The slow ticking of the wall clock echoed through the luxurious penthouse, breaking the oppressive silence.

Seven o'clock in the evening.

Arkana stepped through the front door, his body weighed down with exhaustion after burying himself in stacks of paperwork all day. It had been the best distraction from the explosive argument they had earlier that afternoon.

The house was dark and unusually quiet.

As he slipped off his wool coat, his gaze instinctively swept across the living room and kitchen.

Empty.

There was no sign of Aurelia anywhere.

*She must already be asleep. Or maybe she's locked herself in the bedroom because she's still angry,* Arkana thought, trying to ignore the uneasy feeling creeping up the back of his neck.

He let out a quiet breath, convincing himself that her outburst earlier had simply been the result of heightened emotions. The word *divorce* that Aurelia had thrown at him, along with his own harsh agreement, had surely been spoken in the heat of the moment.

As he walked farther into the apartment, he made up his mind.

Tonight, he would set his pride aside.

He would finally explain who Selena really was, for the sake of the marriage they had built over the past year. What they had shared, three years of falling in love while working together and another year as husband and wife, was too precious to let fall apart so easily.

Arkana headed toward the master bedroom.

He carefully pushed open the heavy wooden door, making as little noise as possible. He didn't want to wake the wife he assumed was sleeping beneath the blankets.

But the instant he flipped on the light, the sight before him stopped him cold.

The room was neat.

Too neat.

The velvet comforter stretched perfectly across their king-size bed without a single wrinkle.

The soft vanilla fragrance that always lingered whenever Aurelia was there was gone, replaced by a cold, lifeless stillness.

His gaze locked onto the center of the bed.

Aurelia wasn't there.

Arkana immediately reached into his pocket and pulled out his phone to call her.

Each attempt went straight to voicemail.

Her phone was completely turned off.

"Damn it, where are you, Aurelia?" he muttered through clenched teeth as anxiety mixed with irritation settled heavily in his chest.

Using the emergency tracker connected to the spare car Aurelia had taken, Arkana quickly pinpointed her location.

A quiet city park on the outskirts of town, not far from an apartment complex.

Without wasting another second, he grabbed another set of car keys and sped through the evening traffic.

Meanwhile, beneath the dim glow of the mercury streetlights, the winter fog drifted through the deserted park, biting at the skin.

Aurelia sat alone on a long wooden bench, her fingers tightly intertwined.

Even her thick casual clothes couldn't stop the shivering that ran through her body, not only because of the cold, but because of the turmoil raging inside her heart.

She had deliberately turned off her phone that afternoon.

She needed time to calm herself, far away from the walls of the penthouse that had begun to feel suffocating after the exhausting emotional collision.

*Should I really give up and get divorced?*

The question circled relentlessly through Aurelia's mind.

At first, the unbearable pain had forced the word *divorce* from her lips without a second thought.

She had been devastated by Arkana calling her childish and unreasonable.

But after spending hours alone in the quiet park, her anger had gradually softened.

Reason began to return.

Four years together, three years of falling in love after meeting at work, followed by one year of marriage, was not a short chapter of her life.

She still loved him.

That love remained deeply rooted in her heart.

Aurelia wrapped her arms around herself and stared at the blurred city lights through eyes clouded with fresh tears.

*I can't accept our marriage ending like this without knowing the truth. I won't give up this easily before I hear the truth directly from Arkan himself.*

She made up her mind.

Once she had completely calmed down tonight, she would go home.

She would demand a full explanation.

No shouting.

No more secrets.

"Aurelia..."

A familiar voice shattered the silence.

She startled and looked up to find a tall man wearing a dark brown coat standing in front of her.

"Jensen..." Aurelia whispered, her voice catching.

The moment she saw the one person who had always understood her better than anyone else, every wall she had spent the entire day building around herself collapsed.

Her careful reasoning disappeared beneath a tidal wave of grief.

The man she had always regarded as an older brother, the one who had spent years protecting her, stepped forward without a word.

He pulled her into a firm, protective embrace, allowing her head to rest against his broad chest.

He had only recently returned from Italy with his wife and child.

After spending four years abroad, he had come back just a few days earlier.

Aurelia had never had the chance to introduce Jensen to her husband because of how busy he had been.

Aurelia broke down in the arms of the man she considered her brother.

Her shoulders shook uncontrollably as every ounce of pain, heartbreak, and loneliness she had carried since their ruined anniversary poured out in tears.

Jensen remained silent.

He simply stroked her back with gentle, reassuring motions, offering the comfort his little sister needed more than anything at that moment.

Across the street, Arkana's car had just come to a stop.

He climbed out in a hurry, intending to find his wife and clear up every misunderstanding between them.

But after taking only a few steps into the park, he froze.

