Just as I had guessed it took Xavier twenty minutes to wrap up the party completely and come to the first floor as directed.

With Julia holding onto his arm he was followed by the entire group of friends with traces of anger on their faces.

Entering inside the lights were dimmed, casting a golden tint on the walls. And there was a display of our entire life on the walls.

Our photographs.

Dozens of them, framed and pinned and strung across the room. Candid shots I had taken of mine and Xavier over the years.

Photos of us. At the park, in winter snow, under fireworks. And amidst everything in the center stood something that Xavier once considered his most prized possession.

A small teddy bear with one crooked eye.

A small, almost unintended laugh left his mouth.

“Carnival” he whispered. “To think I once won this for her. Aria has kept it preserved for so many years.”

He barely touched it when more than fifty guests entered, many of them were close investors while others were shareholders and managers at Avalon Enterprises.

Xavier saw me standing right across from him and the atmosphere froze as he realized that I had publicly announced our relationship.

smile as the investors sat

Yet the next words made me stumble back in horror as I clutched my mouth hard.

“What the actual hell is this?” Xavier’s voice sliced through the atmosphere as he whisper yelled at me.

“Why are you here at all and to think you decorated my party with these stupid photos!”

‘Stupid’

“Why? You don't like it?” I said with a serene smile.

Xavier’s words stung me hard yet I maintained a composed face.

“Aria! You broke into a hotel room to throw a creepy nostalgia fest and you dare ask if I like it?”

“Xavier please” Julia stepped in, her voice trembling. “I…I was actually the one who invited Aria. Y-Yesterday it was because of me that there were so many misunderstandings between you two…”Julia came infront of me with a smile yet the deep chilling smile in her eyes could not be mistaken at all.

“I think Aria had set up the photos to surprise you.” Xavier’s anger spiked instantly as he glared at me pulling Julia to his side as if afraid that I would harm his innocent woman.

The gesture alone was enough to devastate me once yet now I only felt numb.

“Julia, have you forgotten that you were almost harmed yesterday?! Aria has been bullying you and you still try to make peace with her?” Xavier asked as his cold glare fell upon me.

“You are taking Julia’s side as if she is your girlfriend not me.”

I spoke with a volume which made the people pause and look at Xavier and me all of a sudden making Julia suppress her anger.

“No..how can you misunderstand everything Aria. Xavier please,the thing about Aria pouring coffee all over my head was an accident. Please? This party is important for us-”

Before Julia could complete her dramatic speech she was blocked by Alan Sanders, the young billionaire who invested heavily in top market companies.

“Mr. Stone, is it true that Miss Aria is your girlfriend? I had long thought to invest a billion dollars into your jewelry enterprise after seeing the previous masterpieces created by Miss Aria.

What stopped me previously was the fear that she would resign anytime and my funds would go to waste. If both of you are a couple then when Miss Aria marries you my investments can remain in safe hands, so is it true?”

Xavier couldn’t answer.

This moment felt bizarre, he was surely going to marry Julia tomorrow so why was he not able to tell proudly that his wife to be was Julia Lest and not me?

He felt strange when was he not able to tell me on my face that he wanted to break it off.

“We have the same question Mr.Stone.”

A glimmer of guilt of not marrying me even after a long relationship of ten years stomped on his heart as Xavier’s eyes locked with mine for a moment as they softened making Julia who was looking at everything watch our interaction with bloodshot eyes.

“Aria is a very important person-”

“My involvement with your investment with be difficult Mr. Sanders. Only a few people know that those jewelry worth millions of dollars were explicitly designed by me. I have no patent rights on those pieces and in future if I take their references or launch new pieces in their collection anyone can blame me for stealing from others.”

“I will give you the rights of the jewelry that you designed.” Xavier said suddenly feeling like he should at least compensate me this much, afterall I will be his employee even if he marries Julia.

With a call to the office he asked the manager to immediately transfer the patents to my name.

While he was in the middle of talking about the deal with Mr.Sanders, a sudden boom resonated throughout the atmosphere and the power supply was suddenly cut off completely with an electric spark.

“Xavier! The smoke..I-I cannot breathe.!” It was at that moment Xavier rushed to the side of a crying Julia who was standing next to my burning photos with Xavier.

“The photos-” I whispered only for Xavier to snap at me.

“Some weird old photographs and a torn teddy bear are not worth risking Julia’s health! Stop this party at this moment!”

My heart went numb as I watched the things I decorated go up in flames.

Within the chaos I saw Xavier embracing Julia in his arms tightly as he rushed out of the hall with her while leaving me behind with our memories burning to ashes.

“I won at last.” Those were the words Julia mouthed with a small smile as I was left alone behind like a joke.

“Ugh! Aria, since the party has ended so poorly, what to do? We will leave you to clean this all up okay?” Xavier’s friend said, pretending to be sorry.

