Revenge marriage to my ex-husband’s Rival

2.

One Year Later

It's been a whole year since the divorce of the famed Aria Moretti and her husband, the Ceo of Delarney corp. Henri Delarney, and the ugly events that caused such separation, but it was however, still the gossip of higher society.

Their marriage was unusual to say the least in the first place. Who would've thought the heir and the princess of the famous and powerful Moretti house would go as low as falling in love with a common man. And even going to the extent of marrying him. Many had duped her stupid. And had she not been who she was, she would've been the pariah of society.

But no, although everyone laughed at it behind their backs, they had welcomed the couple with smiles and acceptance. But to the shock of everyone the lowly man had the guts to betray the heiress in such a way, after all the efforts she'd done to make him a respectable man in their society. Oh it was simply laughable. And they had laughed, and eager as they were to criticize and socialize in today's function, they were just as eager to witness the drama of the day's event. An event that the heiress would show her face for the first time since the divorce.

The event was a charity auction, aimed for the orphaned kids in a waring country in the middle east, and everyone was to be dressed to the nines as was usual. The event was hosted by the Chalini family, an upper tiered family even in high society. Not everyone got an invite to their event, and those that did were certainly no ordinary people.

Aria Moretti stood in front of the full length mirror, gazing upon her reflection. She was undressed and stood clad in simple panties with her top bare. The image of her was one of extreme beauty and sensuality but her face was set in a frown as she observed the purple and black bruises that covered the side of her rib, just below her left breast. And another bruise that colored the side of her lips red. Her shin hurt also, but it hadn't bruised like other parts of her.

"f*****g Romeo," she hissed under her breath, when she pressed a finger to the particular garish looking bruise on her hip.

He had been brutal as usual in their daily combat practice. But she was proud to admit he had walked away with more bruises than he'd gifted to her. Where he prioritized his brute strength and superior physique in a fight, she however worked with speed and precision. Not to mention her small little fists packed a mighty strong blow. But enough of that, she thought.

"How the hell am I going to fit in that.." She says motioning to a golden dress carelessly thrown on the bed, "when everything hurts like a bitch."

She was beginning to think training with her friend on the day she was supposed to be present at an event wasn't the wisest idea. But she seriously needed to blow a fuse, or god knows how she'd tolerate the presence and company of those entitled pricks.

A light knock sounded three times on her door, before the door was pushed opened and in came a plump woman who held a tray of biscuits and a steaming mug of coffee with her.

"Oh my goodness! Ari! Look at you!" She gasped immediately in horror when she saw the reflection of the bruised Aria looking at her.

"Oh Aunt marie, do not exaggerate. It's not that bad." Aria sighs, bending low to pick up the towel that pooled on her feet to cover her nakedness and hide the bruises.

"Not that bad!" Aunt Marie gasps exasperatedly, looking at her niece with a fierce look. "Why would you do this to yourself! Especially today of all days!" She kept the tray of goodies on a side table and walked over to aria.

"It's just a party Aunt marie. One that is less about the charity but more about showing off." Aria shrugs, stepping away from Aunt Marie to snag a biscuit from the tray she brought in.

"The first you're attending in a long while. You have an impression to make young lady! And that won't do if you're unable to dance due to the wounds that you acquired for yourself!" Aunt Marie was seconds from yelling. She didn't know what she had to do to get through to her stubborn niece.

"I know Aunt Marie. Don't worry yourself. I know perfectly well how to make an impression. In fact, I think the date i'd snagged myself is enough to drop a f*****g bomb." Aria suddenly grins, the effect transforming her pretty angelic looking face into something downright sinful. It was mystifying really. How she could be such a seductress one minute and the next a harmless cute little thing.

Aunt Marie stopped her pacing to look at her niece in question. Her heart pounding as she looked at Aria with a sinking feeling in her gut. That smirk meant anything but good. "What the f**k do you mean, Aria? You better not play any games today. Mother expects you at your very best behavior tonight."

"Oh don't worry. You know grandmother doesn't mind anything I do." Aria says sticking her tongue out like a spoiled child, instead of the grown 26 year old woman she was.

"Grow up, Aria," Aunt Marie says, rolling her eyes in exasperation. "And what do you mean date? Are you not going with the eldest young master brassard? He was here yesterday was he not?" She didn't know what her niece had planned, but she knew she wouldn't like it one bit.

But she can't say it wasn't a relief to see her back to the spirited young woman she once was with fire in her gut. That terrible man had done a number on her dear niece, and he better pray that their paths never cross or she would personally dismember his cheating c**k and choke him to death with it.

"No. I'm not going with Finley anymore. I told him yesterday when he came by." Aria says, groaning in delight as she took a sip of the bitter liquid.

"Well who are you going with then? I don't remember Mother agreeing upon anyone else." Aunt Marie frowned. The Matriarch of the Moretti house didn't take it likely to be taken by surprise. Even if it was by her beloved only granddaughter.

But Aria simply looked at her aunt with a Cheshire grin, as the events of that fateful night came back to her.