Aria's pov
I stared at the small packet of birth control pills in Lucian's hand, the foil glinting under the low bedroom light like a cruel joke.
My body still hummed from what we'd just done. Sweat cooling on my skin and the ache between my thighs a reminder I couldn't ignore, now this?
"Are you fucking kidding me?" The words exploded out of me once again before I could stop them. My voice cracked on the last syllable.
Lucian didn't even blink. He set the pills on the nightstand with deliberate calm then leaned back against the headboard, arms crossed over his bare chest.
"Take them," he said again,"Every day and don't you dare to miss it."
I snatched the packet and held it up like evidence. "You just came inside me. You just—fuck, Lucian!, you just fucked me like you wanted all of me, and now you're handing me these like I'm some dirty whore you picked off the street?"
His eyes narrowed, cold as winter steel. "You signed a contract Aria,not a love story. I married you for revenge and you did same for money, don't tell me you're falling in love?."
I laughed, sharp and bitter. "I would never fall for a devil like you Lucian but that doesn't give you the right to treat me like a whore.I'm your wife for crying out loud"
He tilted his head. "You are sounding confused Aria,one minute you hate me,the next you want me to treat you like a bride,I guess I fucked some love into you huh?. Just know that you're a wife on paper,nothing more. I don't want a whore like you carrying my children."
The words landed like a slap.
"A whore like me?" My voice came out small, trembling. "You're the one who just—"
"I took what the contract allows," he cut in,"Don't confuse sex with affection. Now take the damn pills."
I threw the packet at him. It bounced off his chest and fell to the sheets between us.
"I hate you," I whispered.
Lucian's expression didn't change. "Good,hate keeps things clear."
He stood, pulling on his pajama pants with casual indifference. "Go to the guest room. You're not sleeping here tonight."
That was the relief I needed,I grabbed the robe from the floor, wrapped it around myself like armor, and walked out without another word.
"Don't forget to take them Aria!" He threw the pack back at me. The door to the master suite closed behind me with a soft, final click.
The guest room felt colder than before. I crawled under the covers into a ball and pressed my face into the pillow so the sobs wouldn't echo through the penthouse.
I felt dirty,used and stupid.
Stupid for letting my sex starved body respond when my heart screamed no. Stupid for believing, even for a second, that Lucian Voss could ever see me as more than a mere tool.
I cried myself to sleep,it's what my life has been lately,days of sadness and nights of tears
*******
The next morning, I dragged myself out of bed. My eyes were swollen, my body sore in places I didn't want to acknowledge.
I showered again,longer this time, scrubbing until my skin felt raw.
I hurriedly got dressed in the sharp black blazer and skirt from my first day at Voss Enterprises.
As I stepped into the kitchen for some breakfast. Lucian was already there, all suited up and scrolling through his tablet like last night never happened.
I cleared my throat. "I'm going to the office."
He didn't look up. "No."
I froze. "Excuse me?"
"You're not going anywhere." He finally met my eyes, expression unreadable.
"You're my wife now. That means you stay home. You're a housewife."
The word hit like a punch. Housewife.
"I'm not your fucking trophy or pet Lucian," I snapped. "I have a career. I have—"
"You had a career," he corrected calmly. "Until Ethan stole it. And now you have me. The contract says you live here and fulfill your duties. Work is not part of the agreement."
I stared at him, chest tight. "You can't just lock me in this penthouse like a pet."
"I can," he said simply. "And I am doing just that."
He set the tablet down, stood up and walked past me without another word. The elevator doors closed behind him.
I stood in the middle of the kitchen alone, the silence deafening.
I rushed after him but by the time I got to the front door,it was already locked,his car driving out.
I slumped into the couch like a helpless toddler,what the heck am I going to do all day.
The rest of the day passed in a haze. I paced the penthouse, stared out at the city, tried to read, tried to write code on my laptop, literally anything to feel like myself again but nothing worked.
By late afternoon, I collapsed on the living room couch, phone in hand. I hadn't checked social media since the wedding announcement. Stupidly, I opened Twitter.
The top trending topic in London was #EthanProposesMia.
Photos loaded first: Ethan on one knee in a candlelit restaurant, Mia's hand over her mouth, tears in her eyes. The ring was massive, evidently bigger than mine.
The caption read: "From scandal to soulmate: Ethan Caldwell proposes to Mia after whirlwind romance. True love wins!"
Comments poured in.
"After everything with Aria, he deserves happiness."
"Queen Mia finally got her king. Aria who?"
"From secretary to fiancée—goals!"
"Aria must be fuming in her new billionaire marriage,she thought she left our Ethan in the slum."
My chest caved in.
I scrolled faster, tears blurring the screen. More photos. Ethan kissing Mia's forehead,the two of them laughing at some rooftop party. A video clip of Ethan saying, "I've finally found the woman who truly understands me."
I dropped the phone. It clattered to the floor.
It was then that it dawned on me,Ethan was moving on and I'm here stuck in this sham of a marriage.
I was about to turn off my phone when a call came in,it was an unknown number.
I picked the call and a male voice spoke over the phone.
"Hello Aria"
Wait a minute, that's Ethan's voice.