My husband Victor was chatting with his 'Miss Idea' Shane, again. And I, his actual wife, stood aside like an invisible piece of dust, unnoticed by anyone. I've tried every effort to win Victor's eyes, but all Shane had to do was stand there, and she'd already won. I wonder if I'd be even in the running for a list of “The Most Important Women to Victor Thorn." I had been married to my husband for five years. But he didn't love me. Now I got pregnant, would he love me for real? Obviously, the answer is no. So I made an important decision, for me and my baby, I want a divorce. But right after I divorced my husband, he started to regret it. And he wanted me to come back to him. At the same time, I was surprised to realize that his elder brother was changing my life.

Aria’s POV

My husband Victor was chatting animatedly with his ‘Miss Idea’, Shane, again. Their faces were close as her drooping hair rested on my husband's shoulder.

Miss Idea. That was how my husband called Shane, his best partner in business. Whenever he mentioned her, the pride and praise on his face was obvious.

And I, his actual wife, stood aside like an invisible piece of dust. I've tried every effort to win Victor's eyes, but all Shane had to do was stand there, and she'd already won.

I wonder if I'd be even in the running for a list of “The Most Important Women to Victor Thorn.”

The truth hurts a little. But if I told Victor that I was bothered by him and Shane getting too close to each other, he would think I was being ridiculous and irrational.

But now, things changed. There was a secret that no one knew about yet – the newly received report that lay in my bag, I’m pregnant.

Will this be the key to allowing Victor to focus more on our relationship and family?

I’m pregnant, Victor. You’re going to be a father.

I’d been rehearsing this line over and over in my head since I came to see the doctor earlier today. But how do I tell him about it? And how will he react?

“I've been working on this new app idea that’s going to be a game changer for many companies,” I heard Victor tell her, his brown eyes sparkling with enthusiasm.

“We’ll be the marketing arm, of course,” Shane quipped with a big smile. “It’s going to be awesome working together on another avant-garde software that’s bound to make waves in the industry!”

Victor chuckled. “Of course, my company’s products won’t take off without the help of a very reliable partner — you.” He turned toward Shane, his expression soft and gentle as he gazed at her. He raised his glass as if to toast for her.

My heart felt like it was being squeezed. I had never seen him look at anyone with such tenderness, least of all me. I knew Victor relied on Shane at work. She helped Victor a lot with business, working very closely with him.

But aren't they too close? I thought, as I watched as Shane raised her arm on Victor’s shoulder. But I didn't want to appear too jealous, lest I be seen as petty.

Shane confidently explained to him her marketing ideas, and he listened to her attentively. Watching them like that tugged at my heart. How I wish he listened to me in the same way, respected and admired me that way.

I saw Victor’s mother Alicia approaching them. “Victor’s really lucky to have you, Shane. You’ve done a lot for the growth of his business.”

I frowned, feeling smaller and smaller by the minute. I wanted the floor to swallow me whole. It was as if Shane was Victor's wife, the way they all praised her, including Victor himself.

I felt torn. Should I tell him I’m having a baby? But my own husband has never learned to love me all this time. And his whole family seems to despise me. What’s the point of letting them know? They probably won’t care.

As I listened to the animated business talk, I felt even more out of place. I thought, Maybe, just maybe… this child could open that door for me. Perhaps they’d finally see me as significant, as someone who can be treated as a real part of the family.

But then, I remembered causing a commotion earlier when I’d arrived in a hurry. I fell down as I walked up the steps. It was quite embarrassing, since so many people stared at me and no one came to help.

And I knew Victor had seen it too, but his eyes seemed to just pass through me before he turned back to talking to Shane and some of his colleagues.

On the other hand, his mother had thrown me a look of disdain and then pretended as if nothing happened.

Maybe I was just dreaming. They wouldn't take me seriously.

I sighed and bowed my head, moving toward the doors that led to the open terrace. I need to clear my head.

“Ma’am, would you like some wine?” I heard someone ask. When I lifted my eyes, I saw a waiter approaching me, holding a tray of filled up wine glasses.

“Uh, no, it’s okay —” I began to say, right before I felt someone grab me. It made me stagger backwards, but luckily, I caught myself in time before falling to the ground.

“Owww!” a female voice cried out. I watched in horror as Shane stumbled and fell at the same time that several wine glasses were smashed, causing a mess on the floor beside her.

