Aria's POV

“What is this?” I asked, slowly lifting my gaze to him as I held the certificate tightly in my trembling hands. My eyes never left his face.

“A marriage certificate,” he replied calmly, slipping one hand into his pocket. The silver ring on his left ring finger caught my attention, making my heart skip a beat.

I frowned and looked back at the document. My eyes scanned every line until they landed on my name, printed boldly beside his. My breath hitched, This couldn't be real.

It had to be fake. A second later, laughter escaped my lips. The sound echoed through the room as I waved the certificate in front of him.

“If this is some kind of joke, I'm not interested. My life is already falling apart, and I don't need another problem added to the list.” I tossed the paper onto the bed and turned to leave.

“Aria.”His deep voice stopped me in my tracks.

“It seems you've forgotten everything that happened last night.” His tone remained calm, and emotionless. “And one more thing, Forging a marriage certificate isn't my style. I don't have time for childish games.”

I slowly turned around, whatever little patience I had left slipping away.

I wanted nothing more than to leave this place.

It was already bad enough that I had slept with a stranger. I couldn't undo what had happened, but the audacity of this man to keep insisting this marriage was real made my blood boil.

“Are you seriously trying to justify sleeping with me while I was drunk?” I shouted, glaring at him. For the first time, his expression hardened. His jaw tightened as he took a slow step toward me.

“Watch your words, Mrs. Blackwood.”

His voice remained low, but there was steel beneath it.

“I never forced you.”I froze.

“You were the one who proposed to me,” he continued, holding my gaze without blinking. “You asked me to marry you. You offered yourself to me.” My heart pounded violently against my chest. “And before anything happened.” he added, “I asked you more than once if you were sure.” He paused.“You said yes.”

My mouth fell open, but no words came out. “That… that's impossible.”His expression didn't change.

“You don't have to believe me.” He bent down, picked up the marriage certificate from the floor, and handed it back to me.“But it doesn't change the fact that, as of last night, you're legally my wife.”

“No!” I snapped. “I want a divorce. I want to pretend this never happened. I'm leaving right now to end this marriage!”

I paced back and forth across the room, my heart racing as I tried to make sense of everything. How had I been foolish enough to fall into this trap?

Then, like pieces of a broken puzzle finally fitting together, flashes from the previous night flooded my mind.

Damien and Eva’s betrayal, the endless drinks, the handsome stranger, My eyes slowly lifted to the man standing in front of me, It was him.

A faint smirk tugged at the corner of his lips, as though he had been waiting for me to remember.

“Seems you've remembered,” he said calmly. “Unfortunately for you... we're married now.” My breath caught.“And there is no divorce.”His dark eyes locked onto mine.“Only death can separate us.”

I staggered backward, nearly collapsing as my legs suddenly lost their strength. My heart pounded violently against my ribs, each beat louder than the last. My trembling fingers covered my mouth.

“What...”My voice cracked.“What have I done?”I whispered, the weight of my mistake crashing down on me.

“Mr. Vincent, I understand that we're married, but... this isn't right.” My voice trembled. “Just look at us. You're almost twice my age, and I'm just a young woman whose life happened to fall apart overnight.”

I took a cautious step toward him, clasping my hands together as though pleading would somehow soften his heart.

“Please... we can dissolve this marriage, and everything can go back to normal. I can only blame what happened on the alcohol I drank last night. Please... reconsider.” I forced myself to cry, hoping the tears would come, nothing came, not a single tear fell.

Vincent's dark eyes remained fixed on me, his expression unreadable. For a brief moment, it looked as though he was about to say something.

A sharp knock echoed through the room.

Knock! Knock!

His gaze shifted toward the door.

Without thinking, I snatched the marriage certificate from the bed and hurried into the bathroom, shutting the door as quietly as I could.

It was already bad enough that I had accidentally married a man I barely knew.

The last thing I wanted was for someone else to find out.

If Vincent eventually agreed to the divorce, it would be much easier if no one knew this marriage had ever happened.

Holding my breath, I pressed my ear against the bathroom door, praying whoever was outside would leave before my life became even more complicated.

Inside the bathroom, I desperately searched for a way to convince Vincent to dissolve this ridiculous marriage. There had to be something I could say to make him change his mind.

I had already been through enough.

I couldn't handle another disaster.

Silently, I prayed he would agree.

Just then, a familiar voice drifted into the room, I froze. That voice, It sounded so much like Damien's.

Curiosity got the better of me. Slowly, I crept toward the bathroom door and pulled it open just enough to peek outside.

The moment my eyes landed on the man standing in the room, my heart nearly stopped.

Damien.

What the hell was he doing here?

More importantly, How did he know Vincent?

Questions flooded my mind, but the last thing I wanted was for him to see me hiding inside the bathroom. I remained perfectly still, barely daring to breathe.

