Novalie POV

The week before Nana’s birthday dragged on forever.

Every day felt heavy, like time was stretching just to mess with me.

Aries stuck with me the whole time. He didn’t budge. Which I'm grateful for and at the same time skeptical about.

Kira wanted to help too. She almost canceled her shift just to be with me, but I told her not to. I couldn’t bring myself to pull her away from her own life.

I couldn't be more selfish.

Everyone has their life to live.

Aries was there, helping me, treating me like a fragile being and comforting me.

He was everything, Noah had never been.

I know I shouldn't be comparing them both, Noah was my husband and Aries is just a friend. But Aries didn’t fail to remain how terrible Noah was to me, that is why I keep comparing them.

On the morning of Nana's birthday, Aries kicked softly on the guest room door.

“You ready?” He asked, leaning against the frame with his hands in his pocket.

“Let's go home,” he muttered, offering me his hand which I kindly took.

I wouldn't sit back and be a sulker.

As we approached my family's estate, I felt my breath shorten. Anxiety took the best in me.

Large black gates and sprawling white-brick mansion.

The last time I was here…

I walked out as a daughter who's in love and returned years later divorced and bruised.

My fingers twisted nervously in my lap. “Maybe I shouldn’t have come.”

Aries reached over, his hand covering mine.

“We’re already here. No maybes.” he said gently.

He paused and calmly said.

“But if you want to leave… I’ll turn the car around right now. No questions asked.”

That was what made Aries dangerous and magnetic at the same time.

I shook my head. “No. I need to face them.”

He nodded once, then drove through the gates.

When he parked in front of the house, he came around and opened my door before I could move.

“Deep breath,” he murmured, brushing a loose curl from my face.

I inhaled shakily.

“Another.”

His thumb grazed my knuckles. “There she is.”

Together, we walked toward the entrance.

Different kinds of memories came through. The one I thought I had forgotten.

I forced myself to keep moving.

Aries’ arm brushed mine. “You’re not facing them alone anymore. Not today. Not ever again if you don’t want to.”

My throat tightened and I nodded.

The moment we stepped inside, the warmth of the foyer felt suffocating instead of welcoming. Laughter spilled from the living room, familiar, distant and foreign. The scent of expensive candles and roasted meats filled the air.

Then everything stopped.

Because at the center of the living room, covered in the most expensive burgundy fit over an armchair like a triumphant queen,

was Amelia.

And on the armchair under her was Noah.

My ex-husband.

Her legs were crossed over his lap, her hands tangled around his shoulders as she whispered into his ear. She’d gained weight, dramatically, and not in a healthy way. Her face was swollen, features distorted, lips overfilled, cheekbones sharp enough to slice. Whatever cosmetic work she’d done made her look stretched, strained, almost doll-like.

Her eyes landed on me. And the hatred in them was unmistakable.

Noah’s expression morphed instantly. First surprise, then annoyance, then a deep frown like my presence was an inconvenience. He looked very much surprised to see Aries beside me but he quickly shrugged it off.

“Why is he here?” He asked and Aries scoffed.

“I don't think this is your business.”

Conversations died around us.

I felt everyone’s gaze fall heavily on me, the prodigal disappointment, the family embarrassment, the girl who abandoned her blood for a man who never wanted her.

Aries leaned close, his breath brushing my temple.

“Hold your chin up,” he whispered. “You’re worth more than everyone in this room combined.”.

We stepped further into the living room. The pressure getting into my skin

And then..

My stepmother’s voice sliced through the tension.

“Well, well, well…” She let her gaze drag over me slowly, like I was something she’d scrape off her shoe. “Looks like the prodigal daughter finally remembered where she came from.”

A few chuckles sounded, forced, uncomfortable, cruel.

And she wasn’t finished.

“What happened, darling?” she added sweetly. “Did the fairytale end? Or did your prince finally realize he preferred the original model?”

Heat shot up my throat and my fingers curled into my dress. I wanted to yell out at her.

She was the cause anyway. She had pushed me.

Aries’ hand moved instantly, brushing mine lightly in warning, as if telling me to not react. Don’t give them what they want.

So I didn’t, however, Amelia did.

She stood slowly, her heels clicking sharply against the floors. Her arm wrapped possessively around Noah’s shoulders as if she feared I’d steal him back.

Which would have been laughable if it didn’t sting so much.

“Well,” Amelia drawled, “if it isn’t the woman who tried playing me for years. Tell me, Novalie… how does it feel knowing he came back to me willingly?”

I felt my knees weaken.

Noah said nothing.

He simply stared at me with a flat, irritated gaze, like I had shown up uninvited to a private pity party he wanted no part of.

Aries’ low and dangerous voice came beside me. “Nova…?”

I blinked quickly, forcing back the tears burning at the corners of my eyes. I would not crumble.

My stepmother stepped closer, her lips twisted into a smirk. “You must feel foolish, dear. After everything you gave up for him. And here he is… right back where he always belonged.”

Before I could speak, a firm, familiar voice called from behind the dining table:

“That’s enough.”

Every head turned.

My brother, Julian, stepped forward, tall and composed. He looked at me, and in his eyes I saw something I hadn’t seen in years:

Anger.

But not at me. It was at them.

He came to stand beside me, placing himself between me and the rest of the room like a shield. “Our sister is a guest in this home,” he said evenly. “Show some respect.”

Amelia scoffed. “Respect? For her?”

Julian didn’t even look at her. “This is a family celebration, not a circus. If anyone here wants to humiliate Novalie, they can leave now.”

Silence hovered the room.

Even Noah shifted uncomfortably.

My stepmother opened her mouth to retaliate, but Julian beat her to it.

