apter 5
On her birthday, Alexander came to pick Aria up himself.
“Where’s Savannah?” Aria asked flatly.
Alexander frowned. “I’m keeping you two separated from now on. Saves all the drama.”
Aria’s mouth twitched.
He wasn’t protecting her feelings. He was protecting Savannah from her.
In his mind, Aria was already the jealous witch.
The party was over–the–top. Alexander held Aria’s hand the whole time, showering her with jewelry and artwork, even whispering: “All good now? You calm?”
Looking at him, Aria remembered how things used to be.
Whenever he annoyed her before, he’d humble himself just like this until she forgave him.
But this time was different.
He’d used her parents‘ lives as bargaining chips, destroyed her dignity, sold her private photos to strangers…
Nothing could fix that. Even if he offered her the world.
Just as Aria opened her mouth, the ballroom doors flew open-
Savannah stood there in a white dress, looking all innocent.
Alexander’s face dropped. “I told you. Stay at the villa.”
Her eyes got all teary. “I…I just wanted to celebrate her birthday…I even brought a gift…”
“Take your gift and go away.” Aria said coldly.
But Alexander was already signaling staff to set a place for Savannah. He whispered to Aria: “She’s trying to be nice. Let’s move past all that stuff, okay?”
During the party, though it was supposed to be Aria’s celebration, Alexander couldn’t keep his eyes off Savannah.
When the band played a dance song, he took Aria’s hand first, but after spotting Savannah’s puppy–dog eyes, he turned and walked straight to her instead.
Aria stood in the corner watching them dance, feeling nothing inside.
After the dance, Savannah whined that her heels hurt.
Alexander immediately ran downstairs to buy her flat shoes.
She took her chance to approach Aria, waving her phone in her face. “Oh, by the way, all your birthday gifts? Just my hand–me–down trash.”
“He has to check in with me every minute he’s at your party…” She smugly showed her messages. “See? ‘Hang in there baby, coming back to you soon.”
Aria was completely dead inside. “What the hell do you really want?”
“I want your place.”
“OK.” Aria looked at her calmly. “You can have it all.”
Savannah narrowed her eyes suspiciously. Just when Aria thought she was convinced, Savannah grabbed Aria’s hand and slapped herself hard across
the face!
07:15
Adios My Playboy Hubby, I’m DONE Being Your Submissive Wife!
2.6%
Chapter 5
The slap echoed through the room.
Alexander rushed over immediately, seeing Savannah holding her cheek, tears streaming down.
“What the hell, Aria?!” he exploded. “You hit her AGAIN?!”
“I didn’t.”
“I saw you!” He grabbed Aria’s wrist so hard it could’ve snapped. “Wasn’t last time enough? I told you whatever you do to her comes back times ten
Savannah sniffled dramatically. “It’s fine…don’t worry about it…”
“Babe, You don’t need to be scared with me here.” Alexander wiped her tears gently. “I’ve told you, do whatever you want. If you want, you can even tear the whole place apart.”
“Don’t be so nice, baby. That’s why people walk all over you.”
Then he had security hold Aria down and told Savannah: “However she hit you, hit her back ten times harder.”
Savannah pretended to be scared. “I–I can’t…”
“I’ll show you how.”
He grabbed her hand and slapped Aria hard across the face!
“That’s teaching you to fight back.”
Another slap!
“That’s teaching you not to be such a doormat.”
Slap after slap…
Aria’s vision blurred from pain, blood on her lip, ears ringing, but she didn’t make a sound.
After the tenth slap, Alexander finally stopped.
Guests whispered around them: “Damn, on her birthday too…”
“She had it coming for being a bitch…”
Alexander gently held Savannah’s hand. “Does it hurt? Let me take some ice, baby.”
Then he scooped Savannah up and walked out without a backward glance.
Security let Aria go. She collapsed to the floor, her face on fire with pain.
But the pain in her heart was a thousand times worse.
Alexander, I regret ever loving you.
Every. Single. Moment.
