Chapter 44
Aria’s POV
I stood frozen at the doorway, staring at my suitcases-neatly arranged inside
Aiden’s master bedroom.
Wait. What?
“You’re putting my stuff in your bedroom?” I asked, completely thrown off.
This wasn’t part of the deal. We had a contract marriage separate rooms, separate lives. Last night… well, last night had been a moment of weakness. Or something else entirely.
But I hadn’t expected it to change everything overnight.
Aiden looked up from where he was adjusting something in the closet, one brow arching slightly.”Where else would my wife’s things go p>
The way he said “wife” so casually made something flutter in my chest. Still, I tried to stay grounded.
“I just assumed I’d be in the guest room,” I said, my voice quieter now.
He turned to face me fully, his expression unreadable. “After last night, I thought it was obvious p>
My cheeks flamed. Images from the night before rushed back-his touch, the way he’d looked at me, how he made me feel like I was the only thing in the world that mattered.
“I—” I opened my mouth, but nothing coherent came out.
Aiden took a step closer, his eyes never leaving mine. “Is something wrong? Are you uncomfortable living here? With me p>
“No, it’s not that.” I shook my head quickly, trying to find the right words. “It’s just a lot. A month ago, we were strangers signing a contract. Now I’m in your bedroom like we’re… real p>
He smiled then-slow, unbothered, almost amused. “So you’re not planning to take responsibility for your actions p>
I gawked at him. “Excuse me? You were the one who p>
“I was the one who he repeated, stepping even closer, clearly enjoying this.
This version of Aiden-playful, teasing, disarmingly warm-was far more dangerous than the aloof businessman I’d met at the start.
If I stayed close to him much longer, something was bound to happen again. And deep down, I wasn’t sure I’d resist it.
Without waiting for his response, I fled the room, my heart hammering wildly in my chest. I made my way to the spacious balcony, gulping in the cool air as I dialed Lillian’s number.
She picked up on the second ring. “Well, well, well… calling to share the steamy details of your night with Mr. Gorgeous p>
“Of course not!” I hissed, glancing over my shoulder to make sure Aiden wasn’t nearby. “Lillian, he moved all my stuff into his bedroom. He’s acting like we’re a real couple p>
“And that’s a problem because Lillian sounded amused. “Don’t you like him? I thought that was the whole point p>
“Yes, but—” I lowered my voice further. “It’s happening so fast. And I don’t know what he’s thinking. What if to him this is still just a business arrangement with benefits p>
“Honey, when a man who looks like Aiden Carter wants to share his bed with you, you don’t question it. You thank whatever deity you believe in and enjoy the ride p>
“Lillian p>
“What? I’m just saying what everyone’s thinking.” She paused. “So what are you going to do p>
I sighed, leaning against the railing. “I don’t know p>
“Yesterday you were strangers with a contract,” she reminded me. “And now you’re not. People change, relationships evolve. Maybe just go with it p>
Before I could respond, I felt a presence behind me. Turning around, I found Aiden standing there, dressed in a fresh shirt and tailored pants.
“I’ll call you back,” I said quickly to Lillian, ending the call.
“Get changed,” Aiden said, his tone casual but brooking no argument. “We’re going out for dinner p>
I blinked at him. “Out? Where p>
He just smiled. “You’ll see p>
Author’s POV
ared to the blissful harmony between Aria and Aiden, Sophia and Liam dealing with a whole other kind of chaos.
After the scandal broke about Sophia and Aiden’s hotel encounter, Sophia had been branded a homewrecker online.
Her social media was flooded with hateful comments-over thirty thousand of them, and that was with comments restricted. Without restrictions, it might have reached a hundred thousand.
But that wasn’t even the worst of it. As a somewhat famous writer and influencer, she’d secured several endorsement deals.
Now, with her reputation in tatters, those companies were sending termination letters.
Since she was clearly at fault, the brands were demanding triple the original endorsement fees as compensation for breach of contract.
