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."

Aria’s POV

I took a slow walk through the garden, wondering how everything could change in the blink of an eye. Just a few days ago, I had been excited to accept Damian’s engagement, believing I was finally getting the man I loved. Now, I was his stepmother.

The thought was so absurd that a short laugh escaped my lips. I shook my head, unable to believe how quickly my life had turned upside down.

I drew in a deep breath as the cold wind brushed against my skin. Closing my eyes, I let myself enjoy the peacefulness for a moment. Then I heard my name.

“Aria!”

My eyes snapped open. I slowly turned toward the voice, and the moment I saw who was approaching, my body stiffened.

Damien.

He was walking toward me with his fists clenched at his sides. His jaw was tight, and the anger in his eyes was impossible to miss. He looked as though he had been searching for me, and judging by the storm on his face, he hadn't come to have a pleasant conversation.

When he stopped in front of me, his eyes swept over my face before he looked away, his lips pressing into a thin line.

“Are you happy now?” he asked.

He brought his palms together in a sharp clap. The sound made me glance around instinctively, checking whether any of the maids were nearby. Thankfully, the garden was empty. Damian's nostrils flared as he stared at me.

“Do you think I'm caught up in this game you're trying to play simply because I got engaged to your sister?” His voice dripped with accusation. “Is this your way of getting revenge on me?” He stepped closer, his eyes narrowing.

“I can see where this is going.” I stared at him for a moment before raising an eyebrow.

“That's no way to speak to your stepmother, Damien.” I kept my voice calm, even though I could feel irritation rising inside me. “It seems I'll have to teach you some manners.” His expression changed instantly.

His eyebrows lifted, and for a second, he looked genuinely stunned by my words.

Then he threw his head back and laughed.

“Do you really think my father would want a woman like you as his wife?” His laughter faded into a mocking smile.

“Oh, come on, Aria. Stop dreaming.”

He reached for my hand. I immediately pulled away and stepped backward, refusing to let him touch me.

His hand remained suspended for a moment before slowly dropping.A crooked smirk tugged at the corner of his lips.

“It's okay, Aria. I know you're just trying to get my attention.” He gave a humorless chuckle. “Congratulations. You succeeded.” His expression hardened.

“Now enough of this madness. Get out of here.”

He pointed toward the huge gate standing in the distance. I pressed my lips together, fighting the urge to laugh. But as I looked at him, something inside me shifted. For the first time in three years, I saw Damian differently.

I looked at the man standing before me the man whose hand I had once dreamed of holding for the rest of my life and wondered how I had been so blind. The arrogance in his eyes.The contempt in his voice. The way he believed he could still order me around.How had I missed all of this?

For three years, I had devoted myself to him, foolishly believing I had found the love of my life. Now I understood, Damian wasn't the man I had thought he was. He was nothing but a piece of trash.

“Damian,” I muttered, my fingers curling into my palms as I fought to control the rage burning inside me. “I would advise you to leave now. I wouldn't want my husband to return and find you here.”

His face darkened immediately.

“What did you just say?” His eyes widened with disbelief before narrowing into a furious glare.

“Are you for real?” he snapped. “You're telling me that you couldn't hold yourself back, so you decided to crawl straight into my father's bed just to spite me?” He shook his head, his face twisting with disgust as he pointed an accusing finger at me.

“I've always known you were nothing but a whore. All these years, you've been pretending to be virtuous.” My eyes burned, but I refused to let him see me break.

I closed my eyes for a moment and drew in a deep breath. I didn't want to listen to another word. If I stayed there any longer, I was afraid I would lose control. I wasn't the one who cheated.

I wasn't the one who chose my sister over me, yet he stood there acting as though I was the one who had betrayed him. But there was one thing I would always be grateful for, That day, Damian had chosen my sister. If he hadn't, I might never have discovered the kind of man he truly was.

“I'll pretend we never had this conversation,” I said quietly. I turned to leave.

“Aria!” His voice cracked through the garden, I stopped.

“You dare walk out on me?”

I slowly turned around. This time, I wasn't going to hold back. A small, almost amused smile appeared on my lips.

“And if I do, what will you do?” I crossed my arms over my chest and walked toward him until only a few inches separated us.

Damian's eyes flickered with surprise.

His lips parted slightly as he stared at me.

He wasn't used to this version of me.

He had spent three years watching me tolerate his behavior. He had grown accustomed to my silence.But that woman was gone, His expression hardened.

“I'm not surprised.” His lips curled into a cruel smile. “After all, your mother was a whore, so I shouldn't expect anything else—”

My palm struck his cheek before he could finish. The sharp crack of the slap echoed through the garden. Damian's head snapped to the side. He froze. For several seconds, he didn't move.

Slowly, his hand rose to his cheek as he turned his face back toward me. His eyes were wide with disbelief, as though he couldn't understand what had just happened.

I stepped closer.

“For three years, I tolerated your stupidity because I thought you were man enough to be the person I had chosen.” My voice shook with anger. “But what did you do?” I stared directly into his eyes.

“You slept with my sister behind my back for all those years. Then you looked me straight in the eye and called me a gold digger.”

His face tightened. I clapped my hands together and stepped away from him, letting out a bitter laugh.

“You're truly incredible, Damian.” I shook my head.

“You know what? I dodged a bullet.” His expression changed.The amusement was gone.The arrogance disappeared from his face, replaced by raw fury.

I could see that my words had struck whatever little pride he had left.His chest rose and fell heavily.Then he stormed toward me,His hand lifted, My eyes widened.

“Don't you dare, Damian!”

The voice thundered across the garden.

His hand froze in midair. Damian's face drained of color. Slowly, he turned toward the voice.

Vincent stood several feet away. His expression was unreadable, but his eyes were cold as he stared at his son.

Damien immediately lowered his hand.

“Father…” He hurried toward Vincent, his anger suddenly replaced by desperation.

“Father, she's not the right woman for you.” His voice trembled with frustration. “Divorce her. Is that really too much for me to ask?” But Vincent didn't answer immediately. His gaze remained fixed on me.For a moment, fear crept into my heart.

Did he hear everything? My heart began to pound as the thought crossed my mind. Had Vincent heard Damian’s insults? Had he heard the accusations he had thrown at me? I swallowed hard, suddenly nervous beneath Vincent’s unwavering gaze. What if he believed Damian?

“Did I raise you to raise your hand against your stepmother, Damian?” His voice was calm. Damian froze.

His mouth opened, but nothing came out.

Vincent took a slow step toward him, his eyes hardening. The atmosphere seemed to change instantly.

“Touch my wife again…” He paused. His gaze dropped briefly to Damian's raised hand before returning to his face. “…and I'll break those hands of yours.”

Damian's eyes widened.

“You—”

“From this moment on,” Vincent continued, his voice leaving no room for argument, “you're banned from coming into my house until you learn how to accept her as your stepmother.” Damian's face contorted with disbelief.

“What?” His voice rose as he grabbed his hair with both hands.

“Father!”

He stared at Vincent as though he couldn't believe the man standing before him was actually his father. But Vincent didn't move, He simply stood there, his expression cold and firm. I couldn't stop the smile that slowly spread across my lips.

For the first time since this marriage began, I felt something I hadn't felt in a long time. I looked at Damian as he stood there completely humiliated. A quiet satisfaction settled in my chest. This was only the beginning.