Then Damien spoke.

“Dad.” My legs almost gave out beneath me.

I clamped a trembling hand over my mouth to stop myself from gasping, no that couldn't be right.

My eyes darted from Damien to Vincent and back again, desperately hoping I had heard wrong. Mr. Vincent was Damien's father? My mind went completely blank.

Only one terrifying thought echoed through my head. Did I accidentally marry my ex-fiancé's father?

It felt as though fate was playing a cruel joke on me. How had I gone from being cheated on to accidentally marrying my ex-fiancé's father? My chest tightened until it hurt, making it difficult to breathe.

I leaned against the bathroom wall, trying to steady myself.Perhaps, This was fate giving me the perfect opportunity to make Damien pay for everything he had done to me.

The voices outside gradually faded, followed by the sound of the door closing.

After waiting a few more seconds, I slowly stepped out of the bathroom. Vincent turned his gaze toward me, his expression as unreadable as ever.

“So,” he said calmly, slipping his phone back into his pocket. “You were saying you wanted a divorce?”

He reached for his phone again, but before he could unlock it, I rushed over and grabbed his wrist, stopping him. His brows knitted together as he looked down at my hand wrapped around his wrist before meeting my eyes.I took a deep breath.

“I don't want a divorce anymore.” For the first time,The unreadable Vincent Blackwood looked genuinely surprised.

Aria's POV

The look on his face after I told him I wasn't getting a divorce almost made me smile. For a brief moment, I caught the surprise flickering across his usually unreadable expression. It was obvious he had a thousand questions running through his mind, yet he didn't ask a single one.

Instead, he walked over to the table and picked up a brown envelope.

"I know this isn't the marriage you wanted," he said calmly. "And I'm not interested in forcing anyone to stay by my side." I frowned slightly, unsure where he was going with this.

"We'll stay married for one year," he continued. "After that, if you still want a divorce, I'll sign the papers." I remained silent.

"There's one condition." I slowly lifted my gaze to meet his.

"You're moving in with me."I hesitated.

"What about my mother?" I asked quietly. "She still needs treatment." He didn't answer immediately. Instead, he slipped the envelope back onto the table before looking at me.

"You don't have to worry about that anymore." I frowned.

"What do you mean?"

"From today onward, her treatment will be taken care of." I stared at him, searching his face for any sign that he was joking, but there was none.

"Why would you do that?"

"I don't make promises I can't keep." For a long moment, I simply stared at him, unable to find the right words.

"Thank you," I whispered.

"You don't have to thank me yet, Mrs. Blackwood." The title rolled effortlessly off his tongue, making my heart skip a beat, Mrs. Blackwood. It still sounded unreal.

I lowered my gaze, thinking about Damien and Eva. Every humiliation, and betrayal How was I supposed to make Damien regret everything if I walked away now?

Slowly, I nodded.

"Fine.”

A faint smile crossed Vincent's lips before disappearing just as quickly.

Without another word, he walked toward the door. Moments later, two bodyguards appeared outside the room.

"Let's go."

Escorted by the bodyguards, I followed Vincent downstairs before getting into the back seat of his waiting Rolls-Royce.

As the car pulled away from the hotel, I stared out the window, my fingers unconsciously tightening around the cheque in my hand. One year as Vincent Blackwood's wife. And one year to make Damien regret ever breaking my heart.

An hour later, we finally arrived at the mansion. The moment I stepped out of the car, my mouth fell open. The magnificent estate stood proudly before me, its towering gates, elegant fountains, and breathtaking architecture leaving me completely speechless. It looked less like a home and more like a palace.

For a brief moment, I forgot every problem weighing on my heart. Just then, I felt a strong arm wrap around my waist. I jolted instinctively, trying to pull away, but his low voice brushed against my ear.

"Don't move."His warm breath sent an unexpected shiver down my spine."We should walk in together," he murmured. "The servants need to believe we're genuinely in love."I slowly turned to look at him. For a second, our eyes locked.

Then I silently nodded. Without another word, we walked toward the entrance. As soon as we stepped inside, every servant immediately lowered their heads in greeting.

"Welcome home, Mr. Blackwood."

The luxurious interior was even more breathtaking than the outside. Crystal chandeliers hung from the high ceiling, while expensive paintings decorated the walls. Everything about the mansion screamed wealth and power.

I couldn't help but stare. Vincent gently took my hand and led me upstairs. We eventually stopped in front of a large wooden door, and he opened it.

"This will be your room from now on," he said calmly. I stood there for a moment, taking in the spacious bedroom before smiling faintly.

"Thank you," I whispered.

Just as I was about to step inside, his hand suddenly wrapped around my wrist.

Before I could react, he spun me around.

My back hit the wall with a soft thud.

