Aria didn't blink. And she didn't even look surprised. She knew Sebastian long enough to know what he was going to say about her in public.

But, even though…that didn't stop her heart from aching a little bit.

She still stood proudly. Even if it was all fake, it was better than showing how much hurt she felt.

Jasmine giggled, leaning on Sebastian's shoulder as they stepped in front of the cameras together.

The photographers lit up. They were calling her name, praising her dress, and asking them to pose as a couple.

While Aria stood quietly at the side.

Maybe it was the crowd. The heat surrounding her. Or the loud music thudding in her ears.

But Aria suddenly couldn't breathe. She clutched her chest, struggling to stay calm.

Not wanting to grab any attention, she immediately made her way to the rooftop terrace.

She just needed a bit of air. Just a few minutes to breathe.

A few minutes passed before she decided to head back in. She reached for the door handle…but it wouldn't budge. She twisted it again. Nothing.

It had been locked from the outside.

Suddenly, Jasmine's cold, mocking voice echoed from behind the door, “Hey, gold-digging leech! How do you feel being with a man who only treats you like a disposable tool?”

“You better don't try anything stupid. Sebastian is mine and mine alone. You should leave on your own before I kick you out myself.”

“I can't believe you had the guts to tag along tonight. You were trying so hard to steal my place. Sebastian did a good job shoving you in the corner, jealous hag!”

Aria stepped back, clutching her chest. It was getting worse. She was struggling to catch a single breath at this point.

“Sebastian is all yours, Jasmine. I was never going to take him away from you.” She fought the words out. Still struggling.

“Shut up. Don't try to pretend!” Jasmine yelled at her with a dismissive scoff. Not believing her.

“You tried to take my parents away from me. Now you are trying to do the same to the man that was meant for me. Never!”

“You know what? You should be punished for being such a two-faced devil. I'm going to make sure you freeze out here in the cold. And no one will know you are here.”

Without wasting time, she snapped the padlock in place, sealing the door like it was never meant to be opened again.

Since the charity event featured high-profile guests and valuable displays, guests had been asked to check in all personal belongings—phones, bags, even smartwatches—before entering the main hall and walking down the red carpet.

How would she call for help?

And no one but Jasmine knew she had stepped out.

Aria began to struggle again. She tried to breathe, but she couldn't. Her chest tightened, and she slowly sank to the floor.

“No.” She whispered desperately as she stretched her hands to the door and began to bang on it weakly.

“Please…I don't want to die here. Anyone there…please, let me out of here.”

But anyone seeing the door was locked with a padlock would keep out without thinking twice. No one would be coming to her rescue.

Her arms were already beginning to tremble with cold. Seconds later, she could barely keep her eyes open. Her body gave out, and everything went dark.

A few hours passed, and the charity gala ended…but Aria was still yet to be back. Sebastian couldn't hide his face scrunched up with worry.

“Sebby, could she have walked out just because you took the photos with me, and not with her?” Jasmine asked sweetly, acting like she didn't know anything.

“I should have just stayed back home. I don't want her to be mad at me or anything.”

Sebastian turned to her, his brows etched together. “Jasie, you are the only heiress of Hartwell & Co. Holdings. Never would I let an ordinary employee sit in your place. That's out of order.”

“Don't worry about it. Aria has been moody and overly dramatic these days. If she can't handle the sight of me with someone more worthy, that's on her. She probably left on purpose to ruin the night. So, let's not let her bother us. We can head right home without her.”

Sebastian led the way. Jasmine followed him, secretly grinning. “I'm going to deal with you, Aria. I'll make sure you have no one by your side—not my parents. Not my sweetheart.” She whispered to herself.

Aria didn't make it home that night, but Sebastian stayed unbothered.

The next morning, at the hotel's rooftop terrace, a security guard came up to the rooftop to do a security check. He unlocked the huge padlock and stepped onto the terrace.

There in the open was Aria. She was lying on the cold concrete. Her skin had turned pale, and her lips were slightly parted, like she was still struggling to breathe.

The security guard hurried over to her. “Lady, can you hear me? How did you end up here? Hold on, I can carry you down to our emergency unit.”

But Aria suddenly grabbed his arm, “I'm okay. I'll leave on my own.” She breathed heavily.

She had hoped Sebastian would come searching for her.

But, of course. She had dreamt too big once again.

There was a time Jasmine had gone out without informing anyone, Sebastian had wasted no time filing a missing person report.

But now, Aria hadn't returned home the entire night and he didn't even bother to seek her whereabouts.

It hit her then, ‘So, this is the gap between being cherished and being tolerated.”

With the little strength she had left, Aria pushed herself up. She made her way out of the hotel and got on the first bus at the nearest bus stop, heading home.

She stared at her phone in silence. There was not a single message or missed call from Sebastian. But there were about twenty from Dante.

[I don't think I can do this any longer, Aria. One week. I will be there in one week to crash whatever life you've got with him and take you away for good. You should be ready.]