“Aria, we actually wanted to apologize for anything rude that you witnessed today. You know how Xavier chrishes Julia right?

You can almost mistake them to be a loving couple with you as third wheel coming in between them.But don’t worry, today is your day and we all want to congratulate you!”

The investors heard in silence with hesitation as these close ‘friends’ offered their ‘encouragement’.

“Finally after ten years of relentlessly pursuing him, Xavier has announced he will marry tomorrow at the Grand Phoenix Chain of Islands which are absolutely the best wedding destination in the country.”

I listened without a trace of emotion when a female voice chimed in.

“Aria, tomorrow is such an important day so we booked a limo to bring you to the wedding at the right time okay, now even if Xavier hasn’t explicitly mentioned in the announcement that you are the bride, how can he not recognize your worth after ten years and marry another?...It is definitely you.

That dress that you ordered those stylists to prepare, wear it tomorrow and I will even lend you my makeup artist if you need.”

A small snicker resonated in the background as I could imagine how fun it must be for them to make a fool of me.

“Alright.” I said with a disinterested smile.

They soon left and everyone soon followed outside while looking at me, who was standing in the middle of the ruined party with sympathetic eyes as the firefighters put out the fire.

I was going to turn away when Alan Sanders approached me with a smile.

“Miss Aria, I am ready to invest two billion dollars in your business.”

“Mr.Sanders, I am really thankful for your offer but as you can see how our relationship has unfolded, I am neither going to marry Xavier Stone nor I am a part of Avalon enterprises anymore so it will not give you any benefits. If I take your money like this, I am afraid you will despise me.”

“How dare I, a mere investor, despise Aria Valarie.

That ‘man’ who has promised to marry you tomorrow, your suitor will skin me alive.” My eyes widened when Alan mentioned the bigshot who promised to marry me tomorrow

“Sister-in-law these two billion dollars are not my investment but his. Unlike Xavier Stone that man has faith in your talent and buisness skills.

I just asked you if you will marry Xavier Stone earlier just to test you. Afterall ‘that person’ will go to any lengths for you. He wanted you to regain all your patent rights on the jewellry that you gave to Avalon Enterprises for free. He will never let you be wronged.”

A small chuckle left my mouth as I laughed with a tear trailing down the corner of my eyes. I loved Xavier for so many years yet he always took advantage of my innocence and naivity yet the bigshot I was so afraid of was always supporting me no matter what.

“Sister-in-law this is a ‘small’ gift for your birthday.”

With a flick of Alan Sander’s fingers a servant came forward to present a velvet blue box containing a blue sapphire crown worth tens of millions.

“This…no..not possible…this is the crown of an Empress from previous dynasty! How can I take this national treaure so casually?!”

It was at that moment a message beeped on my phone.

[I am looking foward to our wedding little bird. I hope you have accepted the crown for it was brought out of the national treasury for you, if you dislike it I will have it immideately thrown into the sea.]

A small smile covered my lips.

Overbearing but so cute.

[I will wear it well- Aria]

Goodbye Xavier Stone.

I and you are done from this moment onwards. All the memories are gone just like our relationship.

That night before the wedding when Xavier returned to our shared apartment to take his things he was shocked to find that all of my belongings were gone.

Soon, a deep sense of frustration engulfed him thus he could not help but call to ask what kind of tantrum was this and to warn me to not make things difficult for Julia or he will not forgive me.

It was only when no matter how many times he called, his number was always disconnected did he looked at the phone in a sense of rage.

“Aria blocked me? Isn’t she afraid that I will not like her anymore?!”

But before he could think me anymore, Xavier received an urgent call from his assistant.

“Mr.Stone there is terrible news! The Grand Phoenix Group of Islands have rejected our request to hold your wedding there. They are saying that it is already booked by another person!”

Xavier’s eyes narrowed as a dangerously cold laugh left his lips, never in his ten years of rise has his request been rejected once.

“Tell them it is Xavier Stone who wants their islands.” He spat through gritted teeth.

“But sir then your identity will be revealed and all of the media and paparazzi will rush there! Earlier I-I did just as you asked and booked your wedding under an anonymous name but-”

“I don’t fucking care, just, tell me it is Xavier Stone and they will come wagging their tails like a dog. I don’t have a habit of hearing ‘No’.”

The entire chain of Grand Phoenix Islands were decorated with blooming tulip flowers, giant chandeliers dripping with shiny crystals made the distinguished guests marvel at their beauty as champagne waterfalls and chocolate towers greeted them.

It was the wedding of the century.

“This is so extravagant…even for Xavier Stone. Julia e-even the best actress in the industry Cecelia Brooks, wasn't married like this…Xavier really loves you.”

