The CEO's Rejected Wife And Secret Heir novel Chapter 2

Chapter 2: Chapter 2 – The Public Humiliation

The whispers followed me back to the ballroom.

I walked with my head high, my wedding dress trailing behind me like a burial shroud. Two hundred pairs of eyes tracked my every step. Camera phones pointed at me from every direction.

Whispers floated through the air. "Did you see"

Another voice joined. "Her own sister"

Someone sighed. "Poor thing"

A harsh whisper cut through. "Well, what did she expect"

The pity was worse than the judgment.

My father grabbed my arm as I passed. "My office."

His grip was iron. "Now."

I tried to pull away. "Let go of me."

His grip tightened. "You’re making this worse."

The hysteria bubbled up my throat. "I’m making this worse?" I jerked against his hold. "Dad, he was with Vivian"

Charles’s eyes darted around the ballroom. "Lower your voice." His jaw clenched. "People are watching."

My voice cracked. "People are watching because my husband was screwing my sister during our wedding reception!"

Several guests gasped.

My mother appeared, her expression carved from ice. "Aria Monroe Blackwood, control yourself."

The name felt so wrong at this point. Blackwood. I didn’t want it anymore.

I looked between them. "Where’s Vivian?" My voice rose. "Aren’t you going to say anything to her?"

Eleanor’s perfectly made-up face showed nothing. "Vivian isn’t the one causing a scene."

The words hit me as I stepped back from both of them. "Are you serious right now?" I laughed bitterly. "You’re blaming me?"

Charles’s voice dropped low. "You knew what this marriage was."

He glanced around nervously. "A business arrangement. You weren’t supposed to develop... expectations."

I laughed so bitterly. "Expectations?" I threw my hands up. "Like expecting my husband not to cheat on me at our wedding?" 𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝐰𝚎𝕓𝐧𝚘𝘃𝗲𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝕞

He hissed at me. "Keep your voice down"

I looked at my mother. "Or what?" I crossed my arms. "You’ll disown me? You already did that the day you decided Vivian was the golden child and I was just the backup plan."

Eleanor’s eyes flashed. "Don’t be dramatic."

I pressed my hand against my stomach. "Dramatic." My voice shook. "That’s what you call this?"

Damien appeared across the ballroom. He’d fixed his hair, straightened his tie. He looked perfect. Untouchable. Like nothing had happened.

Vivian was at his side.

My sister caught my eye and smiled. It was the smile of a woman who’d won.

My voice shook. "I can’t believe this." I looked at my parents. "I can’t believe any of this."

Charles’s tone was final. "The contracts are signed."

He straightened his jacket. "The money has been transferred. Your marriage to Damien Blackwood secured the Monroe family business."

I looked at him. "So that’s it?" Tears burned my eyes. "You got what you wanted, so nothing else matters?"

My father’s expression hardened. "What did you think would happen?" He leaned closer. "That he’d fall in love with you? That this would be a fairy tale?"

The cruel truth of it settled in my chest.

My mother’s voice softened, but it wasn’t kind—it was condescending. "Aria, darling." She sighed. "Vivian would have been the better choice for this arrangement. We told you from the beginning."

Her eyes were cold. "You’re simply not equipped to handle a man like Damien Blackwood."

The world narrowed to a pinpoint.

Not equipped.

Not enough.

Not worthy.

The same words I’d heard my entire life, dressed up in different sentences.

I stepped back from them both. "You’re right." My voice was hollow. "I’m not equipped for this."

Charles nodded. "Finally, you’re being reasonable"

I cut him off. "I’m leaving, In fact I’m done."

Charles’s expression darkened. "You can’t leave." He grabbed my wrist. "The contracts"

I yanked free. "That’s your problem, not mine." I gathered my dress. "You wanted to save the family business? You got your money. I’m out."

Eleanor reached for me. "Aria, don’t be foolish"

But I was already walking. Past shocked guests. Past the elaborate wedding cake we’d never cut. Past the dance floor where we’d never shared our first dance.

Damien appeared in front of me, blocking my path. "Where are you going?"

I tried to move around him. "Away from you."

He caught my wrist. "We need to discuss this rationally."

I yanked my arm free. "Rationally?" My voice rose. "You want me to be rational?"

His ice-blue eyes were hard as he stepped closer. "The marriage stands.The contracts clearly bind us."

I met his gaze. "Then sue me." I pushed past him. "I don’t care anymore."

He grabbed my shoulder. "You’re being emotional"

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