leonardo

He tried to absorb the situation. He walked quickly, trying to remain calm while Ariana moved toward her room.

Perhaps it was curiosity or something deeper and more complicated. This was the first time he'd seen her like this—dressed in a loose silk camisole that barely reached her waist and a pair of shorts that revealed more than they hid. Her bare feet padded softly on the floor, and her hair was slightly tousled, adding to the disarray of her appearance.

At that moment, in her almost bare clothes, her top slightly revealing, she walked around in a way that caught his attention. He noticed how her shirt was almost falling off, revealing parts of her body.

A flicker of something strange stirred inside him. The image of her bare back, the soft curves illuminated faintly by the dim kitchen light, tugged at thoughts he wasn't ready to entertain. What would happen if he stepped forward? What if he broke this fragile moment of solitude and kissed her?

He shook his head because he wasn't ready to confront her yet. His mind was against it.

He could not imagine a life with her, the process of divorce would be something so foreign to him. She would probably start yelling and refusing and He didn't need a woman who resisted him, when hundreds of others wanted him.

What disturbed him was that he was acting in a way that she pulled him in, despite everything. His thoughts went back to their three years of balance. What had changed? Why now?

The looming divorce had left their relationship in a suspended state, neither here nor there. Any impulsive action could create unnecessary complications, and Leonardo wasn't one to act without considering the consequences.

his mind swirling with thoughts he didn't want to confront. But as he lay in bed that night, the image of Ariana, smiling softly over her spoonful of ice cream,the desire for her lingered in his mind far longer than he expected.

The Next Morning:

Ariana woke up with the unsettling feeling that someone was watching her. Her eyes fluttered open, and to her surprise, she found Leonardo's intense gaze fixed on her. She froze for a moment, her heart racing as the reality of the situation hit her.

Quickly, she pulled the blanket over her body, trying to shield herself, as she was only in her underwear. She had removed her shirt last night after the ice cream spill, leaving her in just her bra, feeling exposed and vulnerable.

Her face flushed a deep crimson as the awkwardness of the moment settled in. "What are you doing here?" she asked, her voice a mix of confusion and anger, trying to mask her discomfort.

Leonardo, with a slight smirk on his lips, responded in his usual calm and detached tone, "Don't worry. I didn't come to unleash my physical desires. I just want to talk."

She couldn't hold back her frustration. "We can talk when I wake up or maybe during breakfast. Now isn't the time," she shot back, trying to regain control over the situation.

He chuckled softly, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "Oh, so now you've found your voice? I remember when you used to obey orders without hesitation, like a machine. Is this the change I'm seeing because we might be getting a divorce?"

Ariana's patience snapped. She shot him a glare. "I'm not here to argue. Say what you want and leave. I don't have time for your games."

Leonardo's expression hardened, and he leaned back, his gaze still intense. "Don't forget, Ariana, you're still my wife. If I wanted to, you'd be in my room, on my bed, and your beautiful tongue wouldn't be saying such things."

His words hung in the air, and Ariana could feel the weight of them. He continued, adding coldly, "By the way, Hannah's father passed away yesterday."

Ariana's stomach churned, but she didn't know what to say. She couldn't muster any sympathy for the situation, and part of her knew that Leonardo wasn't feeling any empathy either. The emptiness between them seemed to grow.

Breaking the awkward silence, Leonardo's tone shifted slightly, though it still lacked any real emotion. "We've been invited to a party today," he said, his eyes scanning her face for any reaction.

Leonardo noticed that Ariana seemed lost in thought, her eyes narrowed slightly as if she was feeling bored. She was thinking about how long the day ahead would be, starting with work at the company, then the party related to the deal they had just completed. Her mind wandered to how she might spend the evening—she was thinking she'd stay home, take a long bath with essential oils, and relax on the couch.

She asked, "Where's the party?"

"the deal we succeeded in. My friend insisted that the party be held at the hotel I bought when we got married."

Ariana paused for a moment, processing his words. She hadn't known about the deal, but she wasn't surprised by his success. He was always sharp and worked hard, nothing ever stopped him.

But Leonardo noticed a shift in her expression and said, "You look upset, like you had plans for tonight."

Ariana retorted angrily, "Don't worry about my plans."

He smirked and replied, "Don't forget, I'm still responsible for you, Ariana."

Her anger flared up at his words. She wanted to respond by saying, "You're not responsible for me, I've financially separated from you," but she held back, realizing it wasn't the right time. Instead, she said, "Could you please leave the room?"

Leonardo challenged her with a cold look and said, "You won't be able to leave right now."

Ariana, unable to hide her disgust, looked at him and said, "You're despicable."

He laughed in a mocking way and replied, "Don't act like I am a virgin. I even have seen many woman without clothes."

Then, with a smirk, he left the room, leaving Ariana with a feeling of frustration, but also a growing sense of empowerment inside her