Sebastian had always been crazy about Jasmine—Aria’s younger sister and the one their parents only acknowledged as their true daughter.
Twenty-six years ago, Aria was kidnapped from the hospital just hours after she was born. Believing she was gone forever, her parents adopted Jasmine—another baby born that same night.
Years later, Aria was found. The woman who kidnapped her had raised her in a small coastal town.
A DNA test confirmed the truth.
Aria was the daughter of the Hartwells. The real heiress. But by then, Jasmine had already taken her place—in their home, their hearts, and Sebastian's life.
The Hartwells welcomed Aria back with smiles, but they never let go of Jasmine.
Selene, Aria's mother had said, “She may not have come from me, but she is mine in every other way. We raised her, Aria. I can't turn my back on her now.”
Aria was made to believe that people would judge Jasmine if they found out that she was adopted.
So to everyone, Jasmine was known as the true heiress of the Hartwells, while they knew Aria as the one whom the family had adopted out of some goodwill.
Sebastian and Jasmine had been each other's sweethearts since kindergarten. But just a month before their wedding, Jasmine met a young political prodigy in Dubai and decided to follow her “dreams” there.
Since the Hartwells had already promised the Kingsleys Jasmine's hand in marriage, they had no choice but to request Aria to take her place.
Without a flicker of emotion, Sebastian had agreed.
But, just two months ago, Jasmine appeared from nowhere—And Sebastian ran back to her, turning his back on Aria.
To make Aria give up on bearing his family name, he had even posted a photo on his story, hinting that Jasmine was pregnant with his child.
Aria had also seen videos of them talking.
Sebastian had said, “Aria has been a good wife. Both our families will question me if I suddenly ask for a divorce. We need to drag her through the mud, so her parents would only blame her.”
“You have both been married for five years. Did you ever consider her as the woman you love?” Jasmine had asked,
“No. Never. She was only meant to take your place for a while. I only agreed to marry her because I knew you would come back to me.”
Aria had always thought that if she showed Sebastian enough love and support, he would feel the same for her.
But, she had expected too much from him.
She wiped a tear from her eyes as she pulled out her diary from her handbag.
It was on their fourth anniversary that Aria set a rule for herself—If Sebastian ignored her even once more, she would no longer remind him that she existed.
He had made her bleed and cry today…all because of jasmine. That was enough.
That night, she placed three envelopes in her diary, sealed it, and then hid it in the last drawer by Sebastian's nightstand—A place he barely opened.
That was her final anniversary gift to him.
Everything in there happened because of him. He would definitely love to be reminded of them.
With all set and done, Aria searched for her old phone and called a number she had previously blocked six years ago.
“Dante. Do you still want me?”
She didn't get a response for a minute and thought it wasn't connected.
But his deep, velvet voice echoed out a second later, “Aria. I've been waiting for you. It's been six years since you left me and went with that Sebastian guy. I've been in the same place waiting for you all these years. How come you suddenly remember me?”
His name was Dante Wolfe. Two years younger than her and crazy about her since they were little.
They grew up in the same small coastal town and he was her protector. Not until her biological parents came and took her away.
Then she foolishly fell head over heels for Sebastian and forgot about him.
Aria inhaled sharply, “You know what? This was a mistake. Forget that I called. I won't do it ever again.” She was about to hang up but Dante's sudden grunt made her freeze.
“Don't disappear on me again. I won't be able to survive it for the second time. Remember you called me first, don't complain or back out later…because I'm about to give my all to you.”
“Time is running out. I can only wait two weeks for you to finish things off with that scumbag. If you don't, then I’ll have to take matters into my own hands.” He hinted darkly.
Dante hung up almost immediately, not even giving her a space to oppose. And that was what she had always liked about him.
“He still likes being in control.” She chuckled softly.
Not surprisingly, Sebastian didn't come home for two nights.
Good for Aria. She had enough time to start moving some of her things out without him noticing.
She was in their home library, clearing out all the old business books she had read to help Sebastian run his company when he walked in.
“What are you doing?”
Aria gasped slightly at his sudden presence. But she quickly recovered, forcing a tiny smile on her face.
“Since we're launching a new product line. I thought it would be a good move to donate these books to underprivileged students—In your name, of course. It'll reflect well on the company…and on you.”
A subtle grin appeared on Sebastian's face. Hearing it was all for his benefit was exactly what he needed. “You always do what you want anyway.”
Aria was relaxed, seeing how he didn't care to ask any more. Of course, he wouldn't. He never liked talking to her that much.
Aria flinched when an unexpected sound echoed through the library.
She turned to see Jasmine with a big fake smile on her face, standing before a broken frame, “Ohh…My bad. I was just admiring it, but it suddenly fell.”
Sebastian didn't even wait a second before he rushed to her side, wrapping her in his arms, “Don’t apologize. It's not your fault. I should have thrown that stupid, old frame away. I'm just glad you are okay.”
