Chapter 2 Chapter 2
Arianna
"O-Okay?" I struggled to get words out of my mouth as I stared intently at the marriage contract across the table.
I didn’t even know what to think or what to make of everything.
The handsome man got up from his seat and took calculated steps to where I lay on the bed, his eyes burning over me.
“This is an opportunity of a lifetime. You don’t have to throw away your life Arianna… not when you can help yourself…”
His right hand gently wrapped around mine as he drew nearer, and I found myself lost in his eyes.
The determination in them, the pain in them, was like I was staring into a mirror. I got flashes of the horrible time I spent with Ivan and his family.
The pain, the torment, and the torture. I couldn’t go back to that life.
“You don’t know me… but I am certain you need this just as much as I do.” His hand left mine and he turned his eyes to the window behind me.
"I'll get you a befitting seat to watch your oppressors burn. Sign the contract to be my wife for a year."
Fear clutched me as my eyes landed on the papers once again. But with that fear also came courage. Enough was enough.
Slowly, I got off the bed and moved to the table where the papers were. I took the biro and with a beating heart, I swallowed back my fears and read the contract.
“I… I will be getting my inheritance back?” I whispered, choked to see the details of how much I was worth on paper— not just that but with the promise of getting it back.
“Yes, you will.” Ryven returned his focus to me, and a grin danced on his face.
“Plus, protection. All you have to do is wait.”
He didn’t have to say more, I understood, and I agreed. Immediately, I signed the documents and handed them back to him with fire dancing in my eyes. Even though I didn't know what awaited me in this man's hands, I was ready to jump at the risk rather than remain a slave.
“What do we do now?”
Ryven took the documents from me and the grin he had grew even bigger.
“Do not worry,” he whispered.
“ Just return home, I will get started with your divorce papers and send them to you…”
As if on cue, the door opened, and the doctor walked in with his tablet in his hands.
“Ms. Arianna, it’s good that you are awake. I was just coming to give you the medication and you may be free to return home.”
My stomach twisted at the sound of returning to that hellhole, but as my eyes met those of Ryven, my courage returned. He didn’t have to say anything, he just nodded before leaving the room, but I was certain that the contract we signed would bring him back. He would save me.
Perhaps I was crazy putting my trust in a total stranger but when one had gone through too much suffering, they became lost in their own world until someone found them. Ryven had found me, and I knew that my freedom was near.
Later that day, I got discharged and as soon as I got home, Elana was waiting for me at the entrance.
“Finally, the pig returns home…” she hissed.
“I really hoped that you would just die, and we wouldn’t have to put up with you again…”
My heart cracked at her cruel words, but I swallowed back my pain and for the first time since my bad luck started, I smiled at her.
“I am sorry I survived. Next time, I hope I die too.”
Her mouth opened wide in shock as she stared at me, not knowing what else to say.
“Huh?”
“Arianna!” Ivan suddenly called and my legs froze.
“How are you? I was so worried about you.”
I blinked, confused at his words, and I didn’t even know how to react when he took me into the house, much to everyone’s surprise.
“Have you eaten?” He asked and even Elana turned pale.
“Are you asking this worthless rat about food?” His mother yelled from the corridor.
“Something that chose to die… she doesn’t deserve anything, Ivan. What has come over you?”
The room went silent as we all turned our attention to him, waiting to hear his explanation. Instead, he turned a deaf ear to their words for the first time in our married life; he didn't listen to his mother, but the next word that came out of his mouth almost broke my bones, and I was thinking.
“Mum, can you just stop it!” He yelled, turned to face her.
Everyone was shocked, even the maids in the corridors had to pause, my heart almost stopped beating, and my eyes stared wide at him. What has come over him?
“She's my wife, even though I treated her badly I never wished for her to die”
“What…” his mother whimpered, staring at me with anger pasted in her eyes. I could feel her tension from where I stood but didn't bother to pay attention to that. Her son's sudden mood change was more shocking to glance at.
“You can't be serious !” Elena retorted behind me. “Are you scolding your mother because of this useless pig?” She pointed at me.
“I don't understand what has gotten into your head this afternoon but–”
But Ivan cut her short with his hand, hanging in the air.
