Chapter 2

Aria’s POV

The cool night air clung to my skin as I stood at the edge of the riverbank, fireworks exploding overhead in dazzling bursts of light.

The cityscape seemed to blur with the emotions swirling inside me, but I kept my chin up, my laughter floating above the water as if it carried no weight at all. But Matteo, my soon-to-be ex-husband, stood frozen, watching me, his expression unreadable.

This wasn’t the scene he had envisioned, I was sure of that. Matteo had always been so certain that I would crumble at his feet, begging him to stay, but tonight I was not the broken wife he left behind.

"Gianna?" Matteo’s voice, thick with disbelief, cut through the night. I turned slowly, locking eyes with the man who had shattered my heart. His gaze flicked to Nathaniel standing beside me, his arm protectively draped over my shoulders. My heart thudded at Matteo's reaction—shock, rage, and, if I wasn't mistaken, a glint of something like regret.

"Who is he?" Matteo demanded, his voice cold and possessive. His eyes burned into Nathaniel, clearly trying to figure out how someone like me had moved on. But Nathaniel was unfazed. He straightened, meeting Matteo’s challenge head-on.

"Mr. Morgan," Nathaniel’s voice was calm, but there was a lethal edge to it. "I’m Nathaniel Taylor. Perhaps you’ve heard of me?" His smile was sharp, daring Matteo to remember the rivalry that stretched far beyond business.

Matteo ignored him, his focus squarely on me. "Gianna, just tell me who he is," he hissed through gritted teeth, the words filled with frustration.

I lifted my chin, forcing down the familiar twinge of hurt Matteo’s presence always caused. "We're divorced, Mr. Morgan," I said, my tone as icy as his. "Who I choose to be with is no longer your concern."

I watched the disbelief flicker across his face, quickly replaced by anger. His fists clenched, and I half expected him to punch something, anything—to release the tension simmering beneath the surface.

"We haven’t finalized the divorce yet, and you’re already with another man?" Matteo shot back, his voice tinged with incredulity.

I almost laughed at his hypocrisy. How dare he stand here, demanding answers from me, when he had paraded Reily around like a trophy while we were still married? "I didn’t say a word when you brought your new girlfriend into our home," I reminded him, each word laced with venom. "So why do you care who I’m with now?"

The words landed like a blow. Matteo’s expression darkened, but I wasn’t done.

"I’m tired of playing your game, Matteo. You don’t get to dictate my life anymore," I said, standing taller. "Nathaniel is a better man than you could ever be. He’s here because he chooses to be, not because he’s obligated by some contract."

Nathaniel’s grip on my shoulder tightened in silent support. I knew this was as much about business as it was about Matteo’s wounded pride. He had always hated competition, and now he was watching me stand beside his biggest rival. But this was more than revenge—it was freedom.

Matteo opened his mouth to respond, but before he could, Reily’s shrill voice interrupted. "Matteo!" she called, rushing toward us. Her heels clacked against the pavement as she stumbled, trying to keep up with him.

I almost pitied her. Almost.

"You need to stop obsessing over her," Reily said, her voice laced with irritation as she tugged at Matteo’s sleeve. "We were supposed to be enjoying tonight together."

Matteo flinched at her touch, barely sparing her a glance. His eyes remained locked on me, as though trying to reconcile the woman before him with the meek wife he once knew.

But I was no longer that woman.

"Come on, Nathaniel," I said softly, turning away from Matteo and taking Nathaniel’s hand. "We’ve wasted enough time here."

As we walked away, I heard Reily’s voice rise in frustration behind us, her attempts to capture Matteo’s attention growing more desperate by the second. But I didn’t look back. This wasn’t about them anymore.

Nathaniel leaned in close, his voice low. "Are you sure about this?" he asked, his warm breath brushing against my ear.

I smiled, feeling the weight of years lifting off my shoulders. "Absolutely," I replied.

Matteo had lost the moment he assumed I would always be waiting for him. Now, I was reclaiming my life, on my terms. And Nathaniel? He was more than just my partner in revenge. He was my fresh start.

As we reached the end of the dock, Nathaniel pulled me closer, his presence grounding me. The yacht lights flickered on the water, reflecting the life I was stepping into—a future where I was in control.

Behind us, Matteo's world was crumbling. I didn’t need to see it to know that the power I once handed over to him was now mine again.

For the first time in a long while, I felt at peace.

"Let’s go home," I whispered, smiling up at Nathaniel.

And just like that, the Morgan mansion; and everything it represented, faded into the past.