Beneath the dim glow of the park lights, the sight before him struck him like a crushing blow.

His wife, Aurelia, was in the arms of a man he had never seen before.

The stranger held her tightly, gently rubbing her back in what looked like an unmistakably intimate embrace.

Arkana's blood ran hot.

His determination to explain everything about Selena and repair their marriage vanished in an instant, replaced by a searing fire that consumed his pride.

Disbelief and suspicion immediately poisoned his thoughts.

*So this is why you turned off your phone. This is why you were so quick to ask for a divorce.*

Arkana's breathing became ragged as he struggled to contain his anger.

He had believed Aurelia had left to cool off after their argument.

Instead, she had sought comfort in another man's arms.

His wounded pride and overwhelming sense of betrayal made his fist tighten inside the pocket of his coat.

His eyes turned as cold as ice, filled with profound disappointment.

He refused to lower himself by confronting them in the middle of a public park.

He didn't want to know.

He didn't care.

He refused to find out who the stranger holding his wife was.

To Arkana, what he had witnessed tonight was proof enough that Aurelia had already given her heart to someone else.

His jaw tightened, carving sharp lines across his handsome face.

Then he turned around and strode back toward his car.

Inside the VIP hospital room, Arkana leaned back against a leather chair, staring blankly out the window at the fading remnants of the night. His mind was in complete disarray. The image of Aurelia embracing another man in the park the previous evening kept replaying in his head, slowly consuming what little sanity he had left.

From the hospital bed, Selena studied the frustration etched across his handsome face. Moving deliberately, as though her body were still terribly weak, she gently touched his arm.

"Arkan... what's wrong?" she asked softly, her voice laced with carefully crafted concern. "You've been so quiet. Did something happen with Aurelia?"

Arkana let out a heavy sigh and ran a hand through his hair in frustration.

"I saw her hugging another man in the park."

A flicker of satisfaction flashed across Selena's eyes before she quickly replaced it with an expression of dramatic shock.

"What? Hugging another man? Didn't you ask her who he was?" Selena paused for a moment before continuing hesitantly. "But, Arkan... actually, I..."

She stopped again, pretending to struggle with whether she should continue.

"Actually what? Just tell me, Selena."

"I've wanted to tell you since yesterday... but I was afraid you wouldn't believe me."

Arkana turned to her sharply.

"What do you mean?"

"I've seen Aurelia leave by herself several times," Selena lied effortlessly, her face utterly convincing. "I thought she was just out shopping. But it turns out she was meeting someone... Maybe she exaggerated everything between you two just to create an excuse. She painted you as the bad guy so she could leave without feeling guilty. She's the one hiding secrets, yet she made it look like you're the villain."

Her words flowed like poison, seeping directly into Arkana's already wounded pride. His reason completely shut down. The resentment and betrayal that had been burning inside him ever since witnessing that embrace in the park made him accept Selena's lies without question.

---

The next morning, the sun shone brightly, but it couldn't melt the icy silence that filled the penthouse.

Aurelia stepped inside with a long, weary sigh.

After spending the entire night crying on her brother's shoulder and thinking everything through, her heart had finally calmed. Her pride had softened. She came home with only one purpose, to save their one-year marriage and listen to Arkana's explanation with a clear mind.

The moment she entered the living room, however, she found Arkana already sitting there.

He was still wearing the same shirt as yesterday.

His face looked exhausted, and his bloodshot eyes revealed that he hadn't slept at all.

Hearing the door open, Arkana slowly looked up. His gaze was cold enough to pierce through her.

"Where have you been?" he asked without any greeting.

Aurelia tightened her grip on her handbag strap, trying to steady the pounding in her chest.

"I went out to calm myself down, Arkan. Yesterday, we were both too emotional..."

"So," Arkana interrupted flatly, his tone as emotionless as if he were discussing business, "when are we going to finalize the divorce?"

The question struck Aurelia like a brutal blow to the chest.

Her legs nearly gave out beneath her.

The emotional walls she had painstakingly rebuilt since dawn crumbled in an instant.

A crushing pain spread through her chest, leaving her struggling to breathe.

She looked at her husband through eyes that were already beginning to glisten.

"So... you really want us to get divorced, Arkan?"

Her voice trembled violently as she fought back another wave of tears.

"I came home hoping you'd comfort me. I hoped you'd put your pride aside, just a little, and explain who that woman is for the sake of our marriage. But instead... the first thing you ask me about is the divorce papers."

Arkana let out a mocking scoff.

He rose from his seat and walked toward her, his intimidating presence pressing down on her.

"Why should I explain anything to a woman who's already moved on?" he said coldly. "You accused me of cheating and acted like you're the innocent victim here. But what about you, Aurelia?"

