Rushing outside my chamber I was astonished to see that a hush had fallen over the entire building as people watched the rumored Mrs.Stone making an entrance.

The black Mercedes stopped in front of the office and Xavier came out looking satisfied with himself. His arm gently supported a beautiful woman by his side who looked at him shyly with an innocent smile.

I wanted to laugh at my destiny. If only I had chosen to go home at my designated time today like always, I wouldn’t have to witness all this.

“Xavier, I feel a little unwell…” Saying that her body swayed dangerously before being caught by Xavier immediately.

“See this is what happens, it is almost nighttime and you still haven’t eaten anything properly. I will go and buy you some food myself.”

It was at that moment Julia’s eyes fell upon me who was watching them from afar and a slow knowing smile spread across her lips.

“B-but I am just a little lightheaded…it is..it is all your fault! You made me so tired and now I have completely lost all the feelings in my legs!”

I watched the scene with my heart sinking endlessly as I understood the meaning behind those words all too well to mistake it. all my beautiful memories with Xavier were crushed and the painful wounds of his cheating were reopened all over again.

“It's my fault then.” Without waiting for Julia to complete, my ‘boyfriend’ of ten years gently scooped up his mistress into his arms, carrying her inside the company bridal style.

“Oh my god? Not only did he open the car door for her but this…no way is this a professional relationship..”

“What are you even talking about? My boyfriend is a journalist and he told me that they have been tracking these two for the past three years, it was just that Mr.Stone was too careful and the paparazzi never had the right evidence.”

I could not help but stand there frozen as a fellow colleague said with a frown.

“Wait for me in the lounge area till I come back with your food alright.”

“Alright.” Julia answered with a smile as the duo soon entered the VIP area before Xavier left as quickly as he came.

With my heart feeling as if it was shattered completely I went to collect my stuff and was going to leave immediately before a soft voice resonated outside.

“I am bored in the lounge room, quickly hand me the keys of the CEO’s chambers. I will wait for him there.” The receptionist was completely taken aback by the sudden request by Julia and stammered in nervousness.

“Miss Julia, I am sorry b-but I am unable to do so.

Even if you are CEO’S girlfriend, I-I cannot give you a direct actress to his personal space because of company policy and secrets.”

“Then do you want me to keep standing here?” Julia said those words softly yet there seemed to be an inexplicable chill in her words.

The receptionist was on the verge of crying while the staff members looked utterly bewildered by such a request.

I could not watch anymore and thus intervened.

“Miss Julia, welcome to the Avalon Enterprises. I am Aria-”

“Aria?” Julia interrupted before smiling, tilting her head with her eyes colder than ice as if inspecting a rare insect.

“Oh, the maid in Xavier’s apartment, isn’t it?” Gasps were heard throughout as Julia smiled innocently.

“You are Xavier’s servant so you will heed to my orders right? Go on and fetch me the key to Xavier’s chamber quickly like a good puppy. Hurry up.” My fists clenched hard as Julia looked at me mockingly expecting me to create a scene in front of everyone present.

“How can she?…Secretary Aria is a such an important person…”

“Het stay quiet, she will soon become Mrs Stone, do you really want to lose your job?”

“It is better being a maid than a mistress who wrecks home. I will definitely not take offense at Miss Julia’s words. Atleast you didn’t call me something as disgusting as a mistress. ”

“You!” At my words Julia wanted to retaliate yet stopped suddenly.

It was at that moment she saw Xavier’s car arriving at the office parking lot and a smile graced her lips..

“Oh my god you must have taken my words seriously while I was merely jesting Aria.

What to do? I am so sorry if my words hurt you. I must have appeared so rude, I hope you will forgive me.”

Suspicious of her change in behaviour I nodded without a word and with a wave of my hand I quickly dismissed the staff to either go home if their shift ended or get seated and start working again.

“Xavier told me alot about how useful you are with household chores thus I could not help but ask him to transfer you to me. Oh dear, I hope you don’t mind it.”

“No worries.” I said stoically.

“It is really hot today, can you please get me an iced coffee? No sugar. Extra foam please?”

But it was rather cold today.

I hesitated for half a second before nodding.

Silently, I walked to the break room, prepared the coffee exactly as requested and returned to Julia’s side, offering the cup to her.

It was at that moment Julia scratched my hands painfully with her sharp nails in the garb of taking the coffee making the cup tip and splatter the cold liquid all over her luxurious blouse.

The sting on my hand which started bleeding made my hands tighten into fists at my sides.

