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Chapter 13 - Ariana meeting Hannah

The next morning, Ariana dressed with care, her outfit reflecting her good mood. Her day felt promising, and she was determined to embrace the fresh start her career offered.

As she was fixing the final touches, a knock came at her door. The housekeeper entered, carrying a polite but cautious expression. "Breakfast is ready, ma'am," she announced. "Oh, and someone called earlier to congratulate you on your result. They seemed very happy for you."

Ariana smiled slightly at the gesture but was caught off guard as the housekeeper hesitated before adding, "Also, Mr. Leonardo received a phone call this morning. A woman named Hana. They spoke for quite a while."

The mention of Hana's name made Ariana freeze mid-motion, her expression tightening. "I don't see how that's any of my business," she replied sharply, turning back toward her mirror to avoid the housekeeper's gaze. "Haven't you noticed? Things between Leonardo and me aren't exactly pleasant. I'm not involved in his affairs, and I don't intend to be."

The housekeeper nodded quietly, retreating from the room. Ariana stared at her reflection, her earlier optimism dimmed but not completely snuffed out. This is my time to move forward, she thought resolutely, brushing aside the intrusive shadow of Leonardo's life.

When Ariana arrived at the company, she was greeted warmly by her colleagues in the department. They congratulated her on earning her position, recognizing her hard work and competence. Their words of encouragement filled her with pride, reminding her of the path she had carved for herself.

As she walked through the office, she spotted Liam speaking with Mr. Adrian. Their conversation appeared lighthearted, and as soon as Liam noticed her, he excused himself and walked over, his usual charming smile in place.

"Congratulations again, Ariana," Liam said, his enthusiasm genuine. "I knew you'd get it. You've earned every bit of it."

"Thank you, Liam," Ariana replied, returning the smile. Just then, Mr. Adrian approached and extended his congratulations as well. "We're thrilled to have someone like you stepping into this role," he said, his tone firm and encouraging.

As the exchange went on, Liam teased her lightly. "You know," he began with a smirk, "I was wondering if anyone had told you already—you'll probably be running the place by next week." His joking tone was paired with a glance that suggested he might not be entirely joking.

Ariana shook her head and chuckled. "I'm flattered, but let's take it one step at a time, Liam. I've only just started."

Still, his comment struck a chord in her. I will prove myself here, she thought, her determination burning brighter. No one will doubt me, and no one will overshadow my efforts.

The first day in her new role passed in a whirlwind, unlike the slower days of training. Ariana quickly settled into her duties, receiving detailed explanations of her responsibilities. The workload, though exciting, left her exhausted. This is just the beginning, she thought, but her body yearned for rest.

It was already past six in the evening when she finally returned home. However, to her surprise, she noticed an unfamiliar car parked in front of the house. A wave of unease swept over her. Who could it be? she wondered, clutching her keys tightly as she approached the entrance.

Hesitating slightly, she pushed the door open and stepped inside, bracing herself for the unexpected. The house was quiet, eerily so. For a moment, she held her breath, scanning the space to determine who the visitor might be.

just as she was about to head upstairs, one of the maids appeared from the kitchen.

"Ma'am, welcome back," the maid said politely. Then, lowering her voice slightly, she added, "There is a woman here. She waited for you for about an hour."

"A woman?" Ariana asked sharply, her brow furrowing. "Who was she?"

"I'm not sure," the maid replied hesitantly. "She didn't say her name, but she seemed… familiar with the house. She is waiting for you in the living room"

In the Living Room

Ariana pushed open the door to the living room after a long day, only to find Hannah sitting quietly on the sofa, seemingly waiting for her. Ariana paused for a moment before stepping inside with composed strides. With a cold demeanor, she greeted her:

"Hello, Hannah. I didn't expect to see you here."

Hannah gave her a nervous smile. "Hi, Ariana. It's been three years since I last saw you."

Ariana sat down on the chair across from her, her gaze sharp. "Yes, three years since the day you showed up at my wedding, barged into my room, and caused a big scene."

Hannah sighed and looked down. "I'm sorry, Ariana. You know what I was going through back then. I couldn't control my emotions. Imagine finding out that your best friend is marrying the man you love."

Raising an eyebrow with clear sarcasm, Ariana replied, "Really? And then what? Do you remember how you wanted me to call off the wedding? I almost did, but then I realized I had nowhere else to go. So, I stayed."

Hannah looked at her apologetically. "I was so young and confused then. But now… it's over. I've officially gotten a divorce."

Ariana's expression shifted slightly. "Divorce?"

"Yes, the divorce. And also…" Hannah hesitated, searching for the right words. "I've been seeing Leonardo recently. Actually, for a month now. He's been with me almost every day."

Ariana let out a small, dry laugh, her tone dripping with sarcasm. "Oh, how kind of him. Helping you through your tough time, I see?"

Hannah pressed on. "Yes, he helped me a lot. He even stood up to my family for me."

Ariana stared at her, a mix of disbelief and mockery in her voice. "Oh, really? And do you know why? Because when you needed to stand up for him back then, you couldn't. And now? You're back to take my husband? My family? Is that your plan?"

Hannah, her voice trembling, said, "I was too young back then. I didn't know how to handle it. But now, things are different."

Ariana let out a bitter laugh. "Different? And you think Leonardo is suddenly some knight in shining armor? What a joke."

Hannah tried to defend herself. "I'm sorry, Ariana. It's not like that. We talked. He told me about the nature of your relationship. He said you're just a married couple on paper, living separate lives, with no connection between you."

Ariana's heart skipped a beat, shock taking over her features. How dare he? How dare he share the private details of our marriage with her? He's always insisted on keeping things quiet, and now he's playing the honest husband with her? Hypocrite!

Her thoughts were interrupted by Hannah's voice: "I'm sorry to know all this, but I didn't want to be involved with him while he was married to someone else. He told me everything."

Ariana snapped back, her tone sharp. "And what do you expect me to do with this information? You came here just to tell me you've been meeting my husband? Then what?"

Hannah hesitated before replying: "I came to tell you that we want a divorce. You said yourself that you were thinking about it. That's why I'm here—to discuss it with you."

Ariana let out a bitter laugh, her voice filled with disdain. "Oh, so you've already decided on my divorce? How thoughtful of you both to plan it out for me before I even agreed."

Hannah tried to soften the blow: "Ariana, please. My family would never accept me marrying him while he's still married to someone else."

Ariana stood up, looking down at her with an icy gaze. "Fine. Congratulations to both of you. I was planning on leaving Leonardo anyway. Take him."

Hannah was visibly startled by her response. "Really? I didn't expect you to give in so easily. I thought you'd cause a scene."

Ariana smirked, her voice steady and mocking. "Cause a scene? For a man like him? No. If he's comfortable sharing our private life with you, he's not worth a fight. I wish you both the best of luck. But don't expect me to shed a single tear."

Looking at her coldly, Ariana added, "I think we're done here."

Hannah, her voice weak, said: "Thank you, Ariana. I didn't mean to hurt you. I just wanted to clear the air."

Ariana's eyes narrowed, and her tone was dripping with sarcasm. "Thank you for your kindness. How considerate of you."