Aria's POV

I opened the door and let him in, he turned on the light and sat by my side on the floor with our backs to the door.

"What happened? Why are you crying?" He asked, concern in his voice.

 "I..." my voice broke, fresh tears began to drop from my eyes again. "I saw Justin's chat with Summer. He wants to divorce me. He's never loved me!" I burst into messy sobs, hiccupping like a fool.

Aaron just sat there. I'm sure his mind was going; "but that's what I've been telling you all these years. Now see."

 I can't blame him, I was too blind, too foolish, too stupid, too... in love to notice anything. Justin is a really great actor, because every time I noticed something off, he had the right words to cut through me.

 He knew me too well, he knew where to pierce me so that I won't notice.

After what seemed like hours, the room was quiet except for my regular sniffling. His voice broke the silence.

 "You know, you're still a young lady. You have a great life ahead of you, Aria." His voice was a whisper, as if he yelled he'd crack through the glass.

 "Okay, look..." he turned towards me, "I have an insane idea that will work. Are you ready?"

 I wiped my nose with the back of my hand and nodded. I wanted to hear, anything to get back at those two, anything that'd save me from the humiliation.

 "I know someone, a lawyer, we can call him right now and ask him to draft divorce papers in your name and bring them here tomorrow morning."

 I love the sound of that.

"We can do that?" I asked, genuinely interested. He nodded with a faint smile on his face, brought out his phone, and dialled a number. When the lawyer answered, he told him everything about sorting out divorce proceedings and bringing it to the D'Cruz family's house before 9 am.

I watched and listened to him talk, he was so invested in what made me feel better, I could only wish Justin were like this. Looking back, Justin didn't really show that he loved me, he only wanted me around, and for what reason? Now that's a mystery I have to find out.

 "It's done. Now, you just have to prepare your poker face for tomorrow's drama," he pushed me lightly–playfully– with his shoulder.

 I could only imagine how messy tomorrow would be, how Justin would react. Will he be concerned? Beg? Be nonchalant? Cause a scene?

 Ughhh... seeing that I can't predict his reaction just proved I really didn't know the man I married. I was going with Aaron's plan anyway, I just have to dust myself from the shame and stand my ground.

"Hey. Back to Earth Aria." Aaron snapped his fingers, jerking me from my thoughts.

 He stood and put his hands in his pyjama pockets, and stretched out a hand to me. I looked at the hand for a second and took it, helping myself to stand.

I dusted my butt with both hands and pushed my hair to the back of my ears, "Thanks a lot, Aaron. For everything..."

 "Anything for my favourite in-law", he chuckled lightly.

 That earned a smile from me. He always has the words to put a smile on my face, and he's also probably my favourite in-law. But I can't say that, I'm at war with my heart.

Just as I was about to open the door, his voice stopped me; "You can use me Aria". His voice didn't have any form of humor or sarcasm in it, I turned to face him.

"Huh?" I asked, wearing a confused smile so I don't seem foolish to another brother.

"Anything you need to get to Justin, ask me. If it requires using my name, my body, anything at all... You can use me."

Okay... can someone tell me why my brother-in-law is offering himself as a human shield all of a sudden? And seriously, why did he ever think about that?

My eyes go endlessly around random objects in the study, trying to avoid his eyes. I gave a polite nod and opened the door.

 I walked hurriedly to my room, scared another D'Cruz would come after me and offer me promises too good to be true.

Opening the door to my matrimonial bedroom, I saw Justin, still passed out on the bed. I wanted to strangle him, to hit him, for lying to me all these years. To demand answers for why he wanted me around all these years despite feeling nothing romantic toward me. But, I just walked to my side of the bed and lay down, thinking and praying for tomorrow, I must give the most perfect performance tomorrow. I must humiliate Justin tomorrow.

It's funny how a few hours ago, I was defending him and now, I can't wait to ruin him. I never knew how love could quickly turn into hatred.

My eyes opened as a golden Ray of sunlight piercing through the curtain hit my face, warm and reminding me that I am still alive, that last night wasn't a dream.

 Justin was up, The loud tapping on his phone drew my attention to him. I turned to him, he smiled at me and placed a kiss on my forehead as he always does. "Morning Aria."

 Yeah, morning Justin.

I returned his smile and turned my back on him. He's probably calling Summer "baby" and other sweet names he's never called me. Just then, my phone pinged. It was a WhatsApp message from a new contact.