A small gasp escaped my lips.

"What's the matter?" he asked, his voice dropping to a husky whisper. "You don't like the room?"Before I could answer, he leaned in slightly, trapping me between his arms."Or perhaps..." His lips curved into the faintest smile. "you'd rather move into mine?" Heat instantly rushed to my cheeks. For a moment, I completely forgot how to breathe. Just then, the butler cleared his throat.

"Ahem..."

Vincent slowly pulled away, though the amusement lingering in his eyes hadn't disappeared. I quickly looked away, silently cursing the blush that refused to leave my face.

"Master, Mr. Damien and a lady are here to see you," the butler announced.

The moment I heard those words, I knew this was my chance.

Just as Vincent was about to walk away, I reached out and grabbed his wrist. His eyes slowly dropped to my hand before lifting to meet mine. Realizing what I'd done, I quickly let go.

"Perhaps... I should welcome them instead," I said.He narrowed his eyes, slipping both hands into his pockets.

"I don't think that's necessary. We just got back, and you need to rest. Besides, they barely know you."

"I know," I replied with a small smile. "But please... let me do it."He studied me for a few seconds before giving a slight nod.

"Very well."

I followed the butler downstairs.

The moment I stepped into the living room, my eyes landed on Damien and Eva. They looked as intimate as ever. Eva had her arms wrapped around his, her head resting proudly against his shoulder.

The instant they saw me, both of them froze.Damien's brows furrowed.

"What are you doing here?" he demanded, taking a step forward.

"Just looking around," I replied calmly.

Eva suddenly burst into laughter.

"Aria, you're really pathetic." She shook her head mockingly. "It's obvious Damien doesn't want you anymore. Why are you still chasing after him? Haven't you embarrassed yourself enough?"

She lifted her left hand and deliberately flaunted the engagement ring in front of my face.

"You should know by now..." she smirked. "Damien is mine."A faint smile curved across my lips.

"Good for you," I said. "I'll need someone around to help with the chores."Eva's smile disappeared instantly.

"What did you just say?" Before she could react, Damien stormed toward me and grabbed my wrist.

"Get out of this house!" he snapped. "You're not wanted here. Stop forcing yourself on me. I told you it's over!"

I looked down at the hand gripping my wrist.

Three years I had loved this man.

Three years I had been blinded by love.

Now, looking at him, all I could think was...

I had truly dodged a bullet. Calmly, I pulled my hand free and took a step backward, meeting his furious gaze without fear.

"I always knew you were after my money," Damien spat. "And thank God I chose Eva over you. At least now I know I made the right decision." Before I could respond, Eva stepped forward with a cruel smile.

"She's nothing but a desperate woman trying to climb her way into wealth." I remained silent, my fingers curling at my sides. I had heard enough. Then suddenly, a deep voice echoed through the room.

"What's going on here?" The moment Damien and Eva turned around, their expressions changed.

"Father." Damien immediately walked toward Vincent, his confidence returning.

"I don't know why she's here, but you should ask someone to throw her out. She isn't welcome."

A faint smile touched my lips as I looked from Damien to Vincent. Instead, his gaze softened slightly as it landed on me.

Then he extended his hand.

I hesitated for a moment before walking toward him. The moment my fingers slipped into his, his grip tightened gently, as if reassuring me that I wasn't alone.

"Damien," Vincent called. He paused, lifting my hand and placing a gentle kiss on the back of it. "Meet my wife... your stepmother.”

Vincent's POV

"Dad... you're joking, right?" Damien asked, his eyes darting around the living room as though searching for hidden cameras. "Where are the cameras? Because I refuse to believe what I'm hearing."I watched him in silence, mildly amused by his reaction.

"I'm afraid this isn't a joke, Damien," I replied calmly, my fingers still intertwined with Aria's. His face darkened.

"You can't be serious!" he shouted, taking a step toward us. "There is absolutely no way you're marrying her!"Rage burned in his eyes, The woman beside him hurried over, placing a hand on his arm in an attempt to calm him down.

"Damien, please—"

"Stay out of this!" he snapped, shrugging her hand away without even looking at her.

I shifted my gaze to Aria.

"Honey," I said softly, "would you mind going upstairs for a moment? I'd like to have a word with my son."

She looked at me briefly before nodding.

"Of course."

As she turned to leave, she spared Damien one final glance before disappearing upstairs. The moment she was out of sight, Damien turned back to me, his fists clenched tightly at his sides while the woman beside him stood frozen, completely confused by what had just happened.

"What are you still waiting for?" Damien snapped at the woman beside him. "Leave. I want to speak to my father alone."

She hesitated for a moment before quietly walking out of the room.The moment the door closed, silence filled the living room. I slipped both hands into my pockets and watched as Damien paced back and forth, clearly struggling to contain his anger.

