A slight grimace etched to Charles Cole's face as he stepped out of his car, he was feeling the aftermath of drinking silly.
After Charles left the party last night, he visited a bar to get drunk in an attempt to numb the sudden ache in his heart but nothing worked.
All he could remember was that he woke up this morning to Sarah June asleep next to him.
Only after several hours of pleading and nagging did she ultimately agree to let him drop her off at home and take his leave.
Just as Charles approached the interior of the exquisite mansion, his phone pinged with several message notifications.
Seeing it was a text from his assistant, he hesitantly tapped on it, Charles' grey pupils contracting after first view.
- Lannick
President Cole, the images from last night's dinner party leaked. The press is asking questions about the credibility of you and madam's marriage. I've done my best to suppress the storm but they all refused.
Underneath the message, pictures of newspaper headlines were attached, they all had the same image, a portrait of his wife making out with another man.
Although his grandfather's dinner party was private and highly protected.
He had a vague idea of who could have leaked the image but he couldn't prove it without substantial evidence.
In hopes of maintaining and creating good spirit, his grandfather had invited both allies and rivals to the birthday party.
Even That man, he had never heard of his name in the city's social circle but Ariana seemed oddly familiar with him.
Did she happen to invite her concubine to his grandfather's birthday party?
Thinking of this caused an uproar in his heart.
Trembling with anger, Charles typed a quick reply to Lannick.
- Charles Cole
Release some A-list celebrity gossip, if that does not work contact Vader, and pay him all he wants, I want the pictures deleted alongside the identity of whoever made the post.
Charles Cole's face darkened, gritting his teeth in anger, his long legs glided across the marble tile of the balcony approaching the front door.
As soon as he got past the fingerprint authentication, he slammed the door harshly and yelled.
"Ariana."
Seeing the living room empty, he walked into the dining room narrowing his grey eyes on the petite woman seated at the end of the table with her head hanging low.
He walked deeper into the room with a deep scowl, clutching onto his mobile phone.
"Can you tell me what this means?" Charles asked in a sharp tone, tossing his phone across the table to Ariana.
Ariana looked up confused but her face remained blank and distant as she grabbed the phone zooming in.
It was covers of several newspapers and it had a picture of her and Caleb.
From the angle it was taken, it looked like they were both kissing, she didn't care to explain but what infuriated her were the slanderous headlines.
They all threw some discrete jab at her.
"Has Madam Cole clawed yet another prey?"
"Should we be expecting a divorce from the Coles soon?"
"Is there a hidden side to the 'power couple'?"
One even went as far as saying.
'Sarah June's Time To Shine.'
Ariana's hazel eyes brushed over him with an unbothered face and asked. "What does it look like?"
Seeing her indifference, Charles' anger skyrocketed and he clenched his fists back into a rock digging into his palm to restrain himself.
"I always knew you were a vicious woman but have you no modesty, Ariana Cole?"
The corners of Ariana's lips tugged into a mocking smile.
"Shame, You dare talk about shame? For 5 years your wife has been a doormat you dispose and neglect conveniently while you show off a mistress and you dare talk about shame."
Ariana scoffed lightly, inexplicably finding him quite irritable. "The Cole men are truly beneath stray dogs."
"Stop talking." Charles Cole sternly scolded.
Ariana frowned, a slight smirk still adorning her lush lips. "What have I said Ugh? It's true what they say. An apple doesn't fall too far from the tree."
Charles balled his fist angrily feeling a raging cloud of resentment, Everyone in the city knew Charles Cole was also an illegitimate child.
Charles was only considered an heir after his twin brothers and father died.
His mother had even decided for him to rule immediately after the offer was made because of the financial benefits.
The bitter woman constantly reminded him when he was young that she kept a roof over his head because of his value and nothing more.
Charles glared at Ariana, disdain evident in his grey orbs. "Come now, go with me to apologize to the elders at the Cole mansion for putting down the company's reputation."
"Then maybe they'll forgive you."
Ariana gazed at Charles' outstretched hand in disgust, why did she have to apologize? He never did.
Her jaws tightened with vexation, it was as if a veil had been lifted off her face and she could now see his true colors and they were ugly.
She couldn't believe she had devoted her time and love to such a selfish man.
"I want a divorce, President Cole."
Charles inadvertently took a step back in a daze.
Although he never agreed to marry Ariana in the first place, he never so casually asked for a divorce.
He peered into her eyes but he couldn't seem to read them like he used to, her hazel eyes looked dead like a deep voidless abyss.
Why was this woman proving stubborn? She was playing victim even when Sarah June was the one truly wronged.
Such a scandalous woman.
Charles clicked his tongue in anger. "Stop spewing nonsense Ariana."
"You'll come with me to apologize and take any punishment given."
Ariana chuckled lightly, finding the scene rather funny.
In the past, she would have obediently agreed and let herself be ridiculed by the members of the Cole family.
"President Cole, I thought you always wanted me to leave so you can be with your high school sweetheart, Sarah June."
"Are you suddenly reluctant to let me go now? Have you fallen in love with me?"
Love?
"Don't be stupid Ariana."
"I'll advise you not to make a brainless choice. When you regret your actions later, Grandfather wouldn't be there to help you."
Ariana nodded slowly, a satisfied look adorning her oval face. "I'll be out of the house soon, my lawyer will contact you on the divorce proceedings."
Ariana clapped at Diana who had been watching the drama unfold from a corner.
Dalia grasped both ends of the wheelchair to leave but Charles Cole yelled behind them.
"Take another step and this marriage is over."
Ariana tilted her neck to glance at him then moved her gaze away promptly, smiling gently. "Let's go."
Dalia responded with a bright gleam, a sense of pride filling her eyes as she pushed Ariana's wheelchair out of the dining room.
Charles stood in the skunk dining room still rooted to the same spot gazing at the space in front of him.
Was she trying to threaten him?
The stupid woman seemed to have forgotten, she signed a prenup before their marriage stating she wouldn't be taking any shares of their property.
A poor country bumpkin with no roots like her would be nothing without him.
He frowned lightly thinking back to the determination in her pure hazel eyes but waved off the thought immediately.
Charles rubbed his temple gently feeling rather frustrated.
'It's too bad grandfather chose such a dirty scheming woman.'