“ Will you keep quiet!”
Immediately Elena zipped her lips. Everyone was shocked by his reaction, he had never reacted to Elena that way before. Seeing him do it was fascinating to watch. I thought maybe I was watching a series of movies, but what Ivan was displaying was happening in life and was direct in my eyes.
He turned to me with those bright brown eyes I once thought were filled with love and the warmth of the world, the eyes I thought held all my happiness in this world, but it has become one thing I detest most with every cell in me.
“ Are you hungry?” He asked, still holding my hands. “No, I'm not.” I plainly answered.
“No, no no, you can't say that. You just came back from the hospital and need to eat”
Before I could protest again, he summoned one of the maids in the corridor to serve me food. He urged me to sit and I did while he sat next to me…No, closer to me. His character was warm but at the same time irritating. I just don't know why this kindness.
“Arianna…” he called softly, while rubbing my hand that almost made me gag.
I turned to him as he slowly stroked my hand with a gentle rub.
“You know, in the company, I've been working on a big project that will benefit us, and for us to accomplish it,” he paused, the warmth in his eyes increased more, before he continued.
“We need something very important”
The word benefit for us echoed in my head. That must have been a wrong pronunciation because the last time I heard those words was when we were still at college, since we got married the only thing he did in the company was always beneficial to himself, his mother….also Elena, why was he telling me about it when he had already taken everything from me.
“You know the sky card company, the top in the industry, but my team and I had tried our best, but there's no attempt to succeed…so” he hesitated for a few seconds before carrying on from where he stopped.
“We need you to talk to them on our behalf…on my behalf. I want you to win them over. You're very good at convincing people ”
I should have known something was attached to this. The Ivan I knew would never change for anything except if he wanted something in return. Back then in school, I had always been that perfect and obedient girlfriend. Doing everything possible to help him, even in grades, sweet-talking lecturers on his behalf, but not anymore.
I smirked.
“ I don't think that will be possible,” I said. The warmth in his eye darkened, and the familiar aura returned to him.
“What do you think you're saying?” his forehead twisted into thick wrinkles.
Elena burst out in laughter from where she stood. “Is this the one you are scolding your mother for?”
She scoffed “I've told you countless times before, Arianna never cares about anything apart from herself!”
Ivan’s mother, who has been silent, voiced out on her own end. “I just can't believe what you see in this trash in the first place”
Trash? Did she just address me as trash? Or has she forgotten that this same trash was the one who got her out of her gutter life?
I pushed Ivan's hand away and stood up.
“I'm tired and I need some rest,” I said, ignoring their clue words.
Just as I was about to take a step, his cold voice echoed keeping me in place.
“And where do you think you're going, huh?”
I glanced at him over my shoulder with a look of reluctance in my eyes.
“Where else if it isn't my room?” I arched an eyebrow at him.
They were all taken aback at the audacity I just displayed. I had never in my life spoken back to Ivan before. But I'm done being his puppet!
Ivan blinked his eyes for seconds, but soon returned to his cold state.
“What audacity! Do you even have a mouth to talk back? Amazing,” Ivan's mother said. I turned over and glanced at her. After everything I did for her and her son, she treated me more with disgust. I wondered what I'd have done to her to make her hate me this way..
“Mother….” I attempted to speak but the voice of the security guard cut me short. We all glanced at the door and the man slowly bowed.
“Excuse me, madam. There's a package for you” he said, holding in his hand a brown envelope. I guess that must've been the divorce papers from. I gestured for him to pass it over, he walked to me and bowed before handling the envelope.
I slipped out the document and my eyes scanned the headlines, a smile pinned on my face and I lifted it up. They were all watching, and I believe they must be curious about what the documents contain.
I dismissed the security with a wave. Immediately, he took his leave, not soon before Ivan's commanding voice echoed.
“What's that?”
I ignored and demanded a pen, which one of the maids hurried to pass me. I took it and scribbled down my signature where it was requested.
“Are you not the one I'm talking to?” He growled but I felt no fear or anxiety in me.
Instead of answering, I quietly approached him and stretched the documents forward.
“Write down your signature, I want a divorce”