“Why did you do that, Aria? You should watch where you’re going.”

What? Wasn't she the one who grabbed me? Why was she blaming me?

Once again, I became the center of attention for the second time — for being the ultimate klutz!

I felt myself shaking while others pointed and exchanged hushed whispers.

“Is that really Victor’s wife?!”

“Gosh, she’s so clumsy! It’s so embarrassing!”

“I think she did it to Shane on purpose!”

I was frozen on the spot, not knowing what to do or say. As the waiter began cleaning up, Victor rushed forward. I felt relief coming over me as I waited for him to come to my rescue.

But to my shock, he went straight to Shane and helped her up.

“Are you okay?” he asked her with great concern on his face.

Shane nodded slowly. “I think so.”

He checked her arms and face for any wound, but there was none. “Thank God you didn’t get cut by the glass.” Then turning to me, he gave me a cold stare and demanded, “You better apologize, Aria.”

My mouth dropped open. “What? I didn’t…”

Alicia came toward us with a withering gaze directed at me. “Aria, you must apologize. Look what you did! You’re such a troublemaker, and you can’t even be humble enough to say sorry. Weren’t you taught the right manners?”

I stared at her wide-eyed, my heart pounding wildly. She always loved getting the chance to humiliate me. But this time, I didn’t want to give in. I stood my ground and refused to apologize when I knew that it was certainly not my fault.

Whispers started again around us. Many of the people present at that dinner party were well-known business elites, which made it even more degrading to be treated like this in front of everyone. I felt so humiliated.

“It wasn’t my fault,” I muttered, trying to suppress my anger. I didn't want to argue with my mother-in-law and make a spectacle of myself again in a bad way. I took a deep breath. “Alright, I’ll just leave.”

"You should have left a long time ago," Alicia continued, "I really shouldn’t let Victor marry you. Shane is much better than you!”

Damn, God. Why do I have to put up with all this?

I could see Victor's indifferent face. And Shane simply put on an innocent mask.

Do I really want to continue living in such a toxic family and environment?

What about my future child? If my husband doesn't love me, how can he love my child?

As I turned to go, I couldn't help but think, What if I did leave Victor? I mean leaving this marriage.

Aria’s POV

As I walked out, I could still hear them fussing over Shane. The chatter and concerned murmurs filtered through the heavy doors while the waiters gave me strange looks. I felt extremely embarrassed and humiliated, so I hurried outside, desperate to escape their prying eyes.

The rain pelted down relentlessly, soaking me to the skin within moments. Shivering, I struggled to wrap my thin shawl tighter around me. I must have looked ridiculous, standing there drenched and miserable, trying to hail a cab.

“Please, just let me get out of here,” I muttered under my breath, casting frantic glances down the deserted street.

“Aria!” I heard someone calling my name. My heart sank. Great, just what I needed. Someone to give me more trouble.

I quickened my pace, ignoring the voice, hoping they'd take the hint and leave me alone.

In my haste, I stepped awkwardly on a slick patch of pavement. Pain shot through my ankle as it twisted beneath me, and I pitched forward, bracing myself for the hard impact.

But instead of hitting the ground, I was caught in a warm embrace.

Immediately I looked up and saw myself gazing at a familiar face. The handsome man, with his sharp jawline and piercing blue eyes, looked very concerned. His tousled dark hair suited his rugged yet approachable demeanor. “Are you okay, Aria?”

When my name was mentioned, I was taken aback, my mind racing through my memories. Who is this guy?

“I’m alright, thanks,” I managed to say, though I was wincing with pain.

He held an umbrella above our heads as he guided me toward the nearby shed. That’s when it hit me how I knew him.

This is Samuel Thorn, Victor’s older brother! Though half-brother, I could see the resemblance.

We hadn’t met many times before, but I remembered hearing that he worked abroad, running his own business. I hadn’t heard Victor mention he was back in town, but that wasn’t unusual. My husband rarely shared anything with me. And somehow, they didn’t seem to keep in touch often.

I stepped back a little, worried about dirtying Samuel’s clothes with my wet and muddy state. “I appreciate your help, but I don’t want to keep you. You should get back to the event.”

Samuel frowned, glancing down at my ankle. “Are you sure you’re okay? It looked like a nasty twist.”

