MY FATED LOVE

THE GHOST OF THE PAST

Chapter 3: The Ghost of the Past

The week after the brunch was quiet. Julian and Aries lived in the same house, but they were like two ships passing in the night. Julian went to the office early, and Aries spent her days working on her own marketing projects. They only spoke when they had to decide what to eat for dinner or if there was an event they had to attend together.

However, things were about to change.

One afternoon, Aries was at a local coffee shop working on her laptop. She was focused on a new advertising campaign when she heard a familiar voice.

"Aries? Is that really you?"

Aries looked up and gasped. Standing in front of her was Theo. Theo was her first love, her boyfriend from college. He was tall, kind, and had a smile that always made Aries feel safe. They had broken up years ago because Theo moved to Europe for work, but they had stayed on good terms.

"Theo! What are you doing here?" Aries asked, standing up to give him a warm hug.

"I just moved back to the city," Theo laughed, his eyes bright. "I heard you got married. To Julian Thorne, no less. I have to say, I was surprised. He’s... well, he’s a lot different from the guys you used to date."

Aries felt a blush creep up her neck. "It was a family decision," she said simply. "But tell me about you! How was London?"

They sat down together and talked for over an hour. It felt easy to talk to Theo. He didn't look at her like she was a business contract. He looked at her like she was the girl he used to love.

The Unexpected Meeting

While Aries and Theo were laughing, the door to the coffee shop opened. It was Julian. He was coming from a nearby meeting and wanted a quick espresso.

He stopped in his tracks when he saw Aries. She wasn't looking at her laptop anymore. She was leaning forward, her eyes sparkling, laughing at something a handsome man was saying. Julian felt a strange, sharp poke in his chest. It was like a needle hitting his heart.

He didn't know why he felt so angry. He didn't love Aries, right? But seeing her look so happy with someone else made his blood boil.

Julian walked over to their table. His face was like a dark cloud.

"Aries," he said, his voice deep and cold.

Aries jumped a little, startled. "Julian! Oh, I didn't see you. This is Theo, an old friend from college. Theo, this is my husband, Julian."

Theo stood up and held out his hand. "Nice to meet you, Mr. Thorne. I’ve heard a lot about you."

Julian didn't shake his hand. He just stared at Theo like he was a bug he wanted to crush. "I’m sure you have. Aries, we have a dinner tonight with the investors. You should go home and get ready. Now."

Aries frowned. "The dinner isn't until eight o'clock, Julian. It’s only four."

"Traffic is bad," Julian snapped. "Let’s go."

Aries looked at Theo, feeling embarrassed. "I’m sorry, Theo. It was great seeing you. Let's grab lunch sometime next week?"

"I’d love that," Theo said, giving her a gentle smile.

Julian grabbed Aries’ arm—not hard, but firmly—and led her out of the shop.

The Car Ride Fight

As soon as they were in the car, Aries pulled her arm away. "What is wrong with you? You were so rude!"

"Who is he?" Julian demanded. He wasn't looking at her. He was gripping the steering wheel so hard his knuckles were white.

"I told you, he’s an old friend. His name is Theo."

"An old friend? You were looking at him like he was the sun," Julian growled. "You are a married woman, Aries. You can't just go around meeting 'old friends' for coffee and planning lunches."

Aries laughed, but she was angry. "That is rich coming from you! You literally spend every other night with Natasha! You didn't even hide it from me. Why can I not have a friend, but you can have a mistress?"

"It’s different!" Julian shouted.

"How is it different?" Aries shouted back. "Because you’re the CEO? Because you’re a man? No, Julian. We have a contract, remember? You said my life is my own. Well, Theo is part of my life."

Julian pulled the car over to the side of the road and turned to look at her. His eyes were dark and full of a feeling he couldn't name. "It’s different because Natasha doesn't mean anything to me anymore!"

The car went silent. Aries stared at him, her mouth open. "What did you just say?"

Julian realized what he had said and looked away. "I just mean... she’s a habit. But you... you’re my wife. Even if it’s a lie, people look at us. If you’re seen with another man, it makes me look weak."

"So it’s about your pride," Aries said, feeling a bit disappointed. She didn't know what she expected him to say, but 'pride' hurt more than she thought. "Don't worry, Julian. I won't embarrass you. But I won't let you control who my friends are."

The Dinner and the Spark

That night at the investor dinner, the tension between them was thick. Julian kept his hand on Aries' shoulder the whole night. He was acting very possessive. Every time a man looked at Aries, Julian would glare at them until they looked away.

Aries found it a little bit funny. She had never seen this side of Julian before. He was always so calm and in control. But today, he was like a jealous lion.

During the meal, Aries leaned in and whispered to him, "You can stop acting now, Julian. No one is looking."

Julian leaned in even closer. His breath was warm against her ear. "Maybe I’m not acting."

Aries felt her heart skip a beat. She looked at him, searching his face for a sign that he was joking. But he looked serious. For a moment, the world around them disappeared. There was no Natasha, no Theo, and no contract. There was just the two of them.

Suddenly, a waiter came by and accidentally bumped Julian’s chair. The moment was broken. Julian cleared his throat and went back to talking to the investors.

Natasha’s Revenge

While Julian and Aries were at dinner, Natasha was at home, fuming. She had seen the news reports of the "happy couple" at the gala and the brunch. She felt Julian slipping away. He wasn't answering her texts as fast as he used to.

She opened her laptop and looked at a folder of photos. They were photos of Julian and her from a few months ago—very private, very intimate photos.

"If I can't have him, nobody will," Natasha whispered to herself.

She picked up her phone and called a tabloid reporter. "I have a story for you," she said, her voice full of poison. "About the 'perfect' Thorne marriage. It’s all a lie. And I have the proof."

The Storm is Coming

Back at the penthouse, Julian and Aries were getting ready for bed in their separate rooms.

Julian stood in front of his mirror. He couldn't stop thinking about the way Aries looked when she was talking to Theo. He hated it. He realized that he didn't want to go to Natasha's house anymore. He didn't want to see her. He wanted to stay here, in this house, with the wife who made him feel more alive than anyone ever had.

He walked to Aries' door and knocked.

Aries opened it. She was in her pajamas, looking tired. "Yes, Julian?"

"I... I just wanted to say sorry," Julian said. It was the first time he had ever apologized to her. "For being a jerk at the coffee shop."

Aries smiled softly. "Thank you, Julian. That means a lot."

"Goodnight, Aries."

"Goodnight, Julian."

As he walked away, Aries felt a glimmer of hope. Maybe this marriage wouldn't be a prison after all. But she didn't know that tomorrow, a scandal was going to break that would threaten everything they had built.