Sophia Hayes was the kind of woman who could make the sun seem dimmer with her smile. Her delicate features—a perfectly sculpted nose, large blue eyes framed by thick lashes, and golden hair that cascaded like a waterfall gave her an angelic appearance. Combined with her soft-spoken words and an air of vulnerability, she had mastered the art of winning hearts wherever she went.
But Ariana knew better.
Sophia visited the Turner mansion frequently, always under the guise of sisterly affection. Each visit chipped away at Ariana's resolve, leaving her more isolated in her own home.
It was a sunny afternoon when Sophia arrived unannounced. Ariana was in the garden, crouched by the rose bushes, her gloved hands gently pruning the vibrant blooms. The scent of roses wafted through the air, a fleeting comfort in her otherwise suffocating world.
"Ariana!" Sophia's cheerful voice rang out, breaking the peaceful silence.
Ariana glanced up, forcing a polite smile. Sophia approached with her signature grace, her pale yellow sundress fluttering lightly in the breeze. She looked like she belonged in a painting, a vision of perfection that Ariana had long stopped trying to emulate.
"You've done such a lovely job with these flowers," Sophia said, crouching beside her.
"Thank you," Ariana replied, returning her focus to the roses. "Gardening helps me clear my mind."
Sophia tilted her head, her gaze sharp despite the smile plastered on her lips. "Clear your mind? Is something troubling you?"
Ariana froze for a moment, then shook her head. "No, nothing at all."
Sophia leaned closer, lowering her voice as if sharing a secret. "I noticed Lucas seemed upset last night. Is everything all right between you two?"
The question caught Ariana off guard, and she stiffened. Lucas had been distant at dinner the previous evening, but that was nothing new. Still, the implication in Sophia's tone made her stomach churn.
"We're fine," Ariana said carefully, refusing to meet her gaze.
"Hmm." Sophia hummed softly, her expression a perfect blend of concern and curiosity. "You know, Ariana, Lucas has always been a difficult man to please. But I'm sure he appreciates everything you do for him."
Ariana's jaw tightened. The words sounded kind on the surface, but she knew Sophia well enough to hear the condescension beneath them.
"Thank you," Ariana said flatly, her patience wearing thin.
Sophia reached out and gently touched Ariana's arm, her smile widening. "I'm only saying this because I care about you. I hope you know that."
Ariana finally looked at her, forcing another tight smile. "Of course, Sophia. I appreciate your concern."
Sophia's eyes glinted with satisfaction, and she straightened, brushing imaginary dust off her dress. "Well, I should let you get back to your gardening. Don't work too hard, Ariana. Stress isn't good for your health."
With that, she turned and strolled back toward the house, leaving Ariana seething in silence.
That evening, Ariana sat in the study, trying to lose herself in the pages of a novel. The fire crackled softly in the hearth, but its warmth did little to soothe her frayed nerves. She had just started to relax when Lucas walked in, his expression hard.
"Ariana," he said, his tone clipped.
She looked up, her heart sinking at the sight of his stern face. "Yes?"
He stood by the desk, arms crossed. "Sophia told me you were upset with her earlier. Is that true?"
Ariana blinked, caught off guard. "Upset with her? No, I wasn't..."
"She said you were short with her in the garden," Lucas interrupted, his voice rising slightly. "She was only trying to help, and you apparently couldn't even be civil."
Ariana felt her throat tighten, anger and disbelief bubbling beneath the surface. "Lucas, that's not what happened. We had a simple conversation"
"Don't lie to me, Ariana," Lucas snapped, his eyes narrowing. "Sophia has been nothing but kind to you. The least you can do is show her some respect."
"Respect?" Ariana's voice wavered, and she stood, the novel slipping from her lap. "I've done nothing but show her respect. But have you ever considered how I feel? She comes here, she inserts herself into every part of our lives, and you always take her side.."
"Because she's never wrong!" Lucas's voice thundered, cutting her off. "She cares about you, Ariana. She's trying to help us, and you repay her with bitterness."
The injustice of his words hit her like a blow. "She's not trying to help," Ariana said, her voice trembling. "She's manipulating you, Lucas. Can't you see that?"
Lucas laughed bitterly, the sound cold and sharp. "Manipulating me? That's absurd. Maybe if you focused more on being a good wife instead of looking for problems, things would be better between us."
Ariana's breath caught in her throat, his words slicing through her like a knife. She stared at him, her eyes brimming with tears, but Lucas didn't seem to care.
"Do you know what your problem is?" he continued, his tone cruel. "You're jealous. Jealous of Sophia because she's everything you're not."
The tears spilled over, but Ariana refused to let him see her break. She swallowed hard, biting back the words she desperately wanted to scream.
"I'm sorry you feel that way," she said quietly, her voice barely audible.
Lucas scoffed and turned on his heel, leaving the study without another word. The door slammed behind him, the sound echoing through the empty room.
Ariana sank back into the chair, her body trembling as the tears finally came. The injustice of it all threatened to overwhelm her. No matter what she did, she could never compete with Sophia in Lucas's eyes.
Her gaze fell to the fire, its flames flickering and consuming the wood beneath it. She felt like one of those logs, burning away under the weight of Lucas's indifference and Sophia's schemes.
For a moment, she considered leaving—walking away from the marriage that had become her prison. But the thought of giving up, of letting Sophia win, made her stomach churn.
Instead, she wiped her tears and straightened her spine. If Lucas and Sophia thought they could break her, they were wrong. She would endure, no matter how much it hurt, because giving up wasn't an option.
For now, all she could do was survive.