The rain was pouring heavily over the city.
Lightning flashed across the dark sky, briefly illuminating the massive gates of the Knight Mansion. Tonight, Ariana Blake was about to lose everything—her marriage, her dignity, and the man she had foolishly believed might one day love her.
Inside the luxurious living room, Ariana stood quietly. The crystal chandelier above her sparkled beautifully, yet the atmosphere in the room felt colder than ice. Her fingers trembled slightly as she held a thin stack of papers: A divorce agreement. The words printed on it felt heavier than the entire world.
Three months ago, Ariana had entered this mansion as the wife of the most powerful man in the city. Tonight, she was leaving as someone who had never truly belonged here. Slowly, she lifted her eyes.
Across the room sat Alexander Knight, the legendary billionaire CEO. Cold, untouchable, and perfect. Dressed in an expensive black suit, Alexander looked like a man who ruled the world without effort, but the indifference in his eyes was sharper than any blade.
"Sign it." His deep voice cut through the silence. Just two simple words. No hesitation. No emotion.
Ariana's heart tightened painfully. She had imagined this moment many times before, but hearing those words from him still felt like her chest was being crushed. Three months of marriage, three months of trying, and three months of believing that maybe… just maybe… this cold and distant man would someday look at her differently.
But she had been wrong. Completely wrong.
Ariana lowered her gaze to the papers again. Her name. His name. A marriage that had never truly existed. A faint, sad smile appeared on her lips. "So… this is how it ends."
Alexander didn't reply. To him, this was nothing more than the conclusion of a contract. Their marriage had always been a deal: Ariana needed money for her mother's life-saving surgery, and Alexander needed a temporary wife to stabilize his company's shares. It was simple, clean, and emotionless.
At least, that was how it was supposed to be. But Ariana had made one fatal mistake—she had started to care. And caring about Alexander Knight was the most painful mistake of her life.
Suddenly, the sharp sound of high heels echoed across the marble floor.
Click. Click. Click. Ariana didn't need to turn around to know who it was. Victoria Hale, Alexander's first love, had returned three days ago and destroyed Ariana's life with a single accusation. Victoria walked toward Alexander and gently placed a hand on his arm, her voice sounding soft and fragile.
"Alexander… are you really going to divorce her?"
Alexander didn't even hesitate. "Yes."
That one word was all it took to completely shatter Ariana's heart. Victoria's lips curved into a small smile that Ariana noticed, but Alexander didn't. Of course he didn't; he had already decided who he believed.
Ariana quietly picked up the pen. Her hand was shaking now—not because she was weak, but because something inside her was finally breaking. The room fell completely silent as the pen touched the paper.
Ariana Blake signed her name. Just like that, their marriage ended. She gently placed the pen down and looked at Alexander one last time. For a brief moment, she hoped he would stop her or say something, but he didn't move. He didn't even look at her.
Something inside Ariana finally went numb. "Don't worry," she said quietly, her voice calm and distant. "I won't appear in your life again."
Alexander finally lifted his eyes, but it was already too late. Ariana turned around and walked toward the mansion doors, step by step. As she stepped into the pouring rain, tears mixed with the water falling from the sky.
Behind her, Alexander Knight stood silently, watching the doors slowly close. For some strange reason, an unfamiliar feeling tightened in his chest—something that almost felt like regret. But Alexander ignored it. After all, Ariana Blake was just a temporary wife.
Or so he believed.
Because three years later, the woman he abandoned would return. Not as the poor girl he once married, but as a powerful businesswoman who now controlled companies worth billions. And when that day came, Alexander Knight would finally realize a terrifying truth:
The woman he threw away was the one he could never have again.