If she really meant what she said on the phone about coming and bringing a gift to apologize to Aria, he let bygones be bygones for Aria’s sake.
nut if she was merely making excuses, he’d continue to give her the cold shoulder until she properly apologized
her gift had arrived on time, but Maya herself was nowhere to be seen
“Where is she?” James finally accepted the package, but his gaze wandered to the grand doorway behind the courier.]
The flower decorated ardiway stood empty]
The courier hesitated, quickly trying to recall Maya’s instructions, but realized she hadn’t actually mentioned where she was going
Besides, he needed to make his next delivery and couldn’t waste any more time.
so the courier awkwardly improvised.||
pencer said once you open the box, you’ll understand everything.
James’s attention returned to the package in his hands. Just as he was about to open it a delicate white hand landed on his
James looked at Aria with concern, his tone exceptionally gentle. “What is
Araba her lip looking troubled
The guests are waiting for us to cut the cake. Is this really the right time to open giftsz-|||
As she spoke, Aria felt inexplicably uneasy-
All the other guests presents had already been placed in a corner before the party started, to be opened at her leisure later.]
Yet somehow Maya’s gift arrived at the climax of the celebration, delivered directly to James with instructions that he must open it himself, in front of everyone:||
These strange circumstances made Aria deeply suspicious of the box’s contents
She couldn’t shake the feeling that once the box was opened, she would fall into an abyss.[]
That’s why Aria interrupted James, urging him to cut the cake instead.
Once the cake was cut and James publicly announced that the child in her womb was his only legitimate heir, signing the relevant agreement with his fingerprint…
Then the Wilson
on fortune would belong to her child–to her! And whatever was in
was in that b
thos would no longer threaten her![]
Chapter 9
0
The more Aria thought about it, the more agitated she became, though her face maintained a mask of concern for famer ||
But this
But this time, James didn’t follow her suggestion. He patted her hand reassuringly
“Its fine, just a small gift.”
Remember what I told you the other day? I asked Maya to bring you a gift as an apology. If you’re not satisfied with it, I’ll continue to keep my distance from her until you’re happy. Lets see if this gift pleases you.
Hearing this, the guests raised their heads in curiosity, looking toward the stare
Their social circle might be small, but some had married wives with questionable reputations.]]
Tet regardless of a wifes conduct, husbands typically maintained their wives‘ dignity in public–after all, family scandals were meant to stay private
so for james to publicly open a gift from his wife apologizing to another woman was unprecedented.]
The photographer, sensing an opportunity, immediately focused the camera on the box in James’s hands.
As he slowly opened it the crowd collectively held their breath
Finally, the box was completely open, a divorce certificate displayed for all to see on the large screen
The entire hall erupted in shock!
James’s band froze i
A divorce certificate
This meant May
in midair, the smile on his face instantly vanishing!||
meant Maya had divorced him
Seeing the din
the divorce certificate on the big screen, several of james’s friends excitedly rushed onto the stage to congratulate him
This is wonderful news, James! Congratulations on finally escaping your misery
“Yes, you’re finally rid of that tramp!–]]
“When you marry Aris. I definitely want to be your best man! ||
They eagerly jostled him while continuing to pull items from the box
“Look at this–an abortion confirmation”
That slut at least had the decency to abort the child! Now you won’t have in waste money raising someone else’s bastard. James! ||
Their jubilation didn’t reach James. There was a burring in his cars as if the entire world had suddenly gone silent ||
The word “abortion gripped his heart like an invisible hapd, making his breathing rapid and shallow.
What… alution?” His voice trembled, barely audible.||
Who had a
an abortion?” he repeated ||
The crowd, thinking he was simply overwhelined with emotion, quickly thrust the abortion confirmation bearing Maya’s signature in front of him.]
“Maya, of course! James, take a good look!“||
youre finally completely free!]
“Congratulations
The excited shouts continued, but James could no longer hear them.||
His vision blurred, everything around him seeming to spin.
__Abortion?]
Maya had an abortion?||
She didnt want their child?
Why? This child they had hoped for during five whole conceive.
whole years of marriage. The child she had prayed for, tried folk remedies for, suffered for five years to
Why would she : short their child?
No……… impossible……. absolutely impossible… james murmured, his voice almost inaudible.||
In his mind, he kept sering Maya’s face, smiling tenderly as she caressed her belly
she had been so excited about the baby’s arrival–how could she possibly have found the heart to terminate the pregnancy?||
Chapter 10
James’s odd behavior went unnoticed by those around him, who assumed he was simply
overwhelmed with emotion
Finally, someone picked up the recording device at the bottom of the box and pressed play
That single press was like opening Pandora’s box–everything spiraled out of contral
This recording device was actually more like a projector
The person holding it happened to point it toward the large screen.
After a moment of static, an image slowly appeared before everyone!]]
Perhaps because it was secretly recorded, the footage was slightly shaky
The camera soon pushed into a room.
The
As the lens moved dosti, two entwined figures gradually came into view.
Finally, a familiar face appeared–none other than Aria, the guest of honor!]
And the man embracing and kissing her was a stranger with a leering expression:
Like a thunderbolt from a dear sky, the entire hall was banned.
The dazens of reponers who had been invited sensing a breaking story, frantically aimed their cameras at the screen, pressing their shutters repeatedly!
“My God. I thought this would be just an ordinary birthday party, but what a scan
scandal!“||
1 predict this will
explode!”
Stup taking and keep shooting–who knows when they’ll shut it down!”
On stage, those who had been jubilant moments ago now stood frozen, awkwardly looking at the host and hostess of the event.]]
But jane and Aria were also frozen in place
Que from shock, the other paralyzed by overwhelming fear!]
screen, the video continued playing!]
in the room
mom, after Aria was kissed until breathless, the man finally released her with a leering grin.
Why shouldn’t I come? Eis the real father of the baby in your belly!”
“You’re so dever, my darling Just a simple lie to drive a wedge between that couple, and now that fool is willingly raising our son.”
One uur boy becomes the heir, we’ll find a way to get rid of that man…”
Suddenly, due sound of breaking porcelain interrupted their flirtation, followed by an angry shout, and the screen went black||
The friend bolding the device realized he’d made a terrible mistake and hastily dropped it as if it were burning his hands
But as the device hit the floor, it triggered the loop functions, and the video began playing again ||
“No, tus, turn it off!” |||
