Escaped My Ex, Got Snatched by His Rival

A heavy weight landed on Ari's heart. She did not even know how her MD degree fell out of the wardrobe.

Ari was sure that, she had placed it in the far corner of the wardrobe, where she would not be able to see it. It wasn't that Ari was ashamed of it, there was no way she would be ashamed of her degree, for which she worked her a*s for ten years. 

It was because it hurt too much. When Ari married Noah, her mother-in-law told her that she could not work as a doctor because no woman of the Nelson family was going to work in a hospital and cover her hands with blood. They considered it as too unlucky. 

For the sake of Noah, she had agreed with her mother-in-law's condition. Yes, her actions were illogical and brainless, there was no point in denying it. By agreeing to give up her dream, Ari had allowed herself to be shackled which gave her in-laws even more control over her. 

' I hope the next time you will look more like yourself …rather than someone else's rip-off.'

 No sooner did she finish thinking, Nicolai's words echoed in Ari's ears, and she gritted her teeth. She was not going to let that man get to her. Nope. 

She crouched down and picked up her MD degree before stashing it back in the wardrobe. However, just as she was about to put the degree back in its designated place, Ari paused. Why was she putting it back? After tonight, she would have to most likely depend on it, right?

Ari hesitated, though she had decided what she wanted to do, it was still tough for her to break out of her shell. Throughout her life, it was either her parents, siblings, or Noah who told her what she needed to do. In short, she had always followed the lead of others, this was the first time Ari was thinking for herself and it scared her.

What if she was making a mistake? What if divorcing Noah was wrong? What if——

"I will be fine," Ari ignored the countless what-ifs going on in her head. She also ignored how the tips of her ears were burning because of the anxiety that she was feeling at the moment. 

She placed her degree in front this time and then closed the door. As soon as Ari closed the doors of the wardrobe, her eyes fell on the clothing that she had chosen for herself. 

Pastel, cute, and feminine.

Everything that Ariel liked. 

Ari liked wearing dark colours as she once studied to become a doctor and occasionally the mess in the department caused light-colored clothing to be ruined. Ari had thus developed a liking for dark colours. 

However, she had shed her love for black, red and many more shades when Noah told her that he liked light colours and not such 'gaudy' colours which made her look like a low-class hooker instead of the classy and gentle lady of the Nelson family. 

"How many more things did I give up on?" Now that Ari was awake, she was finding herself more and more ridiculous. Was there even a bit of 'her' left in this marriage, or had she turned herself into Ariel for the sake of her husband's love? 

She shook her head and then threw the pastel-coloured dresses in the trash can. These could go to hell for all Ari cared, she then opened her wardrobe and rummaged through her old clothes. When she married Noah, she did bring a few things with her, a good thing too as Ari knew that her stingy mother-in-law would not let her take anything. Glynn included. 

Ari picked up her old dresses and thought some more before stuffing them in the bag, followed by her degree and other important documents that she might need to rent an apartment.

And oh! She slapped her forehead before realizing that she had forgotten the most significant thing. 

"Timmy," she called, and no sooner did she finish calling, sounds of scampering footsteps echoed behind her and a large dog with golden fur rushed inside her room. 

The dog pounced on Ari the second he saw her and licked her face. 

"Haha, it seems like you missed me, huh?" Ari ruffled the golden fur of her dog. Timmy was a mixed-breed mutt that Ari found on a rainy day, the poor thing was all alone and drenched in the rain. He was also one of the few reasons Ari fought with Noah until her husband gave in and let her keep Timmy. 

However, Timmy was not allowed to go downstairs or to the third floor where Glynn lived. Fortunately, Timmy was smart enough and knew how to differentiate between who was good to him and who was not. In the past three years, he had never approached Noah or anyone from the Nelson family.

To think even a dog was smarter than she.

 Ari sighed while patting Timmy a few times. She then hugged him and whispered, "Soon we will leave this place, Timmy. Do you think we will be fine?" 

Ari was worried that she would not be able to give a good life to herself, much less take care of Timmy. 

Timmy licked her face a few times as if trying to reassure her, and Ari laughed. This was fine as well, what was there for her to be scared about? Since she had decided, it was time for her to charge full steam ahead! 

***

"Where is she?" Madam Nelson angrily questioned her butler as she looked at the meal that was placed in front of her. 

Nothing was missing, the food was prepared excellently, and everything was according to her taste. But after three bites of her meal, Madam Nelson did not want to eat anymore. 

She called her butler and demanded, "I am fine if she did not come with me to the Knight mansion to apologize to Ryan, but why did she not cook dinner or lunch or breakfast for me?" 

Madam Nelson was used to eating the meal cooked by Ari, though she hated to admit it, but Ari's cooking was indeed better, and it suited her appetite. 

"Miss Ari——"

"What's the matter?"