Aria sighed with deep relief on seeing Dante's message. At least, there was someone still out there, yearning for her.

She immediately sent a message back to him. [Yes.]

Why did she even think she was going to be able to survive two whole weeks like this? No way!

In one week, she was finally going to walk away for good. And start another life afresh without Sebastian in it.

The moment Aria walked into the house, her eyes met Jasmine, relaxing in the living room, while wearing her favorite pajamas.

Aria's only, and favorite pajamas.

Jasmine sat up on seeing her. “Oh, here comes the wretched woman. How was your night? I hope you suffered just enough.”

Before Aria could say anything.

Jasmine got to where she was standing and tucked a strand of Aria's hair behind her ear.

“Aw. Poor Thing. You look like you barely made it out alive. If misery had a face, it would definitely be yours. You look like shit!”

She moved even closer, clearly flaunting the bite marks on her neck. “Look. Sebby did all these. He was in heaven last night. He confessed that it was…the sweetest sex…he has ever had.”

Jasmine had a lot to brag about. She leaned even closer, her hands mockingly cradling Aria's neck.

“He didn't even want to let me go. But with you, he said he always prayed for it to get over as quickly as possible.”

Those words were the last straw for Aria. She snatched her sister by the hair and shoved her away. “Mind your words, Jasmine. I'm legally married to Sebastian. While you are just a mistress he is using to fulfill his desires.”

“Don't be a fool. If you keep misbehaving like this, I won't hold back on revealing who you truly are to the world—You are nothing but an orphan that was bought to temporarily replace me anyway.”

Aria had always taught herself to be calm no matter what. But Jasmine had already made that impossible to do. And she would not be holding back any longer.

Jasmine took another step forward. She was about to grab Aria's hair too, but froze when she saw Sebastian walking towards them.

In a swift movement, she grabbed Aria's hand instead and used it to smack herself on the face. “Aria, forgive me. It's my fault. I should have stayed away from you and your husband.”

Aria's eyes widened with confusion.

But Jasmine sprinted off to the stairs. She was about to jump when Sebastian caught her mid-air just in time.

“No, Jasie. This is my house, and you belong here. Anyone who wants you to leave would be the one to leave instead!”

Jasmine smirked secretly.

“How dare you lay your hands on her?! Sebastian hissed sharply.

Aria stood her ground. “I didn't do anything to her. Do not put the blame on me. And shouldn't you be worried about where I was last night?”

“You are—” He growled,

Aria stopped him mid-sentence, “You should be worried about—”

“I have no reason to worry about you, Aria!” He spat icily. “You have no right to lay your hands on Jasie. You know what…you should be punished severely. I'm going to demote you.”

To him, Aria was proud of her Executive Assistant position. So he thought stripping her of it was the perfect punishment.

But he was mistaken. Aria wasn't proud of the position. She was only proud of the things she had accomplished with it for Sebastian.

Sebastian's stomach churned with worry when he saw that Aria's eyes were wet with tears. But that changed nothing. He held Jasmine's hands and walked away with her.

“Keep her locked in the storage room until she apologizes,” Sebastian ordered his security guard before leaving.

Aria watched them leave in silence. But the tears that had gathered in her eyes slid down her cheeks.

How can the man she had given up on herself for treat her like this?

Aria always wanted to be a fashion designer. But she gave that up to love and work for Sebastian. Yet he was treating her like she didn't matter.

For two days, Aria was made to stay away from the main and guest house. And locked in the storage room.

Four times a day, the security guard would ask if she was ready to apologize for hitting Jasmine. But Aria always said nothing. Except keep her face buried in her palms.

There were only a few days remaining and she would finally be out of here.

Aria was sitting in the same position in the storage room when her phone kept buzzing with several text messages from Jasmine, but she never bothered to check any of them.

The last message came in when she was about to finally walk out of the house.

[Good-digging leech. I told you, I'll make sure I make you too hopeless to live. You can't win over me. I can keep Sebby away from you to be with me for a whole year.]

And Jasmine was right.

For days since Aria was locked out of the house, Sebastian hasn't been around.

But Jasmine didn't stop keeping her updated.

Aria received voice notes of Sebastian's moaning Jasmine’s name.

Another was a photo of Jasmine wearing nothing but Aria’s silk scarf. "He said I looked hotter in it."

Then, there was a short video of Sebastian in the shower, and Jasmine giggling behind the camera. “He said I taste better than you ever did.”

Two years ago, Aria would've felt heartbroken and humiliated. But, not anymore.

A man who was capable of hurting her without remorse was better off forgotten.

On the last day, the security guard still kept her locked in the huge storage room.

She decided to take a stroll around the room. Out of nowhere, a cat jumped in and landed on her face.

She fell to the ground. Even though an ordinary cat shouldn't have made that possible. But she was almost already like a walking corpse that hasn't had a proper shower, sleep, and meal in days.