A collective gasp rippled throughout the office as the dark stain spread over her white shirt, clinging to her skin and the lingerie beneath was evidently visible.

“This…this can’t be..no..”Bile rose my throat as I realised that the piece of clothing she was wearing underneath was the same one I wore on my first night with Xavier years ago.

“More beautiful, younger and better than you Aria. He begged to see me in this.”

Julia’s lips moved and others thought she was whispering her grievances to me but it was only I who clearly heard each and every word leaving her mouth with a satisfied smile.

“That night in Paris was so hot but unexpectedly today was even more intense.

Xavier was so angry with you that he threw all caution to the wind and pulled me in your apartment this morning, right in your bed while you were gone to enjoy a very hot moment together.

Not only this, I modeled all hottest nighdresses he apparently brought for ‘you’ and you know what Xavier say? He said I looked much better in each one of them…sexier and it made him go wild. A plain woman like you can never compare. ”

My lips wobbled as I stumbled back in shock.

“W-What…” A whisper left my lips before it was covered under her scream.

“Ahhhh!” With tears in her eyes Julia looked at me covering her body tightly with her arms hiding her lingerie.

“Julia!” A concerned voice shouted loudly from the entrance, making me suck in a cold breath.

Xavier stood at the entrance, his face marred with rage.

“Good!

Aria Valarie I asked one thing of you and yet you messed it all up! I never realised how jealous and ugly your heart was till now! You just wait!”

And just like that with a glare filled with anger Xavier took Julia and left without glancing back at me whose entire palm was marred with blood and heart completely ripped by his betrayl.

Without waiting for a second Xavier rushed Julia to the hospital, his anger spiking as she cried softly in his arms.

“Miss Julia, I told you that this kind of stress is not good for you. You aren’t hurt now and it’s alright but what if you were seriously harmed…now you have two people to think of.”

The doctor said seriously, making Xavier frown.

“Two people? What do you mean by that?”

“Doctor p-please s-stop, I don’t want to burden Xavier.” Julia sniffled yet a gleam of joy reflected in her eyes as she subtly nodded once to the doctor.

“Mr. Stone, I believe you should take a look at these reports.” Somewhat taken aback by the doctors' concerned demeanor, Xavier quickly opened the file.

[PATIENT: JULIA LEST

MATERNITY TEST: POSITIVE]

“You…You are pregnant with my child.”

Xavier froze as he saw the report and suddenly he was reminded of a long time ago when he and I spent our first night together, my smiling face sweetly saying that one day we will have our own small family.

He realised that not only he had cheated with another woman but had also made her pregnant. A flash of guilt struck him hard.

“Mine?”

“Xavier..I-I am so sorry! I never wanted to come between your love. It is all my fault…I joked a little but your girlfriend took it seriously and she was angry that I seduced you!”

There was a slight edge to Julia’s voice even when she cried pitifully making Xavier’s heart feel wronged for her instantly as he was reminded how scared Julia was.

“Xavier…do you remember that day I asked you to marry me…I-I am your culprit. I became so selfish when the doctor told me that I was three months pregnant.

I hated to force you into a marriage you never even considered but could only think of bringing our little child into a world where they would be called a legitimate son or daughter.

But how can I come between you and your girlfriend at all? Today she was so angry at me that she spilled coffee over my head, I was lucky that it had ice or me and my child…..”

Julia cried heart wrenchingly as she barely spoke between her sobs, making Xavier’s fists clench against the injustice his ‘innocent’ Julia had to suffer because of me.

“If you want…I-I will abort this child and leave forever-”

“No!

You are the only woman by my side!

What girlfriend?! That woman is a fucking leech sticking to me since long, no matter how many times I try to reject her in a roundabout manner she keeps coming back to me like a fucking stray dog!

But this time I have had enough of her. How dare she bully my woman and child!!”

Julia displayed a slow smile as Xavier gently cupped her cheeks.

“We will have a grand wedding day after tomorrow just as I promised. You just have to wait a day more to become Mrs.Stone alright?

I see who the hell tries to bully you then!”

“I trust you Xavier.” Julia smiled gently, her voice revealing a sense of elation.

That night Xavier did not return home at all and I packed all my belongings before moving out of the home I have lived in for the past ten years.

There was a time Xavier loved me and I loved him too much to let him struggle to death. Thus I gave him all the money in my bank account to start Avalon yet when it wasn’t enough, I accepted working around the clock as a waitress to sustain our small household.