She froze, her brows knitting together in confusion through her tears.

"What are you talking about?"

"Don't play dumb!" Arkana shouted, his eyes blazing with jealousy and rage. "I went looking for you at the park last night! And what did I see? You were wrapped up in another man's arms! So that's why you turned off your phone? That's why you demanded a divorce yesterday? Because you already had another man waiting for you?"

Aurelia staggered backward, unable to believe the cruel accusation coming from her own husband's mouth.

The tightness in her chest became unbearable.

"Arkan, watch your words! The man I was with last night was actually..."

"Arkan..."

Her explanation was abruptly cut short when the front door, which had apparently been left unlocked, slowly opened.

Selena stepped inside, her face still pale, wrapped in a thick knitted cardigan.

"Arkan, I'm sorry for coming here without permission," she said softly, deliberately making her voice tremble.

She glanced briefly at Aurelia before turning back to Arkana with carefully rehearsed vulnerability.

"I came because I wanted to explain to Aurelia that I..."

Her voice trailed off.

Aurelia clenched her fists so tightly her nails dug into her palms.

Her head throbbed as she watched Selena's pathetic performance unfold at the worst possible moment.

"You..."

"There's nothing you need to explain, Selena," Arkana interrupted firmly.

His voice softened dramatically the moment he addressed Selena, a complete contrast to the harsh tone he'd used toward Aurelia only seconds earlier.

Without hesitation, he strode past Aurelia and went straight to Selena.

Seeing her sway unsteadily, he instinctively wrapped an arm around her shoulders, supporting her before she could stumble.

"You're still weak. Why did you insist on coming here?" he asked gently. "You should've stayed at the hospital or rested at your apartment."

Aurelia stood frozen.

Her body went completely numb, as though every ounce of strength had been drained from it.

Her eyes remained fixed on Arkana's arm wrapped protectively around Selena's shoulders.

Inside their home.

Disbelief, disgust, and heartbreak merged into one overwhelming ache, clogging her throat until she couldn't force out a single word.

Only moments ago, her husband had accused her of infidelity without giving her a chance to explain.

Yet now, without the slightest hesitation, he was openly embracing another woman right in front of her while refusing to hear a single word she had to say.

At that very moment, Aurelia realized the hope she had brought home that morning had died completely.

There was nothing left worth saving with a man who had become blind to everything except the lies he chose to believe.

"Arkan..." she said quietly, her voice almost breaking. "Are you really not going to explain who this woman is? And you're not willing to hear my explanation about the man you saw with me last night?"

The Last Chance She Refused

"Arkan... are you really not going to tell me who this woman is? And you're not willing to listen to my explanation about the man from last night?"

Aurelia's voice was soft, yet clear enough to break the silence that filled the luxurious penthouse.

Her eyes were fixed on Arkana.

For the first time since their argument had begun, there was no anger in her gaze. No shouting. No accusations. All that remained was one fragile, final hope.

She was still giving her husband a chance.

One last chance.

Arkana returned her gaze without blinking. His jaw tightened. The conflict in his eyes was impossible to miss.

He wanted to explain.

But every time the face of his late best friend appeared in his mind, the promise he had made bound him once again.

*"Please take care of my little sister... no matter what happens."*

That promise had become a burden he had carried ever since.

Before Arkana could open his mouth, Selena grabbed the sleeve of his suit with trembling fingers.

"Arkan..."

Tears began streaming down her cheeks.

"This is all my fault. If I hadn't called you that night... Aurelia wouldn't have misunderstood everything like this."

Selena turned toward Aurelia, her face filled with remorse.

"Aurelia... I'm so sorry. I never wanted to be the reason your marriage fell apart. If my presence is only making the two of you keep fighting... then I'll leave."

She loosened her grip on Arkana's arm.

But suddenly, her body swayed.

"Selena!"

Arkana instinctively caught her before she could fall.

He quickly steadied her by the shoulders.

"You haven't recovered yet. Don't push yourself."

"I... I'm fine..."

"No."

Arkana's voice softened.

"You're still weak."

Watching the scene unfold, Aurelia's lips slowly curved into a faint smile.

A smile that hurt far more than tears.

She had just asked her husband for an explanation.

Yet before he even answered her question, his attention had already returned to another woman. Right in front of Aurelia, he openly showed his concern for someone else.

Selena quietly wiped away more tears.

"I don't want to put you in such a difficult position because of me..."

"Don't blame yourself, Selena."

Arkana gently patted her shoulder, trying to comfort her.

"I was the one who decided to come that night. I was also the one who decided to see you this morning."

He spoke without the slightest hesitation.

Without realizing it, every word that left Arkana's mouth became another blade cutting deeper into Aurelia's heart.

Aurelia took a slow, deep breath.

