That night, Aria finally returned home.
A week and some days have passed since the scandal broke, but she had avoided stepping foot inside her house.
Not because it disgusted her, but because she knew Caspian and Lydia would be waiting, circling like vultures.
Aria showered quickly and dressed.
Aurora, Caspian’s mother had called her earlier and invited her for a family dinner.
Maybe this was her chance to finalize the divorce and make it clear with the family she was no longer interested.
A ruined career was better than dying a foolish woman twice.
Even if she was destroyed, she could rebuild herself from scratch, with her talent, her name, her truth.
Her phone buzzed as she zipped up her dress.
A notification from Clouta flashed across the screen:
“Billionaire and CEO Sebastian Vaughn of Reven’s Corp is now on Clouta.” Aria read the headline without reading the article or even clicking on the picture.
“Billionaire’s now likes gossips too.” She chuckled and wore her earrings.
She slipped on her heels, adjusted her jewelry, and left the house.
When she arrived at the Graves mansion, the guards rushed forward to open the car door for her, as always.
Even though she was separates from Caspian, she was still the new madam Graves, it is normal for them to treat her with so much respect.
The Graves weren’t the most powerful family in the country, but Caspian’s fame and fortune had elevated them high in society’s ranks.
Though he was a nepo baby, he worked like a man who had known hunger.
He’d clawed his way up, and lifted his family with him.
Aria stepped onto the concrete driveway, her dress brushing against her legs, and walked into the towering mansion.
The last time she came here, Caspian had been by her side.
This time, she walked in alone.
The butler guided her to the dining room.
Every face turned toward her as she entered, the family already seated around the long, glittering table.
“Aria!” Lydia darted toward her, wrapping her in a hug as if they hadn’t seen each other in years.
Even though this was only an act before the family members.
Aria has no idea what was coming.
This was only the beginning.
“You’re finally back,” Lydia whispered against her shoulder, relief dripping from her voice.
“I thought you’d never come to your senses.”
Aria pulled away, her gaze drifting to the long dining table.
Her mother in law Aurora, Caspian’s mother sat stiffly beside his Aunt Matilda, her elder sister.
On the other side was his Aunt Genevieve, and next to her sat Uncle Brown Graves, Caspian’s father himself.
The entire Graves clan was at the table that night, including Caspian, who didn’t spare her a single glance.
Something felt different.
Aurora, who usually greeted her with warmth, now had her lips pressed into a hard frown.
One look was all it took for Aria to realize Lydia had already worked her poisonous magic on them.
Aria straightened her back, her heart steady.
She wasn’t here to beg for a place in their family anymore.
Not tonight.
Not ever again.
She moved toward the table, a practiced smile curving her lips.
“I’m sorry I’m late for dinner,” she said calmly, taking a seat.
“You’re the only married woman I know who can’t even keep a place in her husband’s house,” Matilda sneered, her fork clinking against the china before she even touched her food.
“I’m not married anymore, Aunty,” Aria replied evenly, though her jaw tightened.
Matilda was her least favorite, the woman has hated her from the beginning of time because to her, she was a poor girl who didn’t match their family’s standard.
Matilda leaned back, eyes narrowing.
“Then I must have worded it wrongly.
You’re the only woman who gets married and sleeps with another man on the night of her wedding, then still divorce her husband.
What was your aim, Aria Monroe?”
“Who said I cheated?” Aria asked around.
“Do we all now listen to online gossip and speculation about a supposed family member?”
“No one is a fool Aria.
I have the tape with me.” Aria smiled.
So he was the one who released the video in her past?
She should have known Caspian never forgave her even when she apologized countless times in the past.
“Aria, are you doing this for attention.
This is too much.” Lydia cut in.
“Caspian and the Graves family have loved us since our parents died.
You cannot repay their kindness like this.”
“You knew the truth, why didn’t you at least clear the air.”
“Do you take us for fools?” Genevieve snapped.
“Aunty, please for give my sister.
I had told her the same thing, no woman just sleeps in a hotel room, especially on the night of her wedding.
You can stop lying now Aria, we’re your family.”
“But did you tell them, you pushed me into that room?” Lydia almost chocked at her sisters words.
“ARIA!” Genevieve yelled.
“Lydia already told us it was a mistake and that you took her upstairs.” Aria laughed at their words.
“That’s enough, you two.
We already agreed she’s forgiven, no matter what happened,” Aurora cut in.
“Aria,” Aurora called, and Aria turned toward her.
“You’ve loved my Caspian since you were a child.
How could you betray him like this?”
“That’s enough, Mother.
It’s clear she’s not remorseful, I don’t want her back either.
I just want to finalize the divorce,” Caspian interrupted coldly.
“Nonsense!” Aurora exclaimed.
“No one gets divorced in the Graves family.
Not over a small matter like that.
You can’t tell me you haven’t cheated on Aria before Caspian.”
“Mother!” Caspian called.
“All I’m saying is you two must settle your differences tonight, unless you want me dead.”
“All right, Mother,” Caspian said finally, turning to Aria.
“If you apologize right now, maybe I’ll accept you back.”
The table fell silent.
Everyone watched Aria, waiting.
“Apologize for what exactly?” Came Aria’s voice.
“I already told you I want a divorce Caspian Graves.” She brought out two papers from her back as she placed them on the table.
Everyone on the table stared at her.
“We’re over Caspian Graves.
I have you an ultimatum and you failed it.
I can’t be a wife of a man who will pick others over me.”
“Aria!” Lydia exclaimed, shaking her head gently.
“I came here today to let everyone know that Caspian and I are officially over.
Please sign the papers Mr Graves” Aria declared.
“What is she talking about Caspian?” Aurora asked.
“She told me to fire my new artist.”
“Who keeps stealing my songs.
And he told me I’m better off a songwriter than an artist.”
“Aren’t you?” Genevieve barked.
“That’s is why I’m better off with a family who knows my worth and appreciate me for who I am.
Please sign the papers and don’t embarrass yourself further.”
Caspian’s face twisted with rage.
“You cheated on me with another man on our wedding night!” Caspian’s voice thundered through the dining room, rattling the silverware.
“I’ve endured so much because of you.
My family, my business, my name, they’ve all suffered because of you.”
Aria’s hands curled into fists beneath the table, but her face remained calm.
“And yet here you are, still clinging to me like you cannot love without me.”
“Since I’ve caused nothing but trouble, it’s best you stay away from me, Caspian.
Our relationship is nothing more than that of a boss and his worker,” she said evenly, ignoring the silent glares circling the table.
“Such an ungrateful brat,” Genevieve muttered.
“It’s your fault, Caspian, for falling in love with such a menace.”
“Don’t worry, Aunty.
It’ll all be over today,” Caspian said, his jaw tight.
He picked the paper and signed both papers.
“You’re going to suffer for this.
You’re nothing without me Aria.” Aria only smiled at his words as she signed her part of the paper too.
“If you think any other man would want you after that scandal then think again.
You’re a used woman in the public eyes.” She stared at him.
“Is that so.” Aria smiled.
Then she opened her clout app and logged i to her account.
Caspian’s smug face burned in her mind as her fingers danced across the screen.
She recalled that billionaire had just joined clout.
She’ll prove to them, she is infact wanted by many.
“@SebastianVaughn, will you marry me?”