“And since we’re discussing family matters,” he said, voice rising just enough to command the room, “I think now is the perfect time to make an announcement.”

Murmurs course through the crowd and my heart pounded painfully.

Julian reached for my hand and squeezed it.

“Grandfather’s health has been… fragile these past months,” he began. “He’s stepping back from the company sooner than expected.”

My eyes widened and I watched as my stepmother stiffened.

“And as of this morning,” Julian continued, turning fully toward me, “the board has approved his decision.”

“What decision?” my stepmother snapped.

Julian lifted his chin.

“Novalie,” he said clearly, “you will be taking over the company.”

Novalie’s POV

The room fell into quiescence before all hell broke loose. My stepmother sneered, her face contorted into an ugly scowl.

“What nonsense! Novalie ditched her responsibilities at the company to be a wife, and now she’s getting the company? Impossible,” she scoffed in disbelief.

And she was right. I was having a hard time believing Julian too, but he stood firmly on my side.

“Well, you better believe it. She’s taking over the company, and you will respect Grandfather’s decision, as he chose the practical daughter for this position.” Julian diverted his attention toward me.

“What do you have to say, Novalie?” he smiled.

I blinked rapidly, not knowing what to say.

It was all so sudden and overwhelming. How did I go from mourning my child and my broken marriage to taking over the company?

Aries squeezed my hand before whispering in my ear.

“You’ve got this, Nova. Address your family. Use this as an opportunity to take back what was stolen from you.”

It took me a moment to understand what he meant. I glanced at Noah, and he stared at me with indifference.

My dignity.

“Thank you, Julian,” I smiled at him before facing my stepmother and Amelia, who was fuming beside my ex-husband.

“I will take over the company under Grandfather’s wishes, and I won’t let you all down,” I enunciated aloud.

Some of the guests started whispering among themselves when Amelia spoke up.

“If she’s taking over the company, then we’re going to be bankrupt in a month. She hasn’t seen the walls of an office for years. There’s no way she would even know what she’s doing,” she groused.

“And you’re the one to talk? Someone with no brains who only knows how to pose for the camera and pout her lips like a whiny slut,” Aries scoffed.

“Don’t you dare speak to her like that,” Noah warned sternly, and my fists clenched, the tight feeling in my chest extending to my throat.

Of course he would defend her.

Aries didn’t back down.

“And what would you do if I speak to her like that? You abandoned your wife and divorced her after she had a miscarriage and almost died because of you. All for what? This unattractive, artificial vanilla blonde?” he mocked.

Noah took a step forward while Amelia held him back.

“What is he doing here?! Throw him out. He’s not a guest,” my stepmother seethed.

Something inside me snapped.

I was tired of being the weak one, the one they hurled curses at while I stood there and took it without putting up a fight.

Not this time.

“You have no right to do that. He’s my guest, and he stays. In fact, if you are not comfortable here, security will escort you out. In case you forget, I’m in charge now,” I retorted, lifting my chin.

Her eyes widened at my comment.

“You’re out of your mind if you think we will bow at your feet just because Grandfather gave you the company. I would rather die than let you order me around when you are beneath me,” Amelia glared.

“Then it won’t be long before your funeral. Enough of this. We’re here for the celebrant, not for you, little miss wannabe actress. You all are dismissed,” I waved them off.

My stepmother started cursing at me while Noah led them away, holding Amelia close.

Julian cleared his throat, forcing me to avert my gaze from them to him. He sighed nervously, scratching his nape.

“Look, Novalie, I wanted to call, but I just—”

“It’s okay. I know you’ve been busy,” I embraced him.

He patted my back awkwardly. I missed when we used to be closer, unlike now.

He exchanged pleasantries with Aries and complimented him on how his company was currently leading in the country, then pulled me aside.

“There’s something I left out of that announcement. Grandfather thought you were still together with Noah, but I had to tell him the news. You know how Grandfather gets sometimes. What I’m trying to say is that you need a partner to fully claim the position of CEO. Grandfather thinks it will be too much for you alone, and you need someone to assist you,” Julian disclosed.

My heart skipped a beat.

A partner?

I had just gotten divorced and was still healing. I couldn’t even see myself in a relationship in the next couple of years.

“Maybe you could talk to Noah, make him understand, or…” he trailed off, glancing at Aries, who was standing a few feet away from us.

I shook my head.

“No. I’ll try to figure something out,” I remarked, even though I had no idea what to do.

This was so sudden and confusing. I was starting to worry that I wouldn’t be able to do well and that I would fail Grandfather for trusting me.

I straightened my posture, brushing the thought off my mind. I wasn’t going to fail. There was no more room for failure in my life.

I had failed my unborn child by getting married to Noah.

I had failed myself when I left everything to marry him.

My grandfather didn’t choose me just because I was his favorite. I was the only one who could do it. I studied business administration and had a master’s degree. He made sure I prepared for this all along, and I had always helped at the company before I got married.

Aries took my hand again when I returned to his side, and I didn’t know why, but that soothed all my worries at that moment. He was a good man, and he deserved more than a broken woman like me.

“The celebrant is here,” Aries voiced out.

My heart thumped loudly in my chest as Nana walked out of the house, the permanent scowl on her face as she regarded the guests.

Amelia rushed to her side, playing the sweet granddaughter like she always did, and it worked because Nana loved her.

Her blue eyes found me in the crowd, and the lines on her forehead deepened. Then she started walking toward me, and I braced myself for what was coming.

When she got closer, I decided to speak first despite the look of disgust on her face.

“Happy Birthday, Nan—”

A resounding slap landed on my cheek, cutting me short.