Today the same home of my dreams was stained with disgusting remnants of sex.

At my new apartment I sent my resignation to Manager Kim and my team without further delay and instantly multiple calls resonated from my closest friends and Manager Kim as they took me on a conference call.

“Aria, are we seeing it wrong? Is this your resignation?!”

“Aria, why are you resigning?! I am one of the oldest employees of Avalon and it's the ultimate truth that you have co-founded Avalon so how can you leave-”

“She is doing the right thing.” My childhood Mia’s words cut through the panicked voice of my other friends.

“What do you guys even know? My husband is a shareholder of Avalon and he has told me clearly.

Xavier, whom our Aria loved beyond the world, has secretly announced his wedding ceremony with Julia Lest on Aria's birthday.

With a smile that had unshed tears I laughed at those words.

“I want to tell you all something, my wedding too will be held on the same day, instead of going to Xavier Stone’s you should rather attend mine.”

It was sharp eight in the morning when my phone rang with Xavier’s friend group calling me strangely. As soon as I picked up, a strange mocking laughter filled the background.

“Shut up! She has picked up already!” I ignored the words as a hush fell in the background.

“Aria, well we called to apologise for that day, we realised that our joke went too far, you will not hold it against us will you?

Now that the misunderstandings have been cleared up, how about you hurry up to Hotel Marionette on the beachside, where we are hosting Xavier’s bachelorette party.”

They did not let me speak at all and just like that the phone was hung up.

An hour passed and here I was, standing in front of the Marionette Hotel’s room to end it all for good.

The waitress working at the front looked at me with a fake smile and. I instantly felt something was off.

“Miss Aria Valarie right? Ah, your friends said that they have planned a great surprise that you will never forget in your life, please go on the second floor..”

“Okay.” Walking upstairs as soon as I pushed the giant door a little, my heart completely froze in horror as I watched the scene through the small crack.

The entire hall was decorated with framed photos of babies with thousands of small toys and balloons of pink and blue colour.

It was a gender reveal party with Julia and Alexander standing in the middle surrounded by Xavier’s friends and as they were in the middle of cutting an exquisitely dressed cake.

I almost lost my balance as I heard the next words leaving Julia’s mouth.

“Thankyou so much for coming to my baby’s gender reveal party! Xavier and I are going to be parents soon.

But! Is it a baby girl or a boy?! Everyone take a guess.”

“Boy!”

“No, a baby girl would be good! I will absolutely adore my daughter.”

At that moment my fists clenched hard as I simply stared at my boyfriend of ten years celebrating the beginning of a new life as he left me behind giving me untreatable scars.

Once he had said the same words of wanting a daughter that would look like me and now her was ready to not only throw me away but also forget me like I was a nonexistent pest.

The cake was soon cut and a blueberry chocolate filling came out making the hooting louder yet I could see a small disappointment flash across Xavier’s face for a moment before it was gone.

“Xavier! You are going to be the father of a son! Congratulations man!” James congratulated the two before his eyes darted around looking at the guests to find me absent.

“Aria did not came. What would that witch take to leave Xavier.” He gritted his teeth to which another female interjected.

“She is like a fucking vampire trying to extract the last drop of value from Xavier. He got lucky to have Julia or she would have bled him dry. After Xavier is married tomorrow we will show that woman her proper place.”

So this was what it was all about.

With that in my mind I turned around with a small smile on my face.

Just like they have given me a great gift, how could I not want to repay them.

I called Xavier’s group chat with a false happy tone.

“Aria we organised a party for you but where are you-”

“You did? What a coincidence, I organised a party too.

I am on the first floor with Xavier’s top investors as my guests, they are almost here so hurry up with Xavier. You don’t want to make them unhappy do you?”

A deafening silence engulfed the group of friends as they looked at one another in horror as they realised the meaning of my words.

“Aria…you, we cannot, Xavier is so busy-” James who was a part of the call had a scared look on her face as I laughed heartily.

“Then do you want me to tell the investors the same thing? Bring him here. NOW.”

Xavier who was at the background heard the commotion and realised his friend’s had planned to bring me here to break it off to me that I and Xavier were done and his eyes glared daggers at them as if he could not wait to skin them alive.

“Tell Aria we are coming.” Xavier said his eyes glaring at all the people present while Julia clenched her fists hard.

Not only the gender reveal party was completely stopped for now but it would be almost deemed as spoiled.

And just like that, at the end she was still the hidden mistress.