"I'm the divorce attorney Aaron told you about yesternight, he sent me your number earlier this morning."

I looked at the time, it was 6:23 am, great. I have a show to prepare for. I went into the bathroom and prepared a cold bath for myself in the bathtub. I stayed in there for minutes, preparing my speech and facial expressions.

I dried my body, got into my closet, and picked the most radiant pair of black velvet pants and a shirt, and paired it with a red stiletto heel. I had gotten that outfit in preparation for my outing with Helena. I have to get another one now.

I parted my hair in the middle and straightened it till the slightest air made it move. I applied burgundy lipstick and paired it with gold dangling waterfall earrings.

I looked at myself in the mirror... I looked different, different in a good way. Different in a way that I won't be intimidated. I won't be trampled upon, I won't be humiliated. I took deep breaths and walked out of the closet to the bedroom.

 "Wow, Aria. You look...different, what's the occasion?" Justin's lazy ass was still on the bed, his voice high-pitched. He liked what he was seeing. I hope he keeps this energy the whole day.

 "It's a surprise honey. You'll see." I smiled and walked out of the room.

Aria's POV

I walked down the hallway, then the stairs to the main living room. I couldn't shake the feeling of betrayal and shame welling up in my chest. Aaron had kind of warned me several times about Justin. Helena didn't like the idea of getting married that early, especially not to Justin. She liked him as a friend only because he was my friend. Aside from that, she couldn't stand Justin or the thought of him.

My parents, the Browns, will obviously see this as a disgrace and tarnish their image and the name they have taken forever in building.

I didn't know if I was sure I'd want to make such a move. Do I really need to go on with this divorce? I mean... as much as this sounds stupid, I still love Justin. He's still my first love, my dream man.

"Good morning Ma'am," a familiar voice called out as I got to the last step of the stairs.

 "Hi, Cathy." I smiled. "Sorry about yesterday night, I hope I didn't hurt you?" I asked as soon as I remembered that I ran into her last night.

 "No ma'am, you didn't," she shook her head and hands aggressively as if admitting to it would mean her death sentence.

 "Well, I'm glad. You look extremely pretty today by the way," I grinned. She's been the cutest and most honest to me since I arrived at this house, I love her.

 "Thanks," she blushed and continued dusting the railing.

My phone rang as soon as I sat on a cushion in the living room, it was the divorce attorney.

 "Hello?"

"Good morning Mrs Aria, I'm at the gate to the family house, I need access."

"Hand the phone to the security" I instructed.

 After a second, I spoke; "Let him in." Then I hung up. I guess I'm really doing this.

Justin came down the stairs with his mother, Mrs Margaret, a character in the family who pretends to like me. I watched them both stroll lazily down the stairs and into the living room. Old me would have stood to greet her, but this new me refused to stand or say a word. I felt their eyes piercing through my soul but that's not my concern now.

 It's a tradition in the D'Cruz family house; everyone must have breakfast together before stepping out, except it was a matter of life and death.

 Soon, Aaron came downstairs, stealing glances at me. Maybe he was as nervous as I was, or he was eager to watch the drama unfold. We all sat waiting for Mr D'Cruz to come downstairs when the lawyer came in.

"You must be attorney Michael," I said, stretching my hand for a handshake, then I gestured toward a seat he could use. Luckily, every other D'Cruz wasn't around except for Justin's immediate family; Aaron and his parents, so this would be easy.

"I have something to say," I cleared my throat. "I'm divorcing Justin."

 Everywhere was silent. I swear you could hear a pin drop. I get that it's strange information, but someone should say something... anything. Justin and his mother watched me like I was reading a monologue from a show they hated. Aaron's eyes, steady and calm, lingered on me-as if he thought he could anchor me with just his gaze.

The attorney pulled documents from his leather bag and placed them on the center table. My legs carried me forward on instinct, my fingers trembling only slightly as I flipped through a few pages. Then, without hesitation, I signed where I was supposed to.

"Your turn, Justin."

 Justin let out a small laugh, a strained, broken sound. "Aria, what is this? A prank?" His lips stretched into a smile, but it didn't touch his eyes. He was bluffing, and I knew it.

 "This should be easy. We have no kids, and I'm not interested in a quarter of your property-not that you personally own any-so just sign and continue your life with Summer." My voice didn't break. I was proud of myself. For once, I sounded stronger than I felt.

