Novalie POV
The week before Nana’s birthday dragged on forever.
Every day felt heavy, like time was stretching just to mess with me.
Aries stuck with me the whole time. He didn’t budge. Which I'm grateful for and at the same time skeptical about.
Kira wanted to help too. She almost canceled her shift just to be with me, but I told her not to. I couldn’t bring myself to pull her away from her own life.
I couldn't be more selfish.
Everyone has their life to live.
Aries was there, helping me, treating me like a fragile being and comforting me.
He was everything, Noah had never been.
I know I shouldn't be comparing them both, Noah was my husband and Aries is just a friend. But Aries didn’t fail to remain how terrible Noah was to me, that is why I keep comparing them.
On the morning of Nana's birthday, Aries kicked softly on the guest room door.
“You ready?” He asked, leaning against the frame with his hands in his pocket.
“Let's go home,” he muttered, offering me his hand which I kindly took.
I wouldn't sit back and be a sulker.
As we approached my family's estate, I felt my breath shorten. Anxiety took the best in me.
Large black gates and sprawling white-brick mansion.
The last time I was here…
I walked out as a daughter who's in love and returned years later divorced and bruised.
My fingers twisted nervously in my lap. “Maybe I shouldn’t have come.”
Aries reached over, his hand covering mine.
“We’re already here. No maybes.” he said gently.
He paused and calmly said.
“But if you want to leave… I’ll turn the car around right now. No questions asked.”
That was what made Aries dangerous and magnetic at the same time.
I shook my head. “No. I need to face them.”
He nodded once, then drove through the gates.
When he parked in front of the house, he came around and opened my door before I could move.
“Deep breath,” he murmured, brushing a loose curl from my face.
I inhaled shakily.
“Another.”
His thumb grazed my knuckles. “There she is.”
Together, we walked toward the entrance.
Different kinds of memories came through. The one I thought I had forgotten.
I forced myself to keep moving.
Aries’ arm brushed mine. “You’re not facing them alone anymore. Not today. Not ever again if you don’t want to.”
My throat tightened and I nodded.
The moment we stepped inside, the warmth of the foyer felt suffocating instead of welcoming. Laughter spilled from the living room, familiar, distant and foreign. The scent of expensive candles and roasted meats filled the air.
Then everything stopped.
Because at the center of the living room, covered in the most expensive burgundy fit over an armchair like a triumphant queen,
was Amelia.
And on the armchair under her was Noah.
My ex-husband.
Her legs were crossed over his lap, her hands tangled around his shoulders as she whispered into his ear. She’d gained weight, dramatically, and not in a healthy way. Her face was swollen, features distorted, lips overfilled, cheekbones sharp enough to slice. Whatever cosmetic work she’d done made her look stretched, strained, almost doll-like.
Her eyes landed on me. And the hatred in them was unmistakable.
Noah’s expression morphed instantly. First surprise, then annoyance, then a deep frown like my presence was an inconvenience. He looked very much surprised to see Aries beside me but he quickly shrugged it off.
“Why is he here?” He asked and Aries scoffed.
“I don't think this is your business.”
Conversations died around us.
I felt everyone’s gaze fall heavily on me, the prodigal disappointment, the family embarrassment, the girl who abandoned her blood for a man who never wanted her.
Aries leaned close, his breath brushing my temple.
“Hold your chin up,” he whispered. “You’re worth more than everyone in this room combined.”.
We stepped further into the living room. The pressure getting into my skin
And then..
My stepmother’s voice sliced through the tension.
“Well, well, well…” She let her gaze drag over me slowly, like I was something she’d scrape off her shoe. “Looks like the prodigal daughter finally remembered where she came from.”
A few chuckles sounded, forced, uncomfortable, cruel.
And she wasn’t finished.
“What happened, darling?” she added sweetly. “Did the fairytale end? Or did your prince finally realize he preferred the original model?”
Heat shot up my throat and my fingers curled into my dress. I wanted to yell out at her.
She was the cause anyway. She had pushed me.
Aries’ hand moved instantly, brushing mine lightly in warning, as if telling me to not react. Don’t give them what they want.
So I didn’t, however, Amelia did.
She stood slowly, her heels clicking sharply against the floors. Her arm wrapped possessively around Noah’s shoulders as if she feared I’d steal him back.
Which would have been laughable if it didn’t sting so much.
“Well,” Amelia drawled, “if it isn’t the woman who tried playing me for years. Tell me, Novalie… how does it feel knowing he came back to me willingly?”
I felt my knees weaken.
Noah said nothing.
He simply stared at me with a flat, irritated gaze, like I had shown up uninvited to a private pity party he wanted no part of.
Aries’ low and dangerous voice came beside me. “Nova…?”
I blinked quickly, forcing back the tears burning at the corners of my eyes. I would not crumble.
My stepmother stepped closer, her lips twisted into a smirk. “You must feel foolish, dear. After everything you gave up for him. And here he is… right back where he always belonged.”
Before I could speak, a firm, familiar voice called from behind the dining table:
“That’s enough.”
Every head turned.
My brother, Julian, stepped forward, tall and composed. He looked at me, and in his eyes I saw something I hadn’t seen in years:
Anger.
But not at me. It was at them.
He came to stand beside me, placing himself between me and the rest of the room like a shield. “Our sister is a guest in this home,” he said evenly. “Show some respect.”
Amelia scoffed. “Respect? For her?”
Julian didn’t even look at her. “This is a family celebration, not a circus. If anyone here wants to humiliate Novalie, they can leave now.”
Silence hovered the room.
Even Noah shifted uncomfortably.
My stepmother opened her mouth to retaliate, but Julian beat her to it.
“And since we’re discussing family matters,” he said, voice rising just enough to command the room, “I think now is the perfect time to make an announcement.”
Murmurs course through the crowd and my heart pounded painfully.
Julian reached for my hand and squeezed it.
“Grandfather’s health has been… fragile these past months,” he began. “He’s stepping back from the company sooner than expected.”
My eyes widened and I watched as my stepmother stiffened.
“And as of this morning,” Julian continued, turning fully toward me, “the board has approved his decision.”
“What decision?” my stepmother snapped.
Julian lifted his chin.
“Novalie,” he said clearly, “you will be taking over the company.”
