Betrayed by him, I finally decided to leave

The next morning I woke up to a bouquet of fresh white roses along with a pendant sitting by the bedside as Xavier slept with his arm around me.

A note was attached with the flowers.

[I forgive you for yesterday- Xavier]

An incredulous smile graced my lips as I barely controlled the strong urge to confront Xavier. Removing his hand wrapped around my body I got up quickly before leaving for the office without a single word as the flowers were left untouched.

Sitting in my cubicle, I was immersed in drafting a resignation letter when I received Xavier’s call.

“What do you want Xavier?”

“Aria, what the fuck do you mean?! Do not test my patience with you!” Xavier warned, his frown deepening, confusion bleeding into something dangerously close to rage.

“I come home from a draining trip only to hear your stupid arguments. Yesterday I relented and even after you insulted my friends I refused to let it come between us, but what the hell do you mean by leaving like this today?”

“Isn’t it your house too? I took care of it while you were absent so I automatically assumed you will do the same..” I said softly pretending nothing was wrong at all.

Xavier felt something was amiss and his eyes narrowed sharply.

“The fragile french cutlery worth thousands of dollars that my friends ate in yesterday are still lying unclean in the damn sink!

The breakfast is nowhere to be seen and you did not even touch the gifts I brought you despite everything!” He spat his voice laced with disbelief and rage.

For Xavier, I was a free nanny who was always serving him no matter what, from his morning coffee to his home cooked warm meal, taking care of his laundry and cleaning the house like a good traditional wife he needed for his pleasure yet never intended to marry.

Like an object he used and discarded me and yet I was so blind in love that I could never see it.

“Oh, that pendant? Aren’t those available in the night market in Paris for fifty dollars?”

“I am sorry but I assumed that since you bought the antique jewelry from the ancient Han dynasty in an auction worth millions of dollars there is no way you will give me a fake gold jewelry.

Xavier, don't you clearly know that I am allergic to mixed fake gold and last time you gifted it to me I developed severe burn marks because of it.”

Complete and utter shock consumed the man who did not knew what to say.

Obedience had become my second nature so how can he ever expect me to say such words to him.

“Are you blaming me Aria? Aren’t you being too greedy?!

You despise my thoughtful gifts and squander money on expensive designer clothes while neglecting your work.

Don’t forget that you work for me so, even if you are my girlfriend I cannot make any exceptions for you.

Everything you have is provided by me and yet you cannot even do such meagre tasks for my sake?” He clacked his tongue, sighing as if deeply displeased with my behaviour.

Silence stretched lond as I simply listened to his hurtful words and refused to argue with him pointlessly for at the end no matter what I said he would always see me as wrong.

“Aria, to take care of your feelings, that day in the interview while everyone was wearing a designer suit, I chose to wear that damned cheap tuxedo you purchased from who knows where just to please you but you have continued to disappoint me.”

A small humorless chuckle left my mouth as I listened to Xavier in disbelief.

“That tuxedo was from Oriole fashion industry, the designer brand your father used to work at, as a labourer barely earning enough to feed your family.

While we were still in college didn’t you say that it was your dream to once buy the best designs at that brand and showcase it in front of the world as a symbol that you have risen up?

It was my heartfelt gift but..It’s such a shame that you still can neither recognise the brand after staying in this industry for all these years nor see my feelings..”

The words landed like a slap making Xavier freeze in shock.

At that moment he was reminded of the past he had long forgotten, that he was once the man who was nothing, I gave him my life, money, connections and resources to rise above the top.

Even though Xavier now had unparallelled wealth the things he bragged he gave me, were in reality could be brought by me even without taking a second look for I never lacked money.

“Aria, is it your intention to bring up my past when we have come so far in this relationship.” Xavier said coldly, finally not able to find the reason for my odd behaviour.

“Have we? I never said a word Xavier, it was you who found my feelings cheap and replaceable. Did you even realise that I have been sick for the past few days suffering from fever and still working for you like a machine?”

Taken aback by the strange tiredness in my voice as if I was too burdened to keep this going and it made him unknowingly feel strange in his heart.

“Aria-” Xavier’s voice softened as he called my name.

“Xavier, while you have been telling me constantly not to disappoint you, you should also pay attention to the fact that maybe you are the one who has been disappointing me all this time.”

I hung up without listening to another word, making Xavier feel a strange frustration as he threw his phone down sharply.

That day I worked past my hours to complete my resignation and wipe out with all my financial accounts and information saved in the company.

It was almost past seven in the USA when a message from the French embassy popped up on my screen.

[NAME; ARIA VALARIE French Citizenship application: Successful

Congratulations on acquiring the French citizenship Miss Valarie.]

At that moment the joy of going back to my parents and the slight fear of starting a new life after marriage with ‘that’ person was cut short as my phone beeped with another message.

[Manager Kim: Miss Aria, please hurry to the front reception There is a big issue!

Actress Julia Lest has arrived.]