“It’s fine, really,” I insisted, forcing a smile. “I’ll just need to rest it a bit. I really have to go home now.”

“But where’s Victor?” he wondered.

“He’s still busy with his business associates. I don’t want to bother him.”

I could tell that my ankle was swollen, but I insisted on leaving because I didn’t want to trouble Samuel any further.

“You know what? Let me just take you home,” he suddenly offered. “That way, you don’t have to keep standing on that ankle and you can rest immediately.”

“I don't want to be a bother,” I muttered.

“Don’t be silly,” he said softly. Before I could protest, he draped his coat over my shoulders, the warmth and faint scent of his cologne enveloping me.

“Come on, let me take you home,” he insisted, his tone leaving no room for argument.

I hesitated, feeling a fusion of gratitude. Finally, I nodded. “Alright. Thanks so much, Samuel.”

He gave me a small smile and led me to his car. The inside was warm and welcoming, a stark contrast to the chilly night outside. I settled into the passenger seat, wrapping his coat tighter around me, giving me a soothing feeling.

Samuel took me home, his arm wrapped around my waist to support my limping form. As soon as we stepped inside, he called out to the maid, “Can you help Aria change clothes? She needs to rest.”

The maid nodded and guided me to my room. I winced as I moved, my ankle throbbing with every step. Once in my room, I gingerly applied a plaster to my swollen ankle. The pain subsided a bit, but I knew it would take time to heal. After a quick shower, I changed into something more comfortable.

I emerged from the bathroom, surprised to see a delicious-looking meal laid out on the dining table.

“Feeling better?” Samuel asked, walking over to me.

“A bit,” I admitted. “Thank you for everything.”

He gave me a warm smile. “Come on, let me help you to the table.” He offered his arm again, and I gratefully took it, allowing him to lead me to the dining area.

“I was hungry, so I asked the chef to prepare something,” he explained, pulling out a chair for me. “Join me?”

I nodded, my stomach growling in agreement. “I'd love to. I didn't eat anything at the business dinner party.”

Samuel chuckled as he took a seat across from me. “I figured. Those things are more about appearances than actually eating.”

I felt a little awkward as I sat down. I didn't know what to say so I just kept quiet. But Samuel naturally started the conversation. Amazingly, he seemed to know how to make people feel comfortable. Gradually, I let my guard down and started talking more. I began to feel very relaxed.

“I haven't had a meal like this in ages,” I confessed. “It's nice to just... enjoy the moment.”

Samuel's expression softened. “I'm glad I could be a part of it.”

Just then, Victor returned home. As he saw Samuel and me chatting happily, his face twisted with anger, as if he'd been robbed of something he owned. His eyes narrowed, and he approached us with a cold tone, asking, "What are you two doing?"

I thought he was still upset about the event at the dinner party. “Hi, Victor,” I greeted him, trying to keep my tone light. “Samuel saw me outside the hotel and offered to bring me home because it was raining.”

He glanced at me without responding. Instead, he turned to Samuel, his brow furrowing. “Samuel, I didn't know you were back in the country.”

Samuel nodded, his demeanor as calm and composed as ever. “I arrived yesterday.”

They stood in silence, an uncomfortable tension hanging in the air. It was a bit weird. The way they treated each other made them seem nothing like brothers.

Just then, Alicia came in, her eyes immediately lighting up when she saw Samuel. She didn't even glance my way.

“Samuel! It's been ages!” Alicia exclaimed, rushing over to him. Even though she wasn't Samuel's real mother, she always seemed to be good to him. I guessed it was because Samuel was very successful in his career.

They went off to talk, leaving me alone with Victor.

Victor finally looked at me, his frown deepening. “What happened to you?” he asked, his voice clipped. He motioned to my bandaged foot.

I was taken aback by his tone. Did he just show concern for me? That’s definitely a first. I never thought he’d ever care for me, and this rare moment left me feeling conflicted as I recalled how he frequently blamed me and made me so unhappy in the past.

“I twisted my ankle, and it really hurts,” I whispered and found myself expecting more.

He came over and checked my ankle. I felt a glimmer of hope in my chest.

Perhaps he really is starting to care about me. If I tell him we have a child, will he also start learning to love me?

