Chapter 7 The Nominal Wife

Aria sent the digital copy of the divorce agreement to Larry once more. No reply came.

She wondered whether she should force Larry to sign the papers right there, in front of Sophie. Make him choose, publicly and irrevocably.

But after turning the idea over in her mind, she abandoned it.

Larry had always despised being cornered. If she truly burned every bridge between them, the divorce would only become more difficult.

Aria drew in a deep breath and glanced down at the agate bracelet in her palm. When she passed a trash bin moments later, she tossed it in without hesitation.

She didn't leave the mall immediately. Instead, she headed toward the restroom.

Inside one of the stalls, Aria had barely settled when a familiar voice drifted through the air.

"Honestly, Larry's been so good to me. We get along wonderfully. If he weren't already married, maybe we could go back to how things used to be."

Aria cracked the stall door open just enough to peer out. Sophie stood before the mirror, touching up her makeup, her phone on speaker.

A friend's voice crackled through, teasing and conspiratorial.

"So what if he's married? You're the one he cares about. He hasn't given a damn about that crippled wife of his in years. What man would ever love a cripple?"

In the mirror's reflection, Sophie's expression gleamed with satisfaction, though her tone remained carefully modest.

"Don't say that. I've met Ms. Grey. She's actually a decent person. Even with her disability, she's still Larry's wife in name."

Her friend scoffed audibly.

"Wife in name only, you mean. Since you came back, how many luxury gifts has he bought you? How many cars? You're treated better than she ever was. And didn't he just take you to Crescent Bay last week?"

Both women laughed—a sound that cut through Aria like shards of glass.

She gripped the stall door handle so tightly her knuckles went white, her lip caught between her teeth hard enough to draw blood.

Crescent Bay. The place she'd dreamed of visiting.

After her hand was ruined, she'd become too self-conscious to face strangers' stares. Yet she'd longed desperately to see Crescent Bay, had begged Larry countless times to take her. He'd always refused, citing work obligations. To appease her, he'd bought her luxury items instead—compensation for his absence.

But for Sophie? One word from her, and Larry had made it happen.

Meanwhile, his actual wife remained pathetic and pitiful, a footnote in his life.

Aria didn't emerge from the stall until Sophie had left. She approached the mirror slowly, studying her haggard reflection. She tried to smile, but the expression looked worse than tears.

In this marriage, she'd given everything. Whether Larry hated her or resented her no longer mattered.

She just had to survive one more month. Get the divorce finalized within that time, and she'd finally be free.

Aria exhaled forcefully and raised her good hand to pat her own cheeks, willing herself to pull it together.

She still had Lumaria waiting for her. The music academy. Her dreams. She couldn't fall apart now.

Once her emotions settled, Aria left the restroom. As she rounded a corner, a familiar figure caught her eye, and her heart leapt.

"Professor Lee!"

The woman turned at the sound of her name, eyes widening with equal delight.

"Aria! It's been ages since I've seen you!"

Luna Lee hurried over and grasped Aria's hand with the same warmth as always, concern flooding her features.

"You didn't even send me a wedding invitation. I only heard about your marriage after the fact. Where have you been all these years? What have you been doing?"

Luna had been Aria's piano instructor—a mentor who'd recognized her talent and nurtured it relentlessly. She'd recommended Aria for competitions, brought her to exchange programs, and openly declared that Aria would one day perform on international stages.

Then Aria had injured her left hand saving Larry. Shortly after, she'd married him. She'd wanted to invite Luna to the wedding, but Larry had insisted on keeping it small and private.

So she'd let it go.

After the wedding, the nerve damage in her left hand had progressed rapidly. Unable to accept the loss, she'd spiraled into despair and lost contact with Luna entirely.

Now, seeing that same concern and affection in her teacher's eyes, guilt crashed over Aria like a wave.

"Professor Lee, I'm so sorry for worrying you."

Luna shook her head firmly.

"Don't apologize. When I took you on as my student, I accepted responsibility for you. But Aria—what are you thinking now? Are you really planning to spend your life as a housewife?"

Luna didn't know about the nerve damage. She simply assumed Aria had sacrificed her career for love.

Aria's eyes stung with unshed tears.

"Professor Lee, I don't want to be a housewife. I've been accepted to the Lumaria Institute of Music. I'll be leaving soon to study there. I want to reclaim the person I used to be."

Luna's face lit up with pride and joy.

"The Lumaria Institute doesn't accept just anyone. Only the best in the field get in. That's my student—you've got fire in you! Whatever you decide, I'll support you completely."

Luna moved to take Aria's hand, intending to suggest they grab a meal and catch up properly. But then her gaze dropped—and her expression transformed into shock.

"What happened to your hand?"

In her excitement, she'd failed to notice the withered state of Aria's left hand. Now, seeing it clearly, horror flooded her features.

Aria's smile turned bitter.

"It's... a long story."

Luna's eyes filled with pain, but she gripped Aria's good hand more firmly.

"I don't care how long it takes. You're going to tell me everything that's happened to you these past few years."

At a nearby restaurant, Aria recounted her story, carefully omitting the fact that she'd ruined her hand saving Larry. She simply said she'd been injured rescuing someone.

Luna listened, heartbreak written across her face.

"How could you be so foolish? You destroyed yourself to save someone else. Do you have any idea how precious your hands were?"

Aria's lips curved into a faint smile.

"It's in the past now. I'm about to start a new chapter. Please don't worry about me anymore, Professor."

Luna opened her mouth to respond, but two figures approached their table.

"Professor Lee! It's been so long—half a year since we last saw each other, hasn't it?"