Chapter 10 ~ Playing Along with Arsenio
953 Words
"He's gone insane!" Ivana grumbled as she entered her room, exhaling sharply. "How dare he talk about babies and pregnancy programs?"
Ivana's eyes welled up with tears as she sat on the edge of the bed, recalling a series of painful events in her life.
In her previous life, when she underwent a pregnancy program, her hopes were sky-high. Feeling the tiny heartbeat inside her was an unparalleled joy. But all those dreams were shattered in an instant when Arsen abandoned her in the middle of a bustling party. Ivana's heart broke into pieces as she felt neglected and left behind at the most crucial moment of her life.
That was when her world, once filled with hope, crumbled. The presence of the unborn child inside her was powerless to survive. The miscarriage was more than just a loss; it was a betrayal—by the people around her and by the unfair circumstances she had no control over.
Recalling that painful memory, Ivana wiped away the tears that streamed down her cheeks without permission. She placed a hand on her flat stomach, as if the baby were still there.
"I won't let him do it again," Ivana murmured. Now, she was convinced that in her past life, Arsen had deliberately put her in harm's way. It was even possible that the thugs who attacked her were ordered by Arsenio himself.
"If that was really your doing… how cruel you are, Arsen. You killed your own flesh and blood. But in this life, I won't let it happen. I won’t let you, Arsen," Ivana vowed, clenching her fists tightly in anger.
"Are you ready?" Arsen asked as he entered the room Ivana occupied.
"Why are you here?" Ivana questioned, glaring at Arsen, who had just walked in.
"Why? Isn't this my room too?" he replied casually, heading towards the dressing area. "Besides, we can't keep sleeping in separate rooms forever. If your father finds out, he might think we're having problems."
Ivana, who was applying makeup at her vanity, stood up. "I don’t mind if my father knows that our relationship is broken and that we’re getting a divorce soon," she stated firmly.
"Oh? It's broken already?" Arsen asked, appearing from behind the wardrobe door.
"Figure it out yourself," Ivana said before walking out of the room alone, leaving Arsen behind.
She headed to her office by herself. She didn't want to be with Arsen; she decided to go alone, even though he had wanted them to leave together.
Upon arriving at her office, as usual, Ana followed her inside.
"Good morning, Ma’am. How are you?" Ana greeted cheerfully.
Ivana, who had just settled into her large office chair, stared at Ana for a long moment, making the assistant feel uneasy under her gaze.
"…Did something happen?" Ana asked nervously.
"Nothing, Ana. Bring me all the work and reports that need my approval while I was away," Ivana ordered.
"Understood, Ma’am. I’ll get them right away," Ana replied before leaving the room.
"Ana is one of Arsen’s spies, assigned to keep an eye on me. I wonder who else he has placed around me," Ivana thought.
"I have to be more cautious and trust no one for now," she added in her mind.
Shortly after, Ana returned to Ivana’s office, exuding her usual energetic and enthusiastic demeanor. Ivana’s office had a unique yet relaxing vibe despite the never-ending workload. As Ana stepped inside, her eyes immediately landed on Ivana’s slightly messy but well-organized desk—stacks of reports, colorful booklets, and heavily annotated notes were spread across it.
She clutched a neatly arranged schedule, filled with important meetings, client appointments, and urgent project deadlines for the week.
"Ma’am, please take a look at this," Ana said, presenting the documents in hopes of drawing Ivana’s attention away from her deep thoughts.
Alongside the schedule, there were several reports requiring signatures and materials needing approval. Ana knew how valuable Ivana’s time was—especially when she was buried in work that could become overwhelming. She felt a slight nervousness, hoping that everything she brought would lighten Ivana’s burden and help her move forward with the ongoing projects.
After reviewing the reports from Ana, Ivana stood up and walked towards the window, taking a deep breath.
"Even under that man’s surveillance, I have to find evidence of Arsen’s misconduct in the company without his knowledge. He must have done something behind my back. I need to uncover the truth carefully and move slowly so Arsen doesn’t suspect me," Ivana strategized in her mind.
Facing Arsen was undoubtedly difficult, but Ivana was determined to find even the smallest gap to defeat and fight against Arsenio.
That night, Ivana finally left her office. She had deliberately stayed late, burying herself in work to avoid seeing anyone—including her husband.
Her footsteps slowed as she reached the office lobby and saw Arsenio standing near a car parked outside.
"I didn’t know you’d be working this late, my wife," Arsenio said calmly as Ivana stopped in front of him.
"What do you want? Why are you here?" Ivana asked, her eyes filled with annoyance.
"I was worried about my wife who hadn’t come home yet. So, I came to pick her up. Am I wrong for doing that?" Arsenio asked with a mysterious smile.
"Stop pretending, Arsen!" Ivana snapped, her voice firm.
"Then stop testing my patience, Ivana. I’ve sent you countless messages—why do you keep ignoring them?" Arsen questioned, his once warm expression turning cold and unreadable.
Ivana turned her face away from him. "I was busy," she replied shortly.
"Oh? Or are you just trying to avoid me again?" Arsen guessed correctly, leaving Ivana speechless.
- Writer