"Father, this isn't right," he finally said, stopping in front of me. "You need to divorce her immediately."I looked at him calmly.

"And if I don't?" I asked.His jaw tightened.

"Father, you don't understand. She isn't the right woman for you. Chloe has always loved you. She's always stood by your side. You should be with someone like her, not someone like Aria."I narrowed my gaze slightly, His reaction puzzled me.

For a woman he had only just met, he seemed unusually bothered by my marriage to her. A faint smile tugged at the corner of my lips.

"I wasn't aware that my choice of wife required your approval," I said calmly.

"I know what's best for you!" Damien shot back immediately. I took a slow step toward him.

"No, Damien," I said, my voice firm.

“Damien, you should know that I'm no longer some twelve-year-old boy you can order around, telling me who I should or shouldn't marry. This is my life, and I chose her. That decision is final." The moment the words left my mouth, something inside him snapped. His eyes burned with rage as he grabbed the expensive crystal vase sitting on the side table and hurled it across the room.

Crash!

The vase shattered into countless pieces, the sharp sound echoing through the mansion. My gaze drifted calmly to the broken fragments scattered across the marble floor before returning to him.

"That vase cost three million dollars," I said in a flat tone. "You'll pay for it."

I turned to leave, but before I could take another step, he grabbed my wrist.

"Father, you don't understand!" he shouted desperately. "You cannot be with her. Divorce her immediately. Right now. Today."

A faint smirk tugged at the corner of my lips. I slowly removed his hand from my wrist before taking two deliberate steps toward him until only a few inches separated us.

"I won't."His breathing grew heavier.

"There is no possible way you're settling for that... that shameless woman." His voice dripped with disgust. "She's nothing but a gold digger. She's only with you because of your money because of everything you can offer her. The moment she's done using you, she'll—"

Slap!

The sound rang through the room.

His head snapped violently to the side as my palm connected with his face.

Silence followed.

Damien remained frozen, his eyes widened in complete disbelief. Slowly, he raised a trembling hand to his burning cheek, staring at me as though he couldn't believe I had actually hit him. I closed the distance between us once again, my gaze colder than ice.

"The next time you speak about my wife in that manner..." I said quietly, each word slow and deliberate, ".will be the last day you ever speak."

Damien lowered his gaze. His jaw clenched, but for the first time in years, he said nothing. I saw fear flash across his face. He swallowed hard before lowering his head.

"Yes, Father." Without another word, he turned and stormed out of the room.

The door slammed shut behind him.

I closed my eyes briefly, drawing in a slow breath as I fought to suppress the anger threatening to consume me. After a moment, I slipped a cigarette from the silver case in my pocket, lit it, and took a long drag.

A cloud of smoke escaped my lips as my thoughts lingered on Damien's disrespect.

Insulting my wife, That was a mistake he would eventually regret.The sound of approaching footsteps interrupted my thoughts.

I turned toward the entrance just as my secretary stepped inside. He bowed respectfully before extending a sealed envelope toward me.

"Boss, this contains everything you requested." I took it from him and opened it. The first thing that slid out were photographs. Aria and Damien.

Picture after picture captured them together laughing, holding hands, attending events. Three years' worth of memories frozen on glossy paper.

I flipped through them one after another, my expression unreadable.

"According to our investigation," my secretary began, "they were in a relationship for three years before Mr. Damien ended things after cheating on her with her stepsister."He adjusted his glasses. "That's all we could find, sir."I dismissed him with a slight nod.The room fell silent again.

So that was it. Damien hadn't been furious simply because I got married. He was furious because the woman I married was the very woman he had thrown away.

A faint smile tugged at the corner of my lips. I leaned back in my chair, my eyes drifting to one of the photographs.

This wasn't the first time I had seen Aria.

Months ago, after returning to the country, I had gone to a hospital to visit an old friend. She had walked out of the building that afternoon, completely unaware that someone had noticed her. I had watched her disappear into the crowd, thinking I would probably never see her again.

Fate, however, had other plans.

The next time I saw her, she was drowning her heartbreak in alcohol... and asking a complete stranger to marry her.

I never imagined that stranger would be me. Now everything made sense.

She accepted this marriage because she wanted revenge. A faint smirk tugged at the corner of my lips as I dropped the photographs back into the envelope.

"So that's how it is..."

Everything suddenly made sense.

No wonder she agreed to stay married.

I walked toward the floor-to-ceiling window, my gaze fixed on the city below. For a long moment, I said nothing, my fingers tapping lightly against the envelope.

"Interesting..."

If this was the game she wanted to play...

Then I'd gladly play along.But by the time it was over, she would realize she wasn't the only one with an agenda.I slipped the envelope into the drawer and locked it.

"Let's see who outplays who, Mrs. Blackwood."