Revenge of the reborn

Ariana sat at the breakfast table, her fingers idly tracing the edge of her porcelain teacup. The morning sun filtered through the floor-to-ceiling windows, bathing the dining room in a golden hue. But no amount of sunlight could brighten her heavy heart.

Across the table, Lucas sat, engrossed in his tablet. He barely acknowledged her presence, his eyes scanning whatever report or email demanded his attention. The silence between them was thick, broken only by the clinking of his spoon against the ceramic bowl of oatmeal.

"Lucas," Ariana began hesitantly, her voice breaking the stillness.

He didn't look up. "What is it?"

She hesitated, her hands tightening around her cup. "Do you ever think about us? About how things used to be?"

Lucas's brows furrowed, though he still didn't meet her gaze. "What kind of question is that? You know I've been busy with work."

"Work," Ariana repeated, a bitter edge creeping into her voice. "And Sophia. Let's not forget how much of your time she occupies."

At that, Lucas finally looked up, his eyes narrowing. "What are you trying to say, Ariana?"

"I'm saying that I'm tired, Lucas," she said, her voice steady despite the tremble in her chest. "Tired of feeling like I don't matter. Like I'm nothing more than an inconvenience in your life."

Lucas scoffed, pushing his chair back with a loud scrape. "This again? You're overthinking, as usual. Sophia is family, and she's been through so much. You should be supporting her, not acting jealous."

Ariana stood abruptly, her chair tipping slightly. "Jealous? Is that what you think this is? I'm your wife, Lucas! And yet, you treat her like she's the one who matters most."

Lucas's jaw tightened, his face a mask of irritation. "Enough, Ariana. I won't entertain this nonsense. If you can't handle our arrangement, maybe you should reevaluate what you want from this marriage."

Before she could respond, Lucas strode out of the room, leaving her standing alone with a lump in her throat and tears stinging her eyes.

Later that day, Ariana found herself in the garden, seeking solace among the blooming roses and neatly trimmed hedges. The vibrant colors and fragrant air offered little comfort, her thoughts still swirling with anger and despair.

She was lost in her thoughts when Sophia's voice broke the quiet. "Ariana, there you are! I've been looking for you."

Ariana turned to see her step-sister approaching, a bright smile plastered across her face. But Ariana knew better than to believe in Sophia's sincerity.

"What do you want, Sophia?" Ariana asked, her tone cold.

Sophia pouted, feigning hurt. "Why so hostile? I just wanted to check on you. You seemed upset earlier."

"Did you?" Ariana replied dryly. "Or did you just want to gloat?"

Sophia's eyes sparkled with false innocence. "I have no idea what you're talking about. But if you must know, Lucas and I were just discussing plans for the gala. You know, Lucas mentioned your little outburst at breakfast. He's worried about you, Ariana. Maybe you should try to relax. Take a spa day or something."

"Don't pretend you care, Sophia. I know exactly what you're doing."Ariana repeated, bitterness lacing her words. "Do you ever get tired of playing this game, Sophia? Pretending to care while you drive a wedge between me and my husband?"

Sophia gasped, her hand flying to her chest in mock outrage. "That's a terrible accusation, Ariana. Lucas and I are just close friends. You're the one making everything difficult with your paranoia."

Ariana's fists clenched at her sides. "Don't pretend you're innocent. I see right through you. You're trying to drive us apart," her voice trembling with barely contained fury. "You play the victim, manipulate Lucas, and make me look like the villain. But I see through you."

Sophia's expression hardened for a moment before the smugness returned. "Well, if Lucas prefers my company, perhaps you should ask yourself why. Maybe it's because I'm not constantly nagging him."

Ariana's hand twitched, the urge to lash out almost overwhelming. But instead, she took a deep breath, forcing herself to stay calm. "You won't win, Sophia," she said quietly. "No matter what you do, I'll find a way to take back what's mine."

Sophia laughed, a cold, mocking sound. She stepped closer, lowering her voice. "Oh, Ariana, you really should learn to pick your battles. After all, I only want what's best for Lucas. And clearly, you're not it."

With that, she turned on her heel and walked away, leaving Ariana standing in the garden, her hands trembling with suppressed rage.

That evening, Ariana walked into the living room to find Lucas and Sophia sitting on the couch, laughing over something on Lucas's phone. The sight made her stomach churn.

"What's so funny?" Ariana asked, forcing her voice to remain steady.

Lucas glanced up briefly before returning his attention to Sophia. "Just an old story from college. You wouldn't get it."

Sophia giggled, placing a hand on Lucas's arm. "Oh, Lucas, you have the funniest stories. I can't believe I didn't know this one."

Ariana's nails dug into her palms. "Sophia, don't you have your own house to go to?"

Sophia's smile didn't waver. "Oh, Ariana, you're so funny. You know how much I love spending time with family."

"Family," Ariana muttered under her breath. She turned to Lucas. "What is she even doing here, Lucas?" Ariana demanded. "Does she have to be involved in every part of our lives?"

Lucas frowned. "She's my friend, Ariana. And she's family. Why do you have to make everything so difficult?"

"I'm not the one making things difficult," Ariana said, her voice rising. "She's manipulating you, Lucas! She's driving us apart, and you're letting her."

Lucas shook his head, exasperated. "You're imagining things. Sophia isn't the problem here—you are."

Those words hit Ariana like a physical blow. She stared at him, her chest tight with hurt and anger. "If that's how you feel, maybe you should reconsider why you married me in the first place."

Lucas's expression darkened. "Maybe I should."

He walked away, leaving Ariana standing in the hallway, her heart shattering into a thousand pieces.