Chapter 6 Pay Back Is A Bitch!

• ARIA
• I stared at the pile of luggage Damien had left behind in the living room, my anger simmering just below the surface.
• The audacity of that man to treat me like his personal maid while parading his childhood sweetheart around!
• In the name of securing partnerships.
• If she cooked breakfast, it meant she slept here. I don't even want to imagine where she slept while my ass was on the cold floor.
• Damien is a bastard. And now that my father was out of his reach, I had nothing to hold me back. The memories of last night’s humiliation were still fresh in my mind.
• The cold floor, the locked door, and now this absurd expectation that I’d happily drag my ass after him on a fucking thirty six hours train—carrying his and Katherine’s baggage no less.
• Not this time.
• With a satisfied smirk, I picked up my phone and dialed a toll company.
• “Hello, I need some heavy items removed from my residence,” I said sweetly.
• The man on the other end asked for details, and I gave him the address and labeled the six gaudy, oversized suitcases as “Trash to be disposed of.”
• “Please make sure they’re taken far away. No returns,” I added, smiling to myself.
• The call ended just as my lawyer’s number flashed on my screen.
• Perfect timing.
• “Hello, James. I’m ready to proceed,” I said firmly.
• “Understood. I’ll send the divorce papers over right now. You can print, sign, and we’ll take care of the rest.”
• “Thank you.”
• Minutes later, I went to Damien’s office and printed them. I watched it spit out the pages that marked the end of this sham of a marriage.
• Grabbing a pen, I signed each one and placed them neatly on the coffee table, right in the center for Damien to see.
• It would be his welcoming home present.
• The toll workers arrived soon after, dragging the luggage out with ease. The loud clattering and shuffling filled the house, but I didn’t care.
• It felt so good.
• Like I was being rebranded.
• Just as they were finishing up, my phone vibrated and his name flashed on the screen. I swiped right to answer.
• I couldn’t suppress my laugh, masking it with a cough.
• “Aria, where are you? The train leaves in an hour!” he barked.
• “I’m getting ready,” I replied, my voice fake with politeness.
• “What’s that noise in the background?”
• “Oh, just the TV,” I lied, biting back my laughter as one of the workers dropped a suitcase with a loud thud.
• The image of Katherine’s face red in anger flashing before me when she realized what I had done.
• That's what you get for messing with me.
• “Aria, why are you always so slow? Why can't you be as quick as Katherine? Be serious! Start moving now!” he growled.
• “Okay,” I responded.
• “Don’t forget the bags!”
• “I wouldn’t dream of it!” I responded before hanging up.
• With the luggage gone and the divorce papers ready, I packed a small bag with my favorite clothes.
• The cute, stylish ones I’d hidden away to play the dutiful wife.
• Not anymore.
• I booked a cab to the train station, but I had no intention of heading to Paris, where Damien and Katherine were waiting.
• Oh no.
• My destination was far more exciting:
• Costa Rica.
• On the way, I cancelled the rooms I had booked and booked new ones in Costa Rica.
• Damien was a crime Lord but even they were not untouchable. He had done bad business which cost him all his assets. As a dutiful wife, I offered to take him for a break with all expenses taken care of by me.
• But this is what I got. So now I'm taking it back.
• Katherine can pay. Her father is rich after all!
• As the cab pulled up to the station, my phone buzzed again.
• Damien’s name flashed on the screen and I laughed. By now he had been told about the exciting news.
• “Hello?” I answered, feigning innocence.
• “The room you booked isn’t showing in the system. What’s going on?”
• “Really?” I gasped.
• “Fix it!” He demanded and cut the line.
• I stared at the black screen with a dry laugh.
• Damien thought he was untouchable, the puppet master pulling all the strings. But the fool had underestimated me.
• With my small bag slung over my shoulder, I found a quiet bench and sat down, waiting for my train. I knew it wouldn’t be long before the truth hit him, and I wanted a front-row seat for his meltdown.