The Stranger's Wife

Chapter-7

The morning sun barely peeked through the curtains when Aaira's phone vibrated on the bedside table. She groggily reached for it, her heart skipping a beat when she saw the message from her workplace.

"Ms. Han, we regret to inform you that your employment at Lavender Bistro has been terminated, effective immediately. Due to unforeseen circumstances, we are unable to provide further details. Your final paycheck will be sent within the next two weeks."

Aaira sat up abruptly, her pulse hammering in her ears. Terminated? Just like that? Her fingers trembled as she reread the message. This had to be a mistake. There was no reason for them to fire her. Unless…

Her stomach dropped.

Arthur Black.

A cold realization swept over her. He had threatened to make her quit, and now, her job was gone. She felt her breathing grow erratic as anger and helplessness mixed within her like a storm.

Without a second thought, she grabbed her coat and stormed out of the house. The morning air was crisp, but she hardly noticed as she practically ran to the restaurant. When she arrived, she found the manager, Mr. Davis, standing near the entrance, speaking with a staff member.

“Aaira,” he said awkwardly when he saw her, shifting uncomfortably. “You shouldn’t be here.”

“Mr. Davis, what is going on? Why am I being fired?”

He sighed, avoiding her gaze. “Look, it’s nothing personal, but—someone with a lot of power made a request.”

Aaira felt her blood boil. “Who did this?.”

The manager didn’t confirm it. He looked confused and said," We got a call from our boss (the owner of the restaurant) to fire you, so you must talk to him. The owner of the restaurant, Aaira, was confused at first, then realization dawned on her, and she thought to herself,

“This is illegal! "He can’t just—just throw money around and control my life like that!” she got angry.

Mr. Davis lowered his voice. “Aaira, listen to me. You’re a good worker, and we all respect you. But this is a small business. They can make or break businesses with a single phone call. If I refused, Lavender Bistro would be shut down before the end of the week.” So please leave, Mr. Davis pleaded to her.

Aaira felt like the ground had been ripped from beneath her. Her hands balled into fists at her sides. How dare he? How dare he meddle in her life like this?

Without another word, she turned on her heels and made her way to the Black mansion.

The butler barely had time to open the door before Aaira stormed inside, her eyes blazing with fury. She found Arthur in his study, sitting behind a grand mahogany desk, casually sipping his morning coffee. He looked up as she barged in, his expression calm, as if he had been expecting her.

“To what do I owe the pleasure, Miss Han?” he drawled, setting his cup down.

Aaira slammed her hands on his desk, making a few papers flutter. “You got me fired,” she hissed.

Arthur leaned back in his chair, completely unfazed. “Correction: I made things easier for you.”

“Easier?” she repeated, incredulous. “You just took away my only source of income!”

Arthur shrugged. “You were going to quit anyway.”

“That was supposed to be my decision!” she snapped. “Not yours!" You had no right!”

Arthur studied her for a moment, his expression unreadable. “I warned you last night, Miss Han. I told you I needed you available at all times. Your job would’ve gotten in the way.”

Aaira clenched her fists, so tightly her nails bit into her palms. “You don’t own me, Mr. Black.”

A smirk tugged at the corner of his lips. “Actually, if you sign the contract, I technically will.”

Her rage reached a breaking point. “I won’t sign it. I won’t be your little puppet, your obedient servant!”

Arthur’s gaze darkened, his amusement disappearing. He stood up, his towering frame making her take an involuntary step back. “Then how exactly do you plan on repaying me, Aaira?” His voice was low, dangerous.

She swallowed hard, but refused to back down. “I’ll find another job and pay you.”

“Oh, are you going to pay for your whole lifetime? I don’t have much patience miss. Han ?” He raised a brow. “Funny, because I made a few calls this morning. Seems like no one in Lavenham is willing to hire you right now.”

Aaira felt like she had been punched so hard. She had known he was ruthless, but this—this was something else entirely.

“You…” she breathed, her voice barely above a whisper. “You really are a monster.”

Arthur didn’t flinch. “Call me whatever you like, but at the end of the day, you will sign that contract.”

Aaira shook her head, eyes burning. “You’re playing a sick game, and I want no part of it.”

Arthur studied her carefully, his expression unreadable. Then, after a long pause, he said, “Very well.”

She blinked, surprised by his sudden retreat. “What?”

He walked over to his desk, picked up a folder, and handed it to her. “If you refuse my offer, then I suggest you start packing.”

Aaira hesitated before opening the folder—and felt her breath hitch.

Inside were documents regarding her rental agreement. A termination notice, an eviction order… all stamped with legal approval.

She felt her knees weaken. “You… you are not my landlord to throw me out?” Arthur said. “My grandma is your landlord so technically, I am your new landlord now, so yes, I can.”

Arthur gave her a lazy smile. “I told you, Miss Han. You will sign that contract. Whether you do it willingly or not is up to you.”

Aaira felt trapped, suffocated. He had destroyed every possible escape route, leaving her with only one option. She clenched her fists, tears of frustration stinging her eyes.

For a long moment, silence stretched between them. Then, with a shaky breath, she exhaled.

“Fine,” she spat. “I’ll sign your damn contract.”

Arthur smirked. “Good girl.”

She glared at him with nothing but hatred. “Don’t ever call me that again.”

He chuckled. “Oh, Miss Han, we’re going to have so much fun,” and give me your contact number and write it down on the paper.

She got irritated and scribbled her number on the contract paper itself.

That night, as Aaira sat in her tiny home, staring at the contract in front of her, she felt like a caged bird. She had no choice, no way out. Her single lie, her single good deed, turned into a big nightmare, leading her to this now, to be a servant of “The Arthur Black”.

Arthur Black had won.

But as she signed her name at the bottom of the contract, she made a silent vow.

He may have forced her hand, but she would never let him break her spirit.

If he thought she would be an easy pawn in his game, he was gravely mistaken.

Arthur Black had started a war.

And Aaira would make damn sure she didn’t lose.

To be continued…

"Little did Arthur know, he had just awakened a storm—one that would challenge even his calculated plans. And Aaira? She would prove that caged birds still remember how to fly." Stay tuned for the next chapter.