The total damages were already nearing two million dollars.
On top of that, she had a novel being adapted for television. With the original author’s image now tarnished, the production was essentially dead on arrival. The investors were suing her too—another three million in damages.
Sophia stared at the nearly five million dollars in compensation demands, her face as white as paper. She couldn’t possibly pay that much!
She was ruined!
No, not yet. She still had Liam.
Their affair was public knowledge now. Originally, Sophia had planned to play hard to get, but now she needed to take action.
With this in mind, she gathered up the termination letters, went to her room, and applied makeup to make herself look ill and vulnerable. Satisfied with her pale, fragile appearance in the mirror, she put on a white dress and headed to Liam’s company, documents in hand.
Liam had just finished a meeting when his assistant approached him, looking uncomfortable.
“What is it?” he asked, his face tired and cold.
“Miss Clarke wants to see you, sir p>
“No!” Liam’s response was immediate.
The mere mention of Sophia’s name filled him with disgust. Yesterday morning, when he’d woken up to find her naked beside him, his first reaction wasn’t guilt but revulsion.
He’d never despised someone so completely. Looking at Sophia lying in his bed, he deeply regretted ever hurting Aria for her sake.
It was the first time he felt no sympathy for Sophia. When she cried and apologized,
he only wanted her to shut up—and he told her exactly that, coldly ordering her to get out.
He thought Sophia wouldn’t dare show her face again, but apparently, he’d overestimated her.
By yesterday afternoon, videos and photos of them together had been leaked online. Now everyone knew.
A day had passed, and he still didn’t have the courage to call Aria and explain. How could he? There was no explanation.
And now Sophia had the audacity to come looking for him?
Was she trying to get herself killed?
His assistant hesitated, surprised by Liam’s first-ever refusal to see Sophia. But given yesterday’s scandal and Liam’s dark mood since then, he didn’t question it. “Very well, sir p>
He’d barely taken a few steps when Liam suddenly changed his mind: “Bring her to my office p>
The assistant paused. “Yes, sir p>
Liam returned to his office, agitated. He hadn’t wanted to see Sophia, but he feared she might approach Aria and cause more trouble.
Soon enough, his assistant arrived with Sophia in tow.
“Liam, I’m so sorry, I know I shouldn’t be here, but I have nowhere else to turn Sophia burst into tears the moment she entered. The assistant quickly closed the door and left, clearly uncomfortable.
Another apology!
Looking at Sophia’s frail appearance, Liam felt nothing. He realized now that every time she faced him, she put on this pitiful act.
Aria had once told him Sophia was just pretending to be helpless around him, but he’d never believed it!
Liam’s expression hardened further. “If you have something to say, say it. Crying won’t solve anything p>
Without his usual comfort, Sophia froze, momentarily unsure whether to continue crying or stop.
Seeing the coldness in his face, she finally wiped her tears and handed over the termination letters from her purse.
“Liam, I really don’t know what to do! I’m not trying to pressure you, I just… I can’t afford to pay these damages! I came today to… to ask if you could lend me the money p>
She bit her lip, looking utterly ashamed, then lowered her head as if she couldn’t bear to meet his eyes.
Liam took the letters and glanced through them briefly. “How much do you need p>
“Five million p>
Sophia raised her head, looking at him hopefully.
Liam lit a cigarette. “I’ll give you eight million, but I have one condition p>
Sophia felt a sense of foreboding. “What condition p>
“Never appear in front of Aria or me again p>
Sophia stared at him in disbelief. “W-why p>
She’d thought that after what happened, she was guaranteed the position of Mrs.
White. But now Liam wanted to send her away?
Liam took a drag of his cigarette. “No reason needed. If you agree, I’ll have my
assistant transfer thirty million to you immediately. If you don’t agree, then I can’t
help you p>
His compassion was gone. His gaze was calculating and direct.
Sophia knew she had no choice.