I Chose Me Over My Marriage novel Chapter 170

If Maxwell hadn't fully grasped what was happening earlier, Lyra's final declaration shattered whatever illusions he had left.

This whole night was an elaborate, perfectly executed trap designed exclusively for him.

He couldn't deny his relationship with Aria.

And he certainly couldn't confess his true feelings for Lyra.

If he did, the fragile foundation of his new career would instantly collapse.

He would be buried alive in the rubble, never to see the light of day again.

After the dinner concluded, Director Chambers and Director Grant were the first to leave.

Lyra and Chloe had both driven, parking their cars in the ground-level lot.

They walked out together, chatting idly as they headed toward their vehicles.

Behind them, Maxwell and Aria walked in suffocating silence.

It wasn't until he watched Lyra and Chloe drive away that Maxwell finally dropped the act.

He shot out a hand, gripping Aria's wrist like a vise, and yanked her violently toward him. He wanted to make sure she clearly saw the absolute fury burning in his eyes.

"Aria, you did that on purpose!"

With nothing left to lose, Aria completely dropped her previous cautious, submissive act.

This was the first time Maxwell had ever seen Aria look so utterly broken, and for a moment, he was genuinely caught off guard.

"I've been by your side for so many years. Through everything that happened, I stayed with you. No matter how you treated me, I swallowed it all willingly. When you left the Sterling family, my first thought was how to get you back on your feet. But you? Why can't you even look at me anymore? We used to be so happy. Did all those memories just vanish into thin air?"

As she spoke, Aria stepped forward, gently taking his hand and pressing it against her cheek so he could feel her warmth.

"Maxwell, no one in this world loves you more than I do. Right now, it's just the two of us. We have to work together if we want to build our own empire. Don't you agree?"

Maxwell listened to her in dead silence. The moment she uttered those final words, he violently snatched his hand away and let out a cold, venomous sneer.

"Love me? Aria, the only person you've ever loved is yourself. You claimed ownership of those letters from the very beginning just to steal my affection and claw your way to the top. And now? You're breaking your back trying to get me resources so I can make a comeback, but it's only so you can reclaim the glorious life you used to have."