I'd just replied: Getting separated.
After signing the papers, I was huddled outside Julian's office, trembling.
Cian, I think I'm about to lose my home.
No father. No mother. No brother. Not even the dog I had loved more than most people.
And now? No Julian.
What did I have left?
I never expected his reply:
Why don't you just marry me?
Inside, the farce continued.
"Come on, as if Aria could actually leave. The second she's out of the Caldwell house, she'll forget how to talk again."
"If she makes a scene at the family meeting, she'll break down. A complete meltdown."
"Really?" Julian laughed.
He stubbed out his cigar in the ashtray. "Even if she cries her eyes out at the meeting, she'll still come crawling back and do as I say."
I peeked through the crack in the door, looking at the man who was once my entire world—now a complete stranger.
So I messaged Cian:
Okay.
Cian sent me a list.
Things to do within a month.
Visas? Yep. Legal documents? Of course.
But then came the real instructions: burn my old phone, wipe all my social media accounts, and convert the funds from our joint accounts into untraceable bearer bonds.
He texted: Veridia has eyes everywhere. Be careful.
I smiled, taking it all seriously.
I started ticking things off the list as if it were a new job.
Living alone suddenly wasn't so bad.
I painted, I shopped, I packed like an expert.
The day I finally moved out of Julian's place, he texted:
Not going to call me? You don't miss me?
Seriously? He was off on some grand vacation with Hailey, living out his “I’ll show you the world” fantasy.
Then another message: Bad girl.
And a photo:
This place is nice. Should I bring you here for our anniversary?
Block him? I thought. Just as I had blocked Hailey without a second thought.
But I still had to go to that family meeting, so I held back.
The next two weeks were a blur.
I sold my jewelry, a few paintings.
Went to the hospital for a full check-up—just in case. To make sure I wasn't pregnant.
Then I started sorting through all the assets Julian had left for me to manage over the years.
The night before the family meeting, he finally returned to Veridia City.
He called, acting like it was just a casual catch-up.
"Aria, you moved out?"
He was used to my silence on the phone.
He laughed to himself. "You're so cute. I told you, it's all an act."
Then, brightly, "Let's make it convincing. Tomorrow, come with me to announce our temporary separation."
I gripped my phone tightly.
He started, "Aria, relax, it's just—"
"Okay," I cut him off.
A loud cheer erupted from his end of the line.
I hung up.
And immediately texted him the appointment time.
The next morning, I was up early.
Julian, of course, was late.
And, yes, Hailey had left a faint hickey on his neck—which he pretended wasn't there.
So did I.
The whole thing took five minutes. Even faster than last time.
"Aria, I have a surprise for you tomorrow," he said, nudging me with his elbow.
I slid the documents into my bag.
"Julian, are you free tonight?" I asked. "There's something I need to talk to you about."
He froze.
I had only ever called him ‘honey’ since we were married.
Then he grinned, flicking his copy of the papers. "Of course."
Whatever Julian had become in the past year, I couldn't completely erase the man he was before.
I was still grateful—for the years of companionship, for the protection he once offered.
So, no, I wasn't planning on ghosting him.
But then, the storm hit.
Thunder. Lightning.
I hated nights like this.
The car bomb had happened on a night just like this one.
