Rebirth: From Devoted Wife to Ice Queen CEO

Aria's pov

I traced invisible patterns on the tablecloth with my finger. My heart was pounding so hard I could hear it in my ears, and each beat reminded me how nervous I was.

I stood in the middle of our softly lit dining room, fluffing the same cushion for what felt like the hundredth time. I had to make sure every detail was perfect for tonight.

Everything had to be just right - Adrian's reaction, his shock, his joy, all of it.

I had scattered rose petals from our front door all the way to the dining table, which I'd set with shaking hands just an hour ago.

In the center sat a cake with white frosting and the words "Happy 5th Anniversary" written in delicate red letters.

I'd even made all his favorite foods - grilled sea bass, ginger chicken, and spicy tofu. I could still smell the garlic in the air.

I let out a tired sigh. The sound was heavy with exhaustion.

Walking to the window, I stared down at the empty street. My phone shook in my hand, the screen still dark.

I rubbed my temples in gentle circles, trying to get rid of the headache pounding behind my eyes.

Adrian promised he'd be home by seven. I'd reminded him over and over because tonight really mattered to both of us.

I couldn't sit still. My hands were shaking from all the nervous energy running through my body.

Maybe Adrian got stuck at work. Maybe it was traffic, or he forgot his phone somewhere.

I called his number again. Straight to voicemail. Again. For the hundredth time.

My stomach twisted with a sick mix of dread and hope.

The clock's ticking echoed in my ears. Each second that passed reminded me that time was slipping away, and my mind raced with thoughts of what could have happened to him.

I tried to calm my breathing while smoothing down my dress and tucking a loose strand of hair behind my ear with trembling hands. Sweat beaded on my forehead even though the room was cool.

I felt clumsy and unsteady, not like my usual self.

I forced myself to move toward the door. Maybe I should go to his office and check on him.

But I'd barely taken two steps when the front door handle turned and Adrian walked in like a stranger.

No smile, no apology. Just cold, narrow eyes I couldn't read.

I smiled, trying to hide how worried I was, and swallowed the lump in my throat.

"Adrian?" My voice shook. "Where have you been? I was worried. You didn't answer any of my calls. I... I cooked your favorite dishes, and I made a cake. Did you see the..." I kept rambling.

"I was busy," he mumbled, cutting me off.

His voice was so quiet it seemed like he was talking to himself instead of me.

I gripped the hem of my dress tightly, bunching the fabric in my hands.

"I cooked. Your favorites. Won't you say anything?" My voice cracked.

"I don't really care about the food, Aria." He muttered angrily.

His words were flat and lifeless, like he had no interest in what I was saying.

My smile faded, and my voice shook like a scared bird trying to fly.

"What do you mean?" I asked, my voice trembling.

"We need to talk." He trailed off.

His eyes looked flat when he looked at me. There was no warmth or depth there. It was disturbing.

He looked distant, like he was looking through me instead of at me.

I ran my fingers through my hair with shaking hands. A hard knot formed in my throat, making it hard to breathe.

"Sure. What's going on? You're scaring me. Is it the company?" I asked quietly.

He walked past me and tossed a folder onto the table. The usual warmth in his voice was gone, replaced by cold distance.

"I need you to sign these," he said coldly.

My thoughts spun in anxious circles, drowning out any logical thinking. I felt helpless and scared, and my voice cracked even more.

"What... what is this?" I choked out.

He crossed his arms and raised his eyebrows in a mocking way.

"Divorce papers," he sneered.

My breath caught in my throat. I clutched at my chest, my fingers trembling like I was trying to keep my racing heart from jumping out of my body.

"Adrian... what are you saying?" I asked, my voice breaking.

My voice felt like a thin thread about to snap under the weight of my panic. My skin felt clammy and cold, giving me goosebumps.

His eyes narrowed and his face twisted into a disgusted sneer.

"I'm saying I want a divorce." His lip curled up with disgust the more he looked at me.

It was like looking at a complete stranger.

All the color drained from my face. I tried to cover my face to hide the terrified scream trying to escape my mouth.

My chest felt so tight I could barely breathe.

"But... but yesterday... you made me sign my company over to you." My eyes filled with tears.

My heart hammered against my ribs like thunder echoing through my body.

"You said it was to help me, that I was too sick to manage it. You told me we were partners for life and that nothing would change," I whispered as tears ran down my face.

My legs felt like jelly. My knees buckled as fear ran through my veins, making me weaker with every passing second.

My hands shook uncontrollably, betraying how terrified I was.

Adrian wrinkled his nose and furrowed his brows with disgust. He turned his head to the side, refusing to look at me.

"And what do you expect? For me to stay married to you? That's laughable." His gaze grew even harder.

I took a step back, my face pale. I grabbed the nearest chair for support, digging my fingers into the hard surface, desperate for something to hold onto in this storm of panic.

"No. I won't sign it. Not after what I gave you... what we built." My lips trembled.

His mouth twisted into a sneer and he slammed his hands down hard on the table. I flinched back.

"You didn't build anything. You inherited that company. I just took what was always meant to be mine." His eyes were hard as ice.

The light in my eyes dimmed, becoming hollow and distant. I felt disconnected, like I wasn't fully present anymore.

"You married me for the company," I said, my lips quivering.

"Finally catching up, Aria? Yes. That company was the only thing I ever wanted. You? You were just the key to getting it," he said, glaring at me.

I flinched. My thoughts felt sluggish, like they were moving through mud.

I felt like I was floating on a cloud, disconnected from the world below, numb to the emotions flooding through me.

My stomach clenched into a tight ball. I could feel acid rising in my belly as sharp pain shot through my chest.

"But I loved you. I still do," I said, my voice breaking.

"That was your mistake," he bit out, making me flinch again.

The way he looked at me made me sink deeper into despair.

The contempt in his eyes made my breath catch.

"You made me believe you loved me, Adrian." My voice caught in my throat - a strangled whisper that revealed the fear coiling inside me.

"And you made it so easy. You were so desperate for love." His eyes twitched with disgust.

My vision blurred. The edges of everything around me warped as fear and panic clouded my sight.

I leaned on the table, pressing my hands to my heart, trying to ease the pain shooting through my chest.

I covered my mouth as a cough shook my body. I was shocked to see blood bloom across my pale skin.

"Please, Adrian... I made everything perfect tonight. I wanted to surprise you. I... I was going to tell you..." I squeezed my eyes shut, then opened them again, blinking hard.

I pressed a shaking hand to my still-flat stomach.

"I'm pregnant," I confessed, biting my lip hard.