chapter 10:The Deal That Bound Her
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Chapter 10: The Deal That Bound Her
The word stayed with her.
Wife…
It echoed in her chest as she followed him out of the room, her steps slow, almost unsure. The polished floor beneath her bare feet felt cold, sending a faint chill up her legs. She hadn’t even realized she wasn’t wearing shoes again.
Before she could take another step…
His hand caught her wrist.
Warm.
Firm.
Aria froze.
Her breath hitched softly as she turned slightly, her eyes lifting to meet his.
Anderson didn’t speak immediately.
His gaze dropped… slowly… deliberately… to her feet.
Then back to her face.
“You don’t like wearing shoes?” he asked quietly.
There was no mockery in his voice.
Just observation.
Aria swallowed.
“I didn’t notice…” she admitted.
Her voice came out softer than she intended.
For a second, something shifted in his expression.
Subtle.
Then he released her wrist.
But only to step closer.
He bent slightly, picking up the slippers placed neatly by the wall, then set them gently before her.
“Wear them.”
Simple.
But careful.
Aria slipped her feet into them.
Warm.
Soft.
Protected.
“Thank you…” she whispered.
Her voice small.
Her cheeks flushed faintly.
She turned quickly, walking ahead, almost escaping the moment.
Behind her…
A slight smile touched Anderson’s lips.
Gone almost instantly.
---
The mansion doors opened.
Cool evening air brushed against her skin, carrying the faint scent of night flowers and distant rain.
Aria stepped out…
And stopped.
Her breath caught.
Cars lined perfectly.
Luxury.
Power.
Engines humming low like restrained beasts.
Men in black stood still… alert… eyes sharp.
The moment Anderson stepped out
“Boss.”
Respect filled the air instantly.
Aria felt it.
That shift.
That control.
She turned to look at him.
Really look.
Who exactly did I marry…?
The car door opened.
“Madam.”
The word felt heavy.
Unfamiliar.
His hand rested lightly at her back, guiding her in.
Warm.
Possessive.
She inhaled sharply.
The leather seat felt soft, expensive, carrying a clean, rich scent.
He entered beside her.
Close.
Too close.
Her heartbeat picked up.
Fast.
“What kind of dinner is this…?” she asked quietly.
“Not dinner.”
A pause.
“An announcement.”
Her stomach dropped.
“Of what…?”
He turned.
Eyes locking with hers.
“Of you.”
Her throat dried instantly.
---
The car stopped.
Noise hit her.
Voices.
Music.
Perfume thick in the air.
Aria stepped out…
And froze.
Lights.
People.
Eyes.
All on her.
Whispers spread like wildfire.
“She came with him…”
“Who is she…?”
Her fingers gripped Anderson’s sleeve instinctively.
He covered her hand.
Firm.
Grounding.
“Stay close.”
They walked forward.
Each step echoing.
A man approached.
Powerful.
Observant.
“Anderson… and who is this?”
Silence.
Heavy.
Anderson didn’t hesitate.
“She’s mine.”
The words landed with authority.
Final.
Then—
“Aria…?”
Her entire body stiffened.
Slowly…
She turned.
Ethan.
Beside him—
Lillian.
Her chest tightened sharply.
The scent of their familiar perfumes hit her nose… once comforting… now sickening.
Her stomach twisted.
Lillian’s lips curved.
That same smile.
Sharp.
Poisoned.
“Well…” she said softly.
“I didn’t expect to see you here…”
Aria didn’t respond.
Not immediately.
Because something inside her had shifted.
Not pain.
Not anymore.
Something colder.
Her fingers steadied.
Her breathing slowed.
She lifted her chin.
Her gaze met Lillian’s directly.
Disgust flickered clearly in her eyes.
Not hidden.
Not softened.
“You call it replaced…” Aria said quietly.
Her voice smooth.
Controlled.
But laced with something sharp enough to cut.
“I call it upgraded.”
The room went silent.
Even the music felt distant.
Aria took a slow step forward.
Her heels clicked against the marble.
Soft.
Precise.
Intentional.
Her eyes never left Lillian.
“Because the last one…” she continued, her tone calm, almost thoughtful…
“…was broken… unfaithful… and honestly?”
Her gaze shifted briefly to Ethan.
The look she gave him—
Disgust.
Pure.
Unfiltered.
Then back to Lillian.
“…cheap.”
A quiet breath left her lips.
Like she was done carrying something heavy.
Done pretending.
Her fingers lifted slightly, letting the light catch the ring on her hand.
“And this?”
Her voice dropped.
Colder.
Sharper.
“Is something you could never stand beside… let alone take.”
Lillian’s expression cracked.
Just slightly.
But Aria saw it.
And this time—
She didn’t feel pain.
She felt power.
She stepped back.
Slid her hand into Anderson’s.
Like it belonged there.
Because now…
It did.
Her final words came soft.
But lethal.
“So no… Lillian…”
A faint smile curved her lips.
Cold.
Untouchable.
“Nothing was replaced.”
A pause.
Her eyes locked with hers one last time.
“I just stopped touching trash.”
Silence crashed over the room.
Heavy.
Suffocating.
And beside her…
Anderson’s grip tightened.
Not in warning.
In approval.
Because in that moment…
Aria wasn’t the girl who was betrayed.
She was the woman who walked out of it… untouched.
And something about that…
Changed everything.
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