Chapter 12

He clutched the papers so tightly his knuckles whitened. Charlotte gulped. “Sir… she owns part of your company now.” Adrian leaped from his chair, his pulse thundering. “No.” No, no, no. This wasn’t possible. His mind raced back to last night—to her composure, her control, the way she’d smiled as he signed. She had played him; he’d walked straight into her trap. His breath came fast, his palms clenched into fists. For the first time since her return, he saw it: she wasn’t the woman he’d known. She wasn’t Isabella anymore. She was colder, sharper, ruthless. And she had won.

Across the city, Aria sat in her office, sipping coffee, her phone buzzing with news. Liam chuckled from across the room, shaking his head. “You didn’t just beat him, Aria. You incinerated him.” Aria grinned, setting down her cup. “He deserved it.” Her phone vibrated: Adrian Marsden. Calling. Again. She stared at the screen, then slowly, deliberately, pressed decline.

The world had barely absorbed the shock of Isabella Marsden’s reappearance when another bombshell exploded. The headlines hit first: “Breaking News: Aria Laurent and Billionaire Liam Carter Are Engaged!” “A Business Power Move or a Love Story? The Truth Behind Aria Laurent’s Engagement!” “Adrian Marsden’s Former Wife to Marry His Rival!” Speculation, whispers, disbelief followed. The media went wild. And Adrian? Adrian lost it.

Aria sat at her desk, skimming a contract she wasn’t reading. Her phone vibrated incessantly—calls, texts, emails. Everyone demanded a statement, a confirmation. No one had seen it coming. No one but her. She’d planned this, every step. Liam had been more than willing to cooperate; the engagement announcement was another move—another premeditated blow against Adrian Marsden. And judging by his frantic attempts to contact her, it was working.

A sharp knock echoed at her door, but before she could respond, it burst open. The moment Adrian stormed in, she knew he’d snapped. His hair was ruffled, his tie loosened, his usual composure vanished. He looked like a man teetering on the brink of disaster. She tilted her head, unimpressed. “You really should learn to wait for an invitation, Adrian.”

His mouth tightened as he stalked forward. “You can’t marry him.” Aria raised an eyebrow, unaffected. “Can’t I?” Adrian paused before her desk, his eyes dark, wild. His hand slammed against the wood. “No.” A smirk played on her lips. She adored this—watching him crumble, unravel. “Why not?” she asked, her voice light. “He never betrayed me. He never made me feel worthless.”

Adrian froze, as if her words had physically struck him. Aria leaned forward, her gaze unwavering. “Tell me, Adrian—what gives you the right to barge in here like this? To demand anything from me?” His breathing was harsh, ragged. “Because I know you don’t love him.” She laughed softly. “And?” His fists clenched. “And you don’t belong to him.” Her smile remained. “I don’t belong to anyone.”

His control shattered. He grabbed her wrist, yanking her from her chair. “Adrian,” she warned, her voice low. His grip was firm, desperate. “You don’t love him,” he cried, his voice cracking. Aria’s expression was unreadable. “I don’t need to love him.” Adrian’s chest heaved, his fingertips trembling on her skin. “Then what are you doing?” She didn’t blink. “I’m moving on.” His throat tightened. “With him?” “Why not?” she murmured. “He’s powerful. He’s respected. And unlike you—” she leaned in, her lips near his ear, whispering the final blow—“he never made me feel like I was nothing.”

Adrian froze. Pain flickered in his eyes. He’d spent months searching for her, grieving, only to have her return and obliterate him. Now, she was choosing someone else. His voice was hoarse. “I made a mistake.” Aria’s eyes didn’t waver. “Yes, you did.” Adrian’s grip loosened. His eyes held something deadly. “Please…” his voice sank to a whisper. “Don’t leave me.”

For the first time, Aria felt something shift—not sympathy, not regret, but the weight of the past, of what they had been. For a moment, she almost believed him. But then she remembered the betrayal, the lonely evenings spent grieving while he was with another. She jerked her wrist free, stepping back. Her eyes were clear, steady. “You already lost me, Adrian.” His breath hitched.

She watched understanding dawn. For months, he’d believed that finding her would solve everything, that she would return, that she still belonged to him. But now, seeing her detachment, he understood. She wasn’t coming back. She’d never been his. And for the first time, Adrian Marsden felt utterly powerless.

Aria took a deep breath, smoothing her dress. “You should go.” Adrian’s fists clenched, his body rigid, as if fighting himself. But he didn’t argue, didn’t fight. What was left to fight for? Without another word, he turned and walked away.

As the door clicked shut, Aria sat back, inhaling deeply. She reached for her phone, typing a new message: Aria: It’s done. A response came instantly: Liam: Good. Now we finish it. Aria glanced at the screen before setting down her phone. This wasn’t just about moving on. It was about ending Adrian Marsden for good.