Betrayed by him, I finally decided to leave

“I won at last.” Those were the words Julia mouthed with a small smile as I was left alone behind like a joke.

“Ugh! Aria, since the party has ended so poorly, what to do? We will leave you to clean this all up okay?” Xavier’s friend said, pretending to be sorry.

“Aria, we actually wanted to apologize for anything rude that you witnessed today. You know how Xavier chrishes Julia right?

You can almost mistake them to be a loving couple with you as third wheel coming in between them.But don’t worry, today is your day and we all want to congratulate you!”

The investors heard in silence with hesitation as these close ‘friends’ offered their ‘encouragement’.

“Finally after ten years of relentlessly pursuing him, Xavier has announced he will marry tomorrow at the Grand Phoenix Chain of Islands which are absolutely the best wedding destination in the country.”

I listened without a trace of emotion when a female voice chimed in.

“Aria, tomorrow is such an important day so we booked a limo to bring you to the wedding at the right time okay, now even if Xavier hasn’t explicitly mentioned in the announcement that you are the bride, how can he not recognize your worth after ten years and marry another?...It is definitely you.

That dress that you ordered those stylists to prepare, wear it tomorrow and I will even lend you my makeup artist if you need.”

A small snicker resonated in the background as I could imagine how fun it must be for them to make a fool of me.

“Alright.” I said with a disinterested smile.

They soon left and everyone soon followed outside while looking at me, who was standing in the middle of the ruined party with sympathetic eyes as the firefighters put out the fire.

I was going to turn away when Alan Sanders approached me with a smile.

“Miss Aria, I am ready to invest two billion dollars in your business.”

“Mr.Sanders, I am really thankful for your offer but as you can see how our relationship has unfolded, I am neither going to marry Xavier Stone nor I am a part of Avalon enterprises anymore so it will not give you any benefits. If I take your money like this, I am afraid you will despise me.”

“How dare I, a mere investor, despise Aria Valarie.

That ‘man’ who has promised to marry you tomorrow, your suitor will skin me alive.” My eyes widened when Alan mentioned the bigshot who promised to marry me tomorrow

“Sister-in-law these two billion dollars are not my investment but his. Unlike Xavier Stone that man has faith in your talent and buisness skills.

I just asked you if you will marry Xavier Stone earlier just to test you. Afterall ‘that person’ will go to any lengths for you. He wanted you to regain all your patent rights on the jewellry that you gave to Avalon Enterprises for free. He will never let you be wronged.”

A small chuckle left my mouth as I laughed with a tear trailing down the corner of my eyes. I loved Xavier for so many years yet he always took advantage of my innocence and naivity yet the bigshot I was so afraid of was always supporting me no matter what.

“Sister-in-law this is a ‘small’ gift for your birthday.”

With a flick of Alan Sander’s fingers a servant came forward to present a velvet blue box containing a blue sapphire crown worth tens of millions.

“This…no..not possible…this is the crown of an Empress from previous dynasty! How can I take this national treaure so casually?!”

It was at that moment a message beeped on my phone.

[I am looking foward to our wedding little bird. I hope you have accepted the crown for it was brought out of the national treasury for you, if you dislike it I will have it immideately thrown into the sea.]

A small smile covered my lips.

Overbearing but so cute.

[I will wear it well- Aria]

Goodbye Xavier Stone.

I and you are done from this moment onwards. All the memories are gone just like our relationship.

That night before the wedding when Xavier returned to our shared apartment to take his things he was shocked to find that all of my belongings were gone.

Soon, a deep sense of frustration engulfed him thus he could not help but call to ask what kind of tantrum was this and to warn me to not make things difficult for Julia or he will not forgive me.

It was only when no matter how many times he called, his number was always disconnected did he looked at the phone in a sense of rage.

“Aria blocked me? Isn’t she afraid that I will not like her anymore?!”

But before he could think me anymore, Xavier received an urgent call from his assistant.

“Mr.Stone there is terrible news! The Grand Phoenix Group of Islands have rejected our request to hold your wedding there. They are saying that it is already booked by another person!”

Xavier’s eyes narrowed as a dangerously cold laugh left his lips, never in his ten years of rise has his request been rejected once.

“Tell them it is Xavier Stone who wants their islands.” He spat through gritted teeth.

“But sir then your identity will be revealed and all of the media and paparazzi will rush there! Earlier I-I did just as you asked and booked your wedding under an anonymous name but-”

“I don’t fucking care, just, tell me it is Xavier Stone and they will come wagging their tails like a dog. I don’t have a habit of hearing ‘No’.”