distance between us became a chasm. He never yelled. Never touched. Never asked how my day was.

We were wife and husband in name and paper only.

Except the world was fooled. Cameras loved us. Socialites envied me.

Golden couple on the outside. Housemates on the inside.

Behind closed doors, I was invisible in my own home.

He was gone most nights. When he was around, he barely even saw me. My heart shattered silently.

I'd leave him food in the fridge sometimes. He never even touched it.

One night, I tried to stand up for myself. "Leon...what's going on? Do you hate me?"

He looked up at his tablet. "Don't be so dramatic."

"Oh! Am I being dramatic now?

Look, I'm tired of pretending everything is okay!"

"We're doing precisely what we contracted to do."

"But I didn't contract to be invisible."

He remained silent.

Did he just air me?

What have I gotten myself into?

I never should have signed that useless contract.

I'm tired of all this.

---

I asked Ella to come meet me at the café so we could talk.

"Oh my God! Girl you've lost weight. What's happening? Don't tell me that coward beats you." Ella asked as she saw me.

I clamped down on a grin and smiled. My voice trembled as I recount to her everything that has happened; on the edge of crying.

"This isn't what love looks like, Aria." Ella said.

"I know," I whispered. "But it's what I chose."

"Girl I'm not gonna lie to you, this guy doesn't care about you and you need to leave him the hell alone". Ella said to me.

"I don't know. Maybe I can try giving him another chance right? Our anniversary is coming up" I said.

"Okay I've said mine but when you're ready to leave him, I'm here as usual ok?" She said pulling me in for a hug which made me shed crocodile tears.

I've really missed Ella.

The following day was our one year anniversary and I had to pass by the supermarket to purchase ingredients I'll be using in cooking.

Then our one-year anniversary came.

I cooked dinner. Wore a red dress he'd never seen.

I waited until midnight.

When the door finally opened, I stood in the hallway, tears overflowing.

He stood there, surprised. "Why are you still awake?"

"It's our anniversary."

He blinked. "Oh."

"That's all you can say?"

"I had meetings."

I let the dam break. "You don't even try to care anymore. I'm not your wife. I'm a goddamn wall."

He stepped forward, his jaw set. "You knew what this was."

"But I didn't know it would hurt so much."

He didn't say anything. And I realized at last that silence was all I was ever going to receive from him.

That night, I took Ella's advice and packed my bags.

He stood in the study pretending not to notice what was going on. Even if he wasn't, do I care?

I left before dawn.

But I didn't leave without doing something.

I left him the signed divorce papers on the dining table.

I didn't know if he'd care. I just knew I couldn't live like that anymore.