Revenge of the reborn

Ariana Evans sat in the corner of the lavish living room, her fingers nervously tracing the edge of the fine china teacup in her hand. The clinking of the delicate cup against the saucer was the only sound in the otherwise quiet room. Her husband, Lucas Turner, stood near the window, his back to her as he spoke to someone on the phone. His voice was calm and businesslike, a tone Ariana had grown all too familiar with over the years.

Her heart sank as she stared at the back of his broad shoulders, the familiar ache in her chest gnawing at her. How did she get here? Married to a man who didn't love her, trapped in a gilded cage of riches and emptiness.

She had been a fool to believe in the fairy tale.

Ariana had been naive, hoping that one day Lucas would look at her with the love she had longed for. Instead, he only ever had eyes for Sophia, her younger step-sister.

She shook her head slightly, fighting back the tears. It's no use, she thought. Lucas will never love me. He's always loved her.

Her gaze flicked to the clock on the wall. Another hour passed. Another hour spent in silence, as Lucas dealt with the business that always seemed to come first. Ariana had always known that their marriage was more of a business arrangement than a union of hearts. Lucas's coldness, his lack of affection—she'd tried to ignore it, but now, with each passing day, it became more impossible to do so.

The phone call ended, and Lucas turned to face her. His eyes, usually full of charm and charisma, were empty. He gave her a brief nod, his lips curling into a forced smile.

"Is everything alright?" she asked, trying to sound casual despite the tension in her voice.

"Everything's fine, Ariana," he replied, though his eyes never met hers. "I just got off the phone with Sophia. She's coming over later to visit."

Ariana felt a pang of jealousy twist in her stomach. Sophia.

It wasn't just that Lucas loved Sophia more than her—he adored her. They shared a connection that Ariana would never understand. Sophia, with her bright smile and effortless charm, always seemed to have Lucas's attention in a way Ariana never could.

"Of course," Ariana said softly, trying to keep her emotions in check. "I'll prepare dinner then."

Lucas gave her a nonchalant wave. "No need. I'm sure Sophia has her own plans for us."

Ariana felt a lump rise in her throat. She swallowed hard, forcing herself to remain composed. How did this happen? she wondered. How did I go from being the love of his life to being the woman who's just here for convenience?

Her heart screamed for answers, but Lucas had never been one to offer them. She had always tried to make their marriage work, always tried to be the perfect wife. But no matter how hard she tried, she was always the second choice.

As she stood up to leave the room, Lucas's voice stopped her.

"Ariana."

She turned to face him, her breath catching in her throat. There was something in his eyes—something cold, something distant. He looked at her as if she were a mere obligation, a role to be filled.

"Yes?" she asked, her voice barely a whisper.

Lucas's face hardened. "I don't want to see you here when Sophia arrives. I need to focus on business. Don't make this difficult." His tone was sharp, final.

Ariana's chest tightened. Don't make this difficult? She had long since stopped expecting affection, but this—this cruel indifference—was more than she could bear.

"I understand," she said, her voice trembling. "I'll give you some space."

She turned and walked out of the room, trying to keep the tears at bay. As she passed the hallway, she saw the photograph of the two of them from their wedding day. It hung crookedly on the wall, as if mocking her.

The echo of Lucas's words lingered in her mind. Don't make this difficult.

How much longer can I stay in this marriage? she thought as she reached their bedroom. Her hands shook as she closed the door behind her.

I have to stop this. I can't keep living like this.

Ariana looked out of the window at the sprawling estate Lucas had built for them, the luxury that surrounded her. It was everything she could have ever wanted, and yet, it felt hollow. Is this really worth it?

Her thoughts were interrupted by a sudden knock on the door.

"Come in," Ariana called out, wiping the tears from her eyes.

The door creaked open, and Sophia walked in with a smile that always seemed too innocent to be real. The younger woman had a way of making everything she did look effortless—like she was born to be adored.

"Hey, Ariana," Sophia greeted her, her voice sweet but laced with an unmistakable air of superiority. "I thought I'd stop by and check on you."

Ariana's heart skipped a beat as Sophia entered the room, her eyes glinting with something Ariana couldn't quite place. Sophia was beautiful, yes, but there was something dangerous beneath her polished exterior. Something Ariana had learned to fear over the years.

"I'm fine, Sophia," Ariana replied, trying to hide the bitterness that seeped into her voice. "Just... settling in for the evening."

Sophia took a seat on the bed, crossing her legs with practiced grace. "You know, Lucas really seems to be growing fond of me," she said, her smile widening. "It's nice that he's finally paying attention to me after everything that's happened."

Ariana's heart froze. He's growing fond of her?

"That's... good," Ariana forced out, feeling the bile rise in her throat.

Sophia tilted her head, as if considering something. "I was actually thinking," she said, her voice dropping to a near-whisper, "it must be tough for you. I mean, knowing that Lucas will always prefer me over you."

Ariana felt as though the air had been sucked out of the room. She wanted to scream, to lash out, but she couldn't. She had learned long ago that fighting Sophia only made her stronger, more vindictive.

"Are you finished?" Ariana asked softly, not trusting herself to speak any louder.

Sophia's smile widened, almost mocking. "I just wanted to remind you of your place," she said, standing up. "Lucas and I are... special. You'll never be able to compete with that."

Ariana's hands balled into fists at her sides. How dare she?

But instead of saying anything, Ariana stayed silent. What was the point? Sophia had already won. Lucas had already chosen her. Ariana was just a placeholder.

Sophia turned to leave, but not before adding, "Don't worry, though. I'm sure Lucas will still keep you around for appearances."

The door clicked shut behind her, and Ariana stood there, her entire body trembling with anger and sorrow.