Aria began to feel like she couldn't breathe again. But it was just way worse than the last time. Her chest was heaving aggressively, and soon she began to cough out blood.

She was gasping for air as the pain spread through her ribs. Her lips were already starting to turn blue.

She knew what was coming.

Months ago, she had undergone surgery on her lungs. The doctor had warned her not to overwork herself.

But she hadn't been able to do that.

Now she was going into respiratory failure and her body was shutting down.

Aria desperately begged the security guards to rush her to the hospital. They agreed without delay, seeing how much blood she had lost.

Unfortunately, there was no way to get her quickly to the hospital, as the roads were blocked.

“I'm sorry, Ma'am.” The security guard sighed heavily. “Today is the launch of Ma'am Jasmine's perfume brand. Sir Sebastian rented out the entire road to throw a private concert for her. We can't get past.”

Aria kept coughing out more blood. Her eyes were slowly closing. But outside, music blasted, and people were laughing and cheering.

It was all about Jasmine.

Sebastian was showcasing his love for her to the whole world. Something he had never done for his wife.

Aria let out a low, painful sigh.

With everything in her, she pulled the wedding ring that had his initials on it and threw it out of the window, into the river close by.

She didn’t want it. She didn’t want him. She was done with this stupid marriage.

By the time Aria regained herself, she couldn't recognize where she was for a few seconds.

The Doctor kept his worried eyes fixed on her. “Ma'am, you're lucky to be alive. Your lungs collapsed from severe stress and exhaustion. If you had arrived a minute later…”

His voice trailed off. But Aria already knew.

Tears welled up in her eyes. Her body wanted to give up on her—Just like her heart had, long ago.

She turned her face to the side, staring blankly at the IV drip.

“Ma’am, we have to keep you here for a few more days to conduct some tests. Your body needs help. Can we contact your husband? He needs to be here as your guardian.”

Aria swallowed her sobs in, disagreeing with a quick head shake. “I don't need a husband.” She stared directly into the doctor's eyes, “Can I leave here in two days?”

The doctor thought for a few seconds, “Yes, but—”

“I would like to be discharged by then. Thank you.” Aria didn't want to waste any more time. Dante will be over to finally take her away tomorrow.

The doctor was about to head out when the door pushed open, and Sebastian rushed in, looking a little out of place like he had run all the way here.

“What is wrong with her?”

“I was exhausted from all the stress. My lungs collapsed and so did my body.” Aria spoke up before the doctor could.

Jasmine laughed dismissively, “Oh, Aria. When will you stop being so overdramatic? You are not the first person to undergo lung surgery. Stop being such an attention seeker.”

Sebastian kept his gaze fixed on Aria. She looked thin and malnourished. The frown on his face softened, and he seemed concerned for a few seconds.

“You brought this upon yourself. You could have just apologized. When did you get so full of yourself?!”

“If you knew you were starting to feel weak. Then why didn't you inform me? You should have let the guards know. Why do you keep misbehaving?” He sounded like he was blaming himself.

Aria sneered quietly at him. 'Inform him?’

Like he was actually going to do anything to help.

She had been locked in that storage room for days while he was busy rebuilding his life with Jasmine. He had kept her locked in that dark room just because she wouldn't ‘apologize’.

Informing him would have seemed like she was finally giving in to apologize for something she didn't even do!

Aria didn't see any reason to act up anymore. She was leaving in two days anyway.

“I was wrong. I didn't want to start up any more trouble.”

Sebastian couldn't pinpoint why his heart ached slightly at her words.

He probably was beginning to feel guilty for treating her so rashly. So, he decided to stay with Aria the whole time.

Two days later, in the morning, when Aria was being discharged and ready to leave. She spent hours messaging Dante.

Sebastian became suspicious. Because Aria usually spent more of her time working with her laptop than randomly on her phone.

“What's so important that you can't keep your phone away for a minute?”

He collected her phone from her hand, but Aria was fast enough to grab it back.

“It's my period tracker, Sebastian. Do you really need to see that?”

Sebastian cleared his throat awkwardly as he stepped back. “Okay. But keep the phone away already. We have to get going.”

Aria stared at him. Sebastian was doing things for her that he didn't normally do. But Aria wasn't falling for any of that.

Sebastian only followed her to the car and told the driver to drive her home before he left.

On getting home, Aria headed straight to Sebastian's room. She opened Sebastian's drawer and placed the hospital's lung collapse report inside.

Then she took out her diary and wrote on the last page.

[Final Reminder: This is what loving you did to me. You destroyed me.]

After that, she closed the diary.

Her 30% stake in his company, signed divorce papers, her resignation, three miscarriage reports, her lung collapse diagnosis—and every single scar he gave her.

They were all her fifth wedding anniversary gifts to Sebastian.

After putting everything in place, she zipped up her only remaining suitcase, and walked out the door without looking back. Not once.