“I can't do this any longer. I want to step down from being Sebastian's Executive Assistant. And I'm ready to divorce him.”
The attorney looked at her like she had said something forbidden, “No. You can't do that. This marriage is not something you can just walk out on. No matter what Sebastian did to you, you just have to bear it all in. That's your duty as his wife.”
Aria and Sebastian had been married for five years—But no one knew about it. They only knew her as his Executive Assistant and the main reason his company became so successful.
Just two weeks ago, Aria was attacked by a notorious stalker. It was at midnight, and she had been driving back from working overtime when the stalker blocked her path with his truck. The stalker then took her phone and called Sebastian over and over, demanding that he come save her or else he would kill her.
But Sebastian had just ignored the call like it was a joke. In the end, the stalker hit Aria with a bat, before dumping her unconscious body at the side of the road. Then, he took her car and everything she had with her.
Thankfully, a taxi driver found her and rushed her to the hospital.
While Aria was fighting for her life that same night, Sebastian was in a club with Jasmine… his wife's younger sister.
That was the moment Aria knew that all her efforts had been in vain. The five years of marriage with Sebastian that she had cherished so much, the Executive Assistant position in his company that she carried like a badge of honor—It was all for nothing.
It hit her then. She had only been fooling herself thinking she was living a graceful life. But she was tired now and ready to walk away from this make-believe life. She was done playing the loyal wife to a man who treated her like air.
“That is my final decision. I'm not changing it.” Aria affirmed strongly, a serious look on her face, “Don't worry. Sebastian will agree to my decision. He wants me gone too.”
Aria had known all those years that her husband only saw her as the working machine to get him moving forward…he never once saw her as his wife to love.
But Aria had always been sincere about him…right from college. She had loved him hopelessly. And when he finally asked her to be his girlfriend six years ago, she jumped with excitement…Alerting the whole school that the guy she had a crush on for years was finally asking her out.
They got married after leaving college a year later.
In a few weeks, it would be their fifth anniversary. She figured she would give him exactly what he always wanted—A wife-free life, which was also a work and burden-free life for her.
✿✿✿
When Aria returned to the house that same day, she met Sebastian baking in the kitchen.
Aria recalled the first year of their marriage—Sebastian had always tried to avoid the kitchen, but when Aria said she liked to eat homemade pastries, he had enrolled in a baking class just to make it for her.
“What took you so long? I'm sure there wasn't much work left at the office.” He asked.
Even with a smear of flour across his cheek, his Sharp jawline and tousled hair made him look like he walked out of a magazine.
Aria quickly composed herself, “The company is launching a new product line. I've been working overtime to meet deadlines.”
Sebastian didn't bother to ask any more questions. He believed she loved working, “Yeah, sure. I made you something to eat. Take a seat,”
Aria did as he asked. Sebastian passed a plate of baked salmon to her, “I know this is your favorite. Have some,”
A sharp pain pierced through Aria's heart.
Baked Salmon was Jasmine and Sebastian's favorite. Aria was a vegetarian.
Their fifth anniversary was coming soon, and he still didn't know that much about her.
If he had shown just a little bit more interest in her than following Jasmine around, he would have known.
“What? You are not hungry?” Sebastian asked when he noticed that she wasn't eating.
Aria stood up from her seat. She picked the plate of salmon and dropped it on the counter, far from her, before walking over to pull out a huge envelope from her bag.
“I'm not hungry. There is something important I need you to do now.”
“Did you just shove away the meal I made for you because of work?” Sebastian hated anything work-related. Aria always wondered how he was able to think of handling a whole company.
She placed the document in front of him. But just as Sebastian was about to reach for it, his phone started to ring.
“I have to take this. It's an important business call.” He lied,
Aria had already seen that it was Jasmine calling him.
Sebastian tried to get out of the kitchen as soon as possible, clearly eager to take Jasmine's call. But in his haste, he bumped into Aria. She lost her balance and fell to the floor. Blood trickling down from a fresh scrape on her knee.
Sebastian had no idea what he had done. He spent twenty minutes on the call with Jasmine before he briefly came back to the kitchen. “I have somewhere important to be. Don't wait for me.”
“You have to sign them. It's important.” Aria reminded him, stretching the documents to him.
Sebastian gazed at her with furrowed brows, “You are wasting my time.” He grabbed the pen and hastily signed them.
“Good. You can go.” Aria nodded.
But he was already gone.
She stared at the door, then down at the folder. She let out a cold laugh.
If Sebastian had taken even one second to read what he was signing, he would’ve seen—It wasn’t just a regular work document.
It was her resignation letter,
her divorce papers,
and the share transfer giving her full control of her 30% stake in his company.
He had just lost his wife, his right hand, and a third of his empire.
And he didn’t even notice.
