Chapter 6

Aria POV

For the next few days, I was terrifyingly quiet.

I never mentioned the violin again, and I didn't ask about Chloe. I ate on time, slept on time, as if nothing had happened.

Until the third morning, when the HR department of the Miller Group received my formal resignation letter.

When Ethan found out, he went ballistic. He canceled a major board meeting and drove back to the villa like a maniac.

Bang!

He kicked my bedroom door open.

He stormed in, grabbed my wrist as I was organizing my desk, and slammed me against the wall.

"Aria, what the hell are you doing? Resigning? Who gave you permission!" His eyes were bloodshot, veins popping on his forehead.

I was forced to look up, my back aching against the hard wall. But my eyes remained calm. "I'm tired of designing. Since 'Galaxy' belongs to Chloe now, Miller Group doesn't need me anymore."

"If you're tired, stay home! I can afford to feed you! What is this nonsense about resigning?" Ethan's grip on my jaw tightened, nearly crushing my bone. "Is this because of the violin? Or Chloe? I told you I'd make it up to you! What more do you want? Stop trying to manipulate me with this!"

I didn't struggle. I just looked at him. "I don't want anything, Ethan. I'm just done."

The calmer I was, the angrier he became. He was used to my dependence, my warmth. He couldn't stand this cold, detached version of me.

"You're not going anywhere!" Ethan growled, slamming his lips onto mine.

It wasn't a kiss of love. It was a violent, possessive bite. He didn't let go until the taste of blood filled our mouths.

"Listen to me, Aria. You are mine. You don't leave unless I say so. I tore up your resignation. Behave yourself." He slammed the door and left.

Late that night.

I lay in bed, listening to his steady breathing beside me. I opened my eyes, fully awake.

I quietly got out of bed and picked up his phone from the nightstand.

The passcode was my birthday.

How ironic. He used my birthday as a password while planning to destroy my life.

I unlocked it, opened his hidden folder, and typed in the same passcode.

When the folder opened, my breath hitched.

It was filled with videos of us over the past three years. Not sex tapes, but something worse. Mental torture.

Videos of me crying, begging him not to leave me for Chloe. Videos of me holding a birthday cake I made from scratch, saying, "Ethan, I'll love you forever." Videos of me slumped over my desk, sleeping from exhaustion while he recorded and laughed quietly in the background.

And in a group chat named "The Hunt," the latest messages made my blood run cold.

Zachary: "Ethan, the projectors for her birthday party at Midnight are set up. Once we play these clips on the big screen, all of New York will see the proud Vaughan heiress acting like a desperate dog for you."

"Man, I can't wait to see Julian Vaughan's face. He's going to lose his mind! You really tamed his little sister."

Ethan's reply: "Make sure it goes smoothly. I want Julian broken."

My hands shook, but my eyes were ice.

I selected all the videos, hit delete, and then permanently cleared the trash bin. Next, I logged out of his accounts, wiping any trace of my access.

I put the phone back and looked out the window at the dark New York skyline.

Ethan, your little game is officially over.

On my birthday.

The weather in New York was surprisingly clear.

I woke up early, packing my remaining essentials and my ID into a single black suitcase. I looked around the room one last time. This beautiful villa was nothing but a gilded cage.

Ethan came out of the bathroom, drying his hair. When his eyes landed on my suitcase, his gaze went cold.

"Where do you think you're going?" He marched over, slamming his hand on the suitcase handle.

I didn't flinch. I looked him dead in the eye and said smoothly, "Just dropping some old clothes off at a donation center. It's my birthday, so I thought I'd clear out the closet and buy some new things."

Ethan stared at me, trying to detect a lie. But my expression was flawless.

Finally, he let go, stepping in to kiss my forehead. His tone returned to its usual fake warmth. "Good. Have the driver take you. Don't be late for the party tonight at Midnight. I have a huge surprise for you. I'm going to let everyone know you belong to me."

I lowered my gaze to hide the sheer disgust.

"Okay," I whispered.

Ethan smiled, satisfied, and went to get dressed.

The moment he left, I grabbed my suitcase and walked out of the villa without looking back.

I didn't call his driver. I didn't go to any donation center. I hailed a cab on the street and went straight to JFK Airport.