Xavier’s friends looked in awe at the scenic view with drone shows displaying love messages on the sky and the media houses very respectfully followed the orders and took photos of guests only after asking permission.

It was just a little strange that they were taking glances at Julia’s pure white, bridal gown with a face that looked not only confused but also a little disgusted.

Disgusted?

Julia clenched her fists tightly.

It was her wedding and she was dressed so prettily so why would they ever feel like that. She simply dismissed it as if she was overthinking things.

“Julia, you started as a new actress but to think you not only won a billionaire husband but he loves you so much so to organise such a wedding…even the top actors and politicians from all around the world are attending this event.”

A voice chimed in, making Xavier frown a little.

He had never ordered the million dollar drone show or such lavish arrangement yet when he thought that this might be an apology from the Phoenix chains of islands for rejecting his marriage request he simply took it as granted.

This is the least his woman deserved.

The woman he was going to marry today.

Julia Lest

And yet, soon the giant doors of the ceremonial stage opened with flowers raining from the sky and a hush fell across the gilded crowd.

I stepped out in a pure white gown resembling a fairy.

Not the snow white color Julia had chosen, but a glimmering white wedding dress that shimmered beneath the gold light, thousands of diamonds on the dress reflecting light as my necklace and the antique crown shone exquisitely.

“The thousand year old Empress’s Crown! Oh my god! It was lost a century ago and was recently found in an excavation and to think the bride already has it? No wonder the groom organised such a wedding for her, he must love her more than anything in his life!”

“Not only that! Do you see her glass slippers! She is almost like a real life Cinderella!”

Xavier looked at me from the guests side and he was frozen for a moment.

My hair was swept up with fragile pearl pins as white flowers decorated my bun… too beautiful, too out of place, I looked like a dream to him.

“X-Xavier…w-what is she doing? Is she here to ruin our wedding?!” Being jolted awake from his stupor all color drained from his face when he saw me.

Behind him stood his circle of loyal friends in tuxedos, for a moment they were taken aback by my beauty yet soon they could not help but sneer.

“This woman absolutely knows no shame at all!”

“Aria!” Xavier snapped, striding towards me and coming on the stage.

His voice was low, panicked. “What the hell are you doing here? How stupid you must be to not realise that I am not going to marry you! This wedding is for Julia…”

“I know.”

As soon as the words came out, everyone was stunned.

Xavier didn't expect that I had long known that he wanted to marry Julia.

In an instant, Xavier recalled my indifference and his heart thundered as he realised my bizzare behaviour was because I knew of him and Julia.

A trace of panic flashed through his heart before he quitely looked at my innocent face and recalled how I was with him through thick and thin, even when his friends refused to give him a penny to finance his buisness or when I had to leave my job, a sweet word from him and I will do it all. He felt that I will always be his.

"Aria this is all for the company. Be obedient and don;t create a scene. I need Julia-."

“This is my wedding, if anyone needs to leave then it’s you.”

“Aria…enough of your tantrums! You wore this damned dress to ruin my wedding?! Are you fucking senile? Listen to me and leave right now!”

A female friend chimed in with a cruel laugh, keeping it down and yet looking at me in jealousy.

“What next, Aria? Throwing yourself at his feet again? Maybe fainting for effect? I never thought that you would be so shameless as to stick to a man who has already chosen his bride, what next will you do huh?? Strip yourself naked to get his attention-”

“I am not a prostitute like you. Keep these suggestions to yourself, it suits you better.” I said calmly, making the woman’s face go completely red in anger.

“Aria, Xavier is mine, stop trying to steal him please!”Julia came forward with her face red and screamed in rage for all of the guests to hear and make Xavier pull her close as if he was protecting her from me.

“I am here to marry but not with Xavier, so stop bothering me with your drama. It's disgusting.” Whispers erupted in the atmosphere as the guests looked puzzled.

“Shut Up Aria! Come off this damned stage. How can you be so fucking clingy and delusional. If not me, who else would tolerate you?”

Xavier’s tone softened at the end expecting me to be devastated and cry yet when I looked at him calmly without any emotions he was shocked.

“Maybe I will Xavier, if she is so desperate you can probably have give her to me for a night. I will fuck her raw and-”

“Shutup!” Xavier seethed, his clenched fists clenched hard, James took a fearful step back looking at me in rage for creating a rift in between them while Julia looked ready to kill me.

“She is playing you man! This woman only wants you money and nothing more. She wants to bleed your resources dry, even coming here to ruin your wedding! If it was up to me I would have thrown her out by now! She is dirtying this place!”

“Which barking dog has been spouting such blasphemous words continuously? The tongue you spoke such nonsense from, I will rip it off and feed it to dogs.”

“You dare disrespect my woman.”

The dark voice called and everyone completely froze as the double doors opened behind me.