Aria’s POV

Just as I was about to speak, Victor straightened up and waved his hand to interrupt me. “Aria, I think you should apologize to Shane and to my mother,” he said firmly.

What the hell for? So that’s it? When I thought he was starting to care about me, all he wanted was for me to apologize for something I hadn't done.

“I said, it wasn’t my fault. It was Shane. She grabbed me, trying to make me fall.” This explanation was really silly. How could he possibly believe me?

Sure enough, as soon as I finished speaking, he impatiently waved his hand, signaling me to stop talking.

"Can you stop being so childish? Why do you always pick on Shane? Can't you just learn something from Shane, even if it's just a little bit?"

Great. He’s starting again, constantly comparing me to Shane.

He kept on talking, but I started to think. In these five years of marriage, what did I really gain?

Disdain, calloused hands from working like a laborer in the house, and my husband's dislike. No one thinks I'm worthy to be Victor's wife.

In reality, I found it ridiculous. I had been struggling with whether to let Victor know that we were going to have a child since he was the father, after all. But seeing his indifferent expression and hearing his words, I felt none of this mattered anymore; I just wanted to leave him.

“Victor,” I interrupted him, my voice steady despite the storm inside me, “I want a divorce.”

As soon as I mentioned divorce, I felt a sense of relief wash over me. Judging by the shocked look on Victor's face, I knew he never expected me to ask for a divorce. Ever.

But then, with an impatient look, he scoffed, “Aria, stop being unreasonable. Is it really so hard to apologize?”

I was stunned, hurt by my husband’s disdainful expression and attitude toward me. I couldn’t believe he thought I was joking, and that he was still more focused on that apology!

I took a deep breath. “I'm serious, Victor. I want a divorce. I want to leave you.”

His eyes narrowed, his impatience giving way to irritation. “Is this one of your tantrums again? It’s not funny at all. This isn’t like you, Aria.”

“Tantrums?” I said with disbelief, my voice rising a little bit. “I’ve never even thrown any tantrum before. I’m not joking, Victor. I’ve really thought about this for a long time. I can’t keep living like this.”

There. I’ve said it. I never thought I would ever muster enough courage, but I guess my patience had finally run out.

“What exactly do you want? Haven’t I treated you well enough? I’m very busy every day and don’t have time to play games with you,” Victor snapped, his voice icy and dismissive.

What? Did he really think he was good to me? I wanted to lash out, to release all the negative emotions that had been piling up inside for years. I took a deep breath, ready to explain how he and his family had treated me over the years.

But just as I opened my mouth to speak, his phone buzzed. And without a word, he answered it. I couldn't hear the conversation, but I could see the furrow in his brow and the impatience in his stance.

When he hung up, he looked at me with a mixture of annoyance and condescension. “You see, I’m very busy. I have to go now, but you’d better hurry and apologize to my mother and to Shane. I won’t pursue this matter further, and we can pretend you never mentioned the divorce.”

He didn’t wait for my response. He just turned and left, the door closing behind him with a decisive click. I stood there in a daze, watching him leave. My heart ached with a deep, persistent pain.

I can’t believe it. Here I was, opening up a serious matter regarding our marriage, and he was just brushing it off.

I had thought about it for months, weighing the decision, imagining every possible outcome. Finally, I had found the courage to speak my truth, to tell him I wanted a divorce.

But to him, it was just a joke. A fleeting annoyance he could brush off and dismiss.

Who am I kidding? I never mattered to him, and this just proves it further.

Tears welled up in my eyes, but I refused to let them fall.

Everything that happened in the past few years came back to me in a rush.

Before we got married, I loved him so much. I pursued him with the same fervor as chasing a fragile bubble, captivated by its beauty and determined to hold onto it, no matter how fleeting or elusive it seemed.My parents knew how much I loved him, which is also why my father supported Victor's company.

I thought our wedding day would be the beginning of my dream life with him. I had always daydreamed about a wonderful marriage and a lasting love, just like a little girl.

After we got married, I did everything I could, just hoping he would notice me a bit more. But all he did was ignore me and spend more time with Shane.

This is not over, I thought as I blinked back tears. He might think he could ignore me, but I knew my own mind, my own heart.

Does he still think I'll give in as usual? I won't do that anymore. I and our future child deserve better, and I’m very much determined to leave this marriage.