 "Aria..." Justin closed the distance between us, his hands twitching like he wanted to reach for mine. I shifted back, denying him the chance. "Aria, is this about last night? I said I was sorry-it was a misunderstanding."

"First of all, you didn't apologize." My words sliced through the air like knives. "Secondly, you call nibbling on your secretary's breasts in the kitchen a misunderstanding?" His mouth opened, but before he could form another lie, his mother sighed loudly. "It's a shame you can't settle little misunderstandings within the locked doors of your room," Mrs. Margaret muttered, her face contorted in a look of disgust and disappointment.

 Little misunderstandings? My mouth parted, ready to ask her what kind of woman would reduce betrayal to something so trivial, but Aaron's voice cut in-cool, deliberate.

"Mother, we should stay out of this. It's a couple's matter." He rose to his feet, a subtle warning wrapped in respect.

Mrs. Margaret's eyes flicked to me, raking over my outfit as if she had been waiting for the chance to strike. "No wonder she put so much effort into her look today," she sneered. Then, with a deep breath, she turned to Justin. "I told you this would happen." She stood and swept off toward the dining room, dismissing me like I was a stain on her expensive rug.

I ignored her. "Justin, please. Just sign the papers."

 "No, Aria. Let's talk about this-"

 "No, Justin." My voice cracked, the tears pressing against the back of my throat like a tide I was barely holding back. "Be honest with me. Did you ever love me?"

 His face twisted, and for a heartbeat, I thought he might tell the truth. Instead, he forced the words out like they were bullets he'd been ordered to fire. "What!? Of course I do. I love you, Aria."

 I let out a laugh that sounded more like a choke. His face didn't match his voice. His eyes didn't carry love, only anger at being cornered. He looks like a man held at gunpoint.

"Wow," I whispered, shaking my head. "Just sign the documents, Justin. I'm done."

I turned to walk away, but before I could take a single step, his hand clamped around my arm. Hard. Firm. Hurting.

"You can't dump me like a fucking trash, Aria," he spat, his grip digging into my skin like claws. I tried to pull away, but he only squeezed harder. My pulse quickened, pounding in my ears. This wasn't Justin-this was someone else. Someone darker.

 "You're not going to embarrass me like this." His smile spread again, but it was cracked, manic-like a frustrated psychopath holding on by threads. "We'll go upstairs, into our fucking room, and have a fucking discussion about this madness, okay?"

 My heart slammed against my ribs. I had never heard him curse at me before. Each word dripped venom, each tug of his hand dragged me closer to the stairs, closer to something I didn't want to find out.

Panic clawed at my throat. If he got me into that room...

 "Justin, let me go!" I yanked against his grip, but his fingers only sank deeper, biting into my skin. My heart hammered so hard I could barely breathe.

Then a shadow moved. A chair scraped sharply against the marble floor.

"Aaron," Justin snapped without even turning, "stay out of this."

But Aaron was already on his feet, his voice calm but threaded with steel. "Let her go."

 The way he said it-it wasn't a request. It was an order.

Justin turned, his face twisted with a smile that didn't belong to him. "This is between me and my wife-"

"She's not your wife if she's signing those papers," Aaron cut him off, his tone sharper now. "And you don't put your hands on her like that. Ever."

For a second, the room went still again. Justin's jaw clenched, his grip tightening on my arm as if daring his brother to try him. Pain shot through me, and I sucked in a breath.

Aaron's eyes flicked to my arm, then back to Justin's face. He stepped forward, steady, unshaken, every move radiating quiet authority. "I said let her go. Don't make me repeat myself."

 Something shifted in Justin's eyes-a flicker of doubt, maybe fear-but his pride fought it down. "She's my wife," he hissed through clenched teeth.

 "No," Aaron's voice dropped lower, colder, "she's a woman. One you've already broken enough. If you won't let go because I'm telling you to, let go because I won't stand here and watch you hurt a woman."

My breath caught. The weight of his words pressed against me, heavier than Justin's grip. I felt like I wasn't standing alone.

Justin's fingers trembled against my arm before he shoved me away, his glare swinging between us. "You think you're some kind of hero, Aaron?" His voice cracked with bitterness. "Don't fool yourself."

 I stumbled back, clutching my arm, my skin burning where his hand had been. Aaron's body shifted in front of mine, a shield I didn't ask for but desperately needed.

 "Get out, Justin," Aaron said, his voice steady, final.

Aria's POV

Justin blinked, thrown off by the finality in his brother's tone. "What, you think you can just..."

 "I think," Aaron said evenly, stepping slowly towards Justin, "you should stop talking before you say something you can't take back."

 For a moment, I thought Justin might explode. His jaw clenched, his fists flexed at his sides, but then he looked at me. Really looked. And in his eyes I saw fear. Not of losing me-but of losing control.

His forced smile returned, sharp as glass. "Fine. Have your little show. But don't come crawling back when you realize my brother isn't the hero you think he is."

He turned on his heel and stormed out, the echo of his footsteps slamming through the silence he left behind.

 The room stilled again. My knees felt weak, the weight of everything pressing down on me all at once. I hugged my arm to my chest, the skin still burning where his fingers had dug in.

 Then Aaron's voice broke the silence. His voice came out lower and softer this time. "Let me see."

 I looked up. He was standing close now, his eyes not on my face but on the arm I cradled. Slowly, carefully, like he was afraid I might shatter, he reached for me.

 I let him.

His thumb brushed over the reddened skin, his touch gentle but firm. His jaw tightened, and for a second I swore I saw anger flicker in his eyes; not the wild, reckless kind Justin had shown, but something controlled and dangerous in its own right.

"You shouldn't have to put up with this," he said, almost under his breath.

Something in my chest cracked at those words, I felt tears press against my eyes. Not from weakness, but from the strange, terrifying relief of not being alone at this moment.

He gestured to Cathy who was not too far from the living room, pretending to dust some artworks.

Immediately she was within his voice's reach, he said, "get me a first aid kit immediately."

 Cathy rushed off at his command, her slippers thudding against the marble floor. My eyes trailed after her before landing on the lawyer, who was still perched uncomfortably on the edge of the couch. His briefcase rested between his knees, but his eyes darted anywhere but me. Shame crawled up my spine. I had forgotten he was there as a witness to my humiliation, my trembling voice, and the sting of Aaron's intervention.

Before I could summon words, Aaron stepped in, his tone clipped yet polite.

 "Apologies for the disruption," he said, already rising. "Let me walk you out."

 The lawyer bowed his head quickly, almost relieved, and followed Aaron. I sat frozen, my hand still hovering over my arm. The redness had spread, ugly and glaring against my skin. I pressed my fingers lightly over it, wincing at the tenderness.

That was when a voice rumbled from above.

"What is going on down here?"

 I jerked my head up. Mr. D'Cruz was descending the stairs, his hand curled around the polished railing. His eyes narrowed, sharp even in the soft glow of the chandelier.

"I could hear voices from my study," he continued, his gaze flicking from me to the empty doorway where Aaron had just disappeared into. "Raised voices."

My mouth went dry. Words tangled at the back of my throat. I wanted to explain...but explain what? That his son had dared to lay a hand on me? That I had almost cried? My lips parted, then closed again.

 Aaron reappeared before I could speak. His steps were steady, but his eyes were quick and assessing. He looked at me, then at his father.

He answered before I could. "It was nothing, Father. I was... raising my voice at the lawyer. A disagreement on some paperwork. That's all."

 The lie slipped out so smoothly, I almost believed it myself. Almost.

Mr. D'Cruz's gaze swept back to me. His brow furrowed when it lingered on my arm, the faint swelling obvious even under the sleeve I tugged nervously. His eyes sharpened, and then cut back to Aaron.

"Is that so?" he asked, voice edged with suspicion.

 "Yes," Aaron replied firmly, a faint smile tugging at his lips. "It's handled."

 The silence that followed was suffocating. I could feel Mr. D'Cruz studying me, weighing the tremble in my fingers, the redness on my skin. My stomach coiled tight. Would he press harder?

 But instead, he only nodded once, slowly, though his gaze didn't soften.

 "Hmm." His eyes flicked between us one last time then he walked down the remaining stairs.

"Let's have breakfast." He walked past us to the dining room, "Get Justin down here." His voice was final.

I exhaled shakily, pressing my palm against my arm as though to shield it from sight and questions. Aaron's hand brushed against mine lightly, grounding me, his whisper low enough for only me to hear. "You're safe for now."

 Safe. The word echoed, but all I felt was the weight of secrets tightening around us. The fear that this is just the beginning of every storm waiting to unfold.