"All right."

Her voice was calm.

So calm that Arkana finally turned to look at her.

"If that's really your choice..."

She met her husband's eyes.

"I won't ask anymore."

She spoke as though she already understood everything without hearing a single explanation from him.

Silence filled the room.

Arkana let out a heavy breath.

"Aurelia, there are many things I can't explain right now."

"Why?"

"Because this isn't just about me."

"Then whose business is it?"

Arkana fell silent.

"Am I really not important enough to know the truth about my own husband?" Aurelia asked.

"Not everything can be explained."

The answer finally came.

Short.

Cold.

And enough to shatter Aurelia's last remaining hope.

She slowly nodded.

"I understand."

Arkana frowned.

"You understand?"

"I understand that I'm apparently not the person who deserves to know about my husband's life. There's another woman who deserves to know everything more than I do, even though I'm his wife."

"Aurelia, don't twist my words."

"I'm not twisting anything."

Her gaze shifted to Selena, who was still standing beside Arkana.

"Since the night of our anniversary, I've only asked for one thing. Honesty. I never even asked you to choose between me and her. I just wanted to know who this woman is, the one who always seems more important than your own wife."

Arkana remained silent.

That silence became the clearest answer of all.

Selena wiped away another tear.

"Arkan... maybe I really should leave," she said again, looking even more guilty than before.

"You don't have to leave."

Arkana's voice was firm.

"You haven't done anything wrong."

Those words became the final breaking point.

Something inside Aurelia's heart completely collapsed.

She looked at Arkana for a long moment.

As if she were memorizing the face of the man who had once been the safest place in her life.

Four years.

Three years of dating.

One year of marriage.

Suddenly, every memory felt impossibly distant.

"All right."

Aurelia gave a small nod.

"You've already made your choice."

Arkana frowned.

"What do you mean?"

"I'm not going to force you to explain anything anymore."

Her voice was flat.

"But I'm not going to force myself to stay in a marriage like this either."

Her chest rose and fell with a slow breath.

"Tomorrow."

She paused.

"My lawyer will contact you."

The look in Arkana's eyes changed.

"Aurelia."

"This time, I'm not saying it because I'm angry."

She looked straight into his eyes.

"I'm filing for divorce."

Selena lowered her head, hiding the flash of satisfaction in her eyes.

Meanwhile, Arkana clenched both fists.

"Aurelia."

His voice rose slightly.

"You think divorce is the answer to every problem?"

Aurelia gave him a bitter smile.

"No."

"Then what is?"

"The problem isn't divorce."

Her expression softened.

"The problem is... I don't know how to trust you anymore."

Those words left Arkana speechless.

Aurelia slowly raised her left hand.

Her eyes settled on the wedding ring wrapped around her finger.

It was a simple ring.

Arkana had placed it there himself at the altar.

That day, he had promised to become the safest place in her life.

But now...

That safest place had become the source of her deepest wound.

With slightly trembling fingers, Aurelia slowly twisted the ring.

One turn.

Then another.

Until it finally slipped free.

Arkana watched without moving.

For some reason, his chest suddenly felt painfully tight.

Aurelia walked to the living room table.

With the utmost care, she placed the ring on the polished marble surface.

The soft clink of metal against stone was barely audible, yet it echoed deafeningly in Arkana's ears.

It sounded like the closing note to every promise they had ever made.

Aurelia drew a long breath.

"Goodbye, for today."

She turned around.

She did not look at Arkana again.

Nor did she spare Selena another glance.

She walked toward the staircase leading to the second floor.

Her steps were slow.

But unwavering.

Selena watched Aurelia's retreating figure before speaking in a soft, apologetic voice.

"Arkan... I think I should go home. I really feel terrible about all of this. You should settle things with Aurelia first. I'm sorry for becoming the thorn between the two of you."

Arkana continued staring at the ring on the table.

Several seconds later, he nodded without looking at her.

"I'll have the driver take you home."

"That's not necessary. I can manage on my own."

Selena walked out of the penthouse with a face once again filled with false sorrow.

But the moment the elevator doors closed, a faint smile slowly spread across her lips.

A smile of victory.

A smile of complete satisfaction.

Her plan was working even better than she had imagined.

Inside the penthouse, silence settled over the room once again.

Arkana remained standing exactly where he was.

His eyes never left the wedding ring lying alone on the table.

For the first time since they had gotten married, that tiny ring was no longer on Aurelia's finger.

Just as he reached out to pick it up, the bedroom door upstairs quietly opened.

A moment later came the unmistakable sound of a suitcase zipper being pulled shut.

Arkana lifted his head.

His brow furrowed.

"Aurelia..."

For the first time, the certainty that his wife was only bluffing began to